Content
- Sharpen hedge trimmers: A guide
- The types of hedge trimmers
- Manually operated hedge trimmers
- Motorized hedge trimmers
- Sharpen motor-driven hedge trimmers
- 1. Caution works
- 2. Optional: Disassemble the hedge trimmer
- 3. sharpen cutting blade
- 4. Sharpen the other side
- 5. Clean the cutting blade on the back
- 6. Second cutting blade
- 7. Clean
- Clean manually operated hedge trimmer
- 1. Disassemble the hedge trimmer
- 2. Clean
- 3. From coarse to fine
- 4. Dry and oil
- 5. Assemble
It works better with a sharp hedge trimmer
Sharpen hedge trimmers: A guide
To hone a hedge trimmer is very expensive. Many do-it-yourselfers prefer to create a new one right away. But you can also do the sharpening yourself. How to do that, you will learn in the following.
The types of hedge trimmers
Hedge trimmer is not the same as hedge trimmer. Basically, there are two types: the manually operated hedge trimmer and the motorized hedge trimmer, which are connected to a power source.
Manually operated hedge trimmers
Manually operated hedge trimmers look like oversized pruning shears with a very long handle and longer, straight cutting edges. Sharpening is similar to pruning and is much faster than sharpening other types of hedge trimmers.
Motorized hedge trimmers
Here basically three common types can be distinguished:
For sharpening, it does not matter where the energy comes from; The cutting blades are very similar in all three cases. The cutting blade has numerous points, all of which need to be sharpened individually. The work is therefore a little tedious, but it's worth it. It is important that you remove the energy source before sharpening, so that the hedge trimmer can not handle.
Sharpen motor-driven hedge trimmers
1. Caution works
First, make sure that the hedge trimmer can not start in any case. To do this, pull the plug with an electric pair of scissors, remove the battery from a hedge trimmer with battery and pull the spark plug on a petrol hedge trimmer.
You should also wear gloves to protect yourself from injury. Even goggles may be useful.
2. Optional: Disassemble the hedge trimmer
If you can remove the blades of your hedge trimmer from the bracket, it has several advantages: You can sharpen both blades much more thoroughly and easily, and you can thoroughly clean both blades and hedge trimmer body - both inside and out. How to disassemble your hedge trimmer, we explain in this article.
When disassembling your hedge trimmer, place a cutting blade on a block of wood for sharpening and work on the part that protrudes beyond it.
If you do not disassemble your hedge trimmer, fix it as it goes, e.g. with a vise.
3. sharpen cutting blade
Now attach the file to the top of the file and file from top to bottom. Back and forth movements are not a good idea; always file smoothly and evenly in one direction. Pay attention to the right angle! 15 to 20 movements per side should be enough. Then move on to the next point and file them all the points on the exposed side in one direction.
4. Sharpen the other side
If you have not disassembled your hedge trimmer, do the following: Replace the spark plug or battery, or connect the hedge trimmer to the mains. Turn it on and hold it where the spikes cover the side you already sharpened.
Now file the other side. Do not turn your hedge trimmer horizontally! This is not the back but the opposite side of the spikes, so to speak right and left, which was previously covered by the second cutting blade.
If you have disassembled your hedge trimmer, you can simply sharpen the whole point.
5. Clean the cutting blade on the back
This step is only possible if you have disassembled your hedge trimmer, flip the blade over and file the entire surface to remove any dirt and possible rust.
6. Second cutting blade
Repeat the process with the second cutting sheet.
7. Clean
Once you have disassembled your hedge trimmer, rub the shaft on which the cutting blades are attached with some sandpaper. Then spray or rub both cutting blades and the shaft with a little oil and wipe everything off with a dry cloth.
Otherwise, spray only the cutting blades with oil and remove any residue from filing with a dry cloth.
Clean manually operated hedge trimmer
1. Disassemble the hedge trimmer
Unscrew hedge trimmer.
2. Clean
Remove coarse dirt with a brush, preferably a metal brush.
3. From coarse to fine
Dip the coarse whetstone in water or let it soak in water for one hour before starting work. Then grind the two cutting blades with circular movements. Pay attention to the right angle!
Repeat the process with the fine grindstone.
4. Dry and oil
Dry both parts with the dry cloth and then add some oil to rub thoroughly.
5. Assemble
Now put your hedge trimmer back together and put some oil on joints and screw connection.