Frequently Asked Questions: NFS Scissors

What is the difference between each NFS Scissors & Cutters series?

The NFS Scissors & Cutters range is designed as a complete colour-coded cutting system, making it easy to choose the right tool for every job. Rather than offering a collection of unrelated products, each series has a clear purpose and performance level.

Economy (Blue) is the ideal entry-level range for everyday florist and craft work. These reliable scissors are perfect for students, hobbyists and busy workshops that need multiple pairs on hand.

Classic (Red) features upgraded florist snips and garden shears backed by a 10-year guarantee, making them a dependable choice for everyday professional use.

PowerCut Florist (Yellow & Black) is built for professional florists who spend hours cutting fresh flower stems. These heavy-duty Ippon scissors deliver exceptional cutting performance and are backed by a lifetime guarantee.

PowerCut Garden (Green & Grey) is designed for tougher pruning tasks, including woody stems, branches and foliage. The range includes bypass, anvil and ratchet secateurs, pruning saws and specialist cutting tools, all covered by a lifetime guarantee.

The colour-coded system removes the guesswork, helping you quickly identify the right cutting tool for the task. 

What are soft-grip ergonomic handles?

Soft-grip ergonomic handles are specially designed to make cutting more comfortable, especially during long periods of use. Unlike traditional hard plastic handles, they feature a cushioned, contoured grip that sits naturally in your hand and helps reduce pressure on your fingers and wrists.

This is particularly important for florists, event stylists, gardeners and anyone who spends hours trimming flowers, foliage or branches. Repetitive cutting can lead to hand fatigue, but ergonomic handles help improve comfort, control and grip throughout the day.

Across the NFS Scissors & Cutters range, ergonomic soft-grip handles provide better handling when cutting everything from delicate flower stems to thicker branches. Combined with precision-ground blades, they help create cleaner cuts with less effort, making everyday jobs faster and more comfortable.

Whether you're preparing bouquets, creating wedding flowers or maintaining your garden, ergonomic cutting tools can make a noticeable difference during repetitive tasks. 

Why are the series colour coded?

The NFS Scissors & Cutters range uses a colour-coded system to make choosing the right cutting tool simple. Instead of comparing dozens of similar-looking scissors and secateurs, each colour instantly identifies the tool's purpose and performance level.

Blue – Economy everyday florist and craft scissors
Red – Classic florist snips and garden shears
Yellow & Black – PowerCut Florist professional stem scissors
Green & Grey – PowerCut Garden secateurs, pruning tools and saws

The colour coding helps florists, gardeners and retail customers quickly identify the correct tool without needing to check labels or specifications. It also makes replacing or reordering tools much easier, especially in busy flower shops, event studios, classrooms or garden centres.

Whether you're cutting fresh flowers, trimming foliage or pruning branches, the colour tells you exactly which tool was designed for the job. It's a simple system that removes confusion and helps you work more efficiently. 

Which scissors are best for cutting flowers?

The best scissors for cutting flowers depend on how often you use them and the type of work you do.

For professional florists who process hundreds of stems each day, the PowerCut Florist Ippon Scissors are the premium choice. Available in standard and fine-tip versions, they deliver exceptional cutting performance, precision and long-term durability.

For everyday bouquet making and general florist work, the Classic Florist Snips provide an excellent balance of comfort, performance and value. They're ideal for regular use and are backed by a 10-year guarantee.

If you're a beginner, student or hobby florist, the Economy Florist & Craft Scissors offer a reliable and affordable starting point for everyday floral work.

For the healthiest flowers, always cut fresh stems on approximately a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area available for water uptake, helping flowers stay hydrated and fresh for longer. 

Which secateur is best for thick branches?

The best secateur depends on the type of material you're cutting.

For thick, hard or woody branches, a ratchet secateur is the best choice. Its ratcheting mechanism cuts in stages, allowing you to apply more cutting power with less effort, making it ideal for tougher pruning jobs.

If you're cutting live green stems and healthy branches, choose a bypass secateur. Its scissor-like action creates a clean cut that is healthier for living plants and encourages better healing.

For dead, dry or hardened wood, an anvil secateur is the better option. It cuts by pressing the blade against a flat surface, making it highly effective on brittle material.

When branches become too thick for any secateur, it's time to move to a pruning saw, which is specifically designed for larger cuts. Choosing the correct pruning tool helps produce cleaner cuts while extending the life of your cutting equipment.  

Why do I need secateurs?

While scissors are ideal for cutting flowers, ribbon, wrapping materials and soft green stems, they're not designed for thicker or woody plant material.

Using ordinary scissors on branches or hard stems can damage the blades, reduce cutting performance and require far more effort. Secateurs are specifically engineered for pruning, with stronger blades, specialised cutting mechanisms and handles that provide greater leverage.

Different types of secateurs are designed for different tasks. Bypass secateurs make clean cuts on living stems, anvil secateurs handle dry wood, while ratchet secateurs provide additional cutting power for thicker branches.

Using the correct cutting tool not only protects your equipment but also creates cleaner cuts that are healthier for plants and easier on your hands. If you regularly work with flowers, foliage or garden plants, a good pair of secateurs is an essential addition to your toolkit.  

How do I know how thick each tool can cut?

Every cutting tool is designed for a specific application, so choosing the correct tool is important for both safety and performance.

As a general guide, florist scissors are intended for fresh flower stems, foliage and light-duty cutting tasks. Secateurs are designed for thicker stems and branches, while pruning saws are used when branches exceed the cutting capacity of secateurs.

Individual cutting capacities vary between models. Maximum branch or stem diameter will be listed on each product page where applicable, helping you choose the right tool for your project.

Using a tool beyond its intended cutting capacity can reduce cutting performance, damage the blades and shorten the life of the tool. Selecting the appropriate scissors, secateurs or saw helps produce cleaner cuts while keeping your tools performing at their best.  

How do I care for my scissors, secateurs and cutters?

Looking after your cutting tools will help them stay sharper for longer and maximise their working life.

After each use, wipe the blades clean and dry to remove moisture, sap and plant residue. This helps prevent corrosion and keeps the blades cutting smoothly.

Regularly apply a small amount of oil to the pivot point to keep the cutting action operating freely. Store your scissors, secateurs and cutters in a clean, dry place, ideally with blade guards fitted where supplied.

As the blades become dull over time, sharpen them according to the manufacturer's recommendations or have them professionally sharpened. Keeping blades sharp produces cleaner cuts, requires less effort and is healthier for flowers and plants.

Routine maintenance only takes a few minutes but can significantly extend the life and performance of your cutting tools.  

Can the blades be resharpened?

Yes. NFS Scissors & Cutters are designed with precision-ground, re-sharpenable blades, allowing you to restore their cutting performance rather than replacing the tool when it becomes dull.

Over time, even the highest-quality blades will lose their edge through regular use. Re-sharpening helps maintain clean, precise cuts while extending the life of your scissors, secateurs and pruning tools.

Keeping blades sharp also reduces the effort required to cut, making them more comfortable to use and producing cleaner cuts on flowers, foliage and branches.

For the best results, sharpen your blades according to the care instructions or use a professional sharpening service if required. With proper maintenance, a quality pair of cutting tools can provide reliable performance for many years, making them a smarter long-term investment than disposable alternatives.  

How does the guarantee work?

The NFS Scissors & Cutters range includes long-term guarantees that reflect the quality and durability of the tools.

Products in the Classic Series are backed by a 10-year guarantee, while the PowerCut Florist and PowerCut Garden ranges include a lifetime guarantee.

These guarantees provide added confidence when investing in professional-quality cutting tools designed for regular use. Combined with re-sharpenable blades and durable construction, they're built to deliver reliable performance year after year.

Guarantee registration and any applicable claim requirements will be available as part of the product documentation. We recommend keeping your proof of purchase and following the care instructions to help maintain your tools in the best possible condition.

For full warranty terms, conditions and registration details, please refer to the warranty information supplied with your product or available on our website.