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

 

Kuda Workshop Finale

Yesterday the Kuda Workshop wound up. We've already had phone calls from at least one sharpener we met at the workshop and set up some new distributors. Five sharpeners were certified on sharpening Bonika Shears. I'll have their names listed once released by Kuda.



I had a chance to look at the Kuda system and of course I think our Scimech is superior, I was impressed. Everyone who tried to certify sharpening Bonika Shears that used their system passed. I wished their clamp did a full convex rotation like our Scimech but I like the torsional compensation and the cool technological look. The Scimech is a little less complicated and the scissor twist has been addressed in the new method of sharpening I plan to demonstrate at the sharpeners Jam here in Atlanta in July. Our equipment is more ergonomic, especially for those with back or hand problems like arthritist or carpal tunnel. However, in the past I've often told people that if they did not buy the Scimech I would recommend Larry Brook's Hamurguri machine, but I think I will now include Len's Kuda equipment as well.



I was super impressed with Mike Borsch nipper sharpening machine. It is simple, but effective in correcting all type of nipper problems. We will be talking by phone tomorrow about including his machine as part of the equipment line we will be providing to sharpeners. We hope to have me thoroughly trained and ready to sell and train on the machine by the Sharpeners Jam. I was really impressed by Mike's nipper knowledge and plan to dive into his brain and be teach and communicate his knowledge to future nipper sharpeners. The equipment should run less than $1300.00. It would take a little over 200 nippers to pay for the machine at $6.00 each and about 160 at $8.00 each. That is not quite as good as our Scimech Scissor Flathone which breaks even at 116 shears at the going rate of $25.00 per pair sharpening, but if you sharpened 10 nippers per day the equipment would be paid for in just one month. It is also more portable, quieter and cleaner than clipper blade sharpening.

IBS New York

The New York show is behind us. It is one of the shows we must be at and have a presence but everything is twice as expensive as other shows except the New York City Hot Dogs which are expensive. Many thanks to Ed Wozniak who ran our other booth and his duaghter Robin. Also to Ted Powell who sharpened for us. He broke the record for the number of shears sharpened at at New York show and that was with a 20% price increase! No one complained about the price. Also kudos to Sheila Tate who helped at our booth. It is great to have such a knowledgeable Barber -stylist to work with us. Also to Chuck Chivaras who worked tirelessly demonstrating his new EDT Scissors for carpal tunnel syndrome. Also, Leah Watson's class on Crop Circles. As usually she had rave revues. She taught an energetic class even though she had just had a stroke and was supposed to be on complete bedrest. Now that we are back we had two days to catch up then I am training today a sharpener from Mobile, Al and on Monday a sharpener frm Louisville will be staying a week with us. My goals this week is to get the list of helpers finalized for the Premiere Show. Ed Wozniak is currently at the International Hair Show in Secaucus, NJ. We expect great sales since Nikita Smith will be demonstraing the shears in her classroom and also this is the home of Yancy Edwards. We sold several shears in New York just from the recommendation of Yancy. All his DVD's promote our shears just because he likes our shear and us. sort of gives us the warm fuzzies since we are not big and wealthy enough to pay a corral of platform artists like our competitors.

We got a wonderful letter form a recent trainee that was addressed to Charles Stanley how we changed his life. If he gives me permission I will post it in my next blog.

Saw a couple of new scissor screws at the last show. I hope to get those ready for the next blog.