WHAT IS A TORSIONAL EDGE?

It's that mysterious little secret that the sharpening industry doesn't want
you to know... The cutting angle on a scissor, whether beveled or
convex, changes from where it starts at the pivot and ends at the tips.  
For instance:  If the finished edge angle is supposed to be 45 degrees,
in reality the finished edge angle at the tips is slightly less.  This
engineered design has been used by the scissor manufacturers forever.
 This angle change at the tips is directly related to blade length.  In other
words, the longer the scissors' blade, the higher the degree of angle
change.  In some cases, we have measured the finished angle
difference in excess of 11 degrees.

WHY IS THERE A TORSIONAL EDGE?

Because there is less mass at the scissors' tips, this section of the blade
is the weakest part.  The torsional edge provides greater cutting ability
at the tips.  Combined with proper tension and set, this angle change
design also allows the tips of the scissors to cut as smoothly and with
the same force as the scissor cuts at the pivot point.  The slightly less
angle at the tips also offers a bit more of edge protection where they are
most prone to nicks.

WHY DOES THE INDUSTRY IGNORE THE TORSIONAL EDGE?

On many occasions, we have been told by this industry, "If you can't
achieve it, you don't need it"'  This is not the attitude that we at Kuda
Sharpening Systems, choose to live by.  Nor is it the attitude that we
expect our customers to be forced to live with!  The reason this industry
ignores the torsional edge, is because until now, the only way to
duplicate it, was to learn the art of free hand sharpening as it has always
been done by factory craftsmen.

In the past, most people interested in learning to sharpen shears were
quickly intimidated at the prospect of learning to sharpen by hand.  In an
effort to help sharpeners be more confident, the industry started
offering fixed jigs with their machines.  This gave the would-be
sharpener a higher level of confidence.  As expected, it also greatly
increased machine sales.  Unfortunately, fixed scissor clamps and
holding devices physically remove the torsional edge from a scissor.  
They do allow the sharpener to achieve a consistent angle, but at the
expense of "grinding" out that very important angle change at the tips.  
Acknowledging the torsional edge would force the industry to admit that
the only way to properly follow blade shape is to free hand, once again
limiting machines sales.

Kuda Sharpening Systems has never adhered to this method of
marketing that has become so prevalent in the industry today.  We have
not and will not, promote untruths to increase our profits.  It is not fair to
our customers or yours.  We quietly continued teaching the art of free
hand sharpening to those willing to learn, and relentlessly continued our
research and development of a truly unique sharpening tool.  We have
finally developed a clamping device that will duplicate the slight
"twisting" action needed to accurately reproduce the torsional edge.  
Until now, this was only possible by free hand sharpening.  We are proud
to introduce..."The Torsional Edge Clamp."

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM "THE TORSIONAL EDGE CLAMP"?

For a stylist or dog groomer,  the scissors will cut and perform the way
the scissor was intended to from the factory.  They will be able to
perform slide cutting with the main body of the blade, and be able to
blunt cut and chip with the tips.  They can expect their scissors to be
sharper than new, but maintain the factory "feel" that made them
purchase the shear in the first place.  More importantly, they will benefit
from the fact that less metal is removed while servicing their shears.  
This will greatly extend the life of their treasured scissors.

As a sharpener, you will be able to service all types and sizes of
scissors.  We felt it was important for you to need only one tool.  Not only
are conventional clamps restrictive, they are not versatile.  A sharpener
usually needs a completely separate clamp to do left-handed shears.  We
know all scissors are not made the same.  Most are right handed, but
some are left.  Most have torsional edges, a few are straight.  Some are
long and some are short.  The unique "twisting" action of The Kuda
Torsional Edge Clamp, can be turned on or off, for both right and left
handed shears, with the turn of a knob.  Whether you prefer to sharpen
with the scissors assembled or separated, the versatility of the Kuda
hand piece gives you the option of choice.

If you are using a conventional clamp, you have been unsuspectingly
removing the torsional edge from your customer's scissors.  This causes
extreme thinning of an already fragile tip and greatly diminishes the life
of the shear.  Dramatic changes to the set must be made in order for the
tips to cut properly.  Over-setting a scissor that has had its angle change
removed will only create a whole host of other problems.  Our clamp
allows you to follow the original shape of the shear consistently...every
time.  You will feel confident knowing that you are removing as little
metal as possible, because you are actually duplicating the factory's
original edge.  You  will spend less time, remove less metal, do less
setting, and produce a level of quality sharpening that you never knew
existed.

Whether you service the beauty or the dog grooming industry, "The
Torsional Edge Clamp" will take your business to the next level.  We feel
one greatly overlooked business opportunity is the dog-grooming
shears.  The current trend in dog grooming has them using higher
quality and improved scissor design.  Long convex shears and razor
sharp beveled edges are becoming the tools of choice.  Groomers are
now spending more money on higher quality shears, and expecting a
higher level of service.  If you ever wanted to see a torsional edge, look
no further than these scissors with  blade lengths in excess of 8".  Using
a vertical wheel machine with it's restrictive clamp, so commonly used
for grooming shears, destroys the torsional edge that is so prevalent on
these longer blades.  Our Kuda Sharpening System allows you to tap into
this ever-growing industry, confidently knowing you can provide the
very best service available.

WANT TO SEE THE TORSIONAL EDGE?

Perform a  basic scratch test with your conventional clamp.  This test has
to be performed on a shear that has never been sharpened.  Mark the
back of your new, unsharpened shear with a black Sharpie.  Mark a thick
line, starting from the cutting edge at the pivot, all the way down to the
tips.  Make sure most of the back of the tips are colored.  Clamp the new
shear in your conventional clamp at the angle you feel is correct.  Do a
light hone from pivot to tip, as if you were doing a beveled edge.  Flip
the scissor over and you will see your hone mark that has been left on
the black marker.  Your hone line will match the cutting angle for about
2/3 of the blade's length, until it reaches the twist in the blade.  Because
it's being held in a fixed clamp, the hone line will extend across the back
of the tips, unable to follow the natural twist in the blade.  Looking at this
hone line across the back of the tips, makes it easy to visualize how
much unnecessary metal has to be removed, before your fixed angle can
transfer to the actual cutting edge.

STILL NOT CONVINCED?

We will be scheduling one-day seminars in several different cities in the
near future.  These are "hands on" events, where sharpeners will get a
chance to try The Torsional Edge Clamp, and see for themselves the
benefits of owning The Kuda Sharpening System.


Kuda Sharpening Systems, the only SMART choice

Driven by competition to strive for perfection

1-800-938-8863
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