Dremel has new 4V Max cordless scissors, model HSSC-01, which they describe as a multi-purpose tool that can “cut through almost any material.”
The Dremel HSSC-01 cordless scissors has a built-in battery that recharges in approximately 2-1/2 hours via USB-C.
It features variable speed with 5 settings, and comes with two sets of blades. It does not look like additional blades are available at this time, but maybe they can be ordered via Dremel’s customer service if need-be.
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Dremel shows off the cordless scissors cutting through the taped seal of a carboard shipping box. It might be able to handle breaking down thinner cardboard boxes as well.
They also show it being used to cut through multiple layers of plastic clamshell packaging.
It can be used on “household goods,” such as pet food bags.
The cordless cutters are shown off cutting wrapping paper.
Finally, Dremel says the scissors can cut through fabric.
Price: $50
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The kit comes with the scissors, 2 sets of blades, a charging cord, and AC adapter.
Discussion
There are many cordless scissors and multi-cutters on Amazon, most from no-name brands, but it’s nice to see one from Dremel, even if it doesn’t look much different.
This type of tool has been around for a long time, and it seems popular with DIYers and crafters. Craftsman V4 Li-ion cordless scissors came out in late 2011 before quickly being discontinued, and according to Amazon a Black & Decker NiCad model (SZ360) has been around since at least 2003.
Other brands’ cordless battery-powered scissors, such as General Tools’, come with 2 sets of blades as well, but with one for cutting thinner materials and another for cutting thicker materials.
With the Dremel, you get the extra blade set “for those who want to designate one pair of shears for separate cutting duties or use as a spare.” So maybe you can use one set of blades for everyday cutting, and another for tasks where you want minimal contamination, or something like that.
The Dremel’s variable speed dial and USC-C charging seem to set it apart from other models.
Jared
I feel like this is something a person buys who does a LOT of cutting – or maybe if you have some degree of hand impairment. E.g. its hard for me to imagine buying this unless there was some big cutting project ahead of me.
I guess what I’m thinking of is that this wouldn’t be needed for strength. E.g. there are “manual” cutting tools that can take the challenge out of cutting tough materials (all the way up to snips for cutting sheet metal). It’s only where the amount of cutting and the repetitive squeezing becomes problematic that I think a pair of electric scissors would be useful.
MM
I’m curious to hear if anyone uses tools like these, and if so what for?
Like Stuart wrote, this is not a new tool. I remember coming across a tool like this (though powered by alkaline batteries) roughly 30 years ago. And I also remember the old Black & Decker Ni-Cad version. At first I thought these were the greatest idea ever, but when it came time to use them it was nothing but frustration. For easy-to-cut materials like paper or fabric the electric scissors were frustratingly slow and they left a ragged edge compared to ordinary manual scissors. They had a lot less control if you wanted to carefully cut shapes. And they struggled to cut thicker materials like cardboard or plastic sign material….and this left me wondering just what the point was? Now I can see that they could be useful for someone with hand strength or dexterity issues, arthritis, etc, but they weren’t being marketed for that purpose. And my point of reference were the basic orange-handled Fiskars home or office scissors, I was not comparing them to expensive tailor’s or pattern making shears.
If these are able to cut clamshell packaging then they have come a long way and they would make sense for safely opening those packages, but I’m having a hard time trying to figure out why I’d ever use these instead of manual scissors or a knife generally speaking.
There are other similar sorts of tools that I have used that performed very well, but they are much heavier and specialty sorts of tools. I used a Dewalt 14.4V NiCad sheet metal shear for many years, and I used to own a Bosch corded multi-material shear that used an spinning octagonal upper blade acting against a fixed lower blade. That tool was able to cut very heavy materials like carpet, rubber or fiber gasket material, rubber conveyor belting with reinforcing cords in the center, rubberized canvas, seatbelts, etc. Basically an older corded version of:
https://toolguyd.com/bosch-cordless-shear-gus-10-8v/
I found that the rotating motion gave a lot more control than the open-and-closing motion that most power shears have.
Homer
I use the Dremel electric scissors everyday as I have a bad hand and arm that makes a manual pair of scissors hard for me to use.
Koko The Talking Ape
No idea what these are for. Cutting carpet or leather maybe? Upholsterers in a factory? Or people with limited grip strength?
JoeM
Ugh… Dremel leaving their lane, yet again. Makes me feel ashamed to be so devoted to them for their real tools.
Those who use Fabric, know you can’t use a tool like this, with such small blades. You won’t get a straight cut, it will be jagged. Those who have tried scissors like these in the past, know the form of blades are wrong for cardboard, because they clog up rapidly, no matter where on the blade you put the cardboard, and dull within minutes if you continually clog them. If you need these to cut up paper, you have bigger needs than a motorized tool. And if you’re using it to cut through Clamshell Packaging, you’re asking for motor burnouts and blade changes frequently. Add to that, it’s Yet Another USB Charger 4V under-powered junk-drawer tool from this company… You might as well try hammering a nail into your skull while you’re at the store, buying it. It may change your mind about buying pointless things. Lord knows Dremel can’t seem to be taught that lesson the past little while.
Last tool to be released by Dremel that was in their Heritage lineup of quality tools, was the new Dremel 8260 Cordless Rotary Tool with Bluetooth connectivity. Everything else has been a junk-drawer toy that makes the company look like a cheap “As Seen On TV” knockoff.
Make no mistake… I would wager my entire life on the Dremel Rotary, MotoSaw, Engraver, or VersaTip/Flame series… Hell, they don’t make them anymore, but the greatest User-Level Glue Gun, the 1200, can operate significantly better than the competition, at any level. I genuinely miss the Real Dremel Company… Whoever thinks they should be working in the “Crafter” or “DiY” world is… frankly… a disgrace to the company, and everyone who has grown up on the original products. There was a time they were known for their quality, and endurance. Their Reliability and so much more Productivity. Now they’re releasing… Toys… Cheap, Knock-Off, Toys.
Ugh… That Proxxon is looking better and better all the time now…
Kingsley
All the scissors I have are already cordless, but some 230V scissors would be amazing!
I hope they bring out some cordless tweezers!
fred
Many battery-cordless cutters are based on rotating cutter wheels.
My wife cuts a lot of landscaping fabric – so I bought her a Makita cutter kit based on their 12V platform. To be honest – I’ve seen her using it rather infrequently – more often using a knife or pair of hand shears.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-12-Volt-Max-CXT-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Multi-Cutter-Tool-Only-PC01Z/303797633
Mikedt
Just in time for Father’s Day and for father to put in a drawer and never use.
Adam
My Craftsman 4v scissors (same as Ryobi 4v lineup), are one of my most used items. Most times cutting open clam shells, but also cardboard as well. Thought they would be a joke at first, but I would buy again when these fail.
Kent
If I had hand strength or control issues, I’d be interested.
Short blades a great for ragged cuts, and a good pair of scissors or shears will cut through all those items without problem.
Honestly, I really hate poorly made plastic tools with permanent batteries that end up in the landfill after a few years. I’m not sure these are an exception.
Jim Felt
Gee whiz. To think no one has invented scissors* yet. Oh. Wait.
*in literally hundreds of variations.
Oleg K
I prefer the Worx/Ryobi design that utilizes a self-sharpening blade design. With a fewer parts to worry about their take on this tool will last longer, will be easier to maintain and will definitely cut more material. An argument can be made that this scissor-like setup is more traditional but, in truth, none of these tools are household veterans, none of them are brushless and none have standout features that would put them above their competition, aside from the fact rhat Worx costs $37, while Ryobi is $60, for reasons I can’t explain. Dremel is trying to position these $50 scissors for those who cut a lot of fabric but no self-respecting designer would ever use an electrical cutter and for all other materials, as I said before, the other setup is way better and cuts magnitudes faster.
Either way, I would rather have either one of those than Dremel’s.
Jp
Did dremel make this, or brand it….
Bob Adkins
I’ve had bad experiences with built-in rechargeable batteries, so I try to avoid tools that have them. My favorite battery is the 18650, and I like tools and flashlights that take 1 or 2 of them.