Things You'll Need:
- Steel Wool
- Absorbent Rags
- Lightweight Oil
- Steel Wool
- Bench Vise
- Fine-grit Grinding Stone
- Medium Mill File
- Rubber spatula, wire brush, nylon pot scrubber or garden hose
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Step 1
Find a file of a type and size that you find comfortable to work with. A medium- or bastard-cut mill file about 8 inches (20 cm) long is a popular choice and easy to find at your neighborhood hardware store.
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Step 2
Make sure the tool is clean and free of rust (see How to Remove Rust From Tools). Loose dirt will come off with a rubber kitchen spatula. For more stubborn soil, use a wire brush, nylon pot scrubber or a good blast from the hose.
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Step 3
Clamp the tool firmly in a bench vise at a slight angle, with the blade--the metal "business end"--pointing toward the floor. The inside surface should be facing up. (This is the side of a shovel that holds the soil, or the side of a hoe that faces you as you pull it through the soil.)
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Step 4
Hold the file firmly with both hands, at the same angle as the tool's original bevel. On most shovels, spades and hoes, this is anywhere from 40 degrees to 75 degrees.
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Step 5
Push the file away from your body, using smooth, long strokes (see A). When the edge is shiny and smooth, check the bevel by holding the file in line with the new edge. Don't worry if it doesn't match the original angle exactly, but make it as close as you can.
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Step 6
Turn the tool over so the back faces up. The blade will have a rough, feathery edge called a burr. Remove it by dribbling lightweight oil onto the blade, then rubbing the burr with a small, finegrit grinding stone (see B). A lightweight machine oil such as WD-40 will work; so will mineral or vegetable oil.
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Step 7
Finally, go over the entire blade with steel wool dipped in the same oil. If you plan to use the tool soon, wipe off the excess. For winter storage, though, leave the blade with a heavy coat to guard against rust.
