You probably sharpen your kitchen knives on a regular basis, but when’s the last time you bothered sharpening your scissors? Probably never. That’s too bad, because sharp scissors cut quickly and cleanly, and restoring dull scissors to razor sharpness is no more difficult than sharpening knives.
Now, you can purchase sharpeners specifically designed for sharpening scissors, but here are four other ways to sharpen scissors with tools and materials you probably already own.
⚠️When using either of the first two techniques mentioned below, it’s best to unscrew the scissors, and sharpen each blade individually. If the blades are riveted together, keep one blade out safely out of the way when sharpening.
Option #1: Use a Sharpening Stone
A sharpening stone, which is sometimes called a bench stone or whetstone, is the simplest, most traditional way to sharpen scissors. The stone has two sides: typically one coarse 400-grit surface and one finer 1,000-grit side. Always begin sharpening on the coarse side of the stone.
Start by wetting the surface of the stone with either honing oil or plain water. Then, lay the inside surface of the scissor blade flat on the stone. Apply light downward pressure and draw the blade across the entire length of the stone, moving from the base to the tip. Depending on the dullness of the blade, 10 to 20 strokes will usually suffice.
What You’ll Need to Sharpen Your Scissors
Kitchellence Knife Sharpener
Dremel Dremel Rotary Tool
Allstar 150-Grit Sandsheet
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone
Next, use a permanent marker to draw a black line along the blade’s beveled cutting edge. The line will act as a visual guide, indicating when the entire edge has been sharpened. Set the blade on the stone and adjust it so that the beveled cutting edge is flat against the stone.
While maintaining this angle, draw the blade across the stone five or six times. Stop and check the black ink line to ensure you’re holding the blade at the proper angle. Continue sharpening until the black ink line is gone and the entire edge is shiny, indicating the blade is sharp.
After sharpening, check for burrs along the inner edge of the blades. Remove the burrs by laying the inner edge of the blade flat on the stone and then drawing it very lightly across the stone.
Now, flip the stone over, wet the surface, and hone the blade’s cutting edge to super-sharpness by drawing its beveled edge across the fine-grit side of the stone. Again, 10 to 20 strokes are sufficient.
Repeat the steps described above to sharpen and hone the other scissor blade.
Option #2: Use a Rotary Tool
A handheld rotary tool, which is often called a Dremel tool, is a super-versatile electric tool that accepts a wide variety of accessories, including rotary abrasive stones, which are ideal for sharpening scissors.
⚠️ Always wear safety glasses when using a rotary tool.
Start by securely clamping the scissor blade into a vise with its beveled cutting edge facing up. Next, place an aluminum-oxide grinding stone into the rotary tool and tighten the collet nut. While holding the tool firmly with two hands, turn on the motor, and set the grinding stone very lightly against the beveled edge.
Now—and this is important—hold the stone at the same angle as the beveled edge and keep the stone moving at all times. If you stop in one spot for even a second, you’ll grind a hollow spot into the blade.
Using very little pressure, pass the rotating stone across the beveled edge from base to tip eight to 10 times. If you feel any burrs on the flat side of the blade, grind them off with the stone.
Repeat the above steps to sharpen the second scissor blade.
Option #3: Slice Sandpaper
The two sharpening methods described above are required for scissors that are very dull or damaged. However, if your scissors are still working, but cutting roughly, then try this trick: Take a sheet of 150-grit aluminum-oxide sandpaper and fold it in half so the abrasive surfaces are facing out. Now, use the scissors to cut the sandpaper into narrow strips. Be sure to make full-stroke cuts to expose the entire cutting edge of the blades to the sandpaper.
The abrasive particles on the surface of the sandpaper will act as tiny sharpening stones, honing the cutting edge of both blades simultaneously. Wipe the blades clean with a cloth or paper towel to remove any abrasive grit. Test the scissors by making several cuts into scrap paper. If necessary, repeat the process.
Option #4: Cut Aluminum Foil
This technique is similar to cutting sandpaper, only you use aluminum foil. Again, this will hone slightly dull scissors, but it won’t sharpen scissors with very dull or damaged blades. Start by tearing off a piece of foil that’s about 12 inches long. Then, fold the foil sheet several times until it’s at least six layers thick.
Now, use the scissors to slice the foil packet into 10 or 12 strips, using full-stroke cuts. Test the sharpness of the scissors by cutting some scrap paper. If necessary, cut several more foil strips until the scissors cut quickly and cleanly.
Finally, wipe the blades clean to remove any tiny bits of aluminum.
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Joseph Truini
Joe is a former carpenter and cabinetmaker who writes extensively about remodeling, woodworking, and tool techniques. He has written eight books and is a contributing editor to Popular Mechanics. He also appears on the Today’s Homeowner TV show, and co-hosts the weekly Today’s Homeowner Radio Show. Joe writes from his home in Roxbury, Connecticut.
