table of contents
- Structure and function of secateurs
- Sharpen secateurs
- Sharpening on a water whetstone
- frequently asked Questions
Whether fruit tree or Rose cut, scissors are often used in the garden. If it's sharp and clean, injuries can heal quickly. We show you how to sharpen your secateurs.
In a nutshell
- Secateurs are one of the most important tools in the garden
- if the scissors are used frequently, they will become blunt
- Blunt scissors lead to bruises when cutting
- these can become entry points for diseases
- sharp, clean secateurs protect plants from injury
Structure and function of secateurs
Anyone who wants to sharpen a pair of secateurs should know their function and structure. Secateurs consist of a thinner cutting edge and a thicker claw. Plant stems are pressed against the cutting edge with the claw and cut through in this way. In order to achieve a clean cut, the claw must slide close to the cutting edge.
After prolonged use, nicks form on the edge and their sharpness is lost. The plant parts are then no longer thoroughly severed.
Sharpen secateurs
At the latest when you want to sharpen your scissors, you will notice the difference between professional cutting tools and cheap ones. High quality scissors can be dismantled into their individual parts without any problems. This is the prerequisite for sharpening blunt blades.
For sanding you need:
- Grindstone
- leather
- Polishing paste
- water
Sharpening on a water whetstone
The water whetstone is made of porous material. He has a coarse and a fine side. He must be able to soak himself up with water before use.
Instructions:
- Disassemble the scissors into their individual parts. Use a screwdriver and an open-end wrench to do this.
- Clean the blades. After a long period of use, residues of plant sap accumulate.
Note: Commercially available glass cleaner is suitable for removing dirt. Spray the cleaner on the cut surfaces, let it work in and wipe off the remains with a soft cloth.
- Soak the grindstone in water for an hour.
- Remove the stone from the water bath and place it on a firm surface.
- Pull off the blade with the sharpened side on the coarse-grained side. Always move the blade away from you.
Note: Only the cutting blade is sharpened. The counter blade remains untouched!
- Repeat the process on the fine-grained side of the whetstone.
- Moisten the stone several times in between.
- Grind the blade until it is sharp again.
- Place the flat side of the blade on the fine-grained side of the whetstone and smooth it with gentle pressure in light, circular movements. This will remove burrs and bumps.
- Glue a piece of leather onto a piece of wood. Spread polishing paste on it. First polish the cutting surface, then the flat sides to a high gloss.
- Put the scissors back together.
- Put a few drops of penetrating oil on the joint. Open and close the scissors several times so that the oil can reach the joint.
Note: Regular cleaning, greasing and sharpening increases the lifespan of your secateurs.
frequently asked Questions
If you don't have a whetstone, you can use 240, 800 and 1200 grit wet sandpaper. Wrap each one around a short wooden strip and proceed in the same way as when using a whetstone. First use the coarse and then the finer sandpaper. Moisten it with water in between.
Some pruning shears are glued with a screw locking adhesive, which makes it difficult to take the shears apart. Put the scissors in the blazing sun or a warm place for a while. The adhesive becomes softer and the screws can be loosened.
Many hobby gardeners and craftsmen prefer the grindstone to sharpen their garden tools. Sharpening scissors with a grinding machine risks excessive heating of the steel and high material removal.