Sharp Garden Tools for the Kindest Cuts

If you want your garden shears and clippers to make cuts without crushing the stems of plants, you need to keep them sharp, clean and lubricated.

What to Use

To sharpen blades not made of hardened steel, use a fine or medium-fine single-cut flat file. For hardened steel blades, use a file or a small flat sharpening stone.

Buy a combination stone with a fine grit on one side and a medium grit on the other. Spread a little light machine oil on each of the surfaces. After use, store the stone in a box to keep it from getting clogged with dirt.

Basics

To sharpen a blade, study the original bevel and maintain its angle. Don’t rock the file or blade from side to side--that can damage the edge.

After sharpening, gently rub the stone or file along the flat side of the blade (the side without the bevel) to remove burrs--metal that curves under during sharpening or with use.

Pruning Shears

Scissors-type pruning shears have a sharp, curved upper blade that cuts as it passes by a curved lower hook. Anvil-type pruning shears have a sharp, straight upper blade that cuts against a flat lower surface.

To restore the cutting edge on curved scissors-type pruning shears, separate the blades if possible. Remove the pivot bolt, pry off the lock switch with a screwdriver and remove the pin. Wrap cardboard around the handle and secure it in a vise.

If the blades cannot be separated, secure the cardboard-wrapped handle in a vise. In either case, use a file or a small stone to sharpen the cutting blade, moving it from the pivot end toward the tip of the blade in a single motion. Gently file off any burrs.

Anvil-type pruning shears cannot be taken apart. Instead, secure the cardboard-wrapped handle in a vise, allowing the blades to spring open. Move a file or small stone in a sweeping motion along the bevel of the cutting edge, maintaining the original angle of the bevel.

Hedge Shears

Hedge and grass shears have two cutting blades. If possible, disassemble the shears. To do so, you may have to hold the nut steady to remove the bolt. Draw one blade at a time across a flat sharpening stone. Follow the angle of the original bevel.

When reassembling, lightly oil the pivot bolt and tighten it until the blades close with a slight drag. If the bolt has a spring, tighten the bolt until the best cutting is achieved.

If hedge or grass shears cannot be disassembled, grip one blade at a time in a vise. Use cardboard to protect the blade.

Sharpen the blade along the original bevel with a smooth single-cut file or small stone. Hold the file or stone perpendicular to the cutting edge. Use straight pulling strokes, working from the pivot end to the tip without any side-to-side movement.

Bench Grinder

If a cutting blade is badly nicked or very dull, reshape it on an electric bench grinder before sharpening it. Avoid ruining the blade’s temper by letting it get too hot to touch--dip it in water frequently. Hold the blade to the wheel with your bare hands so that you can feel when the blade gets warm.

Don’t forget to wear safety goggles when you work at a bench grinder. Never remove the metal wheel guards; they protect you in case the rapidly spinning wheel should shatter.