The gardening hobby may be blunted if the most essential gardening tools are blunt. Efficient gardening depends on the performance of the tools. If they are not functional enough, it might cause disinterest in gardening. So, you need to take care of the garden tools properly. So for full functionality, learn these garden tool sharpening processes and keep the hobby enjoyable.
Following are the Garden Tool Sharpening Process:
Step 1: Gather Equipment and Tools
The following will be necessary:
- Tools to be sharpened
- 8 to 12 inch mill files, ideally with a handle that is pleasant to grip. For garden equipment, a bastard or second-cut file works well, depending on how coarse you want your finish and how soon you want to do the job. You may also use a rasp.
- Diamond honing or Whetstone grinder
- Lubricant
- A Clean towel
- Safety eyewear
While hoes, shovels, and rakes can be sharpened using a big mill file, harvest knives, shears, and snips should be sharpened with a whetstone.
Step 2: Remove Dirt
In order to prevent potential soil-borne infections and the possibility of rust developing from moisture from mud or soil debris, you should clean your tools of any caked-on dirt, dust, or plant debris. Debris can be eliminated using wire wool, a clean cloth, or a strong wire brush. An old toothbrush may be used to clean smaller instruments.
A wire wheel fitted to a home drill or a rust-removing block can be used to remove light rust. If instruments are submerged in white vinegar for many hours or even overnight, it can aid in removing stubborn rust.
Step 3: Wash and Dry
Just wash your equipment in warm, soapy water by filling a bucket or sink. Gently wash them and swish them around. Next, let them air dry completely before sharpening. To make sure they are dry, you can sharpen them the night before you plant.
Step 4: Sharpen the Tools
A stable workbench or clamp can be used to hold the tool you wish to sharpen in place. Make sure your actions won’t cause your instrument to slip and perhaps injure you, and that you are comfortable.
Pro tip: Unlike kitchen knives, garden tools do not need to be exceptionally sharp. The edge’s uniform shape, lack of corrosion and dirt, and like-new sharpness are more crucial.
Step 5: Re-Shape Any Tools in Require
This may be required for hand rakes, straight-edge hoes, and broadforks that were damaged during the previous season’s use. More work and probably a clamp and a blowtorch are needed for this. Our farming area has really rocky soil, and we’ve had one quite badly bent broadfork tine from running into a big rock.
Should this occur to you, secure it firmly, apply heat with a handheld torch, and then forcefully strike it back in the intended direction. This can also be done in the event that a rake tine twists or a spade is knocked around. Just use additional caution while working with a mallet and heat.
Step 6: Apply Oil
This stage offers a wide range of oil choices; the choice is entirely subjective. If you have cooking spray or normal coconut oil on hand, you may use them instead.
Although tung and linseed oil dry rapidly, they function effectively. It is also advised to oil any wooden tool handles with linseed oil. Walnut oil is also functional.
Apply a tiny quantity to the metal surfaces of your freshly sharpened instruments using a clean cloth or rag, being sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. Give the pruners or shears a few squeezes after lubricating them to make sure the oil has been well absorbed.
Step 7: Rightly Store Tools
It’s a good idea to apply mineral oil on your tools after they’ve been cleaned and sharpened before putting them away for the season. When not in use, store them somewhere they will remain clean and dry and be conveniently available when needed. Because it can carry numerous tools and keeps them off the ground, a basic rake rack is a wonderful alternative.
Conclusion
So, it’s done and you have completed the sharpening and cleaning process of your gardening tools and are ready to use. Any gardener who is using the tools more than normal use needs to sharpen the tools more than once in a season. It will ensure sure best effectiveness throughout the entire year.
We hope these garden tool sharpening processes were easy to implement and you have learned this with fun. To do this job you need to be patient and make sure the safety to get the best result.