How to Sharpen Your Garden Tools Effectively

A dulled gardening tool will perform poorly and put you at risk, with worse results that take longer to achieve. In order to restore your shears, secateurs, axes, and shovels to a pristine condition you’ll need to properly sharpen them. This is a process that can be achieved at home with equipment ranging from files to angle grinders. In this guide, we’ll take you through the best methods to sharpen your garden tools at home and look at quick methods to clean and remove rust.

Methods for Sharpening Garden Tools at Home

Keeping your garden hand tools sharp is essential for performance and safety, whether they’re pruning shears, secateurs, or loppers. It’s possible to do this at home with a range of sharpening tools, from whetstones and files to angle grinders. If you’re looking to sharpen a chainsaw or lawnmower blade, we have separate guides on our blog.

How to Sharpen Garden Tools with a Whetstone

Whetstones, also known as sharpening stones, are a great choice for sharpening smaller garden tools like the blades on secateurs. Whetstones will either be flat or shaped, with shaped stones intended for more complex sharp edges. Typically they will require a cutting fluid for use, either oil or water depending on the stone.

You’ll need to sharpen along the bevelled cutting edge of each blade. If needed you can normally remove the blades from most secateurs to make it easier to fully sharpen them. If you are using a whetstone that is flat but has become warped through use, you can use sandpaper to flatten it out again.

How to Sharpen Garden Tools with an Angle Grinder

Angle grinders can be used to sharpen larger tools like hedging shears, alongside axes and spades. This will be a far quicker method than using a whetstone. You should first ensure you wear eye protection and mouth protection, alongside hand protection and tight clothing. Angle grinding can be dangerous and it’s important to protect yourself. You’ll also need a vice alongside your angle grinder, in which the tool you’re sharpening will be tightly clamped. 

With your angle grinder, you’ll need to make sure you’re using a grinding disk when sharpening. This information will be displayed on the disk alongside the expiry date. Make sure you grind at an angle that will deflect sparks away from you and remain careful throughout. You should grind on the lowest setting and apply lightly in order to only sharpen the side of the blade rather than wearing it away.

How to Sharpen Garden Tools by Hand with a File

If you don’t mind putting in some effort, most garden tools can be hand sharpened with a file. Larger flat or mill files can be used for shovels, axes, and shears, while smaller ones can be used for secateurs or rakes. Using a vice can be a great way to ensure a consistent angle of filing, giving a smooth and razor-sharp finish along the length of the blade. You’ll be looking to consistently move the file away from you, working in long strokes.

How to Sharpen Garden Tools with a Dremel

Grinding heads for Dremel multi-tools function much like a smaller angle grinder, with a variety of attachments that can be used to sharpen all tools. Like an angle grinder, you’ll need to wear a full range of safety equipment due to sparks and dust. Place the tool tightly within a vice. Using a grinding stone rather than a disk can be a great technique for sharpening a blade. Using a speed of about 150,000 RPM on your Dremel will give it an even finish. For more complex tool shapes another option is to secure the Dremel in place and hold the tool that you’re sharpening.

Cleaning and Sharpening Garden Tools

Alongside sharpening your tools, regular cleaning helps to keep them effective. Scourers and WD-40 can help to shift problematic spots, along with water and other cleaning products. Ensure you dry them after cleaning to ensure you avoid rust or rot in the case of wooden handles.

Sharpening Rusty Garden Tools

If garden tools aren’t regularly cleaned over their lifespan they can become rusty and unusable. In many cases, at-home methods can help. Soaking a metal tool overnight in an equal mixture of water and vinegar, before clearing rust with a scourer or wire brush, is a popular strategy. Cola can also be used, due to its phosphoric acid. Combining this with the previously mentioned sharpening methods can help to rejuvenate them.