How we choose tapering scissors for Ronghua crafting

If you've ever wondered which tapering scissors are the best for Ronghua crafting, you're not alone! It's one of the most common questions we receive, but also one of the hardest to answer. The truth is, there are many factors that affect how well a pair of scissors works for this delicate craft. That's why we decided to create this hands-on test to help you figure out which pair of scissors might be best for your needs. This is a unique and valuable comparison that we believe will give you the clarity you're looking for.

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The Setup: How We Chose Our Scissors

To start, we picked up seven pairs of scissors from various sources. These were selected for a few reasons: they were highly recommended by the Ronghua community, ranked well on e-commerce platforms, or they were scissors we personally use in our own crafting sessions.

Our team sat down to identify what really impacts the performance of tapering scissors for Ronghua. After much discussion, we created a list of factors that matter most when it comes to choosing the right pair:

Once we had this list, I removed the packaging from all seven pairs, labeling them with numbers (1 through 7) to keep the experiment fair and unbiased.

I also recorded some basic data about each pair: overall length, weight, and blade length. This helped us get a clearer picture of the differences between each pair.

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The Test: Who Tested the Scissors?

We invited three of our Ronghua experts to join the test. Each of them has a different hand size: thin, medium, and large.

This was important because comfort plays a huge role when crafting for extended periods of time. I also measured the width of their hands and the circumference of their fingers to gather a more complete view.

To control the variables as much as possible, we used strips of leftover silk from past projects, which we lovingly call our "Silk Strip Grave Box."

These strips come in various thicknesses, lengths, and styles, allowing us to test scissors on different types of silk used for different Ronghua styles. Each expert tapered the same type of strip multiple times, but with a different pair of scissors each round. And to make things even more exciting, we added a timer to track the speed of each pair.

Here’s how it went down:

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Guiting’s Test: Fast & Furious

First up was Guiting, our lead Ronghua artist, who couldn’t wait to start testing! She chose short, thick, fluffy strips for making Datura flowers.

• With Scissors No. 5, she finished tapering one strip in just 36 seconds.
• With Scissors No. 1, it took her nearly two minutes.

That’s a huge difference! For Guiting, No. 1 and No. 2 were out of the running, while the others performed decently. Based on speed, her top performers were No. 5, No. 3, and perhaps No. 6.

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Yue’s Test: Comfort Above All

Next up was Yue. She’s been practicing Ronghua every day for about three months, so she’s definitely not a beginner. However, she mentioned that she cares a lot about whether the scissors are comfortable for her “fatty fingers.”

Yue chose medium-thick fluffy strips to make Daybreak Bloom flowers. Here's what she found:

• No. 1 to No. 4 — definitely not good.
• No. 5 — sharp and efficient, but after a while, it was painful to use. Despite finishing the fastest, she gave it only one star for comfort.
• No. 6 and No. 7 — these were her favorites.

For Yue, comfort was a major factor in her decision-making, and these two scissors were the most comfortable for her.

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Tang’s Test: The Expert’s Eye

Last but definitely not least, we had Tang, our most experienced Ronghua expert. Tang is known for being very picky when it comes to tools. She chose long, thin, fluffy strips for tapering — some of the most difficult types of strips to work with.

Before we even started timing, she could tell that No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 weren’t going to work for her. 

• With Scissors No. 7, she finished tapering one strip in only 16 seconds.
• With Scissors No. 3, it took 26 seconds.

For Tang, No. 7 was the clear winner. She also noticed that No. 3 wasn’t good for long, thick strips, as it couldn't press the tip flat enough to create a sharp, clean finish. So, for Tang, No. 7 was the only clear winner.

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Final Results: What the Experts Chose

At the end of the test, I asked each expert to pick their final winner:

• Guiting picked No. 3
• Yue picked No. 6
• Tang picked No. 7

So, there you have it! Each expert had their own favorite, based on their individual needs and preferences.

Does the Best Scissors Always Mean the Most Expensive?

You might be wondering — does the best pair of scissors also have to be the most expensive?

We ranked all seven scissors by price, and surprisingly, the most expensive pair, No. 5, wasn’t chosen by anyone. The cheapest ones weren’t picked either. So, what does this tell us?

While price can sometimes reflect quality, it’s not always the case. The best scissors are simply the ones that fit your hand, your style, and your crafting needs. If you’re just starting out and don’t need to taper long, thin strips, No. 6 might be the perfect choice for you, as it’s budget-friendly and works well for short, fluffy strips. However, if you're looking for a pair that will work across most styles, No. 7 is a great (though pricier) option.

Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Pair

So there you have it — our hands-on test of seven different tapering scissors for Ronghua crafting! We hope this helps you make an informed decision about which pair might be best for you.

If you’d like us to test more scissors (or any other tools), just email us or leave a comment below! We love diving into the world of Ronghua tools to find the best options for you.

And since many of you have been asking, the scissors that performed the best in our test, No. 6 and No. 7, are now available in our store. We only stock tools we genuinely find reliable and well-suited for different Ronghua styles, so if you’re looking for a good starting point, feel free to check them out!

Thanks for reading, and happy crafting! Don’t forget to like and share this post with your fellow Ronghua lovers. 😊