Keep pruning shears working their best with regular maintenance sharpening whenever you notice pruning is more … Carefully dismantle this. Nothing like feeling like you’re getting ahead of the game. You should then put the shears into a vise and flex the blades until they are straight. 4. Sharpen or replace blades > Do this as needed to ensure optimal cutting performance. unlocking this expert answer. Last Updated: March 7, 2020 A must-have tool for most gardens, a good pair of hedge shears can be used to keep trees, shrubs and hedges healthy and looking good. But you could certainly use 3-in-one or WD-40, if that’s what you have on hand. Pine oil is less corrosive than bleach, but also less effective. For all other types of pruning shears, repeat this step on the opposite blade. For the hand prune we will need to use a carbide tool. How to Sharpen Pruning Shears. 9.5 How do you sterilize pruning shears… Then, file the backsides with a few more strokes to remove the rough edges. Do 10 to 20 strokes on each blade until a sharp edge forms. Therefore, if you’ve never sharpening a lopper first hand, hold your horses and take a few minutes to go through the entire post. I know, right? From cutting away unwanted branches to helping snip your favorite flowers to put in a vase, this tool is a gardener's best friend. Well, the first step is investing in some of the best pruning shears, and we’ve got you covered. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. But if you really want to give them a good sharpen, you can also take them apart to sharpen the blade. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Plants will recover more quickly from clean cuts, and your muscles will thank you as well. Your email address will not be published. A Master Gardner explains how to Sharpen Pruning Shears and other Garden tools Tube. Some garden centers will sharpen pruning shears for a fairly reasonable price, but it is a job that a do-it-yourself-gardener can manage at home. Whether you have large or small hand pruners, precision snips, hedge trimmers, or loppers. Secateurs and loppers. The best and simplest was is to use a 10 in. References. Sharpening pruning shears yourself is easier than you think! You may also use bypass hand pruners which also, help you cut leaf blades or thin tree branches. How to Sharpen and Clean Pruning Shears. Once you’ve cleaned your pruning shears and removed the rust, now it’s time to sharpen them. The more regularly you maintain your pruners, the faster the sharpening chore goes. Garden and yard work is fulfilling and relaxing, but only when you have the right tools. As an added protection to the tool, the blade has been coated in an UltraBlade coating, which is designed to actually make the shears perform better than traditional stainless steel blades. Once you’ll be through every word of this 1000-words guide, sharpening loppers will be of no difficulty at all. You can easily sharpen your pruning shears at home with a medium or coarse diamond hand file. Make one smooth stroke with the file from the base of each shear blade to the tip. My brand new book Vertical Vegetables is now available for purchase!! For gardeners who spend barely four hours a week pruning, one good sharpening a year may be adequate. Homebase Cookies By continuing to use our website you agree to the use of cookies to provide you with a better online experience. If you're not sure whether they're mean… Q: How to sharpen pruning shears? 2) SAP REMOVER & RAG. Pruning shears are one of the most important tools to have in your garden. The two blades come in contact near the base of the tool and cut all the way to the tip of the shears… Simply spray the blade with the lubricating oil of your choice. Garden and yard work is fulfilling and relaxing, but only when you have the right tools. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Test for sharpness > Draw a five-point star about the size of a dime on a sheer piece of fabric. You can easily sharpen your pruning shears at home with a medium or coarse diamond hand file. Motor oil. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. It has to be done a certain way, ... For this particular tutorial, I’m using my Fiskars short handled pruning shears. 4) Sharpen the blade. 4. Required fields are marked *. Learn how to sharpen scissors Follow these five easy steps to keep both you and your blades sharp for everyday snipping. Fiskars All Steel Bypass Pruning Shears. They’ve all gotten a lot of use over the years. The first thing you need to do before sharpening it is to put protective gloves on and also your googles. Never let your trusty scissors go dull again! Before we dig into the nitty gritty of this article, let’s have a chat about which pruning shears are best. Grass shears cut the grass by using a scissoring action. Try and remember what goes where. Otherwise, skip to section 3: Sharpening Pruning Shears below. With a little bit of time and elbow grease, you can have those old rusty garden tools looking and working like new again. If your garden shears have gotten a little dull and rusty, you don’t have to buy a whole new pair. How To Organize Gardening Tools & Supplies, How To Trim Tree Branches Yourself: A Step-By-Step Pruning Guide, Lasagna Gardening 101: How To Make A Lasagna Garden, 7 Easy DIY Potting Soil Recipes To Mix Your Own, How To Make Potting Soil For Indoor Plants, Terms Of Use, Disclaimer and Privacy Policy, Something to test your cuts (e.g. Designed with simplicity and performance in mind, the Fiskars Blade Sharpener is a convenient solution to help you maintain the sharpness of your gardening tools. Make sure when sharpening to do so at the same angle as the blade, and if there are any cuts or notches on the blade, take extra care to file those out as well. : plant stems or leaves). Check to see if your pair of secateurs can be taken apart for maintenance. The file works very well on hedge and pruning shears. I also have Fiskar floral nippers, Florian rachet pruners and Corona lopping shears. According to our research the “Fiskars All Steel Bypass Pruning Shears” is one of the best pruning shears in the market. How to Sharpen Grass Shears By Amelia Allonsy Things You'll Need. Sharp tools make all the difference when tackling pruning chores. Once you’ve cleaned your pruning shears and removed the rust, now it’s time to sharpen them. Unlock this expert answer by supporting wikiHow, http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/sharpen-pruners, https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/cleaning.html, http://grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_sharpen_pruners_shears/, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/how-to-clean-pruning-shears_n_1624852.html, https://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/how-to-sharpen-garden-tools/view-all, http://www.weekendgardener.net/garden-tool-care/pruners-050805.htm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You want to achieve a razor-sharp edge, but don’t reduce the beveled edge to less than 1 millimeter thickness. Wipe the shear blades after each use and oil them frequently to prevent rapid blade deterioration. If that’s the case with yours, you only need to sharpen the blade side, and leave the flat side alone. How do you sharpen Fiskars pruning shears? Sign Up. Pruning shears have to be sharpened periodically in order for you to be able to use them at their best. How to sharpen garden shears. Rag. To prevent rust on your sharpened pruning shears, dip a soft cloth in linseed oil and gently wipe the cloth over the blades. Exactly! How to Clean Plant Residue from Hedge Shears. Best Hand Pruners. Now they should be clean, sharpened and ready to go! This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. It’s frustrating trying to cut with a pair of dull scissors. The Fiskars Micro Pruning Shears is one of the most well-known shears for herbs and almost all plants. Don’t press too hard. Sharp pruning shears make life easier than a pair of dull, rusty shears. Sharpening pruning tools. Whether you’re pruning, hedge cutting or edging your lawn, at Homebase, we’ve got great garden shears for your outdoor trimming and tidying tasks. How to sharpen pruning shears with a file. How to Sharpen Grass Shears By Amelia Allonsy Things You'll Need. The blade itself has a non-stick, micro-tip fully hardened, stainless steel blade that makes precise and clean cuts. Among all the pruning shears in the market, it has got the coziest design with a convenient built-in cooler. Once you’ll be through every word of this 1000-words guide, sharpening loppers will be of no difficulty at all. Mike McGroarty’s Favorite Pruning Shears. Cleaning rust off the blade with a wire brush. I try to make a habit of sharpening my garden tools in the off-season too. The two blades come in contact near the base of the tool and cut all the way to the tip of the shears… You can also subscribe without commenting. Read on to find out how to sharpen your pruning tools. Duration : 3.47 Mins. Well, the first step is investing in some of the best pruning shears, and we’ve got you covered. How to sharpen pruning shears with a file. Share your tips for how to sharpen garden shears in the comments section below. Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruning Shears Developed by Fiskars , this gardening tool is designed from hardened steel, which makes it extremely durable. Wrench (optional) Table vise. Use to sharpen blades on pruners, loppers, hedge sheers, snips and more. Then use dry rag to rub it in, and wipe off the excess. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Step 3: Use a wire brush to remove tough rust spots – First, brush off any thick rust spots with a wire brush. I shared with you the other day that I have a great pair of garden pruners that have been with me for about ten years now. Now check out our Flower & Plant Guide In this case you might use another technique on how to sharpen this kind of lopper. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. While you’re at it, make sure to clean the handles and other parts too, don’t just focus on the blade. Sharpen the bevel with a diamond file, following the exact angle of the existing bevel. The good news is, you have several options to choose from. Get our latest tips, how-to articles, and instructional videos sent to your inbox. long mill file. But if yours are as neglected as mine have been, then follow these steps to clean them up. Supplies needed for sharpening garden shears. How do I sharpen what we call "clopping shears" (bigger than pruning shears)? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. All it takes are: A fine-toothed flat file, or a sharpening stone A few drops of machine oil A little care and patience. The good news is that it’s super easy to sharpen pruning shears, and it doesn’t take long to get them working (and looking) like brand new again. With a little bit of elbow grease, your garden shears will look brand new, and be ready for sharpening. After 10-15 minutes, you can remove and rinse them without any scrubbing. Here are a few of the most common…, Different types of sharpeners for garden tools. How can you do it? Step 5: Find the correct angle – Hold the sharpening tool against the blade at the same angle of the existing bevel (usually about a 20-25 degree angle). Out comes the blade, and now you can either It is a good idea to have a best pair for pruning and a cheap second pair for jobs like cutting back herbaceous plants. Scissor sharpeners. It only takes a few minutes to get the blades all shined up and looking brand new (plus it’s a really good tricep workout, bonus!). You can follow the steps below to sharpen any type of pruning shears. Plants will recover more quickly from clean cuts, and your muscles will thank you as well. You’ll get a little tool like this, which allows you to unlock these screws, all of them, and take your secateurs apart. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Even quality pruning shears and hedge clippers need sharpening from time to time to maintain their edge, and it makes a great project on a cold or rainy day. 8 How to Sharpen Garden Shears with a Stone; 9 Frequently Asked Questions. That could do more harm than good, and cause the metal to rust faster. Once the shears are sharpened, coat them in linseed oil to prevent rust. Scissor sharpeners. So, if any of your pruning tools look like my hedge trimmers, then follow these steps to remove the rust from the blade. Here’s what you’ll find in this guide for how to sharpen pruning shears…. Pruning, aka not that thing that happens to your fingers when you spend too much time soaking in water. Step 4: Clean rust off the blades with steel wool – Now you can scrub the blade with steel wool to clean off any remaining rust. If the edges are jagged, you need to sharpen your scissors. Sharpening pruning shears is very important in order to get the perfect cut every time! 9.2 What are the best hand pruners? Reich is a horticultural consultant and the author of The Pruning Book, published by The Taunton Press. Flat files are excellent to sharpen the blades on these Fiskars tools. How to Sharpen Pruning Shears. Amazing! Lubricate pruners with a few drops of oil such as WD-40 ® or 3-in-1 oil in between all moving parts. Using pruning shears to regularly trim perennial flowers and fruit trees, deadhead blooming plants, or cut long, wayward branches out of shrubs encourages overall plant health, while refreshing your yard and garden’s overall appearance. Plus, taking the time to sharpen them on a regular basis will not only make them last longer, pruning plants will be sooooo much easier for you (and healthier for your garden too)! Sharpening the blade of my pruning shears. Soft Cushion Grip Handle for … 2) SAP REMOVER & RAG. What You'll Need to Clean and Sharpen Your Pruners . If your pruning shears have gotten dull, or if you just want to keep them working as effectively as possible, follow these steps to learn how to sharpen pruning shears! Plus you don’t need many supplies to get the job done. If you're not sure whether they're mean… Once you get a clean and easy cut, then you know you’re done. Soak pruning shears in a pine oil solution for less corrosive sanitation. I think I have a project for the hubby 🙂. It has to be done a certain way, ... For this particular tutorial, I’m using my Fiskars short handled pruning shears. X. Now you can sit back, and enjoy your beautifully sharp and like-new pruners. Properly sharpened pruning shears make all the difference. If the star edges are clean, your scissors are sharp enough. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 40,230 times. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to clean your pruning shears, read on! Step 2: Scrub them if necessary – If there’s caked on dirt and grime that won’t come off easily, use a cleaning brush to scrub it off. Start in the center and cut out to the points. Heck, you might already have a sharpening tool on hand that will do the job just fine. It is a good idea to have a best pair for pruning and a cheap second pair for jobs like cutting back herbaceous plants. Sharpening pruning tools. Remove any nicks with a file first. Unfortunately, because it is used so often, the blades can become dirty, rusty and carry bacteria that can infect healthy plants.