Forged Vs. Cast Shears: Which is better?

Professional hairdressers, shear manufacturers and sharpeners all have to deal with this question at one point or another; which is better forged or cast shears? Let’s answer the question in detail so that one doesn’t ever have to wonder which is better.

Manufacturers know which of the processes results in quality professional shears, but they are mostly unwilling to share the secret with others. A hair stylist should be very well-informed about this information so they can buy professional shear that is durable. A shear is an expensive investment and you can’t be fooled into buying a subpar one. You can do the required research before buying and read the details below to know once and for all which hair dressing scissors you should purchase.

Forged and Cast Shears

Once, it would be prudent to learn the basic differences between cast and forged haircutting shears. There is also another thing that should be kept in mind; the quality of the steel that is used in the manufacturing. Casting involves heating the metal until it’s in a liquid form and then pouring it into a cast of the shear. Forging is when the metal is heated and then struck repeatedly and cooled rapidly. This process alters the molecular structure of the metal resulting in it becoming denser.

Another important thing to note here is that haircutting scissors are forged in two parts; the blade and the handle and they are welded together afterwards. This makes them even more durable. With this basic information, you can see that forged shears are superior.

Forging

Looking at the forging process in detail will shed more light into why forged shears are the preferred ones by professionals. Forging a shear out of the best steel is arduous. Steel is heated, hammered and cooled multiple times to make it dense and strong. After the craftsman is satisfied, the shear is sent for finishing and polishing.

The pricing for quality forged haircutting shears is anywhere from $250 to $1000. But you have to be careful as many suppliers are selling cast shears at high prices. So you have to ask the sellers about the type of steel that was used to manufacture the shear and if it is forged or cast steel.

Casting

If you are looking for more reasons to stay away from cast shears then you will want to continue reading. These haircutting shears are frail and they tend to lose their edge very soon. You will running to the sharpener every few weeks and the shear will break after a couple of sharpening sessions.

To offer low priced, great looking shears to hairdressers the suppliers are turning towards cast shears. Which puts hairstylists at a disadvantage because the market is flooded with low quality shears and they have to be vigilant when making their purchases.

Japanese cobalt steel shears are the best and the most expensive of all. There are other types of Japanese steel that are less expensive, so if one can’t afford cobalt steel then you can opt for these. Do ask the seller questions that pertain to the quality of the shear. Don’t be fooled by copies, when you pick up a cobalt haircutting shear you will know the difference in the feel of the metal. So make use of the information above and only buy the best professional shears.