Thursday, March 8, 2012

How to Sharpen Loppers and Hand-Pruners

Today I took into practice something that I had learned at my Master Gardener Class.  How to sharpen my pruners.  This is actually a VERY easy thing to do on your own!  All you need is some WD-40 (if needed) and a fine file.

These are my favorite pair of bypass hand pruners.  They were left out this pass summer and rusted.  This is NOT something you want to do.  Because of the rust, the blades were sticking together making pruning very difficult to do.  And since it is pruning season (fruit trees and roses), it makes my job that much harder.


First thing you want to do is give it a good spray with WD-40.  This will lubricate them and you will not have any more sticking.



On bypass blades (the top sharp blade will pass the bottom blade) there is a sharp beveled edge on one side.

On the backside you can see that there is not the beveled edge.


Take a fine file and work in ONE DIRECTION-- from the base of the blade to the top in smooth strokes.  Keep the file parallel with the beveled edge.  Do this multiple times.

Then on the backside where there is not the beveled edge, run your file over it ONCE to give it a smooth surface, taking off any some filings.

Now you have sharp pruners!  

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