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Posts: 233I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar problems to me with scissors ?
I bought some Fiskars scissors thinking that they were a good reliable make , and at first they were absolutely fine , but then and I don't know why , they went as blunt as anything ! So I happened to see a Fiskars scissor sharpener which even if it didn't work I had nothing to lose , only to find it made them even worse !
So now I'm wondering did I actually get the genuine thing or as I bought them from eBay , were they just copies ? 
Past Time BearsI've used Fiskars and Gingher scissors for years and have never had any issues with either brand. Don't know if you bought fakes or the real thing on eBay . . . I've just never had Fiskars get dull right away.
Have to say that I used to use my old hairdressing ones ...they were great but they ought to be...they cost upwards of £200 for the ones I used to use. That said I am pretty sure that certain fabrics cause the blades to blunt quicker. I think the acrylic fabrics do this. I dont use my old hair scissors now as I don't think they are as good any more and the blades are quite wrecked now. I still have my latest pair which I still cut hair with and they won't be used for fabric. I have had Fiskars that have lasted years...and those that go blunt quite quickly.
I like fiskars scissors ...I think that they are pretty reliable so maybe you did get a dud pair. One thing though..try , if you can to keep the ones you cut out with separate to the ones you scissor sculpt with....I think that helps keep them sharper.
I'm with Sue Ann...never had a problem. They are ONLY used for the bears though....never paper or anything elae
desertmountainbearI have Fiskars, several pairs. The larger pair got dull pretty fast. I use the little embroidery ones to do most everything now. They have lasted a good long time.
Posts: 233Yes I agree with all of you , it's the bigger ones that have gone dull on me and yes I have to say I used them a lot on the acrylics and I did wonder if that had anything to do with it . I did start to use my old pair of hairdressing scissors and they have coped much better with the acrylics. I've just bought some tiny Fiskars now , the embroidery ones so think they definitely will be used just for sculpting with and I have to say they seem fantastically sharp. Thanks everyone it's good to hear I'm not the only one who has had problems ! 
HoneydotzWhen I was making dolls I wound up collecting several pairs of scissors, each one for cutting different materials. I purchased a separate pair of Fiskars when I needed to cut mohair and they are fine so far. When I think any of them are getting a bit dull, I cut sandpaper with them and it sharpens them up a bit.
Posts: 233Ooh Debra you're very brave using sandpaper , but I'll definitely give it a try with my blunt one cos I have nothing to lose with those . A lady told me she cuts silver foil to sharpen hers with ... but sadly , it didn't work for me ! Thank you Debra 
The Littlest ThistleI use Janome 3 1/2 - 4" blade scissors for everything (different pairs for cutting and sculpting) At £3-£4 a pair, I'm not bothered if after a year they're not super sharp, they just get moved down the rotation (ie, they become scissors to cut thread at my sewing machine or in travel hand sewing kits)
Posts: 233Hi Katy ,
I've never seen the Janome ones I have to say , but at least they're a good deal cheaper than Fiskars !
Miser BearsI use surgical scissors, and they have worked out great. They have a long handle bit, and pointed ends. I just bought a whetstone because it needs to be sharpened, and I spent aaaages trying to decide which one, they can get rather expensive!
Posts: 233Yes I looked at surgical scissors also , problem is there's just too much choice, and as for the whetstone oh dear , even more confusion !! Thanks anyway Heather !
Definitely use a separate pair for scissor sculpting and keep that pair just for scissor sculpting ... I prefer to use embroidery scissors for this purpose. I have used Fiskars dress making scissors for donkeys years to cut out mohair (I like their left handed scissors) but have found they blunt if used on polyester wadding for example, so don't do that these days and just keep my dress making scissors for cutting out mohair ... heaven help anyone who 'borrows' them for any other purpose! A good pair of dress-making scissors should last years.
Posts: 233Yes Paula I agree , you do need different scissors for each job. I have to say I do like my second pair of hairdressing scissors for sculpting and have the small embroidery Fiskars as well. I've got a good pair of dressmaking ones which are very sharp but think I'm going to get a separate pair for cutting the faux fur as I'm sure that's what blunted my others. Still at least that's a lesson learned !
It's personal I know but for thicker piles and detailed sculpting the embroidery scissor blades are too short , forcing you to use the points..which makes little nicks in the pile if you aren't careful. If you use a long blade you can use the whole scissor.
The idea is to keep the scissors parallel as you cut ...so a longer blade works best. I use the tips for removing bulk and thinning out to blend long into short. I buy the pointy 5 inch Fiskars as they are good all rounders...but my old hairdressing ones were fab because they are non serrated and sliced through the pile....they are 5 inch too. But like I said I think the acrylic piles wrecked them as they are not so good any more.
Just out of interest, does anyone use the spring loaded Fiskars scissors?
Don't know if I could get used to them...they are too much like secateurs ...I think they would take some effort to learn to use.
TC Folk OriginalsI have arthritis in my hands, so I do find the spring loaded Fiskers great. For me, they are very easy to use and I have a pair in about every size they make. You basically just open and close your hand and the scissors open and close with the motion! I also have the Fiskars with the very large handles. But for my fur cutting, there is nothing like my Ginghers. I have about 5 pair of those, various sizes for various tasks. The designated fur cutters are the 5" ones. I have accumulated all these scissors over many years, and I too, rotate them down when a new pair shows up.
I also have the Fiskar sharpeners and they work quite well. You just have to be careful that you are pulling the scissors thru the correct side. One sharpens and the other side dulls them. It is marked on the correct side, but difficult to see. My husband sharpens my knife blade Gingers for me.
I just ordered a pair of 5 inch Ginghers... let you know how I get on!
They were £22 from a specialist scissor website
TC Folk OriginalsHope you like yours as much as I like mine, Jenny!!!!
I am really looking forward to getting them!
Just for your information today I went the COTTON PATCH in Hall Green Birmingham. They have a full range of Ginghers scissors and allowed me to try them I came away with a pair of 4 inch embroiderery ones which though small are so sharp along the whole blade that they are great for scissoring. I also got a pair of 5 inch razor blade tailors scissors which whiz through the fabric.
I paid £62 for 2 pairs. They have all the fiskars...and other brands. But next to the Ginghers the others feel clumpy in the hand.
If you are in the UK its worth a trip to this shop...its a quilters shop but full of wonderful treasure!
Paula I use spring loaded fiskars, and love them! I find them really easy to use.
Jenny I would be really interested in how you get on with the Ginghers 5" tailor scissors, as I have been looking at them, but wasn't sure about taking the plunge.
