Say Safe When You Sharpen Hedge Trimmers
When you sharpen your hedge trimmers, you greatly extend the life of your expensive gadget. You also make the gadget safer to use, as you need to apply more force with a hedge trimmer with dull blades. There is a right way and a wrong way to sharpen hedge trimmers. Most people, when left to their own devices, seem to have no trouble finding the wrong way. Here's the right way.
One Person Or Two?
The hedge trimmer needs to be as steady as possible in order to safely and quickly sharpen the hedge trimmer. Some people think it's easier to keep the blade in the hedge trimmer as they sharpen it. One person could hold the trimmer still while the other does the actual sharpening. This person should wear eye protection and gloves, even though the hedge trimmer will be unplugged.
You can also clamp the hedge trimmer to a table using a professional grade clamp or vice in order to keep the trimmer still. You would then sharpen the hedge trimmer with the use of a Dremel-type tool that spins devices about very fast. You would need a grinding wheel at the end of your Dremel, such as a quarter inch wheel.
It Doesn't Take Long
If you have a Dremel or other grinder tool, then it doesn't take long to sharpen hedge trimmers. Just a brief grind every couple of years should do it. People who don't have a Dremel use everything from files to whetstones in order to re-sharpen the blades. However, filing by hand can be very dangerous because it's a tedious job.
If you are going to use a whetstone, you need to practice with the whetstone by sharpening kitchen knives or scissor blades. You have to put the blade at an angle to the stone and then stroke. You discover what angle to use with practice. You need to take the blade out of the rest of the hedge trimmer first. Because bits of metal can fly about, you need to wear eye protection.
When All Else Fails
If you aren't sure about how to sharpen your hedge trimmers, don't risk doing the job yourself. There are many electronic stores and lawn mower repair services that will re-sharpen the blades for you at a nominal fee. Some hardware stores will even offer this service. Your local handyman might even provide this sharpening service if you ask nicely.
