The Risky Nature Of Making India's Renowned Handmade Scissors

Despite the dangers of molten brass exploding and causing burns, workers in the Indian city of Meth continue to use fire to create household items such as scissors. These scissors are highly valued by tailors and barbers across India for their sharpness and durability. However, the livelihoods of hundreds of scissor craftsmen may be jeopardized by cheaper mass-produced scissors.

This ancient city has been producing scissors for over three centuries. The first step in the process is forging the blades. Workers heat scrap iron pieces on coal until they're red hot, then they take turns hammering it into a blade. They have a flawless rhythm and can make about 300 blades a day. The blades are then transported to a small factory that makes handles using metals that are 100% recycled from old aluminum, copper, and brass utensils. Inside the factory, the workers melt the metal pieces in a furnace that reaches temperatures over 100°. Gavar, a master craftsman, has been working here for 18 years. He starts by making casts for the scissor handles. First, he places dummy scissors into these treeses to create a mold. The workers then cover it with a special black powder made from sugar cane juice and sand. This dense and sticky powder helps create a strong imprint. After removing the dummy scissors, the workers dust the mold with a mixture of chalk and flour to help set it. The new blades are inserted, and the box is sealed. The casts are stacked up, and the molten mixture from the furnace is poured in to form the handles. Gsar, who started working here at the age of 18, had a difficult experience when he got injured. It took seven months for his legs to heal, but he continued working to support his parents. The furnace runs on electricity, but it can be expensive, so workers sometimes use coal, diesel, or even trash to spark the flames. However, this produces a lot of smoke and soot, leading to 80% of the workers here suffering from lung diseases. Unfortunately, most of them don't expect to live past a certain age.