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If they ’re properly sharpened , power hedging pruner are a heavy metre saver over manual trimmers for maintain neat hedges and other landscaping . If your power trimmer are continually set out jammed and are chew instead of slice through outgrowth , however , it ’s probably time to sharpen the blades .
Why It’s Important to Sharpen Hedge Trimmers
sharpen yourhedge trimmersallows you to make quick work of that pruning business , plus it lend to the health of your plant . “ have your trimmers go dull is like trying to cut steak with a butter tongue , ” says Bryan Clayton , a longtime landscaper and CEO ofGreenPal , a troupe that matches homeowner with landscape gardening service . He say with dull blades , “ You ’ll finish up bust your hedges rather than cutting them flawlessly , which can take to insalubrious plants prostrate to disease . ”
Black+Decker 20V Max Cordless Hedge Trimmer , $ 64.98 at Lowe’s . This Black+Decker tool can cut through branches 3/4 inch in diam . It has a cushioned front handle and enough battery power to trim up to 3,000 square feet .
To let out other top - do tools in this class , show ourtested guide to the best hedge trimmers ,
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
How often should you sharpen your hedge trimmers?
While you do n’t need to taper your hedge trimmers often , you ’ll need to give them a trivial TLC every now and then . “ A in effect rule of thumb is to sharpen them at the start of the season , then check them every 50 hour of use , ” Clayton say . It ’s worth the time , he order , since “ dumb blade make your job harder . ”
There are telltale signs that your hedging trimmer has slow blades :
Types of Hedge Trimmers
Power hedging trimmers total in several type , including petrol , cord , and cordless electric models . Whether you owngas hedge trimmer joist , electric hedge trimmers , or barrage - operated hedge trimmers , you ’ll employ the same process to sharpen the blades .
Tools & Materials
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Project Overview
Working Time:1 hourTotal Time:1 hourSkill storey : IntermediateEstimated Cost:$10 to $ 15
Before You Begin
Sharpening a hedging trimming capacitor involve working around blade and filing , which can get off metal shavings airborne . Take the expect safety precautions before getting come out . “ weary gloves and eye protection , ” say Clayton . “ Always unplug electric trimmers before you bug out , and for both types , verify the trimmer joist is firmly clamped down or held in a vise . ” If you are maintaining battery - powered hedge trimmers , remove the barrage fire .
How to Sharpen Hedge Trimmersthe Right Way
Step 1: Clean the trimmer blades.
Hedge pruner blades often end up clogged with sap and pieces of limb and leaves . Start by slay any debris that ’s catch in the trimmer ’s tooth . Spray the sword with a small WD-40 to break down any cosh that ’s stuck to the steel . Give it a few minutes for the solvent to work its magic , then use a cloth to wipe the blades clean .
Step 2: Misalign the trimmer blades.
If the blade are aligned over top of each other , you ’ll want to misalign them to expose all the edge so you may access each one with the file . Use a flathead screwdriver to shift the blades so that each one is accessible .
Step 3: Sharpen with a flat file.
Using your flat file , sharpen each steel severally .
Step 4: Use a whetstone to remove burrs.
turn tail a whetstone over the focus blades to remove any burrs that formed during heighten . commend , the blades rationalise by skid against each other like a pair of scissors , so removing burrs that can step in with this action is crucial .
Step 5: Spray with resin solvent.
sharpen your hedging trimmers also removes any erosion protection that was on the blade . Before you put the hedge trimmers back into service , you ’ll need to restore that protection by applying a rosin dissolvent to the blade . Spray the solvent onto the blade and wipe off any supererogatory rosin .
Final Thoughts
While get wind how to sharpen hedgerow trimmer sword is n’t difficult , there is some risk of exposure to doing it yourself . Over - sharpen the blade can weaken them , making your hedging trimmer unuseable . “ Sharpening hedge trimmer is n’t rocket scientific discipline , but it does postulate a steady helping hand and a bit of know - how , ” Clayton says . “ If in doubt , train them to a professional is n’t just playing it safe ; it ’s ensuring your tools last longer and perform considerably . ”
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Photo: Lowe’s
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
