Tree Clipping: Tip #6 November 2019

Top Trees LLC is the best resource for any and all of your tree pruning needs whether you have us do the work or you need to do it yourself, we look forward to speaking with you.

Tip of the Day: How to Sharpen Pruning Shears

Pruning shears are by far the fussiest garden tool to sharpen. The principle is the same as for hedge shears, but filing along the curved blade asks a great deal of your fine motor skills. The other half of the pruning shears has a thick, blunt blade that the sharp curved blade cuts against. This heavier blunt blade is one reason this tool is able to cut branches more than 1 in. thick.

First, file along the factory bevel. File the edge of the pruning blade using two hands. Start at the point and follow the curve of the factory bevel. Make one complete stroke from the point to the base of the blade. Apply light pressure in a direction away from you. Examine the edge after each stroke of the file to ensure you’re following the path of the factory bevel. Once you’ve exposed fresh steel along a consistent curve, feel the backside for burrs. Sand away the burrs.

Then, file the blunt blade so it’s flat. The blunt blade needs a crisp 90-degree edge. Think of the edge on a freshly cut piece of granite. Both the top and the side surfaces are flat, and where they meet you’ll find a crisp, sharp edge. File along the factory bevel. Using a smooth 10-in. half-round file, file the inside curve of the blunt blade perfectly flat. Use two hands for control. Make sure you hold the file exactly 90 degrees to the inside curve. Once this surface is flat, sand both side surfaces of the blade with 300-grit paper to get rid of any burrs.

If you’re looking to do all of your own tree pruning, we will be your biggest cheerleaders. If you ever need advice, a quick tip, or just have a quick question, please call us anyways. We will be happy to help and assist in any way we can. If there is ever a job that gets to be a little too big, please give us a chance to earn your business. We are the best tree pruning service in Benton City.

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