Alright, let’s talk about folding scissors. I decided to grab a pair, thinking they’d be super handy for my little travel kit. You know, something small, fits anywhere, doesn’t poke holes in things.
Getting Started
So, I got this cheap pair online. First impression? Felt a bit flimsy, honestly. The unfolding part wasn’t exactly smooth. You gotta kinda wiggle it just right. Not like a solid click you get with better tools. More like a scrape and maybe it’s locked? feeling. Spent a few minutes just opening and closing it, trying to get the hang of it.
The Actual Use
Needed to snip some loose threads off a shirt first. Okay, it managed that. The blades are tiny, obviously, so you’re not cutting big things fast. Tried it on some paper next – standard printer paper. It cut, yeah, but it was a bit ragged. The handles, or what passes for handles, aren’t comfortable for anything more than a quick snip. They dig into your fingers. You definitely wouldn’t want to be cutting cardboard or anything serious with these.
Then I tried cutting some plastic packaging, the really annoying kind. Big mistake. The scissors basically just chewed on it, and I felt like the pivot point was going to give way. Had to grab my regular kitchen scissors for that job. So, limitations became clear pretty fast.
Where They Fit In (Or Don’t)
Here’s the thing I found:
- Portability: Yes, they are small. They fit in that tiny pocket inside my backpack easily. That’s the main selling point, and it delivers on that. Less worry about poking stuff.
- Convenience: Mixed bag. Unfolding takes a second or two longer than just grabbing normal scissors. If you need scissors right now, that little delay is annoying.
- Functionality: Strictly light duty. Threads, maybe paper, cutting open a snack bag? Sure. Anything more? Forget it. They just don’t have the leverage or blade strength.
I remember I was trying to open one of those sealed first-aid bandages once, the tough fabric kind. Fumbled with the folding scissors for ages. The blades just couldn’t get a good bite. Ended up using my teeth, which you’re not supposed to do. Kinda defeated the purpose of having scissors in the first-aid kit, right?
Final Thoughts
So, folding scissors. Are they useful? Sometimes. For very specific, very light tasks where size and safety in storage are your absolute top priorities, maybe. Like keeping a pair in a tiny sewing kit or a minimalist first-aid pouch. But for anything else? Nah. They feel like a compromise that compromises too much on the actual cutting part. I’ve gone back to just carrying a small, sturdy pair of regular kids’ scissors in my bag most of the time. They don’t fold, but they actually cut things reliably without making my fingers sore or feeling like they’ll snap. The folding ones? They’re now buried somewhere in the bottom of a drawer. Probably for the best.
