Think about all the gardening tools you’ve sent to junkyard heaven. More importantly, consider the reasons you sent them there. Were some of them just too dull? Did you know that these dull tools could have lasted longer if you had just sharpened them? This applies to most any tool with a cutting edge, whether it be scissors, axes, hatchets, mower blades, garden shears, or shovels. Read on to learn more.
Tool Sharpening Methods
There are different methods you can employ when sharpening your gardening tools, one of which requires a whole lot of elbow grease by sanding, filing or using a diamond sharpening stone or traditional whetstone with mineral oil. However, there are electric knife and tool sharpeners on the market that you may want to consider, such as Work Sharp’s Knife & Tool Sharpener that performs sharpening tasks with precision, speed and ease.
Benefits of Tool Sharpening in The Garden
Pruning encourages plants to thrive. However, a bad cut with a pair of pruners or loppers can undo the benefits of pruning by opening the door for insect damage or disease. Bad cuts happen with dull tools, which is why keeping your tools sharp is important. With clean cuts, your plants will heal quicker and stay healthier. Furthermore, it’s easier and faster to work with tools that are sharp than ones that are dull, as the latter requires a bit more effort. It’s generally recommended to sharpen your gardening tools at least once a year and maybe even twice with certain ones, such as hedge trimmers.
Another major benefit is the cost savings. Gardening tools are expensive. A good quality pair of pruners, for example, can run upwards of $40-50. They are even more expensive if you keep replacing them year after year, solely because they are dull. If you were to invest in a Knife & Tool Sharpener from Work Sharp, for example, your initial investment would be approximately $89.95. This kit comes with 6 abrasive belts, 2 each for coarse, medium and fine grits. The lifespan of these belts is long. They can sharpen 50-100 knives before needing to be replaced, if that gives you any idea. So, the Knife & Tool Sharpener would definitely pay dividends in the long run. The cost to replace the original belts in the kit is only $9.95.
Sharper tools are also safer than dull ones It’s a bit of a strange concept but not once you understand the rationale behind it. Consider knives. Dull blades are more likely to slip and require more pressure to make cuts. This results in a lot less control than you would have had with a sharper blade.
Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Features
Sharpening tools manually by hand with a file doesn’t seem like much fun to me, which is why I prefer to use an electric Knife & Tool Sharpener from Work Sharp. Also, freehand sharpening just will not give you the consistent edge that you can achieve with an electric knife & tool sharpener. Whether your blades are thick or thin, curved or straight, the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener’s flexible abrasive belts can sharpen them all. It also uses precision angle sharpening guides to ensure that you get the proper angle every time. Lastly, this Work Sharp unit is very easy to use with a step-by-step instruction guide supplemented by how-to videos online. Even I felt comfortable and confident using it and I usually delegate this type of task to my husband. The electric sharpener is very versatile in that it is not only great for my garden tools but also my kitchen knives as well!
