8″ Curved Convex (Signature) Scissors

Product Description

Mastercut ‘Signature’ Professional Dog Grooming Scissors (Curved Convex Blade)

Professional dog grooming scissors are essential tools for pet styling but, with so many different types to choose from, which one is right for you.  If you’re aiming to work with pure ‘scissored’ breeds, we highly recommend investing in scissors that have ‘convex’ blades.  These are generally considered to be the sharpest and most accurate cutting, enabling you to produce cleaner lines and contours.  Whether you’re creating cylindrical legs, enhancing angulation, perfecting head styles or just thinning and blending, Mastercut offers a comprehensive range of scissors to help you achieve your best work.

Features and benefits.

This scissor measures 8″ (about 20cm), which is an ideal length for styling medium and large breeds.  The cutting blades have a gradual but effective curve, perfect for creating spherical shapes and contours.  As such, it is considered essential for defining top-knots, rear angulation, rounded head and foot styles.  Although a straight scissor could (in theory) perform the same task, it would demand considerably more effort and meticulous trimming to achieve the same results.  A curved scissor will ultimately enable you to work more efficiently and get faster results.

This scissor is forged from high-grade Japanese 440c stainless steel to protect against metal corrosion.  It has a number of specialised design features, including.
Sword Blades – to increase rigidity and cutting force – great for tackling thick, heavy coats.
Tension Dial – to make tension adjustments quick and easy.
Leaf Spring – to distribute pressure evenly along the cutting blades.
Ball-Bearing – to stabilise the blades and offer noticeably smoother cutting action.
Teflon Glide – to improve wear resistance and increase the working life of the scissor.

How do I use them?

The off-set handle style is designed to encourage a more comfortable ‘open-hand’ grip, using the ring finger and thumb.  This handle style features shorter shanks to improve handling and prevent over extension, which can cause repetitive strain injuries.  Once inserted through the finger rings, operate the scissor using just your thumb to smoothly open and close the cutting blades.  Unless you’re removing bulk and creating basic shape, always remove the hair in small amounts to avoid mistakes and stepped changes in hair length.

What else should I know?

Convex blades are incredibly sharp but, equally delicate and easy to damage if not appropriately cared for.  Before you start scissoring, the most important thing to check is the tension between the cutting blades.  This must be set correctly in order to prevent accidental damage.  If the tension is set too low (loose), the cutting blades will inevitably grind together, spoiling their delicate cutting edge with notches and indentations.  Setting the tension high (tight) can be equally damaging, as this will encourage you to apply more lateral force, when using the scissor, increasing the risk of twisting and catching the blades.  If this happens, resharpening is usually the only way to reverse the damage.  Whilst this demand for accurate tension may seem like a design fault, in truth it is simply a case of acknowledging and understanding the needs of this precision cutting instrument.  For the first few weeks of use, we recommend checking the tension every time you use the scissor.  Once moving parts have settled for normal working life, the scissor will require less attention.

A few final words of advice.

Like other precision cutting instruments, convex scissors demand suitable care and attention to keep them in good working order.  As such, we recommend the following:

• Avoid using convex scissors on dirty or greasy coats.  These can harbor fine particles and contaminates, which act just like abrasives and can quickly dull the cutting blades.
• To help create volume and structure in the coat, consider using a scissoring spray.  This will help you attain sharper lines, smoother contours and crisp texture.
• Always clean and oil your scissors after use and, consider storing them a protective sheath or wallet to avoid accidental damage.

For more advice on choosing and understanding different types of professional dog grooming scissors, check out our buyers guide article here.

Alternatively, visit Groomers Gallery and, brush up on essential skills through our online masterclass video series.