Rigging scissors

[John Allen]

Micro mark has a 6" pair of rigging scissors (for tight spots)? $ 20.40 Has anyone used these is there better out there? are the finger holes large enough to be comfortable? I like my zap it but is to big to get deep inside the larger ships. I use broken old safety razor blade broken in 1/2 and glued into a thin wood strip when not careful tend to cut the line other than the one you want to -suggestions

 

John 

[usedtosail]

I bought a pair a few years ago and use them occasionally when I have to reach into an area to cut a line. I think they work really well. The holes are a little small but I have small fingers so they are comfortable for me. They are a little pricey though.

Edited June 25, 2015 by usedtosail

[jbshan]

Look for fly tying supplies.  Sharp, small tips but with man-sized finger holes.

[mtaylor]

What Joel said is best... I've tried different sewing scissors but the finger holes are too darn small for my meathooks.   The flying scissors work very well and are really designed to cut thread/rope/fishing line.

[John Allen]

Thanks to Tom and Joel

 

Would never have thought about the fly tying supplies. Thanks for the response

[edbardet]

Another option i you have a medical type friend - suture scissors. They are sometimes discarded after one use. They have a little grove and curved tip that allows you to grasp the exact line.

Ed

[twintrow]

Look for Iris Scissors on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Iris-Scissors-4-5-Curved-Surgical-Dental-Instruments-/190699065234?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c668ccf92

Edited June 25, 2015 by twintrow

[John Allen]

Great suggestions

 

Thanks to all 

[geoff]

As well as fly tying scissors I also use nail clippers. No danger of cutting the wrong bit with those, have I ever done that? Well, er???That's "Shrouded" in mystery!

Edited June 27, 2015 by geoff

[Hyposphagma]

I use surgical scissors. All types with curved ends, 90 degrees curved ends and micro scissors are provided. Even scissors with > 30 cm length and tiny blades. Esp. the ones for vascular surgery are very fine but most of them are horrible expensive when bought new. I always have an eye on ebay and sometimes a cheap one can be shot. Overall the quality of those scissors esp. from Aesculap guarantees a tool for lifetime.

[allanyed]

John

Make friends with your barber/hair stylist or have your lady make nice with hers and try to get an old  pair of their scissors.  They may or may not need to be  sharpened, but will then last you a lifetime of rigging.   I got a free 5" Joewell K2 shear this way.

 

Allan

Edited June 27, 2015 by allanyed

[Ulises Victoria]

I have at least 5 different types of scissors and use them according to the situation. I don't believe there is one tool that can do everything. 

Also, I have learned two things: 1.- not to spend money on cheap tools, and 2.- there is no such thing as "too many tools". 

Edited June 27, 2015 by Ulises Victoria

[Tadeusz43]

Hi,

I have some scissors but the best to work on the rigging, I consider these in pictures.

 

http://www.jotika-ltd.com/Pages/1024768/Tools/Pliers_2.htm

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/rigging_tools.html

 

Tadeusz

[John Allen]

It's quite a crew we have here I'm impressed. All great suggestions. I agree you cannot have too many tools. 

 

I've tried to tell my wife that but it's like trying to take the breach of a fort with a Forlorn Hope!

 

Again thanks to all John

[jbshan]

You might also consider what I think are called cuticle scissors.  A large drug store would probably have some, or the ladies in your life may be able to help.

[James Pitt]

Hi......worked in ophthalmology for several years.......also consider Castroviejo or Westcott tenotomy or iridectomy scissors,,,,,,,,these are inexpensive, incredibly sharp, and in cataract surgery are used once and thrown out.  No pesky finger loops.  For cotton or whatever line can be used over and over,

 

james

[James Pitt]

If interested, there is quite a selection of castroviejos(all quality and $ range) on amazon.  I believe they even offer the 90 degree instrument.  I know they are strong and will last, there are times when Ive walked into the ophthalmology OR and found them imbedded into the floor or the non tile part of the wall........short tempered Doc's...................I got to bring those home

 

james

[hornet]

I find that the scissors from my Swiss Army knife work well. Good quality steel.I keep them sharp with a diamond sharpening stone.

 

Edited August 30, 2015 by hornet

[Captain Al]

Orvis makes a fly tying scissor for $7.  Its great.  You can nip off the ends of loose line right up to the knot or place you want to end a wrap. 

[md1400cs]

These are absolutely so excellent. each cut is super clean, leave no small hanging threads. Also (not shown in photo) on the other side is a screw that allows tightening of the blades.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R8LZF4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01

 

Highly recommended.

 

Michael

[Landlocked123]

Dr. Slick fly tying scissors....that's all you need to know.

Edited December 11, 2015 by Landlocked123

[John Allen]

checked post- all great suggestions I did purchase fly tying scissors because of the large openings for fingers, found they were extremely comfortable. will add some of the others you folks have suggested have come to rely on all of your experience and have saved myself from making mistakes like (cutting a middle shroud of 6 shrouds)

 

thanks to all again

 

John

[Ulises Victoria]

checked post- all great suggestions I did purchase fly tying scissors because of the large openings for fingers, found they were extremely comfortable. will add some of the others you folks have suggested have come to rely on all of your experience and have saved myself from making mistakes like (cutting a middle shroud of 6 shrouds)

 

thanks to all again

 

John

Never ever ever approach a line with your scissors open. Scissors always closed until they actually touch what you want to cut. Don't ask me how I know that! 

[miloman]

Xcelta has great products but pricy.,,,,Milo

[jbshan]

Milo, the fly tying scissors, if I recall, were in the sub- $20 range.  I got one straight pair and one curved, one is Dr. Slick, the other isn't.  I got them at an Orvis store, but I see Cabela's also has fly supplies, just to give you some options.

[reklein]

I will have to check out the fly tying scissors, but in the meantime I get along very well with a small pair of Fiskars from JoAnns sewing store. Bill

[Landlubber Mike]

Those Dr. Slick scissors look very interesting.  I've tried a few scissors in the past, but it's always hard to get a clean cut just above the knot without leaving little tails.  Thanks for the tip!

[overdale]

For me, it's nail clippers every time. They cut closest to the knot and the possibility of 'unintended consequences' with adjacent rigging are much less than with scissors.

[pompey2]

These are my all time favourite for trimming rigging.

Very clean sharp cut and like side cutters they cut right up to the knot, no little end left.

generally known as cuticle clippers.

 

[DocRob]

A very old thread, but I was interested into the subject, as I start my first rigging job and my first cuts with my not so bad tiny scissors were suboptimal. I tried my Tamiya and DSPIAE side cutters then and the Tamiya one worked ok, but not great.
After reading this thread and looking for a decent pair of scissors online, I remembered, that I own a Victorinox nail clipper, like mentioned above and tried it. It worked perfectly with my test and is able to cut very close to a knot due to the way it's constructed. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

Cheers Rob