Hedge Shears  

Hedge Shears are sharpened according to the angles shown below.

Sharp shears impart clean cuts to area of the plant being addressed. This minimizes the damage and helps the plant to thrive.


Honing is not recommended for these as it will make the gardening activities harder: as with kitchen scissors, coarseness in the edge helps to ensure the piece being cut does not slide out. Stop after the sharpening step (but with a high grit level - 1,000 or so).


A 6" smooth cut machinist’s hand file is useful to carry in your gardening tools box. Use it to resharpen the hoe as needed throughout the gardening activity.

We must cultivate our own garden. When man was put in the garden of Eden, he was put there so that he should work, which proves that man was not born to rest.

Voltaire

General Guidelines
β Notes Recommended
Tormek Jig
Recom. Range
135°
125° - 145°

A sharper angle could be used if trimming bushes with thinner branches. The thicker the wooden parts, the greater an angle may be needed (though, at a certain point, this is not the right tool). If the original angle is different, it is best to match that.

If using a Tormek to sharpen this blade, the SVM-45 Knife Jig can be used, but I'd recommend using the SVD-110 Tool Rest.


SVD-110

Notes & Comments

Information regarding Grindstones

Shaping the edge: Initial shaping of the edge is not typically needed.

If you use an angle grinder, consider using a 120 grit flap disc. A metal grinding wheel may be needed for large-scale shaping. In either case, be sure to not overheat the metal too much: it weakens the metal.


Sharpening the edge:

If you are using a Tormek to sharpen the tool, it is recommended to use the vertical position with the grindstone rotating towards the blade. If you use the horizontal position, the grindstone will tend to pull the hedge shears away from the jig.

If you use a machinist’s hand file,

  1. Start with a 12-14" bastard file (as necessary).
  2. Next, continue with a 8-10" medium (or second) cut file.
  3. Finish with a 6" smooth cut file, then use this file to remove the burr.

Ongoing Maintenance

Be sure to remove all caked-on dirt. A wire brush or putty knife can be useful for this. A well-kept tool will last your lifetime, and will still be usable by your children (and maybe your grandkids).


Camellia Oil Spray Bottle

Sap can be removed using a solvent. Acetone works well, but be sure to wear protective clothing as this is not kind to your body, and be sure the area is well ventilated.

After using any solvent, be sure to apply a thin coat of camellia oil to the tool. I like the spray bottle of camellia oil sold by Tools for Working Wood.

Some advocate using boiled linseed oil (BLO), but BLO often has heavy metals or other bad chemicals added for drying agents, and these are not good for you to handle, nor would they be good for the plants on which you'll use this tool.


If the tool was exposed to any diseased plants or soil which is infected with pests, give it a quick wash in diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 8 parts water), and then rinse with plain water. Be sure to dry afterwards, and apply a thin coat of camellia oil.


Tools in Storage

Hedge Shears often get stored for a while after sharpening, so it is recomended to oil the sharpened surface with camellia oil. (Indeed, all unpainted surfaces would benefit from this.)

Another option is petroleum jelly.


More Information

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About this site
Remember : The goal of sharpening is to produce sharp tools, and these tools can injure you if mishandled. Safety measures should be followed to protect yourself and those in your shop. Be sure to read and follow all instructions from the manufacturer, and and utilize proper safety equipment. Never consume alcohol or anything that could impair your judgement before sharpening tools, or using sharp tools. Comments can be sent via eMail to me at SharpeningHandbook@Gmail.com.