Features of sharpening manicure tools

Carrying out a home manicure procedure is impossible without high-quality tweezers, scissors and nippers. However, even the highest quality tools sooner or later fall into disrepair, so they have to be sharpened. Although it is more convenient to entrust this procedure to a specialist, some people try to solve this problem on their own.

In principle, the sharpening technology of all manicure tools is approximately the same. The backlash is necessarily removed, the loose parts are strengthened, and then the cutting parts are restored. Rust stains are also removed if necessary.

In the case of nippers, sharpening starts from the inside so that the cutting edges are the same. The outer side is then processed, the tips of the blades are adjusted and, finally, the latter are processed where they touch. The whole process ends with polishing.

Tweezers are prepared in a similar manner. It is worth mentioning a couple more options for sharpening this tool at home. It can be done with:

• a device for knives;
• sandpaper attached to a nail file;
• an ordinary piece of foil folded several times and cut into strips.

In all cases, the procedure is completed by cleaning the sharp edges and rinsing the instrument.

There are two main ways to sharpen manicure tools: either try to do it yourself, or contact a professional.In addition, the tools are processed either by hand or in the factory using special tools. The first method is considered to be of higher quality, since in the second "conveyor" case, the blades have different and not very high-quality sharpness.

Before you start restoring tools with your own hands, you need to master some skills and purchase the right equipment. Typically, the following tools are required to tidy up standard nail scissors: a machine, sticks, and napkins. The optimal machine should have a diamond wheel of fine abrasiveness, an alternative to which can be a spoke with the same coating. Bars are likely to be required of two types: a grinder, showing an abrasiveness of 2 thousand grit, as well as a pair of polishing stones with an abrasiveness of 8 and 12 thousand grit. Polishing cloths are made of felt.

For convenience, the device being repaired should be unscrewed - this will make it more comfortable to sharpen individual blades. Sharpening itself is not difficult: the grinding unit is connected at the lowest speed, after which the edge of the device must be carried out in a circle from the beginning to the end of the tool. The correct contact patch will be 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters. First, the point is sharpened from the inside, and then from the outside, after which the scissors are assembled, wiped and polished.

In addition, it is unlikely that you will be able to remove the backlash (the gap between the cutting parts) on your own, as well as eliminate the "stiffness" of the movements. Finally, at home it will be possible to sharpen only knives and scissors, although some craftsmen can cope with wire cutters.

Speaking about professional sharpening, it should be remembered that some tools must always be processed by the hands of specialists. These are scalloped scissors and pushers. In general, it is much easier to contact a professional who has all the necessary equipment., since at one time it will be possible to tidy up the entire set of tools used. The specialist first of all checks how smoothly the blades close and open, and whether a backlash is formed between them. In the next stage, he removes burrs, twists loose parts and, finally, sharpens the blades on both sides.

The quality of sharpening is checked with a cloth or napkin. Ideal scissors will cut the material very softly, leaving a straight, non-torn line behind. It is important to mention that the sharpening machine can be either mechanical or laser. Laser allows you to simplify the procedure, but tools processed on it wear out faster.

The reason for this is that the beam significantly reduces the thickness of the metal surfaces. It is more difficult to work on a mechanical machine, but the device will last longer in the future.

To sharpen the pliers at home, it will be possible to do without even a diamond wheel, it will be enough just to purchase a file with a homogeneous grain and tightly closing notches. If this procedure is to be performed for the first time, then it is better to start with a rehearsal on some old device. The first step is to open the nippers to check if there is any backlash. If the answer is yes, the rod is installed on the rivet of the hinges and worked through with a hammer.

In the next step, the hinge joint is cleaned with sandpaper on both sides. After that, you can go to the sharpening itself with a file. Machining starts from the inner edge.At the same time, movements should be smooth and moving in one direction. Then, in the same movements, you need to grind the corner of the blade and go to the outer edges. In the latter case, the movements become reciprocating.

At the last stage, the "cheeks" are polished with movements, again going in one direction. The sharpened product is polished with a block and the hinges are oiled.

In the case when nail scissors are sharpened, the technology is not very complicated. However, you will definitely need two grindstones with an abrasiveness of 600 and 1500 grit. The first step, as with the tweezers, is to check the backlash. This gap is removed gradually with a hammer and a special bit. In order for the blades to smoothly converge and diverge, it is worth additionally lubricating the tool with a special tool on both sides.

Then the scissors are opened, fixed in this position and sharpened with a 600 grit stone. The movement goes towards itself and only from the side of the upper plane. The scratches that appear can be removed with a stone of 1500 grit. He should move towards himself in the same way. If, after sharpening, the ends of the blades do not fit together correctly, then it is worth bending one of them with pliers.

The presence of a sharpening machine will allow you to quickly tidy up your nail scissors. The scheme is the same: first, the backlash is eliminated. To do this, a fairly strong rod is installed at the point where the blades are connected, and a hammer gently taps on the other side of it. First, the blades are sharpened on the inside, and then on the other. The machine should be running at minimum speed and the edge of the blade is guided in one direction from start to finish. After that, the tool is wiped and polished with a bar with an abrasiveness of 8 thousand grit.

To make sure that the scissors are sharpened properly, they will definitely need to be tested. Ideally, the blades of the device should be smooth and straight-edged. In addition, it is important that there is no backlash, smooth and one-step motion of the blades. It is more convenient to check the scissors with electrical tape, which must be pulled from both sides. If the tool cuts the material evenly, then everything is in order.

Sharpening pliers and tweezers should have straight, smooth blades that close without any gap. To determine their condition, it is enough to move the knobs up and down. You will need to take a bite from the plastic bag to check with the wire cutters.

In order to use the tools for as long as possible after sharpening, it is important to adhere to a few simple rules: In no case should you try to clean the scissors or tweezers by tapping them on a hard surface, such as a table. Better to just use a clean cloth and gently wipe off any hairs and dust from the blades.

Do not forget about the timely sterilization of devices, which can be done independently or by contacting specialists. It is better to use for this purpose not liquid solutions, but a special chamber.

Special cases are required for storing instruments, and devices must be placed in them one at a time. The contact of surfaces can lead to unpleasant consequences - blunt edges. For the same reason, tools are not allowed to be laid out with the blades down.

Every time after a manicure or pedicure procedure, objects must be processed: clean the joints, rinse, dry and oil. In addition, it is important to monitor the appearance of backlash, looseness, or, conversely, excessive tightness.

It is not recommended to boil the instruments - it is better to use special solutions intended for disinfection.

For information on how to sharpen manicure tools at home, see the next video.