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What fabricators should know about handheld cutting tools
There is no one-size-fits-all cutting tool. The right option needs to fit the hand using it, whether it is large or small, left or right. The blades must be sharp and durable, enabling professional-quality cuts of thick and weather-resistant materials without slipping, blunting or fraying. Still, the tool should be easy enough to use all day, to reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries. The right tool, when properly maintained, also helps reduce material and equipment waste.
Most fabricators rely on shears more than scissors; shears generally have blades that are 6 inches or longer and have an asymmetrical handle designed on the bottom lever to fit more than one finger. Scissors cut hair, paper, thread and other smaller things. Shears are designed to cut multiple layers of fabric and dense materials or make long straight cuts, which are all necessary for marine fabrication.
Those in the industry agree that fabricators should match their cutting tool to the weight and weave of the marine fabric.
“For lighter materials like canvas or nylon, a fine grind with sharp, lightweight blades offers clean, effortless cuts,” says Nick Seferi, vice president of product marketing of Westcott/Clauss, a subsidiary of Acme United Corporation of Fairfield, Conn. “For heavy-duty fabrics such as vinyl, composites or multilayered laminates, longer blades with reinforced pivots and harder coatings like Titanium Bonded™ steel provide the power and durability needed.”
In short, the heavier and tougher the textiles, the sturdier the tools need to be.
The mechanics of scissors and shears
Back when you were cutting paper in elementary-school art class, you quickly learned your kid-safe scissors—loosely riveted together—worked best if the right thumb pushed down and to the left and the lower finger(s) pulled up to the right to close the gap caused by the loose rivet.
The motion to close the gap is less necessary for properly maintained professional scissors and shears, which have precision pivot assemblies that maintain consistent blade contact. The single beveled blades curve inward, creating uniform contact along the blades’ ride line as they close and open. The single contact point also reduces blade wear and helps maintain sharpness. Many shears also feature slight hollowing so only the cutting edges touch, minimizing resistance.
“There are things that really go unnoticed with a lot of scissors,” says Devin Head, regional sales manager for Kai Scissors of Puyallup, Wash. “The blades bend towards each other, and so then they kind of press off of each other and make that cut. The spring washers act as an intermediary, allowing the bending to happen further down the blade. The curvature and spring nut add to the ease of use.”
While the blade geometry and grind are designed to make clean cuts, the pivot tension ensures the blades shear instead of crush, to reduce user fatigue.
The blades also are often slightly hollowed, so only the cutting edges touch, which means less resistance and strain on the hand. The resistance or increased pressure of cutting can also pivot and microscopically twist to make a better cut.
Delicate work requires sharper instruments with a bevel approximately 40–45 degrees that slices through lighter materials, while heavy-duty blades use a lower bevel closer to 30 degrees to break apart tough materials such as Kevlar®. For marine fabricators, a 35-degree bevel offers a good mix of durability and sharpness. The lower degree retains sharpness while cutting thick and resilient material. In some cases, the upper—or dominant—blade may have a steeper angle for added cutting power.
Professional-grade shears are manufactured with paired blades that wear together over time. When sharpening or servicing, both blades should be treated equally to preserve performance. This also applies to general-use tools. This is crucial to remember, even when taking the tool apart for maintenance.
“I have three of our kitchen shears at home,” says Head. “They come apart to be washed and whatever, but I’ve put the wrong blades together from two different pairs, and it just doesn’t work.”
True or false: Hand dominance matters
With roughly 9.2 percent of the global population favoring their left hand, many companies have designed left-handed models. But as any cutter knows, it’s not as simple as reversing the handle design.
Alan Whitley is the national account manager for Wolff Industries Inc. of Spartanburg, S.C. He is a lefty and a fan of true left-handed scissors. “If you want accuracy and you’re a left-handed person, you need to learn how to use a true left-handed scissor,” he says. “It’ll make your life easier.”
Traditional right-hand scissors allow right-handed cutters to see their cutting line on the right-hand side—the blade is behind the line. Since the right blade is on top, it blocks the user’s view of the cutting line from the left side. True left orientation allows lefties to see their line because the blades are switched. Still, old habits die hard for lefties who learned to cut with right-handed scissors.
“Because of the historical training where lefties use right-handed blades, they tend to pull with their thumb and push with their fingers to make it cut better,” explains principal front-end engineer Dan Cunningham of Fiskars® Brand Inc. in Middleton, Wis. While Fiskars is nearly 400 years old, the company rolled out its ergonomically designed orange-handled scissors in 1967.
“But then, if you hand that lefty a true lefty scissor, their natural inclination for that reversing of their kind of grip will cause the blades to splay again, which is a downside,” he adds. “So some people actually prefer righty blades with lefty handles [called semi-left-handed scissors] if they use their left hand.”
Others prefer to set aside the lefty argument altogether by simply buying high-quality ambidextrous gear.
“Fabricators shouldn’t have to choose scissors based on being right- or left-handed anymore,” says Seferi. “The better option is to look for advanced technologies—like precision blade grinds, titanium bonding or nonstick coatings—paired with truly ambidextrous handles. This combination delivers performance and comfort for either hand, without forcing the user into hand-specific designs.”
Modern advances for the long haul
Kai uses high-carbon molybdenum vanadium stainless steel. Clauss uses advanced metallurgy and coatings such as Titanium Bonded or CarboTitanium to keep blades sharper up to three times longer, along with nonstick finishes that prevent buildup when cutting adhesives or resin-coated fabrics. Fiskars Pro PowerArc™ uses heavy-duty, coined stainless steel blades. Wolff has chemical-resistant and soft grip handles. Many manufacturers use spring-opening models to reduce small muscle fatigue.
These developments certainly drive up the price of professional-quality equipment. Marine fabricators’ profit margins aren’t fat, and pricey items can seem extravagant. However, the cost is largely unavoidable; users can pay now or later.
Head does trade shows and says that older ladies who sew with arthritic hands are excited about some of his products with bigger holes that fit their hands and work better. Unfortunately, younger cutters barely look in his direction, and it’s a mistake professionals shouldn’t make.
“These young people don’t realize what’s coming,” he points out. “They think, ‘What will do the job the cheapest? Let me get that and settle for now.’ They don’t put in the thought process of ‘I’m going to do this for hours on end, so I probably should be looking into something that’s gonna protect my hand.’”
Tad Hendrickson is a freelance writer who lives in Minneapolis, Minn.
SIDEBAR: Maintenance tips
Tool maintenance varies depending on the type of work, usage, personal preference and the tool itself. Still, there are a few general rules for good maintenance.
“We recommend oiling the joint, especially if you’re in high-humidity situations. If you oil that joint, that’ll keep any sort of rust away; it’ll keep the scissors performing really well. Use some sewing machine or 3-in-1 oil. Just a drop.” — Dan Cunningham, principal front-end engineer Fiskars® Brand Inc. in Middleton, Wis.
“Shears and scissors dull over time as the blades get rounded over. Honing will bring them from 60 percent sharpness to 90 percent. Bench grinding by a professional will get it back to nearly new.” — Cunningham
“Scissors perform best when treated like precision tools. Fabricators should always store them in a clean, dry place—ideally in a protective sheath or case—to prevent nicks and corrosion. Wiping blades after use removes fibers, adhesives or moisture that can dull the edge. A drop of oil at the pivot keeps movement smooth, and occasionally checking tension ensures proper shearing action. Most importantly, reserve fabric scissors for fabric only, since cutting hard or abrasive materials creates burrs and quickly dulls the blades. With these simple steps, scissors will stay sharper, cut cleaner and last far longer in the shop.” — Nick Seferi, vice president of product marketing of Westcott/Clauss, a subsidiary of Acme United Corporation of Fairfield, Conn.
SIDEBAR: Injuries and avoiding them
Cutting oneself is not the most common injury workers endure. Instead, it’s repetitive strain injury (RSI). This is why proper technique and good tools are vital for people who cut a lot of fabric. Those who run a shop need to be especially aware of the risk of RSIs; losing staff to injury will impact the bottom line, especially in smaller shops where a missing set of hands is detrimental.
Providing the right tool for the job makes a significant impact on reducing RSIs.
“Let’s say I had to take this little scissor, and I had to cut all day,” says Alan Whitley, national account manager for Wolff Industries Inc. of Spartanburg, S.C. “I’m using two fingers, and I’m doing this all day. That is a lot of force and a lot of work on just those two fingers. At the end of the day, my hand is probably going to be cramped, curled up and just really uncomfortable. Using a shears avoids that.”
Meat processing is a major sector for Wolff Industries. At a processing plant, Whitley observed workers on the line employing a maneuver that excessively bent their wrists. Whitley went into the manager’s office with a solution: crescent-shaped shears. It reduced the risk of injury for the entire staff.
“The production speed is about the same, but injury and time off are down,” he notes. “That is one of the cool things we can do. And they are also happy employees. Happy employees work harder, happy employees show up every day, happy employees continue to work and want to work harder for you.”
Health and Benefits insurance
If someone does develop a repetitive strain injury at work, it helps to have coverage available. ATA members can access health and nonmedical benefits tailored to the needs of their business, with programs for group sizes of two or more. Learn more:
