How To Sharpen Hedge Trimmer Blades with 3 Different Methods

You’re cutting the hedges around your house peacefully. In a few seconds of the process, you start to notice that it is not cutting the way it used to. 

The limbs are actually being torn rather than trimmed.

And you wonder, “Why are you struggling so much to cut shrubs and branches?”

Sounds like it’s time to sharpen its blades!

You’re glad that you know the reason…

But here, another stress comes your way. You don’t know how to sharpen its blades efficiently. And that seems a big pain to you as you’re completely unfamiliar with the process. Sounds familiar, right?

Luckily, sharpening the trimmers is actually a breeze — you won’t have any trouble getting the tool back in its tiptop condition.

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure that the machine continues to cut as cleanly and precisely as when you bought it.

And if you need to sharpen the entire blade of the trimmer, it can be done even by hand using a hedge trimmer sharpening file. 

Not just this, but many other methods can also do wonders!

First, relax because sharpening isn’t at all a complicated task, especially if you know what to do. 

No more talk; have a look at our top 3 methods on how to sharpen hedge trimmer blades;

How To Sharpen Hedge Trimmer Blades

According to experts and hedge trimmer blade sharpening service providers or manufacturers, the trimmer blades should be sharpened every 50 hours of usage to ensure the longevity and efficiency of your tool.

This, of course, requires following some simple and effective methods.

Before getting into the main methods, you need to ensure that you have prepared your tool for the process. Plus, it’s also important to take proper safety precautions.

Follow these steps to prioritize your preparation and safety:

Preparation and Safety First

Clean your trimmer with a silicone-based quality cleaner. You can pick up a lubricating cleaner, such as WD-40.

Now, take your trimmer outside & spray every side of the blades liberally with the help of silicone lubricant. 

Wait for 10 to 15 seconds, and turn the trimmer on. 

The lubricant will work between the blades & wear down any gunk on the trimmer efficiently.

• Do this 2 to 3 times, especially if your blades are dirty.
• You can also do this right after or before you sharpen hedge trimmer blades near me.

1. Remove the battery pack or unplug your hedge trimmer

Never handle the blades of your trimmer when they could turn on accidentally. Remove the battery pack & set it aside. And if your tool plugs into the outlet, just unplug it. 

How often you should sharpen the trimmers depend on how often you exactly use them. However, many people find that they have to sharpen their tools after almost 50 hours of usage.

Related: How To Remove Battery From Hedge Trimmer

2. Wear non-slip, heavy-duty cutting gloves and eye protection

Even if the blades do not look sharp, they’ll be very soon. Make sure to put on heavy-duty gloves, so you can handle the blades’ teeth safely.

Moreover, throw on protective goggles. Sharpening its blades might cause some metal to fly off, and you would not want that in your eyes.

Especially if you are going to use the rotatory tool to sharpen them, it’s super important to wear protective gear since this is likely to spark.

3. Line the teeth of your blades up with a screwdriver so that they’re overlapping. 

Hedge trimmers contain two rows of blade teeth that mostly sit on top of one another. You can use the handle of the screwdriver to push the teeth in order to move – so that they are perfectly lying on top of each other.

This will give you enough room to work properly. It also allows you to sharpen both sides of blades simultaneously if you are going to use the rotatory tool.

If you’ve got a mechanism on your machine that allows you to lock these blades in place, immediately lock them. If you don’t, simply steady the blade with one hand and film it with the other.

4. Clamp your hedge trimmer to a work table. 

Grab the C-clamp & wrap it around the workstation and your trimmer’s body in a way that the blades efficiently stick out past the table. 

Now, tighten the clamp by pulling its trigger or simply rotate the tightening bar unless it stops turning. 

If you do not own a clamp for the trimmer, you can also pin it underneath something super heavy – like a huge bag of concrete. Tough, you can’t sharpen its blades without keeping the tool still.

Now, coming to the main point—the sharpening process! 

Method: 1 — Using a Rotary Tool

Buy a rotary tool and attach a flat 3⁄8 in (0.95 cm) grinding tip. 

To utilize a rotary tool, attach one of the various tips that come with the tool. For grinding trimmers, use a flat tip that is completely even and well-balanced on every side, like a cylinder. 

Avoid using a rounded tip, similar to a bullet, as it can catch on the slope. Investing in a rotary stihl hedge trimmer sharpening tool is a good idea if you plan to sharpen your trimmer repeatedly, as it is easier than using a file. 

Although some people use an angle grinder instead of a rotary tool, it is not recommended as it is difficult and unsafe. 

Instead, it is better to use a smaller rotary tool for secure and orderly blade sharpening, which would reduce risks.

Run the rotary tool along the side of the first tooth:

To begin the sharpening process, locate the power button on your rotary tool. After that, select a tooth on the first side of the blade as your starting point. 

Carefully run the rotary tool along the bevel of the tooth, moving it back and forth 4-5 times to straighten the edge and re-sharpen the tooth. 

While moving the bit back and forth, hold it there for 3-5 seconds. It is important not to apply pressure or force the bit into the blade. 

Now, let the rotary tool do the work for you. 

When you remove rust, dirt, or worn-out metal, the color of the tooth edge may change. If the color changes, you have finished sharpening the tooth.

Repeat this process for each of your hedge trimmers

Sharpen the remaining teeth on the blade using the same technique as the first tooth. Move the rotary bit back and forth along each bevel’s edge to sharpen each and every tooth. 

Proceed carefully along the entire blade and then flip the hedge trimmer over to sharpen the opposite side. 

This entire process can be completed in just a few minutes and will leave your trimmers sharp and ready for use.

Method 2 — Using a Power Grinder

Once you have aligned the hedge trimmer teeth by following the above steps, you can proceed with the following steps to sharpen them. 

Keep in mind that there are six surfaces on each tooth that need to be sharpened with the edge of the rotary tool.

Want to know how to sharpen hedge trimmers with a grinder? Follow these steps:

Wear safety equipment

Before using a power grinder to sharpen your hedge trimmer, wearing suitable safety gear is essential to protect your hearing and eyes. 

Remember that using a power grinder creates abundant sparks, so it is important to perform this method in an area with no fire hazards. 

To prevent any potential ignition sources from causing harm, it is wise to conduct spark-generating maintenance beforehand.

It will give you time to identify and take action against any such danger.

Secure the bar of the hedge trimmer with a clamp:

To ensure efficient sharpening of the hedge trimmer teeth with the grinder, it is essential that the bar of the trimmer is securely fastened to prevent any movement during the sharpening process. 

Because sharpening any tool requires repositioning the bar and clamping multiple times, it is crucial to ensure that the bar remains secure throughout the entire process.

Grind the top three surfaces of each tooth with the power grinder

For sharpening hedge trimmer blades, we recommend using a general-purpose grinding wheel with a grit size of 60 or 80.

Maintain the angle of the tooth edge while pressing the grinding wheel against each tooth edge surface to sharpen all three top surfaces of every hedge trimmer tooth along the bar.

Handling the grinder correctly and with a steady hand may take some practice.

It’s important to note that the power grinder removes material from the hedge trimmer teeth more quickly than manual sharpening. This is why over-sharpening of the teeth should be avoided. 

To grind each cutting surface, the grinder wheel should only touch it for a few seconds.

Grind the three bottom surfaces of each hedge trimmer cutting tooth

Turn over the hedge trimmer and reattach the bar in the clamp. Follow the same steps to sharpen all three bottom cutting surfaces of every tooth.

Once you become proficient with the process, sharpening all the teeth on a power hedge trimmer like this can be done in just a few seconds.

Method: 3 — Sharpening with a File

Choose a flat metal file with a handle, ideally one that is the same width as the hedge trimmer teeth, for easy use. Any file with a flat surface and uniform consistency will do.

Start with a single tooth by placing the file at an angled bevel of the tooth and dragging the file at a 45-degree angle away from you.

As you slide the file, apply gentle pressure to sharpen the tooth’s edge. The bevel is the sharp, angled edge of the blade.

Repeat the movement by dragging the file in the same direction:

After completing the downward stroke with the file, lift it and place the top of the file onto the top of the tooth.

Continue moving the file back and forth in the same direction against the blade until you have filed it 7 to 8 times.

Remember to avoid moving the file back and forth in different directions, as it will only dull the tooth. Always work in the same direction.

Move on to the remaining teeth on your trimmer:

After filing the first tooth, choose a direction to move along the entire blade and continue the same process to sharpen the next tooth. 

Run the file in the same direction repeatedly before moving on to sharpen the next tooth. Keep moving across the blade and sharpening each tooth in the same way until all of them are sharpened.

Flip the trimmer over and repeat this process on the other side:

After finishing the first set of blade teeth, release the brace holding the hedge trimmer, flip it over, and secure it to your work table using the clamp.

Repeat the same grinding process for each and every tooth on the opposite side of the blade, as you did for the first set of teeth. This process may take 30 minutes to an hour.

Clean any burrs up using a whetstone if you’d like:

If you notice any burrs or scratches on the edge of your hedge trimmer blades after sharpening, you can use a whetstone to remove them.

First, soak the whetstone in water and then run the uneven side along the edges of each tooth in the same direction as you filed them.

This process will remove any remaining burrs and give your trimmer blades a smooth finish. Keep in mind that this step is optional, but it can improve the precision of your trimming and may be useful if you are doing any fine landscaping work.

And there you have it! Use any of these methods, and get your hedge trimmer blades sharpened in absolutely no time.

Related: What Type File To Sharpen Hedge Trimmer Blades

How Can You Tell When the Hedge Trimmer Needs Sharpening?

Identification is super important to know when you should sharpen the blades because it’s tough to count the duration you’ve used the machine, particularly if you’re a homeowner.

If you notice the below signs, it’s time to sharpen the blades immediately:

1. Unprecise or Inaccurate Cuttings

An ideal trimmer should leave behind neatly and precisely cut branches that look amazing. 

However, if you notice uneven edges while cutting the branches, it means that the trimmer blades need to be sharpened.

In this case, you can simply ask for a replacement or take it back to the dealer.

Other than that, you may sharpen it at home and get it back to its normal working condition.

2. Branches Getting Jammed in the Trimmer

A well-sharpened tool will never let the branches or hedges jam and interrupt the process of cleaning at any cost.

Instead, it’ll smoothly trim off the branches when you bring it close to them.

Anyhow, if you notice that the hedges get stuck into the blades’ teeth and block them from trimming the hedges further, it can be a big problem.

3. Difficulty in cutting

If the hedge trimmer is struggling to cut through branches that it used to be able to handle easily, it could be a sign that the blades are dull and need sharpening.

This can cause fatigue to the user as they will need to apply more force to cut through branches, and it can also damage the hedge.

Sharpening the blades will improve the efficiency of the tool and make the trimming job easier.

Also Read: Can You Sharpen Hedge Trimmer Blades

Should you sharpen your hedge trimmers yourself or get a specialist to do it?

As amateur gardeners and dedicated DIYers, many people love doing every task themselves. And this also applies to maintaining the devices and tools at home.

But what about when it comes to hedge trimmer blades?

Can you sharpen them yourself? 

Or, would it be better to call out an expert or professional instead?

Let me explain!

As with most knives and blades around the house, sharpening trimmer blades is also quite simple!

To do this, you just need to have a few tools, a steady hand, and a bit of patience. But if you rather want to save your time and effort, of course, you can leave it to a specialist to sharpen the blades. 

So yes, it’s up to you!

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Why do the blades of your gas hedge trimmer need to be sharpened so frequently?

Gas hedge trimmers can be strong and sturdy. As they are more likely to need power & operate quicker than other tools, their blades get more blunt and dull.

2) Can you use WD-40 on hedge trimmer blades?

Lubricating the trimmer blades with WD-40 can be a good decision. After you’re done cleaning the trimmer and have dried off all the residue thoroughly, you should not forget to lubricate its blades. To do this, get both your hands on a dry cloth & use it to reapply the coat of WD-40 on its blades by distributing it evenly.

3) How much will it cost to sharpen the hedge trimmer?

In general, the sharpening of blades costs around $15 to $30 for electric and gas trimers and $6 to $10 for small manual hedge trimmers.

4) What kind of oil can you apply to the hedge trimmer’s blade?

Other than WD-40, you can use a 3-in-1 oil to grease the blades. Any kind of engine oil can be easily used. Make sure that you oil them every 30 minutes, and apply both after and before. I personally use a paintbrush and an applicator machine-made for oil. Anyhow, an oil-covered rag can also get the job done.

5) How long do hedge trimmer blades last?

According to the average manual instructions, you should regularly sharpen the blades after every 50 hours of usage. Typical homeowners frequently use trimmers, so you may not want to keep up with so many hours. In this case, just be conscious of how your tool is cutting.

6) If the branches become stuck within the hedge trimmer’s teeth, is this a sign that the blades must be sharpened?

If the branches are highly stuck between the blades’ teeth, it causes the blades to block severely. It is an indication that you need to replace them. The blades on the bottom and top are not in contact with each other appropriately.

Bottom Line

Sharpening the trimmer may not be so much simple and easy. But yes, you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself—no need to call out any specialist. 

If you have the right skills and the best tool for sharpening hedge trimmers, it’s just a matter of a little effort. And that’s all!

Sharpened trimmers make it convenient to cut branches and hedges and maintain the landscape without any trouble. 

So, what are you waiting for? 

Follow the above methods & incredible guidelines about how to clean and sharpen hedge trimmers to get the most desirable results!