What are edging shears made of?

29th February 2020

What are edging shears made of?


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		Blade composition
		Carbon steel Most blades on edging shears are made from carbon steel. This is a metal alloy formed by mixing iron and carbon, along with a few trace elements such as copper and manganese. Even a tiny amount of carbon makes steel much stronger, although the more carbon added, the harder and more brittle the steel becomes.

		Carbon content typically varies between 0.05% and 2%, and is usually at the lower end of the range when it comes to cheaper tools.

		Stainless steel Some blades are made from stainless steel. This is an alloy containing chromium, which is a hard, strong and shiny metal that resists tarnishing and corrosion.

		What is drop forged steel? The blades of edging shears at the upper end of the market are often drop forged, which involves compressing heated steel into the shape of a mould using a hammer-like tool. The process strengthens the internal structure of the metal and makes harder, more durable blades.

		What are blades coated with?
		PTFE Blades are often given a non-stick coating to protect against rust and reduce friction, enabling them to cut more smoothly. Known as PTFE, it’s the same synthetic substance found on non-stick saucepans. Sometimes only the upper blade is coated – this is the one that does the actual cutting while the other blade remains flat on the ground.

		Titanium nitride Another type of non-stick coating is called titanium nitride. This is an attractive gold-coloured, ceramic-based substance which hardens and protects the blades while reducing friction. It is less common than PTFE.

		Chrome More expensive edging shears may have chrome-plated blades. Also known as chromium, this is a metallic element which gives a durable and shiny finish to make the blades smooth, resistant to corrosion and easy to keep clean.

		Handle composition
		Steel Many edging shears have handles made of tubular (hollow tube-shaped) steel. This has the advantage of being sturdy and long-lasting, but some users find steel handles make the shears rather heavy.

		Aluminium Aluminium is a popular material for garden tools, being strong, lightweight and highly resistant to corrosion. It’s not as hard as steel however, and is more prone to dents and scratches.

		Wood Usually consisting of ash, beech or oak, wooden handles are still popular with many gardeners due to their traditional look and feel. These handles tend to be a bit heavier than plastic ones, and need to be oiled regularly to avoid cracking. They are attached to the blades by steel ferrules (sleeves).

		Thermoplastic rubber Thermoplastic rubber is a synthetic material which springs back into shape after being squeezed, so is often used for the grips at the top of edging shear handles. The cushioning effect makes the shears comfortable to hold for long periods.

		What are handles coated with?
		Powder Most metal edging shear handles are powder-coated. Dry paint or epoxy resin (a kind of plastic) is applied to a pre-treated part through an electrostatic spray gun, which sends an electric charge through the particles to attract them to the workpiece. The handles are then ‘cured’ – heated so that the particles fuse together and harden to form a protective covering.

		The powder coating can leave the handles with their natural steel look, or give a coloured paint finish. Some gardeners prefer brightly painted handles so they can find the shears easily if they leave them in the grass.

		Lacquer Wooden handles on good quality edging shears may be sprayed with lacquer. This is a durable coating which can be based on either natural resin or synthetic plastics, and provides an extremely tough, glossy finish.