Myth or Fact? Scissors for cutting cloth must not be used for cutting paper and vice-versa?

Answer 1

Fact: Cutting paper with sewing scissors can damage or dull the scissors to the point that they don’t cut fabric as well anymore.
However, sewing scissors that have become dull from all the fabric cutting make for great paper scissors.

Answer 2

Paper Cloth Scissors

Answer 3

I don’t know if it’s a myth or fact, to tell you the truth. After some consideration I have to wonder if this belief came from a time when paper was not as refined as what we have now and contained more and larger pieces of dulling wood chips to cut through. Scissors were also made from iron, were much more expensive to purchase if the person wanted some that actually worked, (remember, getting those two pieces to work so closely together must have been more difficult than to make the blade of a knife), and were taken out to a person that did blade sharpening when they dulled, more expense there.

That all said, I have a set of very fine and quite expensive shears for sewing that are NEVER used on anything except new fabric with a different set to use on old cloth that might contain some dirt in the weave, a set of cheap scissors in the kitchen for cutting vegetables for salads, a finely made set of fairly expensive and varied sizes of scissors in my workroom that are only used on paper without any metal in the makeup with another, less expensive set for those that contain metal, some cheapies in the grab drawer that contains the utility items (the ones used for cutting plastic) and another pair in the Christmas decorations to cut that paper.

My mother would have done sad things to my backside with some force if I ever used her sewing shears on paper; guess it rather caught on.

Answer 4

The vice versa is a myth, but its true that scissors for cloth must remain absolutely sharp while using it to cut paper will dull it a little over prolonged use.

Answer 5

That is true, the paper will dull the scissors. If you are a quilter or a serious sewer, get a good pair of scissors and put a lock on them to keep the kids away.

I have a friend, her son can use her car, but never her scissors.

Answer 6

I've heard that, but I've never met anyone who stuck to it. The truth is the average household is lucky to be able to even find the scissors, much less the right scissors for the right task.

I try to keep the kitchen scissors (used for opening packages and cutting food including raw meat) in the kitchen, but guess what I used to cut the Christmas wrapping paper? I did do it in the kitchen.

Answer 7

True. Paper dulls scissors used for cloth.

Answer 8

Fact...well, you CAN use the same pair of scissors but paper blunts them slightly so you won't get as good a cut on the fabric if you use the same pair.

Answer 9

Cutting paper dulls the sharp edge of scissors and can render them unfit for cutting anything else.

Answer 10

convinced, both with scissors or with shears. in words of definition, scissors have extremely instantly handles and the handles on shears are bent to ease reducing some thing *over* a flat floor. In both case, the blades should be sharp and properly-matched.