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How to Sharpen Pinking Shears Download Article Reviewed by Shaelynn Haning
Last Updated: February 3, 2025
Download Article
Using a Sharpening Wheel
|
Maintaining Shears
|
Video
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Q&A
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Tips
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Warnings
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Things You'll Need
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This article was reviewed by Shaelynn Haning. Shaelynn Haning is a Tailor & Business Owner based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shaelynn is the founder of the highest-rated and most-reviewed alterations and tailoring service in Oklahoma, Tallgrass Tailor, employing a team of skilled craftsmen and women from across the country and the world. Shaelynn is a member of the State of Oklahoma Education Careers and Technologies Board and a member of both the Custom Tailors and Designers Association and the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. She is the host of The Sew Show with Shae, an entertaining and educational sewing channel posting weekly videos on YouTube. Shaelynn earned her BS in Apparel Design and Product Development from Marist College. This article has been viewed 180,407 times.
With their sharp interlocking teeth, it can be difficult to know the proper way to sharpen your old pinking shears to keep them in good working order. If you have access to the right equipment, it's a quick process of sharpening the flat side of the blade and honing it to a proper edge. You can learn the steps to keep your shears in proper working order and well-maintained. See Step 1 for more information.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Using a Sharpening Wheel
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1 Examine the shears to find the lap line. A different kind of metal with a slightly different color is used for the cutting surface on most good-quality pair of pinking shears. Hold the blade and look at it from the side: there should be a shiny metal on the bottom side, a distinct line, and a darker matte grey metal on the cutting surface.
If you don't see this, the shears need to be replaced. They've worn out over time and there's nothing left to sharpen.
To sharpen pinking shears, you won't ever sharpen between the individual "teeth" on the blade, which would ruin the action of the shears and make it so they wouldn't cut properly. Instead, you want to sharpen along the flat edge of those teeth on the cutting surface, honing the teeth all the way from the "peak" at the top of each tooth to the "valley" at the bottom.
2 Set the proper angle of the clamp. The blades of most pinking shears have an angle of between 0 and 5 degrees, and some have a slightly negative angle at which you'll need to set the clamp to sharpen them properly. Estimate the angle, or start at 0 and perform a scratch test to see if the clamp is set properly.>
Secure the shears in the clamp so the flat side of the blade is perpendicular to the sharpening wheel.
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3 Do a scratch test. Use a permanent marker and blacken the flat blade side of the pinking shears you're going to sharpen. Make sure you darken all the way up to each peak and down to each valley. You don't need to color between them, just on the flat side you're going to sharpen.
Rotate the sharpening wheel with your hand (you don't need to turn it on) to scratch the blade quickly on it to see if you've got the clamp set at the proper angle. You should see the blacking start to wear off on the blade, not lower on the silver side or too high on the peaks. Adjust the blade accordingly before you start sharpening.
4 Grind the blacking off. When you've got the clamp set appropriately, turn on your machine and do a few passes with the blade. After three or four, turn it off again and examine your blade to make sure you're grinding evenly. If the black is removed, you're doing a good job. Do a few more passes, pausing every now and then to examine them, readjusting if necessary.
Move the shears across the wheel in only one direction, applying even pressure and being extremely careful to keep your hands and clothes clear of the wheel. Wear safety protection and follow the manual instructions.
When you've done the first, repeat the process for the second blade, maintaining the same angle.
5 Test the shears. To make sure you've sharpened them evenly, cut some felt or other cloth. Properly sharpened pinking shears should cut with good action all the way down to the tip, and the teeth should pass between each other cleanly.
If you're still having trouble, do a few passes on a honing wheel to get the burrs worked out and get the blade even and clean on the cut. Also check the other components of the shears to make sure they're well-oiled and smooth.
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Maintaining Shears
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1 Only use the shears on cloth. Trying to sharpen your shears by cutting into aluminum foil, Brillo pads, or sandpaper is ineffective and can end up damaging the blades by rounding them. Pinking shears need to be sharpened along the flat outside edge of each blade, not in between the valleys. Cutting aluminum or sandpaper rounds off the edges, making them duller and ruining the action, and does nothing to hone the flat side. Use your pinking shears on the appropriate materials and you shouldn't have problems.
A roll of heavy-duty foil costs as much as $5 or $6 anyway and you risk ruining your shears at no savings. Get them done properly, either by investing in professional equipment or taking them to a pro.[1]XResearch source
Using a regular whetstone is also not recommended. It's very difficult to get the edge of the recessed blade flush enough with the stone, and you risk ruining the edge by trying. Take them in instead or invest in the right equipment.
2 Consider getting your shears professionally sharpened. Getting pinking shears professionally sharpened at a fabric store costs $4-$6 dollars, less than the price of a new set, and much less than the cost of a rotary sharpening wheel ($300-$400). It's relatively cheap for the service, very fast, and you'll have the satisfaction of a well-maintained set of shears.[2]XResearch source
If you're unsure where to get your shears sharpened, go into a fabric store and ask where they get their scissors sharpened. If not there, they should be able to recommend a place in your area that sharpens knives and shears.
3 Keep your shears well-oiled. A common complaint about pinking shears, especially old ones, is that they take a lot of hand-strength to use. Keep the connection screw well-oiled by adding a little dab of sewing machine oil every now and then when they get sticky. The sewing machine oil is specially made to not stain fabric, so it's a good choice if you're worried about getting your projects dirty.[3]XResearch source
If you don't want to run out for new oil, you can try a dab of any regular cooking oil, coconut oil being especially effective.
4 Avoid rust by keeping the shears clean and dry. You shouldn't regularly need to clean your shears, but if you get them dirty make sure you dry them immediately and thoroughly to avoid rusting.
To remove rust, soak the blades for a few minutes in tiny amount of bleach (1 tsp.) in a bucket of water. Scrub them vigorously with a wire scouring pad or a Brillo and clean them with clear water. Dry the shears thoroughly and apply lubricating oil.
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Question How do I get pinking shears in New York City? Community Answer Go to any fabric store (Jo-Ann's, etc.) or any store with crafting supplies. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 4
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Tips
In order to gauge whether your shears are being sharpened, take a piece of fabric and cut it before starting to sharpen to see how sharp they are to begin with. Then, test your shears after each attempt at sharpening by cutting the same piece of fabric and taking note of the difference. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Use ear and eye protection, as well as gloves, when using an electric sharpener. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3
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Things You'll Need
Pinking shears
Lubricating oil
Professional sharpener
Clamp
Protective ear, eye, and hand equipment
Fabric
Permanent marker
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Reviewed by: Shaelynn Haning Professional Tailor & Business Owner This article was reviewed by Shaelynn Haning. Shaelynn Haning is a Tailor & Business Owner based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shaelynn is the founder of the highest-rated and most-reviewed alterations and tailoring service in Oklahoma, Tallgrass Tailor, employing a team of skilled craftsmen and women from across the country and the world. Shaelynn is a member of the State of Oklahoma Education Careers and Technologies Board and a member of both the Custom Tailors and Designers Association and the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. She is the host of The Sew Show with Shae, an entertaining and educational sewing channel posting weekly videos on YouTube. Shaelynn earned her BS in Apparel Design and Product Development from Marist College. This article has been viewed 180,407 times. 1 votes - 100% Co-authors: 8Updated: February 3, 2025 Views: 180,407 Categories: Cutting ToolsArticle SummaryX
To sharpen pinking shears, examine the blade to find the lap line, which is a distinct line between the shiny metal and the darker, matte metal. Next, secure the shears in a clamp so the flat side of the blade is perpendicular to the sharpening wheel. Then, blacken the flat blade side with a permanent marker all the way up to each peak and down each valley. Finally, turn on your machine and pass the blade over the wheel several times to grind away the darkened areas and sharpen the blade. For more tips on adjusting the clamp at the correct angle, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Mary Taylor
Jun 5, 2017
"I never noticed the blades were two colors, but when I read step #1, I looked and noticed just a couple of blades were bi-colored shades of grey. My shears are over 70 years old, and I think the advice is right: they are probably not worth sharpening. I am age 75, and the shears originally belonged to my grandmother! They were Wiss shears, of good quality, but everything and everyone has their day, right? I will buy a new pair, but I doubt they will hold up as long as the good old Wiss."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Shaelynn Haning Professional Tailor & Business Owner Co-authors: 8Updated: February 3, 2025 Views: 180,407100% of readers found this article helpful. 1 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
Mary Taylor
Jun 5, 2017
"I never noticed the blades were two colors, but when I read step #1, I looked and noticed just a couple of blades were bi-colored shades of grey. My shears are over 70 years old, and I think the advice is right: they are probably not worth sharpening. I am age 75, and the shears originally belonged to my grandmother! They were Wiss shears, of good quality, but everything and everyone has their day, right? I will buy a new pair, but I doubt they will hold up as long as the good old Wiss."..." more
Ann Walsh
Jan 19, 2019
"I thought my pinking shears were blunted and useless. I read the wikiHow article on how to sharpen them, then the article on maintenance. A few minutes later, with the shears well-oiled for the first time in their life, they are cutting beautifully."..." more
Elizabeth Ro
Oct 22, 2016
"This helped me know how to care for my pinking shears and how to sharpen them since I live in a rural town."
Mandy Smith
Aug 14, 2017
"This helped hugely, I was about to send them off to be sharpened. Thank you!" Rated this article:
J. Gee
Jan 1, 2017
"Learning I can use coconut oil, which I already own, as a lubricant." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Reviewed by Shaelynn Haning 
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Reviewed by: Shaelynn Haning Professional Tailor & Business Owner This article was reviewed by Shaelynn Haning. Shaelynn Haning is a Tailor & Business Owner based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shaelynn is the founder of the highest-rated and most-reviewed alterations and tailoring service in Oklahoma, Tallgrass Tailor, employing a team of skilled craftsmen and women from across the country and the world. Shaelynn is a member of the State of Oklahoma Education Careers and Technologies Board and a member of both the Custom Tailors and Designers Association and the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. She is the host of The Sew Show with Shae, an entertaining and educational sewing channel posting weekly videos on YouTube. Shaelynn earned her BS in Apparel Design and Product Development from Marist College. This article has been viewed 180,407 times. 1 votes - 100% Co-authors: 8 Updated: February 3, 2025 Views: 180,407 Categories: Cutting Tools Article SummaryX
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1 Examine the shears to find the lap line. A different kind of metal with a slightly different color is used for the cutting surface on most good-quality pair of pinking shears. Hold the blade and look at it from the side: there should be a shiny metal on the bottom side, a distinct line, and a darker matte grey metal on the cutting surface. 
2 Set the proper angle of the clamp. The blades of most pinking shears have an angle of between 0 and 5 degrees, and some have a slightly negative angle at which you'll need to set the clamp to sharpen them properly. Estimate the angle, or start at 0 and perform a scratch test to see if the clamp is set properly.> 
3 Do a scratch test. Use a permanent marker and blacken the flat blade side of the pinking shears you're going to sharpen. Make sure you darken all the way up to each peak and down to each valley. You don't need to color between them, just on the flat side you're going to sharpen. 
4 Grind the blacking off. When you've got the clamp set appropriately, turn on your machine and do a few passes with the blade. After three or four, turn it off again and examine your blade to make sure you're grinding evenly. If the black is removed, you're doing a good job. Do a few more passes, pausing every now and then to examine them, readjusting if necessary. 
5 Test the shears. To make sure you've sharpened them evenly, cut some felt or other cloth. Properly sharpened pinking shears should cut with good action all the way down to the tip, and the teeth should pass between each other cleanly. 
1 Only use the shears on cloth. Trying to sharpen your shears by cutting into aluminum foil, Brillo pads, or sandpaper is ineffective and can end up damaging the blades by rounding them. Pinking shears need to be sharpened along the flat outside edge of each blade, not in between the valleys. Cutting aluminum or sandpaper rounds off the edges, making them duller and ruining the action, and does nothing to hone the flat side. Use your pinking shears on the appropriate materials and you shouldn't have problems. 
2 Consider getting your shears professionally sharpened. Getting pinking shears professionally sharpened at a fabric store costs $4-$6 dollars, less than the price of a new set, and much less than the cost of a rotary sharpening wheel ($300-$400). It's relatively cheap for the service, very fast, and you'll have the satisfaction of a well-maintained set of shears.[2] 
3 Keep your shears well-oiled. A common complaint about pinking shears, especially old ones, is that they take a lot of hand-strength to use. Keep the connection screw well-oiled by adding a little dab of sewing machine oil every now and then when they get sticky. The sewing machine oil is specially made to not stain fabric, so it's a good choice if you're worried about getting your projects dirty.[3] 
4 Avoid rust by keeping the shears clean and dry. You shouldn't regularly need to clean your shears, but if you get them dirty make sure you dry them immediately and thoroughly to avoid rusting. 
Community Answer Go to any fabric store (Jo-Ann's, etc.) or any store with crafting supplies. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 4