Overheard a stylist say she never sharpens her shears and just buys new ones every year

I was at a supply shop last week and heard this woman tell her friend she spends $200 on new shears every 12 months because sharpening is too much hassle. That got me thinking about the real cost difference. On one hand, sharpening runs me about $25 every 3 months so $100 a year total. On the other, buying new $200 shears each year means you get fresh blades but also waste a lot of metal. Which side do you all fall on, sharpen or replace?

3 comments

3 Comments

simon_coleman24d ago

The thing nobody talks about is how often you drop your shears. I've seen people drop them once and they're never the same after that. If you're buying new every year you're probably getting a drop or two in there that messes up the alignment anyway. Plus sharpening services vary so much. I had a guy once grind too much metal off and it ruined the balance completely. So really it depends on your work style and how clumsy you are more than just the math.

murphy.blair24d ago

See this with everything these days, @simon_coleman, one bad drop and the whole thing's useless.

lisak2624d ago

Actually my 2017 pair survived three drops last season alone and they're still cutting better than my buddy's brand new ones he bought last week. Maybe the problem isn't the shears.