How To Maintain And Sharpen Your Pruning Shears

Introduction

Pruning shears are an essential tool for any gardener. Properly maintained pruning shears can last a lifetime, but neglecting basic maintenance can shorten the lifespan of your pruners by several years. With proper care, your pruning shears will last longer and cut better than if they were left unattended. Here are some tips on how to keep your pruners sharp and ready for use:

Regularly clean your pruning shears with a cleaning solution of one part bleach and three parts water.

Regularly clean your pruning shears with a cleaning solution of one part bleach and three parts water. Use a soft cloth to wipe down the blades, as this will remove any dirt from the metal. Do not use a wire brush or other abrasive materials to clean the blades; this could potentially damage them by wearing away at their surface or leading to rust formation. Also, do not use any oil or grease on the blades; if you do this, it will just become dirty again!

Oil the moving parts of your shears every time you sharpen them.

It’s important to oil the moving parts of your shears every time you sharpen them. This will keep them from rusting and make sure that they work well for years. When you first get a new pair of pruning shears, it’s a good idea to wipe down all surfaces with an oil rag before using them for the first time.

Sharpen your pruners after every 4 to 6 hours of usage.

It’s important to sharpen your pruning shears at least once a year, as it will help extend their life, make them easier to use, and safe. Sharpening can also make the job go faster by making the cut cleaner.

Prevent sap from building up on your pruners by lightly coating all metal parts with cooking oil before each use.

So, how can you keep your pruners clean? It’s simple. Prior to use, lightly oil all metal parts with cooking oil (just like you’d put oil on a pan before cooking). This will help prevent sap from sticking to the blades of your pruners and also prevent rust from building up in any places where sap might have already stuck.

Oil is inexpensive, readily available at most stores and easy to apply. It is not messy and does not leave behind an oily residue that could attract dirt or dust. It is not toxic or harmful to the environment either, so you don’t have anything to worry about there!

To protect the blade, wipe it off with a rag, or dip it in rubbing alcohol after each use.

To protect the blade, wipe it off with a rag, or dip it in rubbing alcohol after each use. This will remove sap and other debris that may get on the blade during use.

To remove rust, clean and dry the blades, then use sandpaper to carefully rub off the rust.

To remove rust, clean and dry the blades, then use sandpaper to carefully rub off the rust. If you’re using a file for this purpose, it’s important to keep your shears’ blades as level as possible so that filing won’t cause uneven wear.

You can also use a metal brush or wire brush for this task (if you don’t have sandpaper on hand).

This should be performed twice a year, or as needed.

The first step to sharpening your pruners is to remove the blade from the handle by removing the nut and washer that hold it together. Make sure you have another pair of pliers handy for this part, because it can be difficult with just one tool being used. Using an angle grinder (or similar power tool), carefully grind off any rust and smooth down any rough spots on both sides of your blades using increasingly finer grits until they look shiny again. You don’t want to grind too much off though! If you keep grinding until they get shiny, then they’ll become dull again when you start cutting stuff. If this happens, repeat steps 3-5 until you’ve got a good balance between having them be sharp enough but not so sharp that they break easily when you’re cutting branches/trees/etc…

Proper care and regular sharpening will help extend the life of your pruning shears

Regularly clean your shears.
Check to see if the bolt is loose or if anything is bent or twisted.
Sharpen them at least once a year, but preferably twice: once in the spring and again in the fall.

Conclusion

Pruning shears are an important tool, and you want to make sure they’re in good condition. By following these steps, your shears will last longer and be more effective at getting the job done. If anything seems off, take them to a professional for maintenance or sharpening!