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Which emoji scissors close (2020)

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Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#21

Post by tuhriel »

BugsJustFindMe wrote: post #16
ianferrel wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, because which blade half is on the bottom affects which direction you need to apply force so the blades meet tightly. I didn't mention anything about the shape of the handle...

What you described misunderstands or at least poorly describes the problem. > Right, because which blade half is on the bottom affects which direction you need to apply force so the blades meet tightly. That would violate Newton's Third Law of motion, so no. You don't have to apply force in any different direction if you put scissors with symmetric handles in the wrong hand. You will, however, end up tilting the scis…

It definitely has also to do with the force applied. If the blades are setup for the other hand your default grip will puah the blades apart and you can get the paper between the blades Thats why as a lefty I had major issues with the cheap scissors (which had a ton of play on the hinge) we had in school, bit if you have a decently made scissor the issue is much less severe.

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#22

Post by Double_a_92 »

OJFord wrote: post #7

I've never really understood (said like I've spent much time thinking about it!) why wrong-handed scissors are so difficult/impossible to use. We must angle them slightly, sub-consciously, w.r.t. our standing vertical (out of the plane projected forward from our figure)?

Because you subconsciously push the blades togheter in the right way, so the gap gets narrower and the cut sharper. While if the scissor is mirrored you pull them apart.

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#23

Post by Freak_NL »

Joker_vD wrote: post #4

That's the first time I've heard that there are left- and right-handed scissors. Is there actually a noticeable difference in usage?

I've always used right-handed scissors as these are simply the default, but a year ago I bought proper left-handed scissors (one general purpose and one for fabric) and now after almost 40 years of using the wrong type of scissor I can't imagine ever suffering those again. You can use the wrong scissors, but you're constantly compensating and getting a cramped hand in return. It makes a huge difference.

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#24

Post by ianferrel »

BugsJustFindMe wrote: post #16
ianferrel wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, because which blade half is on the bottom affects which direction you need to apply force so the blades meet tightly. I didn't mention anything about the shape of the handle...

What you described misunderstands or at least poorly describes the problem. > Right, because which blade half is on the bottom affects which direction you need to apply force so the blades meet tightly. That would violate Newton's Third Law of motion, so no. You don't have to apply force in any different direction if you put scissors with symmetric handles in the wrong hand. You will, however, end up tilting the scis…

The sight issue is true (but in my opinion not the major difference).

Have you watched little kids learn to use scissors? You really do need to apply force to bring the blades together or they won't cut well. You likely do this unconsciously. I didn't think about it until I was teaching my children how to cut with scissors and noticed that they would generally end up folding the paper were I could cut it (toddler scissors aren't very sharp, so it's even more important to push the blades together from the side).

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#25

Post by NackerHughes »

lyptt wrote: post #10
Joker_vD wrote: post #4

That's the first time I've heard that there are left- and right-handed scissors. Is there actually a noticeable difference in usage?

I never much point in them as a kid. I'm left handed and I found it harder to use left handed scissors in my left hand than using right handed scissors in my right hand.

It depends, I guess. I'm left-handed and sometimes I like to hold the object I'm cutting with my left hand, rather than the scissors.

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#26

Post by philo23 »

Joker_vD wrote: post #4

That's the first time I've heard that there are left- and right-handed scissors. Is there actually a noticeable difference in usage?

I'm left handed but I've always used right handed scissors in my right hand. I can actually cut with either, but cutting right handed has always been more natural for me. Using the left handed scissors in my left hand requires more concentration.

The only real benefit I've ever noticed of left handed scissors is that when you hold them in your left hand, you can see the point on the paper where the blades are going to cut. Holding a pair of right handed scissors in your left hand (or vice-versa) obscures that point behind the top blade, making it a lot harder to make accurate cuts.

If you try holding a pair of regular right handed scissor in your left hand you should be able to see the issue of the top blade covering the part of the paper you want to cut. Which let me tell you, makes following dotted lines a lot harder in school if you're using them on the wrong hand...

That's the only difference I've ever come across anyway, not sure what other commenters are talking about with the paper turning sideways!

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#28

Post by jasode »

BugsJustFindMe wrote: post #16
ianferrel wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, because which blade half is on the bottom affects which direction you need to apply force so the blades meet tightly. I didn't mention anything about the shape of the handle...

What you described misunderstands or at least poorly describes the problem. > Right, because which blade half is on the bottom affects which direction you need to apply force so the blades meet tightly. That would violate Newton's Third Law of motion, so no. You don't have to apply force in any different direction if you put scissors with symmetric handles in the wrong hand. You will, however, end up tilting the scis…

> You don't have to apply force in any different direction if you put scissors with symmetric handles in the wrong hand. [...] But that's not the same as needing to apply force any differently.

For precision made scissors with tight tolerances at the pivot joint and sharp blades (premium brands like Kai, Gingher, etc), it will cut with either hand.

But for scissors with a loose rivet (like cheaper scissors very common in kids' schools), the gp (ianferrel) you replied to is correct: the blades will not close tightly if the wrong hand is used to squeeze. The loose rivet scissors in the wrong hand will fold the paper instead of cutting it because the natural finger-closing motion will spread the blades apart creating a tiny gap instead of making them touch.

Here's a 1-minute video that tries to visually explain what a left-handed person struggling with a right-handed scissor experiences: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyGCvSCnkWk

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#29

Post by BugsJustFindMe »

tuhriel wrote: post #21
BugsJustFindMe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you described misunderstands or at least poorly describes the problem. > Right, because which blade half is on the bottom affects which direction you need to apply force so the blades meet tightly. That would violate Newton's Third Law of motion, so no. You don't have to apply force in any different direction if you put scissors with symmetric handles in the wrong hand. You will, however, end up tilting the scis…

It definitely has also to do with the force applied. If the blades are setup for the other hand your default grip will puah the blades apart and you can get the paper between the blades Thats why as a lefty I had major issues with the cheap scissors (which had a ton of play on the hinge) we had in school, bit if you have a decently made scissor the issue is much less severe.

Sorry, what you're describing violates Newton's Third Law. The force applied by one side is equal and opposite to the force from the opposing side. Scissor blades, paper, and force don't care which side is up. Anything other than line of sight is 100% handle ergonomics, and scissors aren't required to have wrong-side-incompatible handles.

Re: Which emoji scissors close (2020)

#30

Post by LanceH »

OJFord wrote: post #7

I've never really understood (said like I've spent much time thinking about it!) why wrong-handed scissors are so difficult/impossible to use. We must angle them slightly, sub-consciously, w.r.t. our standing vertical (out of the plane projected forward from our figure)?

Right hander with right handed scissors, you pull the lower loop toward yourself and push the upper loop away, this pushes the blades into each other. If you can use the "wrong-handed" scissors, you can reverse the pull/push and get the blades together, but it feels weird/unnatural. It does work, though.
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