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Looking ahead to the spring pruning season and thinking my secateurs and tree lopper could probably do with sharpening up.
Given the short curved blades, what's the best way of getting in and putting an edge on them?
Get your gardener to have them sharpened at the workshop
On mine, you can undo the pivot bolt. Otherwise it's the same as scissors, open as wide as possible and if you have two edges to sharpen, protect the first one while you do the second.
I’ve always used a rounded file. No idea if its the correct method but to me it seemed logical.
quickest and easiest (though probably not best) use them to cut up a lot of wet and dry.
Anvil type or bypass type?
use them to cut up a lot of wet and dry.
Do not do this.
I ruined a pair on a bench grinder. Don't do that.
I do mine with a Dremel.
See also: lawnmower blades and wallpaper scrapers.
I just open them up and give them a few passes with a grindstone. Seems to work.
quickest and easiest (though probably not best) use them to cut up a lot of wet and dry.
I do this from time to time, works well.
I just file mine with a half round file. Seems to work well enough, not like they need to be razor sharp.
I just file mine with a half round file. Seems to work well enough, not like they need to be razor sharp.
That was my first thought, but wondered if there was some artisanal sharpening device I didn't know about
I have one of these quick and easy sharpening tools ->
https://www.toolstation.com/spear-jackson-6-in-1-blade-sharpener/p86635
Probably not up to reviving a very worn blade and may not even be the best thing for the tool but handy and easy for putting an edge back on the blade if you use it regularly.
Thanks slowol, that looks interesting as well
Things like this exist but the quality can be dubious...
Felco make a decent thin sharpening stone that’s good for getting into the whole blade without stripping the tool down; have a look for Felco 903.
I do mine with a Dremel.
Thanks PP, I'll give this method a try. Loppers and secateurs are a good 12 months overdue for sharpening.
I was given one of those multisharp things and it did a good job of getting secateurs sharp. If you have decent eyesight and follow the bevel of the blade carefully (maybe use the permanent marker trick if you are not confident) it could be done freehand with a narrow flat fine file or ceramic stone just as well.
I just file mine with a half round file. Seems to work well enough, not like they need to be razor sharp.
That was my first thought, but wondered if there was some artisanal sharpening device I didn’t know about
There is - the steel from your kitchen drawer.