Bent/Bowed garden shears

[AnthonyL]

Trying to fix my neighbour's non-cutting shears and they appear bowed,
ie when closed there is daylight in the middle. Trying to cut
anything just results in the twig trapped between the blades.

How best to straighten bent/bowed garden/hedge shears? How to know
they are straight and in fact should they be straight as it seems that
an overlapping bow would give a better shearing action?


--
AnthonyL

Why ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?

[Martin Brown]

On 23/07/2022 12:40, AnthonyL wrote:
> Trying to fix my neighbour's non-cutting shears and they appear bowed,
> ie when closed there is daylight in the middle. Trying to cut
> anything just results in the twig trapped between the blades.

The important question is do they touch where the blades cross?

Chance are it has been deformed by trying to cut something too thick and
the branch has gone into the nip and deformed the blades.

>
> How best to straighten bent/bowed garden/hedge shears? How to know
> they are straight and in fact should they be straight as it seems that
> an overlapping bow would give a better shearing action?

You might try tightening the bearing a bit. Sometimes it is loose.

Unless they were particularly nice sheers I'd be inclined to scrap them.

Blades can have a nasty habit of snapping when you try to deform them.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[Colin Bignell]

On 23/07/2022 12:40, AnthonyL wrote:

> Trying to fix my neighbour's non-cutting shears and they appear bowed,
> ie when closed there is daylight in the middle. Trying to cut
> anything just results in the twig trapped between the blades.
>
> How best to straighten bent/bowed garden/hedge shears? How to know
> they are straight and in fact should they be straight as it seems that
> an overlapping bow would give a better shearing action?
>
>

The best made surgical scissors are slightly bowed to, as you rightly
recognise, give a good shearing action at whichever point they cross
during the cut. However, that shouldn't result in there being a visible
gap when fully closed and I suspect that garden shears are not designed
to make a clean cut on open weave bandages.

TBH, unless you have a forge, I don't think there is much chance of you
getting that pair to work properly again.


--
Colin Bignell

[The Natural Philosopher]

On 23/07/2022 12:40, AnthonyL wrote:

> Trying to fix my neighbour's non-cutting shears and they appear bowed,
> ie when closed there is daylight in the middle. Trying to cut
> anything just results in the twig trapped between the blades.
>
> How best to straighten bent/bowed garden/hedge shears? How to know
> they are straight and in fact should they be straight as it seems that
> an overlapping bow would give a better shearing action?
>
>

Moist shears are designed a bit like that. With enough spring to ensure
there is always blade contact somewhere.
Try sharpening.

--
"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow witted
man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest
thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly
persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid
before him."

- Leo Tolstoy

[Rob Morley]

On Sat, 23 Jul 2022 11:40:33 GMT
nos...@please.invalid (AnthonyL) wrote:

> Trying to fix my neighbour's non-cutting shears and they appear bowed,
> ie when closed there is daylight in the middle. Trying to cut
> anything just results in the twig trapped between the blades.
>
> How best to straighten bent/bowed garden/hedge shears? How to know
> they are straight and in fact should they be straight as it seems that
> an overlapping bow would give a better shearing action?
>
>

They're probably just bent a bit at the pivot, and needing a clean and
hone. There's supposed to be a slight bow so the edges of the blades at
the point that they are actually crossed/cutting are pressed together,
but if you get a thick branch trapped and twist the shears sideways
that can open them up.

[AnthonyL]

On Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:59:19 +0100, The Natural Philosopher
<t...@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>On 23/07/2022 12:40, AnthonyL wrote:
>> Trying to fix my neighbour's non-cutting shears and they appear bowed,
>> ie when closed there is daylight in the middle. Trying to cut
>> anything just results in the twig trapped between the blades.
>>
>> How best to straighten bent/bowed garden/hedge shears? How to know
>> they are straight and in fact should they be straight as it seems that
>> an overlapping bow would give a better shearing action?
>>
>>
>Moist shears are designed a bit like that. With enough spring to ensure
>there is always blade contact somewhere.

There is NOT an overlapping bend/bow.

[AnthonyL]

On Sat, 23 Jul 2022 15:27:36 +0100, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

That's likely what has happened. How to correct please?

[Thomas Prufer]

On Sat, 23 Jul 2022 16:15:29 GMT, nos...@please.invalid (AnthonyL) wrote:

>That's likely what has happened. How to correct please?

Disassemble, you'll see the bend (likely where the bolt hole weakens the plate).
Flatten: use an adjustable spanner to grip the metal tightly and bend, or tap
with a hammer, and get it flat. Reassemble...

Thomas Prufer

[Brian Gaff]

Are you sure they are not cheapo ones? Some of the cheaper ones are bendy,
ie not made of the right steel in the first place. A lot of those cheap
plastic handled scissors are the same. If you can bend them, then they will
simply bend again, I'm afraid. Sounds like he has either got a faulty one or
they are just cheap rubbish.
Brian

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"AnthonyL" <nos...@please.invalid> wrote in message
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[Brian Gaff]

Yes, exactly. Normally they do have a healthy spring and should not bend,
even if you try to cut thick stuff, they should just stop, not bend. Some
cheap ones tend to bend at the baring and if you take them apart and bend
them back they either shear at the bearing hole or they will just bend
again, as the material is weakened.

Brian

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"Martin Brown" <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote in message
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[AnthonyL]

No not cheapo. They are Yeoman as best as I can make out, wooden
handles, a notch near the hinge for cutting thicker twigs and look
much like:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1176145559/vintage-hardwood-steel-garden-shears?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=vintage+hedge+shears&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&frs=1&sts=1

Description as follows:

"Vintage Hardwood Steel / GARDEN SHEARS LOPPERS / Potting Shed
Greenhouse Decor Vintage Garden Tools Topiary Hedge Trimmer

£48.99

Wonderful original English 1950s garden shears , quality hardwood
handles and steel blades. Great patina from age and use , they cut
good but obviously can be sharpened further if needed.

Approx dimensions are 60cm long, 20 cm wide and 14cm high. Cutting
edge approx 20cm. "

[Rob Morley]

On Sun, 24 Jul 2022 12:13:59 +0100
"Brian Gaff" <brian...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Yes, exactly. Normally they do have a healthy spring and should not
> bend, even if you try to cut thick stuff, they should just stop, not
> bend. Some cheap ones tend to bend at the baring and if you take them
> apart and bend them back they either shear at the bearing hole or
> they will just bend again, as the material is weakened.
>

They could be reinforced with judicious application of a welder, but
not really worth the effort if they're just poor quality steel.

[Rob Morley]

On Sun, 24 Jul 2022 12:30:33 GMT
nos...@please.invalid (AnthonyL) wrote:

> No not cheapo. They are Yeoman as best as I can make out, wooden
> handles, a notch near the hinge for cutting thicker twigs and look
> much like:
>
> https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1176145559/vintage-hardwood-steel-garden-shears?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=vintage+hedge+shears&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&frs=1&sts=1
>

If the hinge nut is peened over like that one you'll not easily
disassemble them for straightening - maybe try pressing them flat in a
vice instead.