stupid question. I drop my scissors alot which means they work like ****..

[gwenniepoo22]

so then i have to get them sharpened alot does that make the scissors work less if i get them sharpened alot?

[PuppyFluffer]

I would think that as long as you have a sharpener who knows what they're doing, worst case scenario is you shorten the life of the shears. I don't see how frequent sharpening would wreck them - unless you have a lousy sharpener. I'll be interested to see what J3 or Northern Tails has to say....

[Particentral]

It won't make them work LESS but it will make last a shorter time. The more you get them sharpened the more metal comes off. the less metal the less time they last.

[sittingpretty]

You probably want to find out why you are dropping them so often and try to "fix" that part of the problem, too. Maybe find a different place to rest them when you work, a hook-on tray for placing them in, a holster that you could wear...etc. Shears are expensive and any amount of "down time" with your equiptment is also going to cost you money.

sittingpretty

[azoci]

we all have an occasion where a pair if shears gets dropped, you just have to take steps to make that happen less like was suggested. I try to put mine back in the up-right holder I use when I let go of them. Doesn't always work, but I do try to stay in that 'habit'.

One thing that might help, this is a tip from my sharpener of 20+ years ago, when sharpeners were far and few between for me...I kept a glass bottle with a long neck, just for dropped shears. If a pair got dropped, before closing them as I picked them up...I'd open them up all the way and close and open them carefully on a glass bottle neck. It would fix the nick if it wasn't too bad. Basically bending the metal edge of the shear back into shape, if you close that shear you knock that little burl off and you have a full blown nick.

Now with DH and my boys doing sharpening, and me training myself to always try to put the shear back in the holder...I don't have as many issues as in the far past. But know this too, that just laying them down on the table , counter, or in a drawer that's open and closing where they can jiggle open and where edges can "clink" together, is almost as bad as dropping them! No kidding! This I have learned as my family has become more involved in the sharpening aspect of grooming.

Also it depends on the metal we have now, which is much harder but more brittle, plus the clam shell edges which even a less expensive shear can have, can be damaged more easily. Good old beveled edges are becoming less and less popular, but in some instances because of the large edge hold an edge better. I don't think there is any one better then another, just depends on the groomer and how they groom.

I crinje when I see groomers using clam shell finishing shears to whack off dirty coat and rough in dogs before bathing. But, that's just me, I guess.

[Iku]

Every time a shear is dropped it runs the risk of being bent. Even a very slight bend can effect the life and productivity of a shear. A sharpener worth his salt will be able to find the bend and be honest about repairing the bend. Plain and simple - a bent shear cannot be bent back into place! The attempt will break the shear and if a slight bend is fixed, metal has a memory - the bend will eventually return. The scissor will never work 'right' again. I have seen scissors literally break into pieces at being dropped. Use caution and place them carefully on a counter when not in use.

[JThreeSharpening]

I crinje when I see groomers using clam shell finishing shears to whack off dirty coat and rough in dogs before bathing. But, that's just me, I guess.

You too? lol

[JThreeSharpening]

Every time a shear is dropped it runs the risk of being bent. Even a very slight bend can effect the life and productivity of a shear. A sharpener worth his salt will be able to find the bend and be honest about repairing the bend. Plain and simple - a bent shear cannot be bent back into place! The attempt will break the shear and if a slight bend is fixed, metal has a memory - the bend will eventually return. The scissor will never work 'right' again. I have seen scissors literally break into pieces at being dropped. Use caution and place them carefully on a counter when not in use.

This is only partially true. It all depends on the metalurgy of the shear. Some shears are brittle and will break if bent excessively. These are usually lower quality cast scissors or scissors that have been hardened excessively without tempering the steel. Most shears can be "un-bent" and work perfect. If fact, some of ther certifications sharpeners can do involve fixing bent shears. While the metal does have memory, many shears can be bent (or unbent) to a perfect shape and stay that way.

[Particentral]

This is only partially true. It all depends on the metalurgy of the shear. Some shears are brittle and will break if bent excessively. These are usually lower quality cast scissors or scissors that have been hardened excessively without tempering the steel. Most shears can be "un-bent" and work perfect. If fact, some of ther certifications sharpeners can do involve fixing bent shears. While the metal does have memory, many shears can be bent (or unbent) to a perfect shape and stay that way.

I had a pair of kenchiis bend at the handles last year, BADLY. No clue how it happened but they were bent like they were bent shanks. They were straightened and work great now.

[JThreeSharpening]

Sorry for all of the separate responses... To answer the original question:

Dropping shears is bad, but don't beat yourself up over it, everyone does it. They are usually knocked off the grooming table, not actually dropped. There are many types of scissor holders that attach to a grooming table along with many helpful homemade solutions to this problem. Be aware of what causes them to fall and try to change your routine to minimize it. You will save money on sharpening, have less frustration (fighting with dull scissors), and your scissors will last much longer. Even with groomers who seldom drop their scissors, 90% of the time they need sharpened from being dropped.

The simple answer to your question is that if you have a good sharpener, you are fine to have your scissors sharpened frequently. In fact you are most likely better off. Unfortunately, there is only one correct way to remove a nick and that is to remove the damaged metal from the shear. The thing with a nick is, once you have one, it only gets bigger. If you continue to use a nicked scissor, the nick gets bigger and you increase the amount of metal that needs to be removed when it is sharpened. A good sharpener will only remove as much metal as necessary. If you get them fixed before the nick is ground larger, the sharpener will remove less metal and your scissors will have a longer life.

[Trent]

First, are your scissors right for you? Do they fit well? When they are sharp are they comfortable? Perhaps you should tie a string around the finger ring and the other end on a bracelet?
Secondly, use the same sharpener only. That is, if they are good...don't use other sharpeners. Why? Because different sharpeners use different machines and styles of sharpening. It's obvious that everybody does things different than you, even other groomers. A different sharpener (good or bad) will take excessive metal off shortening the life of your shears simply because of the difference in style and the kind of sharpening machine they use.
Secondly, get a back pair of shears and (slow down) lol.

[JThreeSharpening]

Perhaps you should tie a string around the finger ring and the other end on a bracelet?

Tying scissors to yourself is a good way to get cut or stabbed. A sharp scissor swinging around from your arm when it's dropped is NOT a good idea.

[mechtild5]

so then i have to get them sharpened alot does that make the scissors work less if i get them sharpened alot?

As others noted here, when scissors are sharpened metal comes off. So their life is depleted and they even get smaller in length.

Rather than have mine sharpened over & over now I have a little 3 inch long rectangular sharpening stone for when I drop them or if they develop a problem. My ex got it, don't know where, but it came in a knife sharpening 'kit' with a cloth and some honing oil.

Today, don't know why, but all of a sudden the tips on one of my scissors wouldn't cut. Gave them a few swipes with the stone & we were back in business Before the stone I had a knife sharpener..a long round thing I found at a flea market & used that for a number of years. Look for a very fine smooth feeling stone rather than a course rough feeling stone. Also there are websites with some guidance on how to sharpen, but I just remember my Grandpa sharpening his knives & kinda imitate what I saw him do. A few swipes back and forth was all. My sharpener, Neil in San Diego, was surprised last time he was in because I had a couple of scissors sharpened. Every now and then I give them a professional 'tune-up'. Barbara