However, in the case of hedge trimming, it becomes difficult to sharpen the teeth of the machine with such tools. Lay the … First of all, find a flat surface with enough space to be able to maneuver around and with the hedge trimmer. It involves strapping down the hedge trimmers and then inserting the power grinder at the right angle. One small piece of the spent metal can cause permanent eye injury. Use a fine-grit flat file, and smooth off any large nicks from the flat back sides of the blades. Different methods can be followed for sharpening. The second alternative to Dremel is the Power Grinder. Sharpening at an angle not only protects the user from any possible projectiles from the hedge trimmer or the dremel tool but also ensures an even cutting surface on the blade itself of the hedge trimmer. Before reassembling the too, lightly coat the blades with linseed oil to protect against corrosion and preserve their useful lifespan. You should never file down more than 5mm on your blade as this could cause the blade to become damaged, so make sure you stick to that limit. on Sep 14, 2011. Sharpening The Gas Hedge Trimmer Using a Mill File. We also suggest leather gloves, a face mask to filter any particles that get into the air, and ear protection (if using loud power tools). Black and Decker electric hedge trimmer blades are made from hardened steel that will not typically lose their sharp edge or require resharpening. For ease of use and to prevent future damage to the trimmers and yourself, it is important to keep the blades sharp. Next, run a metal file down each cutting edge, being sure to keep the file at the same angle as the cutting edge. Copyright 2020 by SawsHub.com - Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact. His first experience came in completely restoring an antique home. Move on to the next tooth and repeat step 3. Attach the correct Dremel bit, making sure that the Dremel collar is tightened correctly. If using a file or a dremel, you could get away with performing this on the floor of the garage or outside, as long as the area is flat. It may surprise you how quickly the grinder can remove metal, and if too much is taken off, the blade will be ruined. Listen to BOB VILA ON SHARPENING HEDGE TRIMMERS or read the text below: First, don a pair of gloves and protective goggles. Follow up by using a whetstone to smooth the burrs on all the blades. Wear thick gloves and press the blades together. You certainly know the stones to sharpen, sharpening rifles and many systems for sharpening knife type blades but it is more important to maintain electric hedge trimmers. A mill file is the recommended tool to use here, but you may be able to get away with using a diamond file. In a professional environment, hedge trimmers should be sharpened around twice a month, but for home use, sharpen hedge trimmer blades after about every 50 hours of use. Hedge trimmer blades are normally held in place by a bolt or screw. With a whetstone or sandpaper block, remove those burrs. long mill file. This is, without a doubt, the fastest way to sharpen your hedge trimmers. What Tool To Use To Sharpen A Hedge Trimmer. Mount the blade in a vise as per previous instructions. The spark plug is round and tubular with a … These include the preparation stage, the sharpening process, getting rid of burrs, and post sharpening care. SawsHub.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Also, a lot of the time we’ve already put the time aside to complete the task, so sharpening the blade at home and getting everything done is a much better proposition. This will help you keep the angles consistent, and protect against slips that may cause accidents. Fasten hedge trimmers in the D-Vise with a cutting edge up and bevel towards you. It is possible to hold the unit by hand, and this may be easier for some people, especially if using a file. You have to keep the trimmer sharp and effective which requires the sharpening tool. While professional sharpening services are available, very few people have a spare hedge trimmer blade at home that they can swap out when their main blade is out for servicing. using a small 2" air sander fitted with a roloc sanding disc Mount the first blade with the teeth pointing straight up. Let’s briefly discuss each of these points as follows; Preparation Stage By Bob Vila. If there are signs of wear or the trimmers are having a hard time cutting branches evenly, it is probably past time to sharpen the blades. Sharpen Hedge Trimmers Written by Doityourself Staff. This process, depends on how often you cut your hedges and what type of hedge you are cutting. Two tools that work really well for sharpening are certain Dremel tools, and one of the best angle grinders on the market. Do not try to use an angle grinder without the blade being firmly secured. Be sure to use the same angle for every tooth. To clean, take a stiff nylon bristle brush to the teeth and scrub away anything you see. Aligning the blades is always the first step, regardless of the sharpening method used. Lift the file up, bring it back to your starting position, and repeat until any oxidation is removed and the tooth is sharp. Remove bolts that clamp the two or three blades together holding into a seat vice. For personal protection, we highly recommend wearing protective eyewear. This is an optional step if using a file or a Dremel to sharpen your hedge trimmers. Sharpening hedge trimmer blades at home is not difficult, and can be done with some very simple tools. Before starting on the hedge trimmers, follow the essential procedures mentioned earlier. What You'll Need. Some nicks will need to be removed by sharpening … There are a few different ways to sharpening hedge trimmers. If branches are getting caught between the teeth and slowing down or jamming the trimmer, the upper and lower blades may have become detached. The additional bracing provided by mounting the blades in a bench vise will provide additional stability. Be sure that your power cord is long enough to reach the areas you need to get to, but not so long that it becomes a tripping hazard. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Using a file over the hedge trimmer helps make it sharper only if used correctly. Pull out the spark plug wire to disconnect the spark plug. Always align your file with the angle of the blade to maintain a … Smooth out any nicks or rough spots on the blade with a sharpening stone or fine-toothed round file. If you think about the traditional method of sharpening a tool, you have to spend hours. When you sharpen a hedge trimmer, pay attention to how many strokes you’re making on each cutting edge so that you keep them equal. If the blade comes into contact with a hard object such as a stone, wire fence, or glass, the blade could be nicked. Steps in Sharpening Hedge Trimmers Removing the Trimming Blades For this, find a plain surface and place your hedge trimmer on that surface. If … To sharpen an electric hedge trimmer effectively, you’ll need to follow 4 steps. This is why the Mill file is considered a very inefficient way to sharpen hedge trimmers. If the problem persists, the blade spacers that keep the blades aligned may have worn out and will need to be replaced. First, with gloves on, push them together with your fingers. Dremel D-Vise #2214 1. Lay the hedge trimmer down on a flat surface. Sharpen them as soon as possible. 2. Bob Vila Radio is a 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day carried on more than 186 stations in 75 markets around the country. Mount the blade in a vise as per previous instructions. Align the hedgetrimmer blades by hand. As a general rule, basic maintenance on any tool should be performed on a regular basis to ensure that it is ready for use at any given moment. Trip the Mill file on the cutting edge and make sure that you have kept the file at similar positions as your cutting edge. Take the oil for trimmer blades and one by one, apply the oil to the edge of the teeth of each tooth on the top blade. Make sure you have a clear and stable work surface and room to move around. This will provide the best angle to reach the teeth. Try to remove any … Move on to the next tooth and repeat step 2. When reattaching the blades to the hedge trimmer, be sure they are mounted in the correct position. Unplug corded electric trimmers, remove the battery of a battery-powered trimmer and empty the fuel tank of your petrol-powered trimmer. Make sure you use the same number of strokes on each blade. This is important to ensure that they will be the same length. If the blade is in a vise, remove when all the teeth of the first blade are complete, replace with the other blade, and repeat steps 2-4. Use a flat file to sharpen your blade. Sharpening Hedge Trimmer Blades By Yourself Remove pole hedge trimmer extension as well if you have one attached to your machine before you begin to sharpen. 1. Often, especially when using a file for sharpening, metal burrs may build up on the back side of the teeth, away from the surface you were sharpening. For this, you need to know how to sharpen the hedge trimmer with Dremel. You will need a stiff bristle brush to properly clean your blades. Blade sharpening is one of the most important hedgetrimmer maintenance issues. Another, more effective way to sharpen your hedge trimmer … Now that the trimmer is safe to work with, you’re ready to sharpen those blades. Align a 10-inch mill file in the groove of the first cutting tooth you want to sharpen, angling the file so … Make sure the vise is tightened enough to prevent any slippage. Gather all the necessary tools together, making sure that any accessories for the tools needed are readily available. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. That being said, an angle grinder is the fastest tool for sharpening hedge trimmers at home. First, make sure the teeth are aligned and the tightening bolt is secure. Powered hedge trimmers are a tremendous time-saver for any homeowner who prefers to handle his own landscaping. The process of sharpening is not that difficult, and once learned, can save time and money in the future. But if the blades of the tool aren’t sharp, the hedge trimmer tears and shreds foliage instead of cutting it cleanly. SawsHub is a collection of DIY enthusiasts and woodworking experts. Frequent use of your hedge trimmer will mean that you need to sharpen it more often. Take care that the blades of the hedge trimmer are not facing towards you and are placed at a safe distance from your body. Eye protection is very important here. Each tooth will take anywhere from 5-20 strokes. If you are not familiar with using an angle grinder, please consider one of the other methods listed above instead. If keeping the hedge trimmer blades attached to the main body, you first need to align the upper and lower blades. To test the sharpness of the blades, use the paper test. Run the mill file down each cutting edge. Sharpening hedge trimmers on a regular basis will help you maintain your landscaping by keeping your cuts clean and even, and help prolong its life. Angle grinders are very strong, effective tools for sharpening. The file works very well on hedge and pruning shears. If you’re a real stickler for a well pruned hedge chances are you find yourself in the garden regularly trimming yours. The benefit of the mill file is that it is easy to keep a consistent angle, and the one-way filing action reduces the chance of injury. So strong in fact, that if you aren’t familiar with using one, you could take the teeth off the blade instead of just sharpening them. Learn about the team! Step 1- Align the blades of the trimmer. After you’ve removed the bolts that hold the two blades together, clamp each blade, one at a time, into a bench vice. Slide a metal filer down the length of your blade. They do have a specialized accessory kit for sharpening, but our instructions are based around the standard grinding stone attachments that come with most kits. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. To test for sharpness, draw the edge of a sheet of paper against the cutting edges. Secure your hedge trimmers in a vise in a wide open position. The best and simplest was is to use a 10 in. There are several ways to sharpen hedge trimmers, depending on which method is the most comfortable for you. The Method of Using a Power Grinder. DO NOT file with a back and forth motion. That does not mean to put it off! We recommend picking a high powered Dremel, and one of the flat grinding stones for consistency, but the angled grinding stones may be easier to get the right angle if not using a vice. You are going to be sticking tools and fingers in between saw blades, and if that thing gets turned on, serious injury may occur. If you don’t think your trimmer is worth the hassle of sharpening, check out our corded hedge trimmer reviews for guidance on picking a new one. Before sharpening, remove any dirt or debris from the blades, teeth, and any other part of the trimmer with a nylon brush. First, don a pair of gloves and protective goggles. Remove power from the hedge trimmers, either by making sure they are unplugged, or the battery is out. And, as with any power tools, be sure your fingers, loose clothes, and anything else is far away from the moving parts. Sap, dirt, oil, and compressed debris can get caught in the teeth and reduce the effectiveness of the trimmer. A tight fit is necessary, and this cannot be achieved without aligning the blades first. Finish the flat side of the blades with a flat whetstone and a few drops of oil. Slowly move the Dremel toward the flat cutting surface. After the main process of sharpening your hedge trimmers is complete, there are a few steps necessary to make sure your trimmers are working at peak performance. A large workbench, however, will be much easier on your back. Step 2. Continue until all the teeth are sharpened. A two step process by first wiping with a clean, dry microfiber or  3-in-1 cloth, followed by a wipedown with linseed oil, will help prevent rust and keep the blades lubricated. It’s ok to notice some inconsistencies around the blade. The added power and torque of an angle grinder, however, makes this step necessary. How to Oil Trimmer Blades. Even the best hedge electric trimmers and gas powered options will go dull eventually. 2. If you working with a high quality gas hedge trimmer, remove the spark plug. Step 3. Completely redone from the inside out, and restored to its original form, the home is a featured design by renowned Southern California Architect Cliff May, considered to be the father of the California Ranch Home. Once done, wipe any excess oil off the blades with your cloth and replace the blade guard. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. If the hedge trimmer blades do not appear to be worn, the first step may be to clean the teeth. Wipe the blades and teeth down with a cloth, they may still have metal shavings on them. 45 degrees is the best sharpening angle for any cutting tool as cutting tools are naturally structured with an angle towards its cutting edge. Use a flat file on each blade, only applying it towards the cutting edge. Sharpening saw teeth is not a recommended way to learn how to use a power tool. We recommend that you do not perform these sharpening methods over carpeting. Now Dennis spends his time on fine woodworking projects and tool comparisons. Make sure the top and bottom teeth are aligned, and tighten the bolt. First remove residual build-up from between the blades at the same time tuning up the blades themselves. No matter what hedge trimmer you use, a budget electric or high end petrol model, there’s no getting away from the fact that hedge trimmer blades need sharpening once in a whole to keep them cutting effectively. Home » Outdoor » How to Sharpen Hedge Trimmers. Bob Vila, 11 Decorative Pillow Trends to Expect in 2021, The Best Power Hedge Trimmers for Landscaping, Watch Out for These 9 Types of Lawn Weeds, New & Notable: 10 Gadgets to Tech Out Your Garden. Remove the bolts that hold the blades together and clamp them into a bench vice. If they’re really sharp, the blades should slice the paper. Using the end of a screwdriver, or any object you can tighten the blades if necessary, by turning in a clockwise motion. But using Dremel would be the best. Tools Needed for Hedge Trimmer Sharpening, Different Hedge Trimmer Sharpening Methods, Using a Dremel or Angle Grinder for Sharpening, Using an Angle Grinder to Sharpen Hedge Trimmers, How to Cut Quarter Rounds with Expert Precision, How to Rip Narrow Boards With a Circular Saw, How to Crosscut Plywood Using a Table Saw, How to Cut a Straight Edge With a Table Saw, How to Cut an Acrylic Sheet With a Jigsaw, Table vise (optional when using a file, necessary when using a power tool). To sharpen hedge trimmer blades at home, first wear suitable protective clothing. If it’s a battery-operated trimmer, remove the battery. To separate the blades from the trimmer and each other, loosen that bolt with pliers or a wrench. Do not try to use an angle grinder without the blade being firmly secured. Steps For Sharpening An Electric Hedge Trimmer. Using a long, light motion, stroke the file forward. Click here to subscribe, so you can automatically receive each new episode as it arrives—absolutely free! Wipe the blades clean with WD-40 or oil. Hedge trimmers, when working correctly, make easy work out of a job like trimming back the bushes in front of the house. We recommend using a file if this is your first time, a Dremel if you are comfortable using one, or an angle grinder if you use similar power tools on a regular basis. Be sure the hedge trimmers are unplugged, or remove the battery first, to prevent the device from turning on and causing serious injury. After all, sharpening with a file is a manual process. Sharpening hedge trimmer blades like this will take some time but the results will please you. The metal shavings are much harder to vacuum up from a carpet than to sweep up from a shop floor. If more force is needed, use a solid material that fits between the teeth such as a screwdriver handle, and strongly push the leading edge back to match. That being said, an angle grinder is the fastest tool for sharpening hedge trimmers at home. General Steps to Sharpen Hedgetrimmer Blades. Start from the inside or bottom section of the blade … Align the blades the rest of the way with an appropriate object. File: A file is the easiest way to sharpen hedge trimmer blades. Each tooth will take from 5-30 seconds depending on the hardness of the metal and which grinding attachment you use. Figure out your angle of attack, and apply light pressure evenly side to side over the surface until the surface is shiny and sharp. Step 4: After you must have sharpened all the trimmer blades, use a sharpening stone to remove the shafts from the blades. Work the tool with #932 at the angle of the trimmer edge's bevel. Choose an end to start from (we recommend the front end). If you buy something through a link in our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. How to Sharpen a Hedge Trimmer With a Mill File Step 1. Continue until all the teeth are sharpened. Tighten the bolt if necessary. An expert at home repair, remodel, and DIY projects for nearly 40 years. Unless you're a pro, it's best to stay away from using a grinding tool to sharpen your shears. Push the file in one direction only—not back and forth—and continue until the cutting edge looks shiny. Sharpening saw teeth is not a recommended way to learn how to use a power tool. When their blades get dull, however, they can create rough cuts that make the hedges look worse than they did in the first place. A step up in speed from sharpening with a file, the Dremel (or other rotary tool) is a handy tool for many projects around the house. Ensure you keep the file at the same angle as the cutting edge. With a gas-powered hedge trimmer, take out the spark plug. They mostly follow the same guidelines, but different tools are used. After you’ve removed the bolts that hold the two blades together, clamp each blade, one at a time, into a bench vice. Follow these simple steps to sharpen hedge trimmers safely. Try to use the same number of strokes for each tooth. Dremel D-Vise #2214 What You'll Need. Check that your wrench fits the bolts that hold the two blades together if you are planning on removing them. There will normally be markings, or a specific fir based on the tightening bolt, to help you figure out which way they go. Clean the Blades. If you’re working with an electric hedge trimmer, unplug it. Remove from the vise if using, and repeat on the second blade. Take a piece of paper and draw it against the sharpened teeth – if the paper does not slice cleanly, the blades may need to be sharpened more thoroughly. You may need to sharpen and clean your hedge trimmer blades quite regularly. Line up your file with the flat cutting edge of the first tooth.