How Scissors Are Made

Scissors are cutting instruments consisting of a pair of metal blades connected in such a way that
the blades meet and cut materials placed between them when the handles are brought together. As a
general rule, scissors have blades less than 6 in (15 cm) long and usually have handles with finger
holes of the same size. Shears have blades longer than 6 in (15 cm) and often have one small handle
with a hole that fits the thumb and one large handle with a hole that will fit two or more fingers.
Scissors are usually made of steel, but scissors which are used for more specific purposes are made
from metal alloys as well, for example, scissors for cutting of cordite cannot produce sparks, but
scissors for cutting of magnetic tape cannot interfere with magnetism.
Making the blanks
Manufacturing process of scissors starts with making of blanks. Blanks are those two halves of pair
of scissors. Blank may consist of blade and handle or of only the blade. If there are both pieces,
metal handle is welded to the blade or plastic handle is attached to the blade. Some scissors may be
made from blanks, formed by cold stamping or by molding. Qualitative scissors generally are made
from blanks, formed by drop forging.
1. A metal handle will be welded to the blade or a plastic handle will be attached to it.
Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics,
by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to
form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure
sometimes used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce the weld. This is in contrast with
soldering and brazing, which involve melting a lower-melting-point material between the
workpieces to form a bond between them, without melting the workpieces.

2. Inexpensive scissors may be made from blanks formed by cold stamping. In this process, a sharp
die in the shape of the blank is stamped into a sheet of unheated steel. The die cuts through the steel
to form the blank.

Cold stamping, also known as press working, is a manufacturing operation in which

thermoplastics in sheet form are cold-formed using methods similar to those used in metalworking.
A precut thermoplastic sheet, possibly reinforced, is softened by heating to a temperature particular
to the plastic in use. The heated sheet is then shaped by stamping using a press. Fiberglass-
reinforced thermoplastic sheets are formed using metal stamping presses after the sheets are
preheated to about 200C (392 F).

3. Blanks may also be made by molding. O Molten steel is poured into a mold in the shape of the
blank. The steel cools back into a solid and the blank is removed.

4. Most quality scissors are made from blanks formed by drop forging. Like cold stamping, this
process involves shaping the blanks with a die. This die, known as a drop hammer, pounds into a
bar of red-hot steel to form the blank. The pressure of the drop hammer also strengthens the steel.

Processing the blanks

5 The blanks are trimmed to the proper shape by cutting away excess metal. A hole is drilled
through the blank. This hole will later allow two completed blades to be attached to each other.
6 The trimmed blanks are hardened by heating them, then cooling them quickly in cold air, water,
oil, or another substance. The temperature to which they are heated and the medium in which they
are cooled varies depending on the type of steel from which they are made and the desired
characteristics of the blade.
7 The hardened blanks are heated again and allowed to cool slowly in air. This second heating,
known as tempering, gives the blank a uniform hardness. If the blades of a pair of scissors did not
have uniform hardness, the harder places on one blade would soon wear out the softer places on the
other blade.
8 The repeated heating and cooling causes the blanks to warp. They are straightened by being
placed on an anvil and lightly tapped with a hammer. This process is known as peening.

Grinding and polishing

9 The blank is ground into a blade by applying the edge to a rapidly moving sanding belt or
abrasive wheel. The surface of the belt or wheel is covered with small particles of an abrasive
substance and works in the same way as sandpaper. The hard abrasive grinds away enough steel to
form a sharp edge. During this process, the blade is cooled with water or various liquids known as
cutting fluids to prevent it from heating and warping. The sharpened blade is then polished in a
similar manner using belts or wheels, containing much smaller particles of abrasive.

Making the handles

10 For many scissors, the handles are I 0 / formed from the start as part of the blank. If not, they
may be made of a metal alloy or from plastic. If they are metal, they are made in the same way as
the blanks and then welded to them. If they are plastic, they are made by injection molding. In this
process, molten plastic is forced under pressure into a mold in the shape of the handles. It is allowed
to cool and the mold is opened to remove the handles. The handles contain hollow slots into which
the end of the blanks can be inserted. A strong adhesive is used to keep the handle firmly attached.

Assembling the scissors

11 Two polished blades are attached to each other by a rivet or screw through the previously
drilled holes. Rivets, which cannot be adjusted by the consumer, are used to make less
expensive scissors. Adjustable screws are used in more costly scissors.
12. The scissors are adjusted to ensure. that the two blades work together correctly. They
may be painted or plated with nickel or chrome to protect them from rust. The scissors are
inspected for flaws, the screw or rivet is lubricated, and the scissors are wrapped for
shipping to consumers.
2. When blanks of scissors are ready, they are trimmed to the proper shape, cutting away excess
material. Trimmed blanks are hardened by heating and rapid cooling in the cold air, water, oil or
some other substance. The heating and cooling temperature varies, depending on the type of the
steel and the desired features of the blade. The hardness of scissors is characterized by HRC of
Rockwell C-Scale the higher is the number, the harder is the metal. Usually hair scissors should
have a minimum 56 HRC, but ideal would be around 60 to 64 HRC. A hole, which allows two
separate blades to be attached to each other, is drilled through the blank.
3. After this heating and cooling comes the second heating and cooling which is known as
tempering. Tempering gives a uniform hardness to blanks which improves durability and thus
longevity. This repeating heating and cooling causes warping of blanks, therefore, the peening is
required blanks are straightened by light tapping with a hammer.
4. The blank is ground into the blade, applying its edge on rapidly moving sanding belt or abrasive
wheel. This belt of wheel grinds away steel, forming a sharp edge of the blade. During grinding the
blade is cooled with different liquids or, in other words, cutting fluids which are protecting the blade
from overheating and thus warping. After grinding comes polishing which is performed in a similar
way, using finer belts or wheels.
5. When blades are made, handles are made. As it is mentioned before, generally handles are
formed as a part of the blank, but quite often they are made from metal alloy or from plastic as well.
Metal handles are welded to blades, but plastic handles are attached to blades, inserting ends of
blanks into hollow slots of handle.
6. Polished blades are attached to each other with screw or rivet through drilled holes. Screws
ensure tension adjustment possibilities, but rivets do not provide these possibilities, therefore, they
are used for less expensive scissors. Usually screws and rivets are lubricated to ensure flowing and
silent cutting.
7. In the end scissors may be painted or plated with chrome or nickel to make them rustproof.
8. Some manufacturers of high quality shears are performing quality control as well to ensure a
proper alignment of both blades in order to provide a smooth cut. Scissors are tested for sharpness
and strength on tough synthetic fabrics. After all it should be mentioned, that the consumer is
responsible for maintaining the quality of shears they should be used for cutting of appropriate
materials, be oiled and sharpened regularly, as well as stored in a closed position.