SCIONON Grafting Shears SGK3-19
Maintenance & Adjustments
The SGK3-19 is most suited to preparing blunt cleft grafts, but will also prepare the other grafts. It is
set up with a wider pocket recess than the SGS1-13 to accept wood diameters of between 8mm to
19mm without needing adjustment. When sectioning wood it is still best to cut it using the part of the
blade nearest to the handles. SCIONON Grafting Shears are primarily shaping tools not secateurs. To
avoid over stressing the jaws It is also advisable not to cut dense wood larger than 15 or 16mm.
The main difference between the 16’s and 19’s setup is the shape of the pocket recess and the way
the spacer washers are used. The SGK3-19 has two spring washers between the step plate and the
anvil jaw. This increases the gap slightly to accommodate the larger diameters. There is also a flat
spacer washer between the bottom rest plate and anvil jaw to assist with grip on the larger diameters.
The SGK3-19 is particularly good for cutting blunt cleft grafts in the larger diameters more easily.
When doing this the bottom rest plate grip is adjusted outward so that the edge protrudes past the
anvil by about 0.5mm. This can be set at an angle if desired to minimize the scarring when sectioning
the smaller diameter wood. This rest plate adjustment enables the end of the wood to be gripped
when make the first whip cut. To make the second cut, the wood is turned over and the end rested on
the edge of the plate while making the second whip face cut, whereby a blunt cleft graft is produced.
When using the SGK3-19, whip and tongues are cut in much the same way as described in the
operator’s manual. By removing the extra spacer washes the 19s can be setup to function much the
same as the 13s. Scionondotcom video demonstrations show the versatility of the Grafting Shears.
Points to note - All models:
Clear any trapped debris - often. During use, wood fibres will build up in the recess pocket.
Sharpen the blades only as required. The tip bevel should be maintained at about 25° to 30°. The
secondary bevel should be thinned out as the blade tip is worn away due to sharpening and honed to
about 13° to 15°. There is approximately 2mm of tip wear available, before the blade will lose
function. See the operator’s manual for more sharpening tips.
When storing the tool, thoroughly clean and wipe the blades and jaws with a lightly oiled cloth.
Replace any screws with worn socket heads as often as necessary. Thread is M3.
When replacing the screws, place a zinc based oil on the screw threads to stop them ceasing in place.
Do not over tighten. If the screws ever become ceased in place, use heat to try to break the seal. If
this fails, the screws can be drilled out using a 2.5 mm drill bit without damaging the retaining threads.
If the threads ever become stripped or damaged, an M3 hex nut can be used with the screw to secure
the blade in place.
It is unadvisable to section dense woods lager than 16mm using the shears. This can cause premature
damage to the blades, and cause the jaws to fall out of alignment. If for any reason the jaws do fall out
of alignment, the shears can be placed in a vice and the handles tweaked to align the jaws again.
1. Open the handles and place either the top or bottom jaw in the vice.
2. Using the handles as a lever, apply slight inwards or outward pressure to increase/ decrease
the jaw plain setup. Test the alignment. Any over correction can be reversed.
