Check and if need be, adjust your tension at least once a week.
To check tension, first clean and oil the shear as described. Then holding the finger side of the shear in your left hand, lift the thumb handle with your right hand until the blades are fully open, and let it go. If it stays open all the way, or does not fall more then 20% of the way closed, the tension is good. If the blade falls more than 20% of the way closed, on a high quality shear, it is too loose. Tighten the tension system by turning the knob or screw slightly to the right or clockwise. On shears with clicking knobs or screws, one or two clicks is usually enough. Test again, and if it does not fall, then test to make sure it is not too tight. Too tight is just when you feel too much resistance as you open them. You don’t want to have to fight the tension with your thumb to open and close the blades. On poorer quality shears, you may have to adjust them so the blades fall half way shut. This is because the blades are not well balanced against each other, so if you adjust them like a higher quality shear, they will be too hard to open and close.