Reaction to ON THE EDGE article by Bonnie Megowan

THE QUESTION:

Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2013 13:00:40 -0400
Subject: On The Edge Article
From: sharpshop39@gmail.com
To: bonikashears@live.com

Bonnie - I just read your articled "One Click Difference" in Jim O'Donnell's news letter and I have to differ with you on a couple of your statements.  I really did like that there is now a way of testing/proving/measuring the amount of pressure needed to cut through different material(s).  I'm sure that it was quite interesting.

But, my difference with your article concerns the setting of the 'blade tension' between the two blades (1st paragraph).  I was instructed at WOLFF Inc., by Tom, that the blades on grooming shears, 1) should NEVER clang together when drop tested and 2) should stop approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch before tips close completely.  I was also instructed that this tensioning is indeed different for the various applications, i.e., barber, beautician, groomer, stylist, etc.  Everything that I was ever shown/taught is directly opposite to what you have in your article.  Now, I know that I am only a novice in this business to most everybody else and I primarily only do groomers (Dog Shows & Horse Shows), with a few beauticians locally thrown in. But, now I have questions?  If the shears tension is to be tight enough that the shears don't move when drop tested, won't that lead to faster wearing/dulling of the edges?  If excess tension is placed on the edges in a drop test, what about the pressure/tension that a groomer puts on those edges when they close the shears?  This is particularly important when using convex shears, which most professional handlers, show groomers, etc., use.  Additionally, it also exerts additional pressure on the groomers, stylist, barbers, beauticians wrist further inflaming the nerves (Corpal Tunnel Syndrome)?

I have always taught/instructed my customers that I have set their shears tension to the standard (drop test) and they they have the choice to have that setting adjusted to their preference.  All Beauticians, Stylists that I have worked with wanted that tension "lessened" so that the shears almost 'clanged' when drop tested.  Their comment's are that they don't want any blade tension wearing out their wrists because of the amount of time they use the shears (exhaustive).  The animal groomers are also pretty close on that issue also, but not to the point that the Beauticians require.

So, you can see my confusion.  Guess that I will just have to continue in the methods that I have developed so as to continue satisfying the preponderance of my customers.

Thanks for your time

Gil Settlage

GIL'S SHARP SHOP

My Answer

Hello Gil,

I totally agree with you.  I was taught exactly like you for the same reasons. Then I trained with Casper Kiser with Eickert who made groomer and beauty shears. He said if a shear was in proper alignment (and most groomer shears are not) IF they were made well and properly aligned they should be one "click" TIGHTER than the movement. In other words they should not drop at all and be one click from dropping. This seemed totally wrong, but he had decades of experience with this. I talked to other manufacturers and they loosened the shears slightly, but did not fall below the half way mark. So I was in the same place as you. This equipment allowed me to test my hypothesis like a scientist and this was the results based on the particular well aligned, brand new, sharp shear I was using. The tension that used the least effort was when the blade just began to drop. The looser tension used more effort on the part of the user.

Would this work on a used dog grooming shear that was slightly out of alignment? there are other questions. However, I would rather err on the side of too tight than too loose since shears tend to loosen up.

What makes sharpening interesting is the new growth of knowledge. Although Casper was not at the sharpening convention, I think even he would rethink his ideas on tension. He was most likely taught by Uwe who is a mechanical engineer. I'm not sure where he learned. That would be a great question for him and a discussion for SharpNet.

The bottom line to me is the customer is the expert. If they think the shears cut best for them with them clanking shut or so tight you need pliers to close them we as their mechanics must make the shears work for them in the way they want to use them. If they do not express a preference, we must adjust them based on our knowledge of what would be best for the shears and the client.

Bonnie

Bonnie Megowan and Mystie Hunter

Scissor Mechanic, LLC d/b/a 

Bonika Shears

2385 Clower St Ste C, Snellville, GA 30078770-972-4332   Fax 770-972-4330                                                  Get our newsletter