Sharpening hedge trimmer blades is one of those jobs that we all know we need to do every now and then, but we keep putting it off - whether that's because we think it will take too long, or maybe that we don't know how to sharpen hedge trimmer blades. It just seems like too much bother.
But then you'll end up struggling, again, to cut through branches next time you come to use it, and a short job becomes much longer and much more frustrating.
What you need is a quick, easy-to-follow guide telling you exactly how to to sharpen hedge cutter blades, that will help you understand that this can be a quick and easy process. in which case, you've come to the right place! We'll go through everything you need to know about how to sharpen hedge trimmers to make this job a simple one. Once you master this, you're hedge trimmer blades will perform so much better, and last much longer.
How to tell when your Hedge Trimmer needs sharpening
There are a a few things to look out for which will help you determine whether you need to sharpen your hedge trimmer blade:
Your Hedge Trimmer Blades Keep Jamming
If you find that you keep needing to stop your hedge-cutting to remove a jam in your blades, it probably means they are not sharp enough, and struggling to cut through. It may also mean that your blades are no longer meeting - if you see a large gap between your upper and lower blades, they may need to be realigned, which can be done by a tool reparier.
Your Hedge Trimmer Cuts Aren't Clean
If you see that the branches you are cutting are frayed or uneven, it probably means that your blades are not sharp enough. They will have dulled over time, and they could do with a quick sharpen.
How to sharpen hedge clippers
Before we start, it's important to get the correct equipment together, to make the job stress-free.
Equipment
- Safety glasses
- Work gloves
- WD-40 (or any other silicone based cleaning solution)
- Flat file or rotary tool
- Soft cloth
- Whetstone
Step 1: Cleaning Your Hedge Trimmers Teeth
Before you start sharpening, you will need to clean your blades - you can do this after the sharpening process, but if you blades are particularly dirty, the detritus may impact the sharpening, so it's just a good idea to get the blades nice and clean before you start.
Spray the WD-40 (or any silicone based cleaner) in between the blades, and leave it for a moment. Then turn the trimmer on, so that the cleaner moves around and gets in those hard-to-reach spots.
Step 2: Safety Precautions
Make sure you have put your safety goggles on securely, and that you are wearing adequate gloves. You'll also need to make sure that it doesn't have a power source - for an electric hedge trimmer make sure it is unplugged or the battery is removed, for petrol-based trimmers, make sure you have removed the blades from the main unit.
Step 3: Using a Flat File to Sharpen Your Hedge Trimmer Blades
Using your flat file, file towards to cutting edge. The operating instructions for your hedge trimmer will be able to tell exactly what angle to use, but a 45 degree angle will suit most trimmer blades - just keep to a consistent angle and you can't go far wrong. Your file will only work in one direction, so rather than going back and forth, just use single strokes, otherwise you will be undoing your work on the 'back' stroke.
In terms of how much to sharpen hedge trimmer, you should be able to tell that the blades are getting sharper, around 5-8 'strokes' should be enough on each blade. Once you have finished one side, turn the trimmer over and work on the reverse.
Step 4: Clean any Burrs using a Whetstone
Once you have made your hedge trimmer blades sharp you'll notice that burrs have built up - small particles of steel that accumulate as you sharpen. These are easily removed by rubbing a whetstone (or sharpening stone) on the effected areas. This will smooth everything out, leaving you with a nice, even finish on your blades.
Step 5: Hedge Trimmer Sharpening Aftercare
Finally, use a soft cloth to wipe down the blades, removing any debris. And that's all there is to hedge trimmer sharpening! From that point, make sure you wipe down your trimmer blade after each use to remove any debris. You can also use a linseed oil or resin solvent when you do this, which will help protect the blades and prevent rust.
How Often Should You Sharpen Your Hedge Trimmer?
As a general rule, most hedge trimmer blades will require sharpening after around 50 hours of use. For a lot of people, this will mean that you won't need to sharpen your hedge trimmer that often, when you boil it down. How often are you usually cutting your hedges - an hour or two? And often do you do it - a few times a year? With these kinds of numbers, it could be a number of years before you need to sharpen your electric hedge trimmer.
However, there are a few things that may speed up the need to sharpen your blades. If you cut through hedges with a lot of sap, or with particularly thick branches, then you may find that you have dull blades in less time then your 50 hours.
Conclusion
Now you know how to sharpen an electric hedge trimmer, or a petrol one, there will be no stopping you! You can keep on top of your hedge trimming by using manual hedge cutting tools as well - just to keep them neat and in good shape.
So all that you need to do now is pick what hedges you need in your garden, shop all our Garden Hedges and Hedging Plants, and if you need any help keeping them in shape, you can shop all our Garden Cutting Tools here.
