Keeping tools sharp

[Magzy]

Hi, thought i mite come out of the shadows and post my first question.
Very new to bonsai (approx 6 mths) and today i got my first pair of shearers from Red Dragon. I went there thinking i would get one of those starter kits but after talking to young Sam i decided to get the all rounders he suggested for about 30 bucks because i am only really just styling my bonsai and not looking to get to technical with it all just yet. I also purchased a small sponge like sharping stone which he said they had been using there for about a year now and works really well. They have been using a weak solution of detol and water and dipping the stone in it and sharping tools with that. My question is on honing scissor blades and how other people do it and what they use. Do you hone the blades equally on both sides or do you just concentrate on the cutting edge and then take the bur off like a chisel. I have been working in the timber industry for about 20 years now and the young blokes still reckon i have more than 10 faces on all my chisel edges, but i do get em sharp. Sharpening a tool requires a certain stone and technique for that tool and i would like to hear how its done the right way and what others use. All comments would be most welcome.

[Taffy]

Hi Magzy. First off let me be the first to welcome you to Ausbonsai. I think you'll find it a great site - I do!

Sharpening scissor or shear blades is virtually the same as sharpening a chisel. The quick sketch I've put below shows what I mean. If the blade is the same as the first cross section sketch, then it is the upper face (blue arrows) that you hone. If it the same as the second cross section, then you hone the right hand face (red arrow). Yes, remove any burr that occurs, but as with a chisel, never hone the lower face. Doing so will cause a gap between the blades and it either won't cut what you want it to, or it will tear the leaf/twig/branch.
I use a diamond hone on mine. I find it gives a much keener edge - and I keep them sharp all the time.

I hope this goes some way to answering your question.

Bladesharp.jpg

[Mitchell]

Welcome to Ausbonsai Magzy!

Nice explanation and diagram Tman, well explained.

[Magzy]

Thanks for your info Tman, just what i needed. Nice little diagram also. I also have one of those diamond whetstones which i use at work and they are great to use and get a nice fine edge. Just thought i would get one of the soft sponge type stones they had there and give it a go. Think i'll sneak a few kitchen knifes out and try on them first. Thanks also for both the welcomes.

[Jarrod]

The small soft stone, if it is what I think it is would not actually sharpen, just clean, which is very important. Jeep your tools clean and you shouldn't need to sharpen them as often!

And welcome.

[lilscrappy]

ahm..... yeahh.. it should be sharp
so that.. no hazle... if you are going to work..
especially when you dig on the soil...