Powder Steel Scissors: SG2 and Nano
By SalonScissors editorial team Updated
Powder steel is made from fine steel powder, pressed and heated solid, not cast as one block.
How we chose: The four powder-steel cutters in our range, compared on maker specs, listings and price. We sell them and haven’t run cutting tests. Prices checked 15 October 2026.
How is powder steel made?
-
1. Make the powder
Molten steel is sprayed into a fine powder that cools almost instantly.
-
2. Press and sinter
The powder is packed tight and heated until it fuses into solid steel.
-
3. Forge and roll
The block is forged and rolled into bar. The scissor maker then shapes, hardens and grinds the blades.
Normal steel is cast as an ingot, and its alloys can collect unevenly as it cools. Starting from powder avoids that: Takefu says its SG2 has “no segregation” and “a uniform fine structure”.
What does SG2 give you?
| SG2 (Super Gold 2) | Takefu’s figure |
|---|---|
| Type | Powdered stainless high-speed steel |
| Hardness | 62 HRC or more |
| Recipe | Not published |
| Takefu’s claims | High hardness and toughness, abrasion and corrosion resistance |
All from Takefu’s SG2 page. Takefu’s official name is SPG2, and it keeps the recipe to itself.
Kasho builds its Millennium series from what it calls “sinter steel SG2”: offsets in 5.5”, 6.0” and 6.5”, and straights in 5.3”, 5.8” and 6.2”. Our Millennium Straight listing comes in 5.3” and 6.2”.
Are sintered and powder steel the same?
Yes, near enough. Sintering is the heating step that fuses the powder, so “sintered steel” is powder steel. Both still need a grade name, such as SG2, to tell you which steel it is.
What is “nano powder metal”?
It’s Mizutani’s own name for the powder steel in some of its scissors. Mizutani says it spent five years developing it. The name tells you the maker, not a standard grade, and we don’t stock Mizutani.
Is a powder-polished finish powder steel?
No. Powder polishing is a surface finish. The Juntetsu KS has a powder-polished finish, and its listing gives the steel as 440C:
Juntetsu KS Cutting Scissors
Best for a powder-polished 6.0” cutter, in 440C steel
How do you look after powder steel?
Like any stainless scissor, with two extras:
Wipe and dry the blades after every client and keep the pair cased.
Common questions
Is powder steel better than VG-10?
Harder, on paper: Takefu rates SG2 at 62 HRC or more and VG-10 at 60 or more. Whether that’s better for you depends on the handle, length and edge, and on whether the price is worth it to you.
Is SG2 the same as R2?
Knife sellers often use the two names for the same steel. Takefu calls its steel SPG2 and doesn’t publish the recipe, so we go by what each scissor maker writes.
Why is powder steel so expensive?
The scissors are flagship builds: in our range they come with features such as Kasho’s Disc Operation System or Joewell’s Supreme handles. The steel is one part of the price.
Does powder steel need special sharpening?
It needs a sharpener who works on premium Japanese scissors and knows the edge. Tell them the steel and model when you book.
Next step
Comparing powder steel with the cobalt stainless one step down? The VG-10 guide shows what you’d give up and save, and the steel guide lines up every steel.