Duration: One hour or less
Difficulty: Beginner
Cost: $51 to $100.
Good modern equipment
1Garden scissors and shears
These blades can be sharp enough to handle gardening tasks with ease.
Secateurs, hedge trimmers and lawnmowers work similarly. The two cutting edges of the blade meet at the base and cut at the tip. In fact, they cut grass and twigs from tree trunks with scissors. These two opposing surfaces are finely ground at precise angles to match, making them the most efficient.
When you sharpen this blade to its original bevel, you can make it so sharp that it can easily cut through tissue paper. The key is to hone those factory bevels. I have seen many tools, now useless, that were improperly sharpened because the person was trying to make a "good edge" or used the wrong tool to sharpen it.
Unless you are a professional, you should never use an electric grinder for sharpening. Buy a new 10" factory file for better control. Works great with hedge trimmers and trimmers and even lawn mowers. If you find the file confusing, read the packaging. It will tell you if the file is suitable for use with garden tools. And you If you don't want to use the same file on your lawnmower, read on: We'll show you how to sharpen it with a regular lawnmower sharpener.
Sharpen the hedge trimmer with a file
2Photo 1: Tighten the pivot nut
Check the pivot nut before sharpening. It can be loose, allowing the blade to slip when cutting and tearing branches instead of cutting cleanly. The nut should fit snugly against the shaft without twisting. By tightening the nut, check the tool; If it cuts cleanly, there is no need to sharpen it. If it still doesn't cut properly, look under each blade to make sure it isn't bent. If the blade is slightly bent, loosen the pivot nut and separate the blade. To straighten a blade, soak it in a wet, heavy leather glove and smooth it. 
Image 2: File the edges to expose bare metal.
Clamp the knife firmly in a vise. Check factory trim. Hold the file with both hands and mimic the direction of the bevel like a golfer practicing swing. Now move the file around you one notch over the full cutting angle. To repeat, move the file away from you Do not use short sharp shocks or you will lose the factory edge. As you work, you will see clear metal traces left by the files. Adjust the angle if necessary to file all edges evenly. Repeat this motion several times until you have exposed clean metal around the edge. Usually only 10 shots are needed. Do the same with the other knife. 
Image 3 Sand behind the blade.
Place a sheet of 300-grit wet/dry sandpaper on a smooth, flat plywood surface. You should be able to feel the grinding (care - sharpening) behind each blade created by the action of the file. To remove, lightly sand the back of the blade. Hold the blade horizontally and move it in a circular motion. After making a few circles, take the blade and gently touch the tip. Once the burrs left by the file are gone, reassemble the blade and lightly lubricate the moving parts with 3-in-1 oil. Then try making a test cut with a pair of scissors. They should cut better than before. 
fence cutter
Use garden shears to cut a small diameter from the green plant. Thick branches and dry wood can bend the blade.
Hedge trimmers are probably the most popular gardening tools. Because of the large blade, it is tempting to use it as a garden shear. They are designed to cut only fresh wood up to 3/8 inch thick. Cutting thick branches or dry wood can compress the hinge nut and even bend the blade slightly.
Sharp pruners require a steady hand
6Photo 4: File along the factory bevel.
File the edge of the mower blade with both hands. Start at one point and follow the factory bevel curve. Make a full motion from the tip to the base of the blade. Step away from yourself. Check the edges after each file stroke to make sure you are following the factory bevel. After exposing the new steel along a consistent curve, press back to sand it down. Grind the sand as described in photo 3. 
Photo 5: Filing a dull knife.
Using 10 inch seams. A semi-circular file files the inner groove of the dull blade perfectly evenly. Use both hands to control. Be sure to keep the file exactly 90 degrees to the curve. Once this surface is smooth, sand both sides of the blade with 300 grit sandpaper to remove any burrs. 
garden shears
Pruners are capable of cutting branches thicker than 1 inch.
This tool is by far the hardest garden tool to sharpen. The principle is the same as garden shears, but sharpening them with a curved blade (photo 4) will require a lot of fine motor skills. The other half of the garden shears (photo 5) has a thick, blunt blade that cuts with a sharp, curved blade. This is one reason the dull, heavy blade can cut through branches over 1 inch thick.
A dull knife needs a 90 degree edge. Look at the edges of a freshly cut piece of granite. The top and sides are flat and where they meet you get sharp edges.
following
Sharpen your garden shears with a shear sharpener.
9Picture 6: Pull the sharpener along the blade
If tightening the pivot play and lubricating the shears does not improve the cut, remove the pivot nut. Separate your shoulder blades. Hold one of the blades with the piece of wood facing the cutting edge. Pull firmly on the scissor sharpener from the base to the tip of the blade. Make sure the tip of the carbide sharpener touches the factory bevel of the blade. This bezel is thin, not at all like a paring knife. Drag the scissor sharpener over the blade until the blade is sharp. Usually around 10 passes are required. When you are done with the first sheet, do the same with the next sheet. 
Photo 7: Remove burrs with sandpaper
Sand the back of the blade with 300 grit sandpaper. Move the blade in a circular motion until the spots disappear, then do the same for the other blade. Replace the trimmer and lightly lubricate the moving parts.
Note. Always touch the blade gently with your hand to check its sharpness. The lips are often jagged and can easily cut a finger.
Finally, always lightly oil your tools and wipe them with a dry cloth out of season.
elevento cut
Clean your trimmer after use to keep it clean.
Because the tool is so low to the ground when cutting, it takes a lot of effort. Dirt can build up between the blades and they can fall off whenever you squeeze the handle. The moisture in the grass can also cause them to rust quickly. As with all clippers, clean the clipper after each use and lubricate all moving parts.
Equipment needed for this project
Stock up on the tools you'll need for this DIY project before you start—it'll save you time and frustration. [Project Tool]
You will also need this special tool: 10 in. "Bastard Mill" flat file, 300 grit sandpaper, wet/dry, 10 in. Semi-circular file and scissors sharpener.
Masking tape to stick the sandpaper to the work surface.
