How To Sharpen Garden Tools: Make Life Easy!, by GrowVeg on YouTube. 11 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Brush off soil, dried sap and rust with a wire brush, then wipe the tool with a cloth. Dry it fully before sharpening so the file does not clog.
Look along the cutting edge for nicks and rolled metal. A small nick can be worked out with a file; a badly chipped blade may need professional repair.
Wear gloves and hold the tool firmly, with the cutting edge facing away from you. Match the file or stone to the existing bevel angle and push it along the edge in one direction.
Sharpen the bevelled side of secateurs, not the flat side, with a few light strokes. For spades and hoes, file the full cutting edge at the original angle.
Turn the tool over and run a fine stone flat along the back to remove the burr. Wipe away metal filings with an oiled cloth.
Put a few drops of oil on the pivot, spring and blade, then open and close the tool to spread it. Wipe off excess oil.
Store tools clean and dry in a box, rack or dry shed, with blades closed or covered. Keep them off damp floors.
Tips and common mistakes
Sharpen little and often rather than waiting for a blade to become blunt.
Keep the file at the same angle as the original bevel; a changing angle rounds the edge.
Do not use a bench grinder on secateurs unless you are experienced, as it can overheat the metal.
Wear gloves and keep fingers behind the cutting edge.
Questions
How often should I sharpen garden tools?
Sharpen secateurs at the start of the season and whenever cuts tear or feel hard. Spades and hoes need a touch-up when the edge feels dull.
Can I sharpen secateurs with sandpaper?
Fine sandpaper can remove light rust or a small burr, but a file or diamond stone is better for restoring a blunt edge. Follow the existing bevel.
What angle should I use?
Use the angle already ground into the blade, often around 20 to 25 degrees on bypass secateurs. A few light strokes at that angle are safer than heavy pressure.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
