Secateurs & Bypass Loppers

Secateurs are also known as Bypass Pruners, Hand Pruners, and Pruning Shears. Bypass Loppers are sharpened using the same guidance as Secateurs.

Angles are shown in the end views of the upper blade (red) and lower blade (blue).

A 6" smooth cut machinist’s hand file is useful to carry in your gardening tools box. Touching up the upper blade (red) may be needed to ensure you have clean cuts.

The best tool in the garden is the knowledge of the gardener. Unknown

General Guidelines
Angle	Recom.	Notes	Recommended Tormek Jigs
β1	20°	This angle is not terribly critical and probably does not need to be addressed. What I have observed is (generally): β1 = β2 - 10° If the original angle is different, consider matching that.	KJ-45 Using the bottom stop SVM-45 Using the collar pivot jig
β2	30°	This angle can be as high as 35°, though that will make cutting the branch harder. In knife terminology, this is the micro or secondary bevel. For Secateurs, this edge is much wider though : 2-3 mm (1/16" - 3/32") wide. If it gets too big, β1 can be re-ground to make this smaller. If the original angle is different, consider matching that.
β3	85°	This angle (i.e., the lower (blue) blade) could be as low as 80°; however it is not terribly critical. What is important is that the angle is sharp and not rounded over, and that the blade is not corruded with tree sap nor rust. If the original angle is different, consider matching that.

Notes & Comments

Information regarding Grindstones

Sharpening Notes for the Secateurs' Edges

Shaping the edge: New secateurs and bypass lopers I have purchased have not needed to be reshaped. However, they may need work if a nick is incurred in the blade.

A 12-14" bastard machinist’s hand file is often sufficient for reshaping the tool's cutting edge.

If you choose to use an angle grinder, consider using a 120 grit flap disc. A metal grinding wheel may be needed for large-scale shaping. In either case, be sure to not overheat the metal too much: it weakens the metal.

Sharpening the edge:

For secateurs, I find that the Tormek works quite well, especially if the blade can be detached from the tool.

If you choose to use a Tormek, the Tormek KJ-45 or SVM-45 knife jigs work well to hold this, though the KJ-45 is recommended due to its better ability to handle the blade's thickness.

KJ-45 bottom stop

KJ-45 Jig Notes:. When using the KJ-45, use the bottom stop (this is shown in the picture to the right, and is indicated using a red arrow).

Using the bottom stop is necessary to achieve the sharpening angle for β₂.

SVM-45 Jig Notes:. When using the SVM-45, the collar pivot jig designed by CB (shown below) works best.

The collars are needed to ensure the SVM-45's handle is held close to the blade, and is necessary to achieve the sharpening angle for β₂. It also helps with swinging the blade across the grindstone, sharpening it across the curved blade's edge.

You can also use machinist’s hand files. Start with an 8-10" medium (or second) cut file, and finish with a 6" smooth cut file, then use this file to remove the burr.

Ongoing Maintenance

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).

Camellia Oil Spray Bottle

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 might 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.

Tools in Storage

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

Petroleum jelly is another option.

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)

Web Sites

• CB posted a design for using a Collar Pivot Jig for the the Tormek SVM-45 in 2018 on the Tormek Forum. This is shown in the picture at the top of this page.

  Pivot Jig with the Tormek SVM-45

  More pictures are also shown on the Jigs, Fixtures, & Modifications page.