This video was exactly what I was looking for: how to maintain my tools before they get so bad I have to replace them. Seeing the exact movements to use helps in a way no text explanation could.
It also helps to put some 3 in 1 oil on the handle sping. Work the handles open and closed as you slather oil on the coils of the spring then lightly wipe dry. Very important to clean smooth the inner surface of the blades then lightly oil.
I know I keep on going, but this is what I did for sharpening the blade itself. I used the tool with diamond dust to get the edge of the blade nice and shiny, then I used a tool that looked like his "Swiss iStor Sharpener" to make the edge of the blade flat. I would also recommend doing that to the back of the blade as well (it makes the tip sharper). Finally, clean it off again with soap and your blade should nearly be as good as new!
His method works amazing! Matter a fact, I just sharpened some gardening tools with his method. Wow! The blade is shining bright and is really sharp! So sharp, that I actually cut two of my fingers...yeah, pretty deep cuts; I just lightly hit my finger on the blade on accident, and I was cut deep (this happened twice...)! So, his method works great, totally recommend it!
He described THREE methods. Which one are you referring to? Your comment reminds me of when people aren't listening and you ask them "do you want chocolate or vanilla?" and they reply "yes".
@@e_8074 SO good of you to check up on me Mrs. Cleaver. It's so nice to get a personal reply from another of the self-appointed politically correct police. If my comment is offensive to you, you must have lived a very sheltered life so far. I simply asked a question of Jordan to clarify his vague post and provided an example of the type of confusion. I have absolutely no idea of what tact, compassion, or humanity have to do with my comment either. It's also obvious you have no sense of humor whatsoever. To answer your question, "no". It still makes me shake my head when you ask multiple questions of someone and they give you one answer. It shows they're not listening, and their reply is nothing but a waste of time because they didn't answer the question. It happens a lot. Seinfeld made a career of drawing out common frustrations we all share. Me, I get you worrying about me personally and whether or not I'm a kind person. Sheesh.
If you search for 'outdoor tool sharpener' on eBay you can buy a sharpening tool that's great for keeping your garden tools sharp, it's so simple and quick to use.
While I have sharpened my pruning shears in this fashion, I prefer to disassemble the tool first, and also cleaning and oiling before reassembly to avoid any sharpening grit from entering the gap between sliding faces of the cutting parts.
Never use that tungsten carbide sharpener on a nice pair of pruners. Having said that, he used the 90 degree edge on the front of the blade, which was correct. However, to remove the burr on the back of the blade, the carbide sharpener needs to be flat against the metal and used gently. You are taking off the burr only, not additional metal. Whet stones (used wet) are the best for sharpening pruners and loppers.
Excellent video, he did a very nice job explaining this. I bought a bastard file for tools, but I see for these it would be a better fit for both the shears and my hand to get something smaller and maybe just use a stone. Awesome!
Also, I didn't have the "Scrubbing Bubbles" cleanser he had, so I just used "Simple Green," and that works amazing as well. I would advise you to clean off your blade[s] twice (thoroughly) before starting to sharpen it.
I've always wanted to know how to do that.at last I know. I also have a pair that isn't by pass. How do I sharpen them.. I like the bsckground noise. Makes it all come across as live, in a country fair.
You can do this without any of the sharpening tools he used: I needed to sharpen 3 sets of bypass pruners/loppers fast! I had 30 minutes to cut down a bunch of bamboo. All 3 sets of bypass pruners were very dull and even rusty. I had Scrubbing Bubbles to clean my blades, and some steel wool to attack the rust, but my big problem was I had NONE of the sharpening tools he used. But I *did* have an 8" "sharpening steel" (knife sharpener) from an inexpensive counter-top knife set--the sharpener that just looks like a metal poker. I rarely use it, and the decade-old set is missing half the knives, so I had nothing to lose. It worked like a charm. It probably didn't get my loppers quite as sharp as using the right tools, but it definitely ground my tools down and gave me the sharp edge I needed to cut through the tough bamboo like it was butter. you just have to make sure you get the correct angle. But you *can* sharpen your loppers or pruners, using just the sharpening steel that comes with a counter-top knife block set from TJ Maxx.
Helpful video--thanks! Am wondering if there's a less toxic/non-aeresol substitute for Scrubbing Bubbles and what exactly is 3in1 oil? Am trying to find versions in my area?
3 in 1 oil is a well refined light oil, you could use new automobile engine oil that was 5-20 weight or sewing machine oil, or lanolin. Lanolin will leave a film of oil on your tools and is good for long term storage and especially good for saws and gas or electric hedge cutters as lanolin will not effect the plants. It does have the faint odor of sheep. Instead of Scrubbing Bubbles try a "Scotchbrite" kitchen pot scrub pad and regular detergent. If you want more aggressive cleaning use extra fine "wet and dry" sandpaper as would be used to do automotive body repairs.
Master Gardener should take a tip on public relations for service announcements: minimize background distractors. In this case, away from all those barnyard birds cackling in the background.
He has a much more professionally produced video just showing how to clean and sharpen tools at the CAMasterGardener channel. This video was recorded by the owner of this channel at a public plant sale event. It is not approved by the University of California that runs the Master Gardener program...
Very informative video and gave me an idea of the tools I need. By the way I watched the video on mute because didn't want to wake my 6 month old. Later turned on the sound, background noise was distracting and made it hard to follow.
Johanna006 scrubbing bubbles is sold as a bathtub cleaner, for (some types) people who dont like to scrun by hand. It's toxic anyway. Someone mentioned Simple green a non toxic cleaner, another suggestion was regular dish detergent with a steel wool pad.
EVERY time I've seen anyone describing how to sharpen something, they always say move the sharpener across the blade in ONE DIRECTION. he goes in a circle. I'm confused.
@@bangbang51211 I've used another method sharpening and finishing knives with a leather lapping strap as the final touch. Counter to MY assumption, they everything with the blade FORWARD. After doing the grinding, it takes a little CAREFUL practice to draw the blade forward into the leather without it catching and wanting to slice into the leather. But after getting it to where you can consistently sharpen forward, it puts a noticeably sharper edge on the blade. Then again, the angles, as you say, would be different on knives and gardening tools, and the gardening tools DON'T want to be razor sharp and need more mass for the punishment they take and the blade edge to hold up.
Oh the background talking was kind of interesting...I wanted to hear more about that wedding....didn't need him to talk we could see what he was trying to accomplish.
This video was not produced by the Master Gardeners. It was recorded at a public plant sale event. To see this Master Gardener's video of how to clean and sharpen pruning tools visit the CAMasterGardener channel. Much better video and audio quality there...
Does this kind of work really call for antibacterial soap? A damp cloth is surely enough on must days. A sharp blade will cut just as well if the face is dirty, even rusty. Using cleaners seems to me over-fastidiousness that puts unnecessary chemicals up your nose and into the environment.
Dieter Heinrich I would agree. anti bacterial because you may have pruned prior and that tree may have been diseased. Just me but that would be reason enough
I can't believe that you made this video with those rude women in the background. Why didn't you tell them that you are trying to make a video ...and can they go and talk somewhere else.
I'm sure that if someone randomly made a video in public near where you had a stand, you would immediately move all your things (table, goods, etc) and not speak to your customers out of deference to the video. Because that would be totally reasonable. I can't believe the rude wind didn't stop blowing, either
I agree with the rest of the p9osts. Master Gardner seems to know his sharpening skills but how he could be launching this video allowing the most disrespectful boisterous women in the back ground. Obviously low esteemers needing toddler attention. Thankfully we still have some free rights to speak and if people are annoyed about the loud mouths they have a right to speak their mind. The Master Gardner is trying to build a following and this video presented very useful techniques and his speaking voice and clarity would be perfect without the attention getters in the background . For that reason i had to switch to another presenter.
Background women really annoying,what is a master gardener ,is there such a thing?,as for sharpening you really must disassemble to do it properly ,oh and running fingers up and dowwn a blade during demonstration is not a good example for safe working sorry
Yes, there are Master Gardener programs across the US. Visit the UCCE Master Gardener Program of Santa Clara County channel at CAMasterGardener to watch this Master Gardener demonstrate how to clean and sharpen pruning tools without the annoying voices in the background.
yes, what's with the chatter in the background, very annoying. Also, why so wordy..this tip should have been done in half the time.... get to the points
Yup, that background conversation is ridiculously annoying. Why would you even do this video with so much noise in the back ground,?. Tip,:. Scrap this video, and make a new one.
The owner of this RU-vid Channel recorded a live public demonstration being made to a crowd then uploaded it as his own production. To watch Alan demonstrate how to clean and sharpen pruning tools visit the UCCE Master Gardener Program of Santa Clara County channel at CAMasterGardener.