My new shears feel loose. How loose should they be?

Hello this is my first post but I have been a guest here for several weeks.
I purchased Josh Roth Ashinaga Hasami shears. These are the shears
https://www.maibanbonsai.com/intermediateashinagahasamibonsaishears.aspx

They came today in the mail. As soon as I pulled them out today they felt loose. As if the rivet is not tight enough. When I close the shears and hold them up to the light I can just barely see just a little light between the blades. When I used them today after snipping a few "thicker" branches the handles would overlap when the shears snap shut as the snip finished. (When I say larger i mean maybe 4 mm diameter?) The shears are very sharp and not much pressure at all was needed to make the cut.
I tried scouring the internet for advice on this subject but I cannot find a definitive answer. I did find how to tighten the rivet but I don't want to tighten them if they are not supposed to be.
I guess i was expecting the same feel as a good pair of Fiskar scissors. If you hold a fiskar scissor by only one handle the blades wont open or shut. Where as my new shears if held by just one handle will swing freely.
I don't have many bonsai clubs or retailers near me. I was hoping I would not have to drive an hour to my local retailer for advice.
I also hope that I was descriptive enough. Please if this post is confusing I can try to explain further.
Thank you for any advice anyone might have to someone so new and eager to learn.
C. S. Budzi

You can't really compare Bonsai shears to scissors of any kind, because scissors are made to cut fairly thin things like paper or cloth. All the bonsai shears I have will open on their own. Depending upon the plant 4 mm can be fairly thick even for sharp shears, especially if it had hardened off. I would be concerned about the handles overlapping as you finish the cut, but maybe you are sing then to cut material that is too thick, for the most part I would reserve such shears for tender growth (Still green stems) and use concave cutters on the thicker stuff.

Thank you so much that makes me less nervous. Still concerned that the handles can overlap with minor pressure.
I agree completely. The 4mm was new green cotoneaster stems. The only "hard wood" was much much thinner. All the other non green stems I used my concaves on. I should have been clearer.

Does the handle or cutting blades wiggle side to side? If it does, then you need to tighten it...little bit at a time. Opening on its own weight is not a problem, remember that these are heavier than your standard scissors.

I think if you name them Candy, and take them out on the street, and they pull in more than - oh, say $50.00 in one hour, they are too loose.

On the other hand.... you and Candy can afford a better pair now!

JudyB wrote:I think if you name them Candy, and take them out on the street, and they pull in more than - oh, say $50.00 in one hour, they are too loose.

On the other hand.... you and Candy can afford a better pair now!

OY!!! You are starting something, you better be ready if someone takes off with it.

If you feel the shears are not fit for purpose then you must send them back. Why should you accept something that is not right? Send them back and ask for a new set. Any decent retailer will agree to that and if they don't, then chalk it up to experience of a bad retailer. And we'll make a note not to use that company either.


But as a caveat, make sure you have right on your side - i.e. you have used them for the correct purpose.

CS, sorry if the JOKE (it was a joke people!!!) stepped on your thread. I just couldn't resist.

But I agree with Fiona, you should send them back, most retailers would rather get returns than bad reviews...

Even if the shears were just a bit loose, which would respond to a minor tightening of the rivet, the handles should not be overlapping if you are using them properly.

My shears got quite loose after about 2 years, and i fixed it by taking my mini blowtorch and concentrating it onto the rivet. When it turned red, i placed it onto another bulkier FLAT piece of metal, and carefully tapped the rivet until the clean cuts came back.

I just tightened all my tools. I just put one rivet against the concrete floor of garage and then hit the other side with a hammer. Go a little at a time checking for tightness between hits.

JudyB wrote:CS, sorry if the JOKE (it was a joke people!!!) stepped on your thread. I just couldn't resist.

But I agree with Fiona, you should send them back, most retailers would rather get returns than bad reviews...

Hahahaha! I laughed pretty hard.

Thanks for the advice all.
I Considered sending them back. But as Fiona said, I wanted to make sure that I was in the right. There really doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the shears, but then again I wouldn't know right from wrong as they are my first pair.
The handles with minor pressure will wiggle a few mm and with a little more presure they can overlap each other. At the blade end maybe less then 1mm.
Coming from a Mechanical Engineering background, all tools/machines are designed with specific gaps, tensions, etc. I just wanted to make sure my shears are within normal tolerances. But it seems like they are so far. I will give them awhile longer, and I believe there is a extensive warranty on them anyway.
Again thank you all for the help. I'm glad I found such a helpful community.

C. S. Budzi

yep, i'm a hammer tapper too - one neat tap on the rivet with the tool on a hard smooth surface.

i like all my tools to just fall open in my hand, you work quicker and if they are comfortable to use and work perfectly it makes no real difference where the handles end up - if the cuts are neat and you are happy how they work stick with them

marcus

Glad you "got" it. Too bad I can't enter it into the worst joke thread....

Happy pruning!