Shears
Shears are basically glorified scissors. Are they the same? Well they are definitely not the scissors you used in elementary school with the blue plastic handles and kid proofed blade. Shears are longer, usually at least 6 inches and often more, and they are extremely sharp. Shears are found in many sizes, depending on what your needs are.
Types of shears
Garden shears are used for trimming plants around the house. Plants include shrubbery, trees, house plants, grasses…pretty much anything growing around your house. Here are some tips for picking out the right shears. If you are in the mood to trim your hedges, pick out hedge shears—they will save you loads of time. Make sure they are light weight and have serrated blades; they help to cut through heavier material better than straight blades. A rubber shock absorber between the blades makes for more comfortable trimming. Flower shears are better for cutting flowers. They have anvil blades that are pointed at both ends making it easier to get between tight stems. Lopping shears are better used for cutting heavier wood. They should be light weight and have long handles. Last but not least, grass shears are great for trimming around sprinklers or tree trunks. They make trimming the grass quick work but are virtually impossible to use on anything else.
Kitchen shears usually come in a knife set: the box set that has the bread knife, the cleaver and then of course the kitchen shears. Kitchen shears are pretty universal and their style does not vary much. Most are covered in rubber for easier gripping. These shears are extremely sharp and are used to help cut through skin and fat (though, let's be honest, most of the time they are used to open baggies that wont rip).
Salon shears are for cutting hair. For anyone who has ever attempted to cut their own hair or someone else's, they can tell you it is well worth it to invest in some good shears to get a decent cut. Again, these shears are incredibly sharp so that you will only have to make one pass when trimming your locks. To keep sawing away with duller scissors will leave your cut choppier and less even. These shears are usually stored in an alcohol mixture for cleaning and disinfecting. They are also made of high quality stainless steel and are ice tempered for sharpness that just keeps going. Many come with no-nip tips to avoid accidentally nipping your fingers.
Safety, sharpening, etc
No matter which type of shears you buy, all could cause significant harm if used improperly. Always be sure to keep the shears out of the hands of children as they can easily cut their hands. When the shears are not in use, they should be stored with the blades down to avoid stabbing yourself when you grab for them.
Sharpening
The shear frame is indestructible in the way it is made. It has precision balance and will never warp, bend or corrode. The blades will become dull at some point, but shears can be sharpened with a fine file, a sharpening stone or by simply cutting through sandpaper.
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