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nafex - RE: [NAFEX] Sharpen Pruning Secateurs?

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  • From: "del stubbs" <pinewoodel@hotmail.com>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: RE: [NAFEX] Sharpen Pruning Secateurs?
  • Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 20:53:03 +0000


I have tuned up a few pairs of these for myself and friends. . I take them apart to get out gunk, check for wear, rust, and get at the individual blades more easily to sharpen. Some have left hand threads, just clean exposed threads well and look for the direction of pitch to tell.
Of course I second the comment made that the inside has to be flat - but most bypass pruners have, (like good scissors), a slight sideways bend in the blade in order to force contact.
What is tricky is to work on a surface that is flat in one plane - and slighrtly arched in the other - (thus a flat diamond lap doesnt work). So best for the person with average garage tools is to stick with sharpening only the outside bevel. The key is that you have to keep removing material at the bevel until any roundiness from wear - that is on the inside - is completely gone. When there is any gap at all between the blades (because of either wear, or looseness), that is when pruners don't seem to completely cut through some materials. Most pruners can be cut with a sharp file, then touched up with a hone. If a file wont cut it than one of the common diamond stones that hardware stores sell should work.
A final test is to see if it will cut paper. If paper just slides between the blades then there is still a gap, or a very rounded edge.
I think half the damage is done to pruners by not drying them after use, and corrosive plant juices (or chlorine sterilizer) left in between closed blades rust pitting the inside surfaces. I use vasilene around the shaft for lubricant.
Good luck! dont hesitate to take them apart, they are simple wonderful tools, Del

Del Stubbs http://www.pinewoodforge.com ag zone2/3


From: Tom Olenio <tolenio@sentex.net>
Reply-To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
To: NAFEX <NAFEX@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [NAFEX] Sharpen Pruning Secateurs?
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 08:53:17 -0500

Hello All,

Up until last year I used inexpensive pruning shears. These
were the type that the blade came against the flat, bottom
cutting base. Last year I bought a moderatley priced pair
of bypass pruners (secateurs). They work great, but how do
you sharpen bypass pruners? They will last for years, and
could stand a touch-up sharpening now.

I assume that the same sharpening procedure would work for
bypass loppers as well.

It was never an issue in the past, for inexpesive pruners
usually broke before they went dull.

Thanks,
Tom
--
Thomas Olenio
Ontario, Canada
Hardiness Zone 5b


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