How to Sharpen Hedge Trimmer Blades

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By Kyoko Walton
eHow Contributing Writer

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Get the best quality of cutting power out of your old hedge trimmers. Learn how to properly disassemble your blades for safety. Sharpen your hedge trimmer blades with simple tools and less hassle, and avoid hurting yourself in the process. The next time your hedge trimmers fail to trim the verge, you will be able to sharpen them in a matter of minutes with readily available tools. Gain the knowledge of how to hold the blades when you sharpen them, and how to test the blades for sharpness. Learn how to recognize a blade which can be serviced by a professional, and when your blades can be simply sharpened at home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Metal filer Eye protective goggles

Sharpen Your Shears

Step 1

Place the hedge trimmers on a flat surface. Ensure that the blades are pointed away from your body.
Step 2

Position a pair of pliers around the bolt on your hedge trimmers. Clamp the pliers on the bolt securely.
Step 3

Twist the bolt counter-clockwise to remove it.
Step 4

Separate the paired blades.
Step 5

Hold one of the handles with the blade facing away from you. Slide a metal filer down the length of the blade until you reach the pointed end. Continue to sharpen the blade for a minute or two, and then do the same with the other blade.
Step 6

Test the blades with a piece of paper. Hold a piece of paper next to the blade, and then try to cut the paper without using a lot of force. If the paper slices easily, then your blades are completely sharpened. If the blades do not cut the paper, continue to sharpen the blades with the metal filer, and repeat the paper test.

Tips & Warnings

Take power hedge trimmers to a professional to sharpen. If your power hedge trimmer blades have bolts holding the blades in place, then you can sharpen them. If the blades are not bolted, it means that the trimmer is not intended for servicing, and you should replace the hedge trimmer with a new one.
Wear eye protection when sharpening your hedge trimmers (metal fragments and debris can cause eye damage).