Black & Decker Crafting Shears

Why I reached for these shears

I keep a rotating cast of cutting tools on my bench—everything from delicate thread snips to heavy tin snips. I pulled these shears into the lineup for one reason: I needed a manual, do‑everything pair that could handle tougher craft and shop materials without feeling bulky or fussy. On paper, stainless blades, a bi‑material grip, separable halves for cleaning, and a built‑in paint can opener sounded like a practical combination. After several weeks of real use around the shop and in a small painting refresh, I have a clear sense of where these shears shine and where they’re just okay.

Build and ergonomics

Out of the box, the shears feel solid without being heavy. At about 10.2 inches long and roughly half a pound, they have enough mass to track straight through material but don’t tire your hand during longer sessions. The handles are molded with a bi‑material grip that’s slightly tacky without feeling gummy. That matters more than it sounds—when you’re pushing through corrugate or dense fabric, a secure grip keeps your cut accurate and your wrist relaxed. I experienced no hot spots or rubbing over a few hours of intermittent cutting, which is a good sign for a simple manual tool.

The pivot is tight in a reassuring way—no slop, no blade rattle. There’s no explicit tension adjustment, but the factory set felt right: easy to close through most materials while keeping the blades aligned.

Cutting performance on common materials

I ran these through a typical stack of shop and craft materials:

• Corrugated cardboard (single- and double-wall)
• Heavy cardstock and chipboard
• Canvas, denim, and felt
• Vinyl and faux leather
• Nylon zip ties
• Jute twine and paracord
• Thin plastic clamshell packaging
• Hardwood dowel up to 1/8 inch (the stated capacity)

On cardboard, the shears track straight and don’t crush the flute, which makes for clean edges when you’re making templates or breaking down boxes. Chipboard and heavy cardstock cut crisply without frayed edges. Fabric is similarly tidy—canvas and denim in particular benefit from the blade length and steady alignment. Felt cuts cleanly; I didn’t notice snagging even with slower, curved cuts.

Vinyl and faux leather can be unforgiving if blades aren’t keen. Here, the shears did well as long as I committed to the cut with steady pressure. The tips are aligned closely enough to make detailed notches and corners, which helps when trimming patches or cutting tight patterns.

For shop chores, nylon zip ties up to medium width snapped decisively; thicker, heavy-duty ties needed a firm squeeze but still went through. Twine and paracord are easy asks and pose no problem. As for the hardwood dowel test, the shears will indeed cut a 1/8-inch dowel, but it’s a two-handed squeeze and not something I’d want to do repeatedly. It’s a good emergency capability, not a daily task.

One note on thin, slick plastics: very smooth clamshell packaging sometimes tries to slide toward the pivot. A slightly firmer grip and starting the cut with the front third of the blade solved it, but it’s worth mentioning if you often work with glossy films.

Precision and control

These aren’t dressmaker shears, but they surprised me with how precise they feel for a heavier-duty pair. The blades meet cleanly along their length, so fine cuts at the tip actually work. Making curved cuts in felt and trimming vinyl patches felt controlled. The balance point sits close to the pivot, which means the tool doesn’t feel nose-heavy; that helps keep lines steady on long passes.

If you’re left-handed, the usual shear reality applies: the blade orientation favors right-handed users for full visibility of the cut line. You can still use them left-handed, but the top blade can partially obscure the cut line. This is typical for most shears in the category.

Maintenance and cleaning

The ability to separate the blades is more than a convenience—it’s a real maintenance advantage. After a day of cutting tape-covered cardboard and vinyl with adhesive backing, I popped the blades apart, wiped off gunk with a rag and a touch of citrus cleaner, dried them, and snapped them back together. You can also touch up the edges more easily when they’re separated; a few passes with a fine ceramic rod kept mine keen.

The stainless steel resists rust, which is great if you’re moving between indoor craft work and damp garage tasks. As with any scissors, avoid the dishwasher. A light drop of oil at the pivot keeps the action smooth. I also recommend wiping the blades after cutting anything abrasive (like jute twine) because grit can dull edges faster than you expect.

The built-in paint can opener

I’m a sucker for small, thoughtful features that reduce tool juggling. The paint can opener built into the handle is exactly that. It’s not a gimmick—it’s a real, functional prying edge that lifts lids without flexing the handles or tempting you to misuse the blade. During a weekend touch-up job, I used it across several quart cans. It spared me from rummaging for a flat screwdriver and kept the blade out of harm’s way.

Could you live without it? Sure. But it’s one of those quality-of-life features that earns its keep the first time you need it. If you do any painting at all, it’s a nice bonus.

Comfort over longer sessions

I broke down a dozen shipping boxes and trimmed several yards of canvas during testing. The grip stayed comfortable and non-slip as my hands warmed up. The handle opening is generous enough for my medium-sized hands; with heavier gloves, it gets snug but workable. The lack of a spring assist means the open/close motion is entirely you, so if you’re planning on dozens of sequential cuts, expect the usual forearm workout. For a manual pair, though, the fatigue is reasonable, partly thanks to that balanced pivot tension.

Limitations to keep in mind

A few practical constraints showed up:

• No sheath or blade guard in the box. In a drawer or tool bag, the open blades can catch on things. I’d love a simple guard.
• While they can cut small hardwood dowel, they’re not a substitute for snips or a saw on rigid materials. Consider that ability a convenience, not a primary function.
• On very slick, thin plastics, I had to adjust my technique to prevent material creep. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s there.
• There’s no lock to keep the blades closed, so storage requires a bit of care.

None of these are fatal flaws; they’re the tradeoffs of a straightforward, manual design.

Who they’re for

If you’re a crafter, DIYer, or shop tinkerer who needs one reliable pair to live on the bench—cutting cardboard, fabric, vinyl, twine, and the occasional stubborn package—these shears fit nicely. They bridge the gap between household scissors and true heavy-duty snips. The stainless blades, comfortable grip, and easy cleaning make them a low-maintenance, ready-for-anything option. If your work often includes opening paint or stain, that built-in opener earns a permanent spot in the toolkit.

If you need to cut rigid materials all day, or you primarily work with metal wire or thick rods, look elsewhere. And if you demand a blade lock or a protective sheath for tossing tools into a crowded bag, you’ll miss those features here.

Recommendation

I recommend these shears as a dependable, do‑most‑things pair for craft benches and home shops. They cut common tough materials cleanly, the bi‑material grip stays comfortable through longer sessions, and the separable blades make maintenance simple. The paint can opener is genuinely useful, and the stainless construction holds up well across varied tasks. They’re not specialized cutters and they don’t pretend to be—but as a well-rounded, manual pair that can even handle a 1/8‑inch dowel in a pinch, they earn their keep. If you want one set of shears you’ll actually reach for, these belong in the drawer.