How do you sharpen a hoe

[Digeroo]

I have bought a nice stainless steel hoe from Wilkinsons less than £9.  Good wooden handle.  But how do I sharpen it?  Silly question I know. 

[Digeroo]

[goodlife]

Have you got a grinder?...it does make life easier but if not you can use metal file..or sharpening stone..
Idea is that you sharpen a few millimetres wide flat edge on top side of the hoe.
Work the file away from you towards the edge slowly getting the edge thinner which will be your cutting edge.
First sharpening will be hard work as when new they are not sharpened..it will take some time but ones done you only need to re-sharpen as and when needed..just a little touch now and then.
If you could use grinder for the first 'cut' then keeping the edge with file or stone won't be difficult.

[Digeroo]

OH nay have a grinder but since his stroke does not find it easy to identify which piece of equipment does what.  So if I ask him it will be several weeks before he manages to work out how to do it and finds the right equipment.  We certainly have a whet stone somewhere but our garage is an unbelievable mess.   He used to know where things were.....   Now it is like looking for a needle in a haystack except he finds it difficult to understand that he is looking for a needle, you have to call it a sharp pointy sewing material.  No nouns. 

[goodlife]

Ok..wet stone might do it but it will be a killer...for start with you need to keep your stone lubricated with water..I use washing up liquid as well..and then you need to run your hoe upside down against the stone..not the stone against the hoe..that's if your stone is flat type..but with round type you use it like file..dip it in water every now and then..and if it has rough side use that first to file bulk of the edge off and towards end of the sharpening use the finer side to finish the edge off..while filing, feel the edge with your finger tips how it develops (gently ::)..you'll soon learn with by touching when the edge is right..try the difference between table knife and chopping knife.. ;)one feels thin...and that is what you need for sharp hoe..but remember, sharpen only from the top side..

[redimp]

When saying top side, which side it that on a draw hoe and on a dutch hoe?

[landimad]

Most of my tools are done by hand in a vice with a hand file.
They work fine for me and getting the angle right is guess work.
If in doubt, try to see if anyone has these tools to assist.

[kt.]

I have purchased a drill piece that actually has a small grinding stone attached.  My intention is to let the drill do the work for me.  If the results are good on the hoe then I will also use it to do my spade, secateurs, shears, pen knife.......   No point making hard work for yourself now is there 8) 8)

[nilly71]

I had an old rusty hoe, after 5mins with a cheap(£shop)diomand sharpining stone, it worked great.

OH nay have a grinder but since his stroke does not find it easy to identify which piece of equipment does what.  So if I ask him it will be several weeks before he manages to work out how to do it and finds the right equipment.  We certainly have a whet stone somewhere but our garage is an unbelievable mess.   He used to know where things were.....   Now it is like looking for a needle in a haystack except he finds it difficult to understand that he is looking for a needle, you have to call it a sharp pointy sewing material.  No nouns. 

Have you tried looking up the equipment on the internet and showing him a picture?

Neil

[goodlife]

Code Select Expand

When saying top side, which side it that on a draw hoe and on a dutch hoe?
oh..well..with draw one..I don't think it does matter as you work by pushing and pulling..you could do from the side that is your main cutting side.If you mainly 'cut' by pulling then your sharpening side is facing away (sharpening towards the handle(tool as you would be using it)..as long as the edge is sharp...idea of sharpening just one side is that both sided sharpening is much more difficult to do and maintain..and with some blades like secateurs,,shears..they won't cut if sharpen wrongly...e.g both sides of the blade..
Dutch how I would sharpen from the side that is facing you..not the soil side..
I've got one of those drill bit stones as well for little things..like secateurs..yes...they are OK...but start fetching a drill etc. while working and needing the sharpening done.. ::)....most of the time I use small, flat metal file..quick and easy..Infact I've got several dotted around lottie in sheds, GH..in car..always one nearby...I hate if I have to drop the job for start looking for tools or something... ::) With hoes which side you sharpen is really down to preference.... ;) I was tought to do like I do and that is how I have kept doing it...

[lincsyokel2]

Since its only a hoe, not a wood  plane or precision turning tool, you can sharpen it on an electric bench grinder, and you can buy one of those for as little as £8 at B&Q.

[siandc]

then file or sharpening stone

[lincsyokel2]

then file or sharpening stone

I wouldnt use an angle grinder. Its potentially dangerous if you use a cutting disc and try grinding with the side, and a bench grinder is exactly designed for sharpening tools, thats what they are for, an angle grinder is a hand tool more suited to grinding off welding slag and bolt heads. Most cheap bench grinders can be bolted down to the bench, and have a coarse stone o nthe left hand side and a fine stone on the right, perfectly suited for the task.

Use the proper tool for the job!!! Improper use of tools is why a large percentage of DIY accidents occur!!