Project Farm

Scissors!

Is a $3 pair as good as a pair that costs $73?

In the first test we'll test the sharpness of the scissors after they cut through paper the length of three football fields.

Then we'll test the sharpness after they cut through cardboard. We'll see if cutting aluminum actually sharpens the scissors, then we'll see which brand holds up the best after cutting through sandpaper.

Finally we'll sharpen some scissors after they become really dull from all the testing.

Sharpness numbers: lower is better – for context, a double edge razor blade is around 50, a utility blade is anywhere from 150 to 200, and a new high-end cutlery edge is anywhere from 250 to 350.

Brand ▲ ▼ Weight (grams) ▲ ▼ Cost ▲ ▼ Initial sharpness ▲ ▼ Sharpness after 1000 cuts ▲ ▼ Sharpness after cardboard ▲ ▼ Sharpness after aluminum ▲ ▼ Sharpness after sandpaper ▲ ▼ Subjective ease of use/comfort ▲ ▼
Acme 185 18.00 575 595 675 705 1190 3
Bianco 130 20.00 395 485 570 590 1235 3
Fiskars 126 21.00 355 400 410 435 725 1
Gingher 171 31.00 245 310 375 350 550 2
Henchels 91 22.00 295 460 525 635 770 2
Heritage 215 28.00 345 410 450 490 730 2
Kai 254 73.00 220 290 330 335 460 1
KitchenAid 122 9.00 470 515 585 635 1270 2
Klein Tools 167 24.00 270 320 420 435 645 2
Livingo 109 13.00 390 440 520 555 1000 3
Scotch 77 4.00 410 545 585 630 1175 3
Singer 67 6.00 560 570 700 685 1240 3
Stanley 92 3.50 610 1015 1075 1230 1650 3
Ultima Classic 195 19.00 410 440 485 510 945 3
Westscott 161 14.00 475 525 585 610 780 5

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