To make scissors the first step is to make the blanks. The blanks are the two halves of a pair of scissors. Blanks may include the blade and handle or just the blade. If there is a handle and a blade, the metal handle is welded to the blade or the plastic handle is attached to the blade. Some scissors made from blanks are formed by using cold stamping or moulding. Quality scissors generally are made from blanks, formed by drop forging.
When the blanks of the scissors are ready, they are then trimmed to the proper shape by cutting away any excess material. Trimmed blanks are then hardened by heating and rapid cooling in cold air, water, oil, or some other substance. The heating and cooling temperatures vary depending on the type of steel and the desired features of the blade. A hole, which will allow the two separate blades to be attached to each other, is drilled through the blank.
After the initial heating and cooling comes a second heating and cooling, known as tempering. Tempering gives a uniform hardness to blanks which improve their durability and longevity. This repeating heating and cooling cause the blanks to warp. For that reason, the blanks are peened, meaning that they are straightened by light tapping with a hammer.
The blank is ground into a blade, with a rapidly moving sanding belt or abrasive wheel used to apply its edge. This belt of wheel grinds away the excess steel, forming the sharp edge of the blade. During grinding, the blade is cooled with different liquids. These fluids keep the blade from overheating or warping. After grinding, finer belts and/or wheels are then used for polishing.
The handles are made along with the blades. As mentioned before, handles generally form part of the blank but are quite often made from a metal alloy or plastic as well. Metal handles are welded to the blades. Plastic handles are simply attached to the blades by inserting the ends of the blanks into the hollow slots in the handle.
Polished blades are attached to each other with a screw or a rivet inserted through the drilled holes. Screws and rivets are usually lubricated to ensure flow and silent cutting. Screws ensure the possibility of tension adjustment possibilities. Rivets do not allow for adjustment, which is why rivets are used for less expensive scissors.
At the end, the scissors may be painted, plated with chrome, or plated with nickel to make them rustproof.
Some manufacturers of high-quality shears perform quality control to ensure that there is the proper alignment of both blades to provide a smooth cut. Scissors are tested on tough synthetic fabrics for sharpness and strength.
