When it comes to the maintenance and care of garden tools, it would be useful to learn how to sharpen garden shears. This means your garden tool will last for years and serve its purpose without any problems without the blades becoming dull. In fact, sharper tools allow cuts to heal better when pruning. In addition, dull pruning shears can crush or tear plant tissue, increasing the likelihood of infection by pathogens. So, to keep your hand scissors in top shape despite the abuse, you should keep them clean, sharp and lubricated. Luckily, this can be an easy task if you follow a few simple steps.
Before you sharpen your secateurs
At least once a year, at the end or onBeginning of the gardening season, you should clean and sharpen all of your garden tools. You will probably need secateurs that are subjected to particularly heavy use more often. Accordingly, you will notice a big difference when using your sharpened tool. So get used to wiping your scissors with a cloth moistened with lubricating oil after each use. This prevents rust formation and makes regular sharpening much easier. Some pruners are structured in such a way that you have to take them apart to clean and sharpen the individual parts. Other one-piece tools can be sharpened as is. This can be a bit complicated, but it is still possible.
So how should you sharpen your pruning shears to ensure you can get the cutting job done right? A whetstone, for example, produces consistent results, although some gardeners have tried using a hand grinder to sharpen pruning shears. However, this can be a bad idea because the sharpening stones are too coarse to give the small blades a good, sharp edge. However, a multi-purpose diamond file works quite well. You should also note that such a garden tool has sharp cutting edges. So, use appropriate caution when disassembling and cleaning parts, handling the cutting edge, and reassembling the tool. It's also a good idea to wear leather work gloves, as you can easily get a nasty cut.
What you need for cleaning and sharpening
Personal protective equipment is just as important as the tools you need to get the job done. You don't have to sharpen your scissors every time you use them. This mainly depends on how often you use them. If you notice that your garden tools aren't cutting well, it might be time to sharpen them. On the other hand, regular cleaning is necessary to avoid the spread of diseases. A good rule of thumb is to sharpen your scissors at the beginning and end of the cutting season, and at least once during it. To do this, you will need soapy water, a scrub brush, steel wool, an abrasive or whetstone or flat file, medium to fine-grit sandpaper, clean cloths, cleaning and lubricants, rust remover (WD-40), wrenches, gloves and safety glasses.
This is how you can sharpen and maintain secateurs
As mentioned above, a sharper blade makes cutting easier, but also ensures that your scissors last longer. In contrast, the buildup of rust and dirt can make it difficult to use and cause your tool to break more quickly over time. The cuts you make also heal better when you use sharp scissors, making your plants less susceptible to disease and infection. Before you start sharpening, you may need to disassemble the parts.
Disassemble the scissors into parts
After protecting your hands and eyes, you can disassemble the scissors (if possible). This makes it much easier to clean every inch and sharpen the blade. If possible, start by disassembling the parts before sharpening your pruning shears. While some cheaper options may be held together with a permanent rivet, most secateurs have a screw or bolt and a nut that screw the two halves of the tool together. The actual disassembly process varies depending on the manufacturer. Remove the nut or bolt holding the two halves together and separate the two main parts. There may be multiple screws on the pruner, but you only need to worry about the ones in the middle of the two blades.
Once the blades are separated, your tool, if it has a suspension, may slip. It is therefore recommended to work on a towel or a plate to keep track of the pieces. Examine each part of your tool carefully. You should purchase replacement parts for severely corroded or worn parts. For example, it is common for the spring coil to rust or wear out, and it is usually easy to purchase a replacement from your garden center or an online retailer. Small nicks in the cutting blade usually disappear during the sharpening process, but if the blade has large nicks or breaks, you will likely need to purchase a new blade.
Remove dirt from the secateurs by scrubbing them
Use soapy water and a small, stiff scrub brush or just an old toothbrush to remove dirt from all parts. Pay particular attention to corners where dirt can get caught. When the parts look clean, rinse them in water and then wipe dry with a clean, dry cloth.
Over time, such pruning or hand shears often become caked with plant sap and other rubbery residue. Use steel wool or sandpaper to sand this rubbery material off the parts. Pay particular attention to the cutting edge of the tool.
In any case, make sure your garden tools are clean of dirt and sap before you proceed with sharpening. A drop of cleaning solution or penetrating oil can sometimes help loosen this stuck-on residue.
If the blade is rusty, use coarse steel wool to remove the rust. You can also spray them with WD-40, let it sit for 10 minutes and then remove the stuff with a cloth. Again, use steel wool to remove the rust.
Sharpen the blades of the secateurs
Sharpening is the most important step, which intimidates some people, but even a less than perfect sharpening is better than none at all. First, take your file or sharpening stone and place it on the beveled side, almost parallel to the blade. Using pressure on the outer edge of the blade, file in a direction around the curved edge of the blade. Lift and repeat this step. Don't go back and forth as this can ruin the whole thing. Continue dragging the file or whetstone along the beveled edge of the blade. Apply even pressure from the base to the tip of the blade, making sure to file in one direction. The bevel becomes shinier when sharpened.
Do not oversharpen the tool as it is not necessary for the blade to be razor sharp to work effectively. With bypass pruners, it is usually not necessary to sharpen the lower, non-beveled blade unless it has nicks or gouges that need to be smoothed. If your cutting edge requires significant sharpening, a drop of lubricating oil on the sharpening stone can help maintain the desired sharpness without overheating the metal. Then use a fine piece of sandpaper to remove any burrs. Then you can reassemble the blades using the wrench if necessary. To determine whether they are sharp enough, test the secateurs on a piece of paper. If they make a clean cut, they're good to go.
This will help you keep your garden tools sharp and clean for longer
Once you've freshly cleaned and sharpened your scissors, there are a few instructions you should follow to help them stay that way for longer. Proper care will help you get the most out of your secateurs when cutting your plants.
- Keep the scissors clean and remove dirt and debris immediately after use.
- Apply an all-purpose oil to the blades as a lubricant before putting the tool away.
- Wipe off any excess oil with a clean rag. This will help prevent your secateurs from rusting.
- Store the pruning shears in a cool, dry place, such as a garden shed.
Caring for your garden tools is also part of garden maintenance. As you have already learned, you can sharpen your secateurs and maintain them properly with little effort. However, if it is past its best before date, you may need to replace it. Keep in mind that new pruners are not always sharpened and you may need to follow these steps to prepare them for cutting.
