Viper Shears: The Complete Guide to Viper's Innovative Scissors and Shears

An Introduction to Viper Shears

Viper shears have become an essential tool for many professionals and hobbyists alike. As one of the most popular brands of high-quality shears and scissors, Viper offers a wide selection of shears designed for everything from hobby crafting to industrial metal fabrication. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Viper shears, their key features and benefits, and some of their top products.

The History of Viper Shears

Viper shears have been manufactured in Japan since 1971 under the brand name WayAssure. The company first specialized in high-quality hair cutting shears, building a reputation for sharp, precision forged blades. Over the decades, Viper has expanded their catalog to include specialized shears for crafting, gardening, food preparation and industrial uses while maintaining their commitment to quality.

Today, Viper has grown into one of the most recognized and trusted brands for professional grade scissors and shears. Their products are used worldwide by everyone from home cooks to celebrity stylists. Viper also continues to push innovation in shear design, pioneering improved ergonomics to reduce hand strain and fatigue.

Benefits of Viper Shears

There are several key reasons why Viper shears have become the shears of choice for many applications:

• Superior Sharpness: Viper uses premium Japanese steel and meticulous forging techniques to create incredibly sharp, precision blades that retain their edge well over time.
• Durability: Made from high carbon stainless steel, Viper blades are corrosion resistant and built to withstand heavy daily use in demanding professional settings.
• Comfortable Handling: Many Viper shears feature ergonomic handles made of lightweight metals to reduce hand strain during extended use.
• Smooth Cutting: Viper's sharp blades glide effortlessly through materials for smooth, accurate cuts. Their smooth action also minimizes pulling or tearing.
• Professional Quality: Viper shears are trusted by everyone from pro stylists to industrial workers for their reliability and performance.

With this winning combination of sharpness, durability, comfort and precision, it's easy to see why Viper shears are a top choice for demanding applications where quality matters.

Common Uses for Viper Shears

Here are some of the most popular uses for Viper's extensive line of professional grade shears:

• Hair Styling: Viper hair cutting shears are renowned in salons worldwide for creating clean, accurate cuts with smooth finishing.
• Paper Crafting: Viper's micro tip snips and zig zag shears create intricate cuts and details in paper crafts.
• Floristry: Florists rely on Viper's garden shears for deadheading, shaping and processing flowers.
• Sewing/Quilting: Sharp snips from Viper glide smoothly through fabric with great control.
• Kitchen/Food Prep: Viper kitchen shears chop, slice, trim and cut through all types of food with ease.
• Surgery: Viper surgical shears are engineered for precise dissection and cutting during procedures.
• Fabrication/Construction: Viper tinners snips and metal shears handle tough materials like sheet metal, cables, ductwork and more.

Viper really does make specialized shears for virtually every application. Their diverse catalog ensures you can find the right shear for your specific needs.

Popular Viper Shear Product Lines

Now that we’ve covered the Viper brand, let’s look at some of their best selling and most innovative shear products:

Viper Professional Hair Cutting Shears

It all started with hair shears for Viper, and they continue to be the leaders in professional grade hair cutting tools. Some of their latest innovations include:

• Kamisori Series: These premium Japanese steel shears are optimized for straight razor-like cutting. Super fine micro-serration grips hair for smooth, precision cutting.
• RCS Series: Viper’s patented Replaceable Cutting Set allows you to change out the blade while keeping the handles intact. Great for maintaining performance.
• Swivel Thumb Shears: The swivel thumb design reduces repetitive motion strain for more comfortable all-day cutting.

These are just a sample of Viper’s extensive professional hair shear offerings which also include left-handed models, interchangeable sets and more.

Viper Scrapbooking Shears

Viper’s specialty crafting shears make scrapbooking, card making, stamping and other paper crafts a breeze. Some top options include:

• Micro Tip Shears: Perfect for precision cuts, these shears have ultra fine tips for detail work.
• Decorative Edge Shears: These create fun scalloped, zig zag and other decorative edges on paper.
• Multi-Purpose Snips: Tackle any scrapbooking task with these lightweight, comfortable snippers.

Viper also makes specialty scissors for cutting ribbon, flower stems, embroidery, stencils and much more.

Viper Kitchen Shears

Viper kitchen shears are trusted by professional chefs and home cooks to make meal prep fast and easy. Top kitchen models include:

• Super Sharp Kitchen Shears: Boasting superior sharp Japanese steel blades, these shear through any food with ease.
• Poultry Shears: The serrated blade and pointed tip cleanly cut through poultry and other meats.
• Herb Snipping Shears: Smaller blades are perfect for snipping fresh herbs and greens.
• Multipurpose Kitchen Shears: An all-around workhorse that handles diverse cutting, trimming and prep tasks.

Viper kitchen shears feature sturdy, stainless steel construction for longevity, and many come apart for easy cleaning.

Viper Gardening Shears

For gardeners, Viper makes specialized pruning tools and shears, including:

• Bypass Pruning Shears: With slim, curved blades, these are ideal for shaping trees, shrubs and flowers.
• Ratcheting Bypass Loppers: Compact ratcheting mechanism provides greater cutting power through thick branches.
• Garden Snips: Perfect for deadheading spent blooms, cutting plant ties and other garden tasks.
• Orchid Shears: Curved micro tip blades protect delicate orchid blooms when trimming.

Viper garden tools help maximize gardening performance and protect hands thanks to padded, ergonomic handles.

Viper Industrial Shears

Known for strength and durability, Viper also produces specialized shears for professional trade applications like:

• Tinners Snips: Cut sheet metal, aluminum, steel, ductwork and more.
• Cable Cutters: Cleanly cut through electrical cables, wires and other materials.
• Bolt Cutters: Power through padlocks, chains and bolts up to 9/32 inches.
• Metal Shears: All-purpose straight cutting blades for metal fabrication.

Viper industrial shears stand up to heavy daily use while providing precise, effortless cuts through metal.

Finding the Right Viper Shears

With this overview of the diverse Viper product line for hair, crafts, kitchen, garden and industrial uses, you can better identify the right shears tailored for your particular cutting needs. Key tips when selecting Viper shears include:

• Consider the primary materials you’ll be cutting to choose blade types and sizes.
• Look for ergonomic handles if you’ll be cutting for extended periods to reduce fatigue.
• Factor in specialty features like micro-serrated edges for more control over slippery materials like hair or fish.
• For professional use, invest in high end forged Japanese steel for maximum longevity.
• Always store Viper shears properly to protect blades and avoid damage.

While Viper shears represent an investment, proper care will keep them delivering flawless, effortless cuts for years. With the right shears, you may find hand cutting becomes an enjoyable task rather than a chore.

Viper has built a reputation for outstanding cutting tools over 50+ years. We hope this overview gives you a better understanding of the innovative features and proven quality that make Viper shears a top choice for everyone from hobbyists to industry pros.

FAQs

What types of materials are Viper shears good for cutting?

Viper makes professional grade shears for cutting all types of materials including hair, paper, fabric, kitchen foods, flowers, metal sheets, wires and more. They offer specialty shears designed specifically for different cutting applications.

Are Viper shears suitable for left-handed users?

Yes, Viper has left-handed models of many of their shears available. They are specially designed with ergonomic handles and blade angles to provide a comfortable cutting experience for lefties.

How should I clean and maintain my Viper shears?

Use a damp cloth to wipe Viper shears clean after each use. Fully drying them is important to prevent corrosion. Periodically apply a lightweight oil like sewing machine oil to keep the joints lubricated. Store them in a protective case when not in use.

Where are Viper shears manufactured?

Viper shears are made in Japan using premium Japanese steel. Their factories in Japan use specialized forging techniques to create incredibly durable, sharp shear blades.

Are Viper shears worth the investment?

While Viper shears are priced higher than regular scissors, their outstanding longevity and performance make them well worth the investment for professionals and hobbyists who rely on top quality cutting tools.