Scissor Plastic Handle

Quick Answer: Scissors with plastic handle have steel cutting blades fitted with moulded plastic finger loops. They are used for general cutting in school and college labs, such as filter paper, thread, labels, leaves and soft plant material.

Where Plastic-Handled Scissors Fit in a Lab

Not every cutting job in a biology or chemistry lab needs a surgical instrument. Scissors with plastic handle cover the everyday tasks: trimming filter paper to fit a funnel, cutting chromatography strips, snipping thread for tying a specimen, shaping labels, and cutting leaves or petals into pieces for pigment extraction.

The plastic loops are lighter and warmer to hold than all-steel handles and are comfortable for students who cut for long periods. Against that, plastic handles are not suitable for autoclaving or flaming, and the blade joint is usually less robust than on forged steel dissecting scissors.

For cutting tissue in dissection, all-steel dissecting scissors remain the right tool, since they can be sterilised and give a firmer cut.

Specifications

Applications

• Cutting chromatography paper strips for separating leaf pigments or ink
• Trimming filter paper and cutting labels during chemistry and biology practicals
• Cutting leaves and petals into small pieces before grinding in a mortar
• General classroom cutting of charts, models and project materials

Care & Handling

• Wipe the blades clean and dry after cutting wet plant material or anything sticky.
• Keep them away from hot plates, burners and autoclaves; heat can warp or crack the plastic loops.
• A drop of light oil at the pivot keeps the action smooth.

Why Choose LabEquip

Science departments buy plastic-handled scissors in bulk for general bench kits and keep steel instruments for dissection. LabEquip supplies them within the Biology Lab Products range; a message through the contact page with quantities is enough to arrange supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can scissors with plastic handles be sterilised?

Not by autoclaving or flaming, which can damage the plastic. Wiping the blades with 70 percent alcohol is usually enough for their normal uses such as cutting paper and plant material.

Are they suitable for dissection?

They can cut soft plant material, but for animal tissue or preserved specimens use all-steel dissecting scissors, which give a cleaner cut and can be sterilised.

Will the blades rust?

Steel blades can spot if put away wet. Stainless blades resist this better; either way, dry them after use and store them in a dry drawer.

Are plastic-handled scissors suitable for younger students?

Yes, their light handles and simple action suit school use. For younger classes, a rounded blade tip reduces the risk of accidental stab injuries.

What should I use to cut chromatography paper?

Clean, dry scissors kept only for paper work. Handle the paper by its edges and avoid touching the area where the sample will run, since skin oils affect the separation.

How do I keep the scissors cutting smoothly?

Clean dried sap or adhesive from the blades, oil the pivot occasionally, and do not use them on wire or hard material, which nicks the edges.

Last Updated: September 2026