What’s The Best Method For Sharpening Sir Cutters?

[Stringbanger]

 

[Jupiter]

Buy new ones

 

[RodeoTex]

^^^ this.

Yes, really no way since they are pinch cutters rather than bypass.

 

[Jupiter]

And don't cut nails or wire hangers with 'em anymore. #learnedthehardway

 

[Stringbanger]

I meant side cutters. No, I never used them for nails or coat hangers. Mostly for nipping guitar strings.

 

[denny]

Slightly dull side cutters are better because the cut piece of wire gets held by the cutters instead of shooting across the room, bouncing off the ceiling. Or into your eye (ouch). Like said above, get new ones if you want sharp.

 

[aerhed]

Dremel and diamond wheel.

 

[OtherTom]

Yep buy new ones. Unless you're an oddball like me who actually enjoys sharpening knives, tools, scissors, and everything else. Then you need some diamond files or stones to reach in small angle openings. Draw black sharpie over the blades and give a few even full strokes of the stone on each side keeping the blade angle by watching where the ink wears away.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Gri...OgC1Si1nFTNKYA6TT5tNHwEwMGsBBB_BoCXTcQAvD_BwE

 

[moosie]

Hard steel, not easy to sharpen, especially with short strokes in tight angle. Patience, and a good diamond file or stone.

 

[archetype]

The jaws swing in an arc and it's quite hard put a new edge on each jaw and have the jaws still meet uniformly along the edges.

As others have said, buy new ones. I recommend you pay the price for good ones which will last for a decade or so. Why not?

 

[HappyHwy1owner]

The jaws swing in an arc and it's quite hard put a new edge on each jaw and have the jaws still meet uniformly along the edges.

What he said-and if they're dull, the edge is bound to have a gouge or two in it in which case there's nothing to do but buy new. I bought a cheap pair of Craftsman side nippers to keep with my guitar stuff for trimming strings.

 

[nosmo]

I know this reply is a little late, but I just read this thread.

Lowe's Kobalt tools have a lifetime, no questions asked replacement policy. May not be the best quality, but side cutters are about $10 and you can replace them whenever they get dull. For the rest of your life.

 

[old wrench]

It's pretty tough to do a good job of sharpening side cutters.

They are designed to operate with the cutting edges coming together equally and parallel when closed. It's hard to maintain that geometry.

End cutters are easier to sharpen, but still pretty difficult.

A good smooth file will certainly work for sharpening (I've done it), but my experience was not very impressive.

I found I'm better off using good quality cutters and nippers like Knipex or Klein brand .




Best Regards,
Geo.

 

[Alamo]

Is the VBW cutter (pictured) what you have?
they're usually very good but those are hardend edges and very difficult to sharpen.
buy a new one, good quality.
I've had my Knipex 70/140 for over 40 years and it's still cutting edge.
pun intended.

 

[Ripthorn]

I would just hit them on the grinder (closed) and make them flush cutters. Would be fine for cutting strings, probably.

 

[Davecam48]

Being an Aussie we have different names for things to what you blokes in the US have....e.g. laboratory // labratory (which is how you pronounce it) but a genuine enquiry into post#1 of this thread with the reference to "Sir" cutters.

Is that what they're really called over there??? Here they are called "side cutters"

If they are genuinely called Sir cutters, can someone offer some info on the origin of the name?

Thanks

DC

 

[nosmo]

Gotta tell ya Dave, I live here and I've never heard of "Sir" cutters. I think it was a typo.

 

[Davecam48]

Gotta tell ya Dave, I live here and I've never heard of "Sir" cutters. I think it was a typo.

Thanks Nosmo.............I sort of figured that, but in regard to the "Merikin" language one never knows.


DC

 

[Mike SS]

We yanks also call them "dykes", but this is more common among mechanics. In the general public this is probably not "Politically Correct" language.