the sharpest tool in the box?

[gwynleg]

When I saw a gardening programme on tv, in which they use a spade to cut turf, I realised that my spade wouldnt be anywhere near sharp enough to do that! How/do you keep your tools sharp please?

[gwynleg]

[Eristic]

Use them more often.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Use a whetstone, frequently.

[dtw]

I've never heard of anybody sharpening a spade before.

I suspect the turf cutting you mention is probably in stone free soil.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I have, though i've never bothered much. The only time I've really needed a sharp one was when I first had the plot and I was taking out ancient nettle roots like ships' hawsers with a spade. Cutting through them was a nightmare!

[Vortex]

I've sharpened mine on a couple of occasions, mainly when taking out leylandi silver birch, or laurel when you need a sharp spade to get through the roots. I use the angle grinder though ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

I use a mattock for that these days, or a digging hoe for nettles. The weight and the swing make all the difference.

[star]

My hubby very occasionly sharpens my new one on the bench grinder. Buy I have an ancient spade which is sharp as you like. Using them does sharpen them too ;)

[Trevor_D]

My spade was a present from my father, who died thirty years ago. You could carve the Sunday joint with it.

[ipt8]

Use a flat file and give a few light strokes before you use it every time. Take note of the angle of the edge and keep it the same.

[rbull]

I think that old-fashioned carbon steel spades were probably made in the same way as self-sharpening plough shares.  It would involve case-hardening the front face of the spade by heating to red heat with powdered hoof and horn layered on top, then quenching in a water bath.  The slightly softer back wears away with use faster than the harder front face, so always leaving a sharp cutting edge.  Wouldn't work with St St though.

[mellor]

Keep unsing it and it'll soon get sharp, sneeboer however do sell a handy tool sharpener but i mainly use this to keep an edge on my hoes!!!