I’m aware that the plastic handles probably disqualify these from being true “buy it for life”, but the exciting thing for me is that they are relatively cheap and can be found on the shelf in most stores with an office supply section. It’s an unfortunate reality that the vast majority of BIFL items are special order and cost several times more than their mainstream equivalent, so I wanted to shout out Scotch brand for maintaining such good serviceability on an item you can literally pick up at Walmart.
I just pulled apart a pair of these which was cutting horribly, gave each blade a couple passes on an oil stone, then reassembled and tightened them up with a drop of oil in the joint. They cut as well as the day they were bought, and the handles are still in good shape so I could see doing this several more times before I even have to consider replacing them.
I am an industrial seamstress and have been using the same pair of scissors for 20 years. Not everyday as I’ve had some other jobs here and there, but they are still my go to for anything sewing. They are Wiss 10”. Under $100 bucks and very much worth it.
That being said, if you can take these apart and sharpen them then that’s a good deal!
I have Wiss and like them. I have Mundial and like them. I bought some Kai and freakin’ love them. Way, way lighter (to abate that repetitive stress) and super sharp. A little harder to sharpen because the steel is so hard and when they chip they chip bad, but they are amazing. Highly recommended.
Also an industrial seamster
Yes! I have a smaller pair of the Kai and you are not wrong about them. So damn sharp. I use those for small precise cuts. I’d like to get a bigger pair but then I’d feel like I’m cheating on the Wiss. Which is ridiculous lol.
Also, what kind of seamster? I’m a sailmaker, but I’ve “retired” from that and just sew for myself now.
I like these scissors but I feel like the screw works itself loose far too quickly.
Because no one has explained it, loctite comes in different strengths. Red is supposed to be permanent, blue is supposed to be able to break free again. For this application, you’d want blue to hold the nut in place.
You should really get scissors with higher quality hard steel so you don’t need to sharpen the soft easily dulled steel cheap scissors. Your advice is not bifl but frugal at the cost of time effort
In the UK or EU, Whiteley is the brand to look for
All but one of my scissors has a screw to take them apart for cleaning/shaprening. The one that doesn’t is a super old pair of barber shears like from the 50’s and is also rusted as fuck. Do they even still make scissors held together by rivets?
