Hedge Shears

Hedge Shears are sharpened according to the angles shown below.

Honing is not recommended for these as it will make the gardening activities harder: as with kitchen scissors, coarseness in the edge helps to ensure the piece being cut does not slide out. Stop after the sharpening step (but with a high grit level - 1,000 or so).

General Guidelines
β		Notes	Recommended Tormek Jig
Recom.	Range
135°	125° - 145°	A sharper angle could be used if trimming bushes with thinner branches. The thicker the wooden parts, the greater an angle may be needed (though, at a certain point, this is not the right tool). If the original angle is different, it is best to match that. If using a Tormek to sharpen this blade, the SVM-45 Knife Jig can be used, but I'd recommend using the SVD-110 Tool Rest.	SVD-110

Notes & Comments

Information regarding Grindstones

When sharpening hedge shears, it is recommended to use the vertical position with the grindstone rotating towards the blade. (If you use the horizontal position, the grindstone will pull the hedge shears away from the jig.)

Be sure to remove all caked-on dirt. A wire brush or putty knife can be useful for this. A well-kept tool will last your lifetime, and will still be usable by your children (and maybe your grandkids).

Sap can be removed using a solvent. Acetone works well, but be sure to wear protective clothing as this is not kind to your body, and be sure the area is well ventilated.

After using any solvent, be sure to apply a thin coat of camellia oil to the tool. I like the spray bottle of camellia oil sold by Tools for Working Wood.

Some advocate using boiled linseed oil (BLO), but BLO often has heavy metals or other bad chemicals added for drying agents, and these are not good for you to handle, nor would they be good for the plants on which you'll use this tool.

If the tool was exposed to any diseased plants or soil which is infected with pests, give it a quick wash in diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 8 parts water), and then rinse with plain water. Be sure to dry afterwards, and apply a thin coat of camellia oil.

Hedge Shears often get stored for a while after sharpening, so it is recomended to oil the sharpened surface with camellia oil. (Indeed, all unpainted surfaces would benefit from this.)

Another option is petroleum jelly.

More Information

Videos & Presentations

• Tormek Live Sharpening Class - Special - Gardening tools (YouTube video). Wolfgang and Sèbastian from Tormek did a special episode of their sharpening class, focusing on the gardening tools. Learn how to sharpen secateurs, lawn mower blades, a scythe, hedge shears and other tools that you use in the garden!


• Tormek AngleMaster WM-200 (YouTube video)

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