Has anyone ever had their pinking shears sharped. Mine wont cut butter and I was thinking sharpening would be less expensive than a new pair.

Having a pair of regular scissors professionally sharpened in my area is $20.00, so if your pinking shears aren't good quality I'd opt for new.

I found a solution! Joanns.com has a 9" pair of pinking shears for 7.79 on sale from 12.99. I don't use them enough to spend much more on a pair. I wish i had a Joanns near enough to shop at, but online is just as good.
Bev

Hi if they are real good scissors have them professionally done. There are scissors sharpener people. Check in at the sewing machine dealers store. A lot of times they have someone there who does it. It should not cost too much to do. Don't try sandpaper you can scratch them and cause burs. You have to use a honing stone with oil you can get at a woodworking store or dental catalogue. You have to use an Arkansas stone. It has a fine finish to it. Pinking sheers are tricky so I suggest you don't attempt it yourself. You can only sharpen one side of the blade and if you mess it up it will never cut. Hope this helps! Suzanne

Funny just yesterday I threw my pinking shears in the trash. Have had them for over 25 years, took them to Jo'Ann's when the scissors sharpening guy was there and he charged me $8.50 to get them sharpened, they didn't cut diddly squat. Wait until you get a 40% or 50% coupon from Jo'Ann's and buy a good pair of Gingher. I will be doing just that tomorrow.

You have some good suggestions but if you want to get someone to sharpen them try your local Hancocks Fabric store . Hope you have a local store in Texas , but here in Alabama they have a man who does a great job . Good Luck * Nancy

Get yourself some Tin FOIL, the kind you use to wrap food, tear off a good size piece fold it over to about four thicknesses and then use your pinking sheers to cut it into little pieces.

You can repeat this process as often as it takes to sharpen the scissors.

But please don't ask me what you do with the chopped up tinfoil. LOL!!!
Have fun.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

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by gramsbear 24 Sep 2010

I agree with the tin foil, I have been doing that for a long time. Even when sizzors don't cut paper, tin foil comes out!!! They work again. Hugs, judy

Mine is just as bad and I live in Botswana. No coupns here Lol, will have to try the sandpaper! Good luck!

I've got an old pair also, won't cut nuttin, but then my mom had them before I was born and we won't discuss how long ago that was, my plan is to buy a new pair with a coupon at Joanns! If I'm really daring I'll try a Gingher brand, they are awsome scissors of all types....

in general think how long you have had them and then look at the price you would have to pay to get A- a new pair and B- the cost of getting the old ones sharpened and any extra cost like shipping, how much did the old ones cost you when new and how long have you had them.
I allways think its best to renew my scissors every five years. as even a very good pair would then have only cost me a dollar or less a month.

Ask the hairdressers where you live. They have their hair cutting scissors sharpened all the time. It does cost quite a bit though. I would try clipping (lots of clipping) into the sandpaper and aluminum foil to see how they work and then decide what to do. If you have a tool called the Dremel drill you can get bits that are Grinding Stones that sharpen.

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by mariahail 23 Sep 2010

I used to pay $20.00 to get my scissors sharpen when I was doing hair, every month usually, but those are very expensive scissirs, from 100 to 500.00 dollars...regular scissors are not worth the 10.00 to get them sharpened when you can get another one for 15 if you use the Joann's coupons or Hobby lobby's

I live in Alabama and a good friend of mine asked her brother to sharpen mine. Granted,he has been doing scissor sharpening for years and mine are still just like new. As you were warned below, be sure he/she knows what he/she is doing. I understand it is very hard. Good luck, and, have you thought of putting a notice on Craig's List? You just might run across someone!

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by bevintex 23 Sep 2010

There is a guy who sharpens scissors that i know of . I'll check with him about pinking shears.

Glad you asked this. I am in the same boat as you!!

Just make sure who ever does them knows what they are doing. You can ruin a pair of pinkers real fast with a bad sharpening. Ask if he/she will guarantee.

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by mariahail 23 Sep 2010

been there!!!!*********

I have done it with sandpaper.

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by wendymay60 23 Sep 2010

Needs to be finished off with very find sandpaper

The one shop I did ask said he couldn't do it. If you find you can get them sharpened I'd love to know, because mine are in about the same condition as yours.

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by bevintex 23 Sep 2010

I'll let you know what I find out.

I have been told that cutting foil sharpens them, I am sure I have read the tip here. I do say I have not tried it with pinking shears. Look forward to others replies

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by bevintex 23 Sep 2010

I also read that , or cut through sandpaper. I tried the foil trick but did not see any difference. I have had them a long time. I will call around tomorrow and see what it will cost. I hardly ever use them but want to try some of those designs on emblibrary with pinked edges.