Eli5: Why is it almost impossible to use scissors with your less dexterous hand, especially for cutting items such as plastics and rubber?

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Eli5: Why is it almost impossible to use scissors with your less dexterous hand, especially for cutting items such as plastics and rubber?

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When you cut right handed with right handed scissors, the upper blade is pulled to your right, while the lower blade is held in place by your thumb. This pivots upper blade so that it meets the lower blade very sharply.

If you transfer the scissors to the other hand, the same type of motions actually pull the two blades away from each other, so that they don’t form a sharp edge.

One trick is to turn the scissors upside down when using them in the left hand. The problem is that the holes for the fingers will be somewhat uncomfortable.

Some well made scissors can be used with either hand, not depending on the user to provide the tiny pivot that causes the edges to come together sharply.

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