15 replies to this topic

[TJ Hall]

Need to get some new scissors, and am asking for some recommendations. Want to get a fine pair for trimming heads etc.. And a good all purpose pair. I'm not always up to date on the latest stuff, so figured this is the best place to ask. Thanks for any help! Tj

[Bud Guidry]

been using the same pair from mclain for years, still sharp very fine pair for little details. dr slick on the bigger pair, don't ever cut thru metal. if your going to use them use only on feathers or fine materials

[dave08]

i got a pair of the dr slick multi purpose.i find they cut everything from 3 strand gut, tinsels to floss and even the most delicate of feathers.
also great for hairs and synthetics and all material for trout ,saltwater, and bass flies.
i've had them for a #of years and have held up great and still work as well as when i first purchased them.

[BSH]

Hi T.J.!

I have several, but using mainly three:

for delicate work :

 230.jpg   4.52K   12 downloads

for some hairs, ets:

 230 (1).jpg   5.61K   12 downloads

and other very cheap which i have no idea about the producer, but after 2 years of use still good and sharp. To cut the butts of the wings I started to use razor blade and I think it's the best for this purpose.

[Dave Carne]

These are the ones me and Mike use - I've been recommending these for ages and everyone who buys them buys more pairs (JIC they become unavailable - I bought 10 pairs!).

Dx

[arkle]

4 1/2" or 5" optical iris scissors take some beating for most work, you can get very cheap ones (Indian & Pakistani) that'll last about a year or so but pay a bit more & you'll get the real deal, probably similar source, but better steel & finish. The beauty of them is your hand stays out of the way from both the line of sight so you can see what you're cutting & if you work directly under a lamp, you're less likely to get fried. Dental gum scissors are quite similar, by the way.

[Dave Carne]

4 1/2" or 5" optical iris scissors take some beating for most work, you can get very cheap ones (Indian & Pakistani) that'll last about a year or so but pay a bit more & you'll get the real deal, probably similar source, but better steel & finish. The beauty of them is your hand stays out of the way from both the line of sight so you can see what you're cutting & if you work directly under a lamp, you're less likely to get fried. Dental gum scissors are quite similar, by the way.

I have german iris scissors (the best you can get) that cost £40 a pair and don't rate them. The ones I mention above are german stainless gum scissors.
Dx

[Dave Carne]

Ooops sorry - just discovered I didn't put the link in.
Dx

http://www.ebay.co.u...#ht_1650wt_1165

[TJ Hall]

Thanks everyone!

[arkle]

Dave, a friend of mine who is a surgical instrument specialist supplier tells me that although many of the supposed top names from Germany/Switzerland etc are now owned by Indian & Pakistani companies. So the quality of steel you get is not what you're paying for, neither is the build quality - these people just buy out the big names to get a greater market share. The was a program on last year about the vastly diminishing quality of surgical instruments, either Panorama or the Channel 4 equiv. There was 1 guy in a London hospital, who examines all the instruments from all the suppliers (very full time job !) & he was saying that now, NONE of the currently available equipment got near to even reaching the B.S. marks required for surgery in the U.K.

They also showed the London offices of at least one of these firms, offering to stamp the scissors with whatever grade of steel & country of origin the customer wanted, despite the fact that it was ALL the same product, often produced by child-labour in back-street sweat-shops & then bought in from there by these "big-name" wholesalers, as it was cheaper to do it that way for mass produced products, like scissors/forceps etc than make them in-house.

[Dave Carne]

Whatever you say they're extremely good scissors.
Dx

[arkle]

Here ya go,,, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012b0v5 from July11th 2011

Oh yes, I bought some on your previous recommendation here & they're about my most commonly used pair of scissors, of which I have well over a dozen different types

[lukas]

I bought two pairs when Dave recomended on another forum, also all the guys at a wee tying club about 10 bought some and they are all still going strong and well although i wont cut tinsel or wires with them
i have others for that another thing that does scissors in is foam and wife and daughters pinching them for which i have went daft for years to the answer they are only scissors (2 pairs thomson Ice tempers to name a few) they now know and i bought them there own
John

[salmosalar]

Hi TJ,

I tie more than 2 000 salmon flies per year and, to me, nothing can beat the UNI Scissors curved:

UNI Products

[flyryan]

i use same ones as dave and milke bought 10 pairs as well cant be beat

[pedrofly]

Hi TJ, I tie more than 2 000 salmon flies per year and, to me, nothing can beat the UNI Scissors curved: UNI Products

I have these also. Got them from Jan Guy all those years ago before he died (RIP) They are terrific scissors. I also own a pair from Japan with super sharp and fine points...ideal for trimming, etc.