- Sharpening spades, hoes and axes - this is how it works with the hand file
- Whetstone sharpens blunt knife and scissor blades - this is how it works
Regular sharpening plays a key role in the care of garden tools. For a home gardener, investing in a grinder is not worth it. In addition, improper machine sharpening has killed many knives and scissors. That doesn't mean that recreational gardeners have to work with blunt cutting tools. This guide provides tips on how to perfectly sharpen your gardening tools manually.
Most garden tools can be sharpened with a sharpening stone
Sharpening spades, hoes and axes - this is how it works with the hand file
The edges of the spade and hoe are sharp again after grinding with a hand file. In hardware stores and garden centers there is a wide range of files with different degrees of fineness to choose from. The non-hazardous yet easily controllable handling is advantageous for the home gardener. That is how it goes:
- Clean spade, hoe or ax thoroughly
- Clamp garden tool in a vise
- Guide the file over the edge with up and down movements
- Observe the specified angle on oblique blades
To protect the freshly sharpened garden tool from rusting, treat the metal surface with a universal oil, such as sewing machine oil.
Whetstone sharpens blunt knife and scissor blades - this is how it works
Higher demands are placed on the sharpness of pruning shears (€17.82) and knives than on spades and the like. To make blunt rose scissors or hips sharp again, sharpen the blades with a wet whetstone. Combination sharpening stones with a coarse and a fine-grain side, which soak in water or grinding oil before use, have proven their worth. How to do it right:
- Dismantle and carefully clean the garden tool
- Sharpen the blades with the whetstone in a circular motion
- Use the fine side of the sharpening stone to remove the resulting burr (fine wire) lengthwise
If dismantling the garden tool is too time-consuming for you, use a hard metal sharpener instead of a whetstone. You use the handy device like the knife when peeling potatoes to sharpen all knives and scissors in the house and garden. It is important to note that you first work the top of a blade with the carbide sharpener. At the end, simply remove the resulting burr from the underside.
tips
When sharpening lawnmower blades, the gardener is faced with the question of how to tilt the device correctly in order to access the blade block. As a rule of thumb, always tilt the lawn mower so that the spark plug, carburetor and air filter are pointing upwards. Otherwise, spilled oil and gasoline can damage the engine.