It is the perfect time to get your garden tools in shape for the coming season. Here’s how to clean, sharpen and care for anything with a blade (other than serrated blades)!
Stay tuned for video on caring for spades, trowels and more!
——— P R O D U C T S ———-
3-in-ONE oil: https://amzn.to/3DZiH3x
Steel wool: https://amzn.to/3WmeqO0
Niwaki Crean Mate:
It is the perfect time to get your garden tools in shape for the coming season. Here’s how to clean, sharpen and care for anything with a blade (other than serrated blades)!
Stay tuned for video on caring for spades, trowels and more!
——— P R O D U C T S ———-
3-in-ONE oil: https://amzn.to/3DZiH3x
Steel wool: https://amzn.to/3WmeqO0
Felco resin remover: https://amzn.to/40Akq8a
Felco lubricant spray: https://amzn.to/3PGircc
Niwaki Crean Mate: https://www.niwaki.com/mini-clean-mate
Niwaki camellia oil: https://www.niwaki.com/camellia-oil/#P00030
Oil dispenser: https://www.niwaki.com/oil-dispenser/#P00312-1
Niwaki sharpening stone: https://www.niwaki.com/sharpening-stone/#P00332-2
Diamond file: https://www.niwaki.com/twin-diamond-file/
Speedy Sharp: https://amzn.to/3WLaFC7
——— J O I N ———-
Support the channel and get perks by becoming a member:
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——— A B O U T ———–
My name is Erin and I love sharing inspiration and information with real-life gardeners. I live and garden in southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5b/6a.
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📩 erin@theimpatientgardener.com
Some affiliate links may appear. I may make a small commission if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support. You can see all my favorite products on my Amazon storefront at https://www.amazon.com/shop/impatientgardener
———— FAVORITES ————–
🌿 My favorite potting soil (Organic Mechanics peat-free Container blend): https://bit.ly/containerblend
🌿 My favorite soil amendment: https://bit.ly/biocharblend
🌿 Hose reel (Hoselink): https://bit.ly/TIGhoselink
🌿 Current favorite garden gloves: https://amzn.to/3C29D9Z
🌿 Garden products I buy on repeat: https://liketk.it/3FIyl
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46 Comments
Great timing Erin – I have a long weekend and this just went on the To Do List!
I was so relieved when you said you don’t feel a need to take secateurs apart 😂
Thanks for reminding me to do this! Can't help but notice how thin your face is, hoping you are ok.
Great timing for this project for a retired older gentleman. Expecting a very cold next few days here in Michigan. Basement time! Me, 10:35 work bench and gardening tools 😊
Thank you. Noticing your thin face as well.
Erin Scissorhands!
Great well done video for mid-January and a good reminder to me to get cleaning and sharpening! The angle for garden implements is usually centered around 22° When doing the back side, make sure you remain flush and flat with the blade. If that side of the blade gets any angle on it, you will ruin the shearing function and that's impossible to fix (believe me – I've made that mistake.)
Your thumbnail reminded me of Edward Scissorhands. 😂
Impatient Scissorhands 😂
Ha Ha. Thumbnail picture for this video = Erin Scissorhands 😂
You inspired me!!!!
I did my tool cleaning/sharpening/maintenance before Christmas. SO satisfying!
Ladies, don't do this on your good Williams Sonoma dishtowels.
Now to find all the tools that have somehow wandered so that I can sharpen them…..
Great, practical video and information! Thanks so much for the step by step instructions.
Thank you.
The sanding blocks are also available at most hardware stores in different grits (less expensive than Niwaki). Vegetable oil is great for getting sticky buildup or gunk (pine sap etc.) off of tools. Camellia oil can be bought from most bulk herbal suppliers like Mountain Rose Herbs and others. It's a light carrier oil. Any light carrier oil will do the same job.
Dang I am tired of buying new pruners just because I do not clean my already owned; thanks for the info and the 'shame on me' realization. You are the best.
thanks for this.
Excellent video Erin
Thanks for calling them hand pruners and/or secateurs and not a brand name. Some of my favorite bypass pruners and snips were purchased at ACE Hardware….as long as they are made from stainless steel & I keep them clean and sharpened, they will last a lifetime. What are your thoughts on carbon steel? Cleaned all of my secateurs in the fall…ready to tackle the spades and edgers this winter.
I guess I can do that if I do t need to take it all apart !! Thanks for this video!!
My tools are on a chair in my kitchen to clean up. A good snowy day job. ❄️☃️
OR, sharpen AND get new ones 😆
Thank you!!🌱💚
Thanks Erin
❤
Excellent tutorial!! Thank you!
Terrific video… thanks
I can’t help but think of Edward Scissor Hand!
Lady, you are costing me so much money! Now I think I must buy the Niwaki sharping gear!!! (I want that red stone….) I received the fab Sneeboer small spade and long handled tine rake for Christmas. Top of my list after watching you, mainly with the Great Dexter spade. It looked exactly like a tool I needed. Trowels are great, but boy! How you used that spade looked so much easier. Loving the rake as it keeps my feet away from the dreaded fire ants! I too am so pleased you did this sharpening demonstration. I feel really intimidated by the process. I am going to get out there and sharpen my clippers! Here in Central Florida, Snip Snip Snip! Ellen
Erin, you look terrific. I've followed you for years and hardly recognized you. Great video. Kind Regards. Craig
Thanks for the reminder that brrrrr weather is tool cleaning time! 😊
I have never wet my stone before using. Thanks for the tip! PS I got some Sneeboer for Christmas!
Thanks so, so much for sharing this information. I’m terrible when it comes to maintenance, but you’ve lit a fire under me to get it done.
I was so lazy one year that I bought a new pair of pruners instead of just cleaning and sharpening my old pair🤭. I do like my Felcos but wish they were lighter weight. You should design the perfect pruner-quality blade, light weight, easy to clean with a good closure mechanism. 😊
Great video. Thanks!
For the desinfection, the best is to use pure (>99.9%) isopropyl alcohol (ie rubbing alcohol) that you can find on amazon for a few bucks. Not only is It an excellent antimicrobial, it is also non toxic and safe on the skin (thats why it is used in medicine to clean the skin before a needle is inserted).
But above all, it is completely devoid of water (contrary to solutions of ethanol or methanol or other bought in supermarkets, for more money). So even if some of your isopropyl alcohol goes into some crevasses or into screw sockets, it will not create rust as there is almost no water once the alcohol has evaporated. Of course it should never be diluted to save some money or you defeat the purpose here…Also it is not corrosive by itself on metals.
Also once you wipe the excess, it dries almost immediately and leaves no trace. And it's always a good idea to have rubbing alcohol at home, it has many many uses, starting with the medical one, or as a powerful degreaser. (Which means that you will sometimes have to add a drop of oil to your pruner too after the isopropyl alcohol step)
Also to clean your tools of resinous gum, there is an almost magical solution sold by ARS. You spray it on your tool and it will create a coating of foam. And you wipe it off with some tissue and/or rinse it after 5 minutes and your tool is like new. It is Especially oustanding on saws. My pruner is three years old, so is my saw, and they are litterally new.
Very good, thank you! I used to use a Sharpie to mark the thin blade area to be treated with the whetstone. However, now I try to get rid of that approach, because you will never get the feeling for the right angle. Have a nice spring time! Greeting from Finland (we still have snow here).
Absolutely love Niwaki products! I’ve been using them since your first mention on your channel, so big Thank you! Their small snips and utility scissors are used in my house year round.
Now I don’t feel so bad for having four pairs of garden shears
I just purchased a pair of GR Pro Secateurs. What a work of art… I’m wondering if, since they are carbon steel, you couldn’t season them after sharpening with some heal along with the oil. I also have a fascination with carbon steel pans and the seasoning is a bit of art.
Very informative and helpful for looking after your tools. Thank you for the video
Great basic information for maintenance- cleaning & sharpening !
I have a pruning tool with serrated blade. How do I sharpen that?
Use bypass pruners/secateurs for live plants/wood (easier to cut).
Use anvil pruners for dead plants/wood (harder to cut).
I have multiple ones because I buy them for a few dollars at yard sales and estate sales. It allows me to try different designs for little cost.
ARS (Japan) and Felco (Swiss) are the best and worth the premium price.
Thanks for the information