Sharpening your garden tools makes them more efficient, hence influencing your success in your garden works. Therefore learning how to sharpen garden tools is essential. This article will discuss the best ways to sharpen garden tools at home.
Before getting deeper into our sharpen garden tools guide, let’s look at the most common (three) sharpening tools.
Most Common Sharpening Tools
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File
Files are the most used sharpening tools worldwide. A file is a long hardened steel rod with cutting teeth, essential for sharpening and smoothing the cutting surfaces. There are different types of files, differentiated by shape and teeth configuration.
Regarding teeth configuration, there are two types of files; single-cut files and double-cut files. Single-cut files have cutting teeth aligned in only one direction. Usually, the cutting teeth are aligned at an angle of 65 degrees.
Double-cut files have their cutting teeth crisscrossed at opposing angles. The cutting teeth of double-cut files are arranged in diamond-like patterns across the facet of the file.
On the other hand, files come in different shapes that allow them to work effectively on specific tools. The most common type is flat-file (also known as hand file)
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Bench Grinder
As the name suggests, a bench grinder is a grinding machine usually mounted on a worktop. The device drives the abrasive wheels, which grinds and sharpen tools.
The abrasive wheels contain coarse-particle (abrasive grains) and other composite materials pressed and bonded together to form a complex circular grinding tool.
The abrasive wheels come in various types, differentiated by properties such as shape, size, strength, hardness, and coarse-particle ratio to the bond and grit size.
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Angle Grinder
Angle grinders, also known as side grinders or disc grinders, are hand-held grinding machines. Ideally, they have their grinding wheels on the side of the grinding machine. Like bench grinders, angle grinders use abrasive wheels to cut, grind, smooth, or sharpen the garden tools.
Although they have various grinding wheels, differentiated by characteristics such as size and strength, they do not have a wide variety of abrasive wheels as in bench grinders. Angle grinders are suitable for sharpening tools with hard-to-reach cutting edges.
As we have defined the most common sharpening tools, let us now dive into our guide on how to sharpen garden tools.
How to Sharpen Garden Tools at Home
We will discuss steps to sharpen garden tools using each of the discussed sharpening tools in this guide. Let’s get started.
How to Sharpen Garden Tools with a File
Step 1: Choose the Ideal File
To determine the ideal file, you need to put factors such as material and the level of the bluntness of the cutting edge of the garden tool you wish to sharpen. Note that files come in different shapes, sizes, and designs. It is advisable to use a double-cut file for very blunt tools. Use a single-cut file to finish the cutting edge.
Step 2: Set Your Tool on a Sharpening Angle
It is best to put your tool in a steady position and right angle for better results. A vise can help in positioning your blade. You need to find a hard surface while in the yard or in a place where vise is not accessible. Always avoid setting the tool on loose soil.
Step 3: Start Sharpening
There are two basic techniques to sharpen your garden tools:
Straight Filing – it is a forward, pushing stroke. Each stroke runs full length, parallel to the blade. While using this filing technique, the file should be in a straight or diagonal position and at an angle of 20 – 25 degrees.
Draw Filing – this is a backward, pull stroke technique. Here, you hold the file at a specific angle and pull it towards you.
While using either technique, return stroke should not touch the blade. Choose the technique that works best for you and work on your blade until you feel burrs on the other side of the cutting edge – use your fingers to feel the burr as you file your tool. Ensure to put even pressure through every stroke.
Step 4: Remove Burr
To remove the burr, place your file on the side where the burr formed and pull it towards you. Ensure to exert light pressure.
How to Sharpen Garden Tools with a Bench Grinder
When using a bench grinder, you will need to have cold water to cool your tool. Note that overheating while grinding can damage the metal, especially the cutting surface. Therefore, you need to cool the garden tool after every few seconds of grinding.
In addition to that, it is advisable to use a low-speed grinder for sharpening. Low-speed minimizes the chances of overheating, which is harmful to tools.
Step 1: Adjust Your Bench Grinder’s Bevel Angle
The first step to sharpening garden tools using a bench grinder is to adjust the grinder’s bevel angle gauge. The gauge helps in holding your blade in a steady and secure position. On the other hand, the angle ensures you do not over grind your tool, which may damage your garden tool. You may also create your bevel gauge by cutting a piece of wood at a considerable.
Step 2: Sharpen Your Tool
After adjusting the length of the grinder’s angle, you can now start sharpening your blade. Place the tool on the angle gauge and press it towards the grinder wheel. Move the edge back and forth lengthwise, exerting even pressure lengthwise. Repeat the process on the backside of the blade taper.
How to Sharpen Garden Tools with Angle Grinder
Step 1: Select an Ideal Abrasive Wheel
Essentially, angle grinders are multipurpose. While sharpening, a ¼ inch thick grinding wheel is recommended for fast metal removal and a flap disc to finish the blade surface.
Step 2: Position Your Tool on a Steady Sharpening Angle
For better results and your safety, ensure to put the garden tool in a steady position. A vise is useful for holding blades.
Step 3: Sharpen your Tools
After mounting your tool, you can now start sharpening your tool. To polish, turn on the grinder and gently move it across the blade’s taper in a sweeping-like motion. Ensure to keep your angle grinder at an angle aligning with the tip of the blade taper. Additionally, ensure to exert even pressure lengthwise for the best result.
Conclusion
In this guide, we have discussed standard grinding tools. The tools are most effective when used correctly. Therefore, we recommend this guide as it teaches you how to sharpen garden tools using each of the mentioned gears.
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