- Prepare pruning shears and whetstone - this is how it works
- How to sharpen dull scissors - step-by-step instructions
Secateurs play a key role in successful plant care. The blades have to be sharp so that perennials and shrubs can be cut back perfectly. Don't bother with blunt grass shears or pruning shears any longer. With a sharpening stone you can fix the problem in no time. These instructions explain how to sharpen your pruning shears in an exemplary manner.
The secateurs sharpen better when disassembled
Prepare pruning shears and whetstone - this is how it works
The pruning shears are first dismantled so that you can grind the blades with a whetstone. Disassemble the tool into its individual parts using a screwdriver and open-end wrench. Thoroughly clean the removed elements. In particular, the blades must no longer be clogged with plant sap at the end. Glass cleaner has proven itself in practice for this purpose.
For sharpening pruning shears (€17.82) we recommend a European combination water stone. This sanding aid has pages with different grit for coarse and fine sanding. A sharpening stone is usually ready for use after a four to five hour water bath.
How to sharpen dull scissors - step-by-step instructions
After the preparatory work, the focus is on the blunt blades. The following instructions explain the grinding process:
- Press the sharpened side of the blade at a 90 degree angle onto the coarse grit side of the sharpening stone
- Grind off any unevenness on the cutting edge with a slight twisting motion
- Then work the sharpened edge with the fine grit
- Honing the smooth side of the blade on the fine-grained side of the stone to remove any burrs
Moisten the sharpening stone repeatedly in the meantime so that no frictional heat is generated. In the last step, carefully grease the joints of the secateurs so that they remain free to move for a long time. Only then do you reassemble the scissors and move the joints several times so that the oil is evenly distributed.
tips
Numerous garden tools depend on sharp blades, cutting edges and edges. The universal knife sharpener from Westfalia is just the right thing so that you don't have to buy an extra abrasive for every tool. Simply clamp it to a drill (€97.00) or a cordless screwdriver and start grinding.