sewing center to help you identify these special blades before you sharpen them. (Most
lower cost and general purpose scissors are not knife edge scissors).
4. During the sharpening process you will need to know how to feel for a burr on the scissor
blade in order to know when sharpening is complete. Feeling for a burr involves running
your finger carefully across (NOT ALONG) the back of the blade as shown in Figure 3. A
burr is a microscopic protrusion of metal produced during the sharpening process under
the edges of the blade which can be felt but is not always visible. It will feel rough and
jagged compared to the smooth finish on the back of the blade.
5. The Manual Scissor Sharpener Model 490 will sharpen either right hand or left hand
scissors without need to disassemble them. If you are left handed you probably have
purchased left hand scissors.* To sharpen right hand scissors, hold the wider, handle
portion of the sharpener in your left hand. With left hand scissors, hold the sharpener in
your right hand (see Figures 5 and 6). However, the orientation of the angle guide on the
sharpener will remain the same with either right or left handed scissors.
6. Before sharpening identify the type of scissor you have. Unless you have scissors designed
for specialized applications, you will have either; (a) standard right handed scissors; (b) stan-
dard left handed scissors; or (c) knife edge scissors (which can be either right or left handed).
By far the most popular scissor is standard right handed. Follow the appropriate instructions
below depending on the type of scissors you have.
*You can determine whether your scissors are right or left handed as follows: Open the
scissors and lay them on a table. If the cutting edge of the top blade faces to your right, the
scissors are right-handed. If the cutting edge of the top blade faces your left, the scissors
are left-handed.
GettinG tO KnOW tHe cHeF’scHOice
MOdel 490 sHArPener
The Chef’sChoice
®
Model 490 Scissor Sharpener is designed to sharpen the most
popular general purpose scissors and those commonly used for sewing and crafts.
The Model 490, See Figure 4, consists of the Sharpener, two (2) diamond coated
abrasive pads, and three (3) Angle Guides.
Figure 3. Carefully feel for a burr along
the entire back of the blade. Note arrow
for direction of finger movement when
in contact with blade.
Figure 2. Typical position of the
Cutter Blade and Anvil Blade on
right-handed scissors.
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