How to Sharpen a Hand Lopper

A hand lopper helps to make pruning and caring for your trees and bushes much easier. The hand lopper works best when it sharp. You should sharpen your hand lopper every spring, and as often as it is needed. This simple process will help your hand lopper to last much longer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Diamond file
• 1/16 inch wheel
• Belt grinder
• Safety mask
• Honing stone
• Olive or mineral oil

1. Use a diamond file at a twenty degree angle along the cutting edge of the hand lopper. You should only sharpen the area that is shiny. If your edge is still dull you should use a belt grinder to sharpen it.

2. Attach a 1/16th inch well to the belt grinder, put on your face mask and turn on the machine. Apply the cutting edge to the machine holding it nearly flush to the blade and follow the curve of the cutting edge.

3. Run the curved, or bottom edge of the loppers along the belt grinder to smooth out the area. Add serration to the bottom edge by running the curved edge perpendicularly across the bottom edge of the wheel. This will help the hand lopper to hold the branch in place.

4. Hone the edges of the blade with a honing stone to even out the drill.

5. Test the hand lopper to make sure that the blades do not catch on each other. If they do you will need to smooth out the areas.

6. Lubricate any joints with olive or mineral oil.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to wear a safety mask when using a belt grinder. This will protect your face and eyes from any injury. Be careful as you use the belt grinder to protect your hands from injury.