The shrubbery’s identical look in your garden adds value and beauty to your home’s exterior landscape.
However, keeping it well-maintained requires a lot of effort.
From trimming the hedges to maintaining the tools you use for the job, you need to invest a lot of time and energy into it.
Sharpening hedge trimmer blades, for instance, are essential to your tool’s overall performance, effectiveness, and longevity.
Because they come in contact with the plants when cutting overhanging leaves and branches, they can get dull pretty quickly.
Can Hedge Trimmer Blades Be Sharpened?
The blades on your hedge trimmer are its most essential parts. They are usually razor-sharp when new but get dull through constant use.
Can hedge trimmer blades be sharpened, though? Or do you need to invest in a new one? It’s a common concern of many home gardeners.
Fortunately, yes, you can put an edge back to these blades, and you should do it regularly.
Dull blades will only prolong your trimming task and produce uneven cuts.
You don’t have to put up with your trimmer’s unsatisfactory performance. There are several ways for you to sharpen these blades at home.
Of course, if you are not too confident about doing it yourself, you can always have it sharpened professionally.
Why Bother Sharpening Trimmer Blades?
To achieve a well-maintained landscape, you need to pay attention to the tools you are using.
One simple trick is sharpening hedge trimmer blades regularly so that they cut evenly.
It is one of the most vital maintenance procedures for hedge trimmers, increasing the tool’s lifespan while reducing repair expenses.
You can add more to your savings if you do the blade sharpening at home instead of bringing it to the shop and asking a professional to do it.
Generally, you can follow two simple methods to maintain the edges of your hedge trimmer. You can use either a file or a power grinder.
How Do You Know Your Hedge Trimmer Needs Sharpening?
Those familiar with how their hedge trimmer works will immediately notice if something is amiss with its performance.
Notice when it jams or is unable to make clean cuts. These are two of the most common indicators that your tool requires sharpening.
Also, if you notice branches getting caught between the teeth of your hedge trimmer, it may need sharpening, or the spacers amidst the blades have worn out.
If you are getting uneven cuts and frayed edges, your hedge trimmer’s blades definitely need sharpening.
The need to sharpen the blades should not rely on whether the edges are dull or not.
Instead, follow regular maintenance where you hone the edges after every 50 hours of use.
Sharpening Hedge Trimmer Blades
If you plan on doing this at home, you must prepare the following materials and tools for the task:
- Flat-file
- Whetstone
- Soft cloth
- Water
- Lubricant
You also need to wear safety clothing, such as work gloves and eye and ear protection, for safety purposes.
In addition to safety, always make sure to have a firm grip on both the sharpening tool and the hedge trimmer to avoid accidents.
How to Sharpen Hedge Trimmers
Dull blades are inefficient and will not yield the expected results you want.
But you can prevent this kind of disappointment through blade sharpening.
There are multiple steps you need to observe when sharpening the blades of your hedge trimmer:
Step 1: Preparation Stage
Before you start, ensure the hedge trimmer is clean from resin and plant sap build-up.
The soft cloth listed among the materials you need is what you will use to clean the trimmer’s blades.
Step 2: Blade Alignment
Whatever sharpening method you choose, you must align your hedge trimmer’s lower and upper blades for better results.
Dull or not, you will still be handling a blade, thus the need to protect your hands with suitable work gloves.
You can start aligning the blades using your hands.
First, press the edges together as close as possible.
To finish off and get the perfect blade alignment, use the handle of a screwdriver as a pry bar.
Once the blades are aligned, note the number of surfaces that need sharpening. This depends on the type used on your trimmer.
Step 3: Sharpening With a Flat-File
With your gloves on, go and grab a flat-file to start.
Remove all the bolts securing the blades together. Use a clamp to attach them to the bench or table.
Run the file for each cutting edge in a downward motion to guarantee the perfect sharpened profile.
Maintain the indicated sharpening angle according to the manufacturer’s instructions found in the user’s manual until the tooth looks shiny.
Sharpen all sides of each tooth without going beyond its five-millimeter threshold to maintain the blade’s strength.
Sharpening With a Power Grinder
This method is best suited for those with experience using a power grinder.
Again, wear eye and ear protection in addition to the work gloves to ensure your safety.
Secure the bar of your hedge trimmer by clamping it firmly to a bench vise so that it stays in place as you grind.
Technically, you will follow the same method but with a more powerful tool, so you have to be more cautious.
Be careful not to get into an accident with the power grinder and not grind too much of each tooth.
Repeat the process on each tooth until you complete the whole bar of your hedge trimmer.
Step 4: Getting Rid of Burrs
There will always be rough projections or burr on your trimmer blades every time you sharpen, hence the need for a smoothening tool like a whetstone.
Turn the trimmer over and focus on the backside of the blades.
Then, make a light swiping movement with the whetstone to smoothen the burrs.
Step 5: Post-Sharpening Care
Most of the original corrosion protection on your hedge trimmer came off after the sharpening process.
For this reason, you need to reapply a lubricant or resin solvent to protect the blades from rusting.
Can You Use WD40 on Hedge Trimmer Blades?
To prevent corrosion and rust from forming, pay extra attention to post-sharpening care.
Here, you want to find a good-enough lubricant or oil to apply to your tool.
WD-40 is among the most popular choice when it comes to this.
However, you can always use your oil of choice, as long as it’s made specifically for tools.
How To Sharpen Hedge Clippers
Clippers are just like large scissors you use to trim bushes and hedges with.
When you notice a slight resistance when using it, that’s most probably because it needs sharpening.
Before you do it, disassemble the parts first to make it more manageable and safer to sharpen the blades.
Do this by simply loosening the pivot knot that holds the pieces together to separate them.
Then, get a stiff or metal bristle brush to remove dirt and rust from the blades.
The next thing you need to check is the blades’ state. Do you see any bent or damaged parts?
Sharpening broken, chipped, or crooked edges mean a higher risk of accidents and injuries.
Wear heavy-duty gardening gloves and safety goggles to ensure your safety while sharpening the blades.
To begin, check the edges of the clippers and look for the bevel. It’s the cutting surface with a different angle from the other parts of the blade.
Then, secure the blade and clamp it on a vise. Gently run a mill file along the beveled surface in long and smooth strokes.
The beveled surface of the blade should look smooth and shiny after multiple strokes.
Check the backside of the blade for burrs and make sure to remove them by sanding them lightly.
Repeat the process of how to sharpen hedge clippers for the other half of the blade. Then, check and smooth the burrs on the backside.
Lastly, reassemble the hedge clipper and oil the blades to protect them from corrosion and rust, keeping their sharpness longer.
How To Sharpen Hedge Trimmers
Sharpening hedge trimmers should always be part of your routine maintenance so that they remain easy to use.
Learn the steps we listed earlier to know how to sharpen hedge trimmers and hedge clippers yourself.
If you think an at-home sharpening session won’t do the trick, do not hesitate to get in touch with a professional to do it for you.