How to Sharpen a Lawn Edger Blade?

Are you wondering why your lawn edger is not making clean cuts? That’s probably because the lawn edger blades have become dull. So, the best fix is to sharpen the lawn edger blade. Once the lawn edger blades are sharp, they will stop tearing and ripping the grass and make clean cuts. Thus, giving you your desired results. 

You are probably wondering,” How do I sharpen the lawn edger blade?” Well, this blog post will answer your question. More so, you will learn various ways of sharpening the blade as different types of lawn edger blades are sharpened differently.

Though there are numerous ways to sharpen a lawn edger blade, it all depends on the lawn edger type you are using. However, the most straightforward way is using an angle grinder or bench grinder. Moreover, you can sharpen the blades using a sharpening file for more precise results or quickly tune up the blade quickly. 

However, there comes a time when sharpening won’t help, and the only viable solution is to replace the blade. But, how do you determine when to replace the lawn edger blade? Worry less. In this article, you will understand when not to sharpen but rather replace the lawn edger blade. 

What to do Before Sharpening Your Lawn Edger Blade 

Though your goal is to make the edger blade sharp, you must take various precautions. More so, there are multiple things you need to do before you start to sharpen the edger blades. Here are three tips to consider before sharpening your lawn edger blade:

1. Read the Lawn Edger’s Manual

Before you start sharpening the blades, it is imperative to go through the owner’s manual of the lawn edger you are attempting to sharpen. It is important to note that some specific lawn edgers are self-sharpening and should not be sharpened. 

For instance, your gas-powered or electric lawn edger may contain a warning to inform you not to try sharpening its blades. The Greenworks 12 Amp Electric Corded Edger is an excellent example of a lawn edger that you should not attempt to sharpen. 

However, if you are a manual lawn edger user, you need to sharpen the blades on a regular basis. How frequently should you sharpen the manual lawn edger blade? The frequency will depend on how you use the lawn edger. If you use it so often, sharpen it frequently and vice versa. 

According to Kansas State University, you should also consider the following tips while preparing to sharpen your lawn edger blade: 

• Beveling the front edge of a new edger blade for enhanced performance 
• Cleaning the edger blade after using it to get rid of debris or rust 
• Repairing damaged blades using electric grinders
•  Use a file if you don’t have access to an electric grinder. 

2. Beveling the Blade’s Front Edge 

If you bevel the blade’s front edge, you will improve its performance since the soil will easily be pushed onto the edger blade while using less effort. When a sharp tool has a thin cutting edge, it enhances the applied pressure per square inch, thus enhancing its performance.

If you use the lawn edger for light-duty tools, you should ensure that the slope is at a 20-degree angle. For heavy-duty tools, increase the bevel angle. 

Pro Tip: Making your lawn edger blade sharper does not always yield good results. You should strive to maintain the default bevel angle of the blade. Making the bevel angle sharper may weaken the blade’s edge and lead to the blade wearing out within a short period.

3. Cleaning the Blade 

You should always ensure that the blade is well maintained, whether you are planning to sharpen it or not. After use, clean the blade using a scouring pad or stiff brush, then store it. 

Before sharpening, clean it and remove any dust or debris it has developed to ease the sharpening process of the blade. 

How to sharpen your lawn edger blade Using an electric grinder

The best way of sharpening manual lawn edgers or landscaping edgers that look like shovels is by using an electric grinder. 

Pro tip: Though today’s focus is on edgers, you can use the sharpening techniques in this article to sharpen blades of all shovel types and a garden hoe.

You can use an electric grinder like the bench grinder for sharpening purposes. If you are on a budget and looking for a great bench grinder, you can go for the WEN 4280. It is cheaper, has a work light, and is a variable speed grinder. However, if you are more concerned about the power and not the cost, Dewalt DW758 is the best choice. This grinder is powerful and has lesser vibrations compared to other electric grinders. 

While sharpening your lawn edger blade using an electric grinder, you should use the grinder wheel with the fine-tuning feature. If you use the coarse grinder, you can damage the edger blades. 

Follow this step-by-step guide to sharpen your lawn edger blade using an electric grinder:

1. Put on a pair of safety gloves and safety glasses: These will ensure that loose metal filings do not injure your eyes or hands 
2. Clean the blade’s surface to ensure that it has no debris or rust 
3. Take the grinder and use it to sharpen the blade’s edge. Ensure that the bevel angle remains similar to the factory/default edger angle. 
4. As you are sharpening, the blade may overheat. To avoid this, immerse the blade into the water for 5-10 minutes, then take it out once it has cooled off. 
5. Pass the edger blade a few times until it is adequately sharpened.
6. If burrs form while sharpening, use a sharpening stone to clean them off

How to safely sharpen a lawn edger blade Using an Angle Grinder

Besides using a bench grinder for your sharpening purposes, you can use the angle grinder with easier usability. The usability of an angle grinder is brought about by its reduced size, which also makes it very portable.

If you don’t own an angle grinder, you may purchase the Dewalt DWE402. This angle grinder is safe to use, powerful and works efficiently. You can go for the Bosch 1375A, a lightweight and powerful grinder if you are on a budget. 

You should follow the following steps while sharpening the blade using your angle grinder:

1. Ensure that you wear a pair of safety gloves and safety glasses before you start sharpening. 
2. Position a grinding stone disk in the angle grinder
3. Position the grinding stone disk perpendicular to the blade’s thin edge 
4. Pass the angle grinder sideways along the blade’s edge to sharpen and ensure you have leveled out any nicks. 
5. Ensure that the grinder is in constant motion because an angle grinder removes metal very fast. Once you achieve your desired sharpness, stop grinding.

How to Sharpen a Lawn Edger Blade Using a Sharpening File 

If you don’t have access to an angle grinder or electric grinder, you can sharpen using a file and get your lawn edger blade sharp again. Using a standard sharpening file is advantageous because: 

• Sharpening files are less costly, making the sharpening process cheap 
• Sharpening files do not produce sparks, thus keeping you safe 
• You have greater control over the sharpening strokes compared to grinders which have wheels spinning very fast. 

Do you have a sharpening file? If not, I highly recommend you purchase the Rexbeti file set. This set contains 16 sharpening files which you can use to sharpen various tools at home. More so, the set is affordable. 

How do I sharpen using a file? Follow these steps: 

1. Position the lawn edger on a workbench or a vise. Ensure that you hold it in a firm position. 
2. Use the factory angle as your guide while sharpening 
3. Position the file on the blade’s cutting edge and push it forward severally. Don’t push the file backward. 
4. Sharpen the edger blade continuously until there is a blur along the cutting edge. 
5. Get rid of the blur by sharpening the backside of the blade
6. Finish sharpening with multiple strokes on the blade’s beveled side. 

How to Sharpen Rotary Lawn Edgers 

Rotary edgers are designed in a way that the blades are self-sharpening. They have two steel blades that grind the rotary blade teeth while the blade is in motion. 

However, though they are self-sharpening, they may become dull after continued use, leading to poor cutting performance. You should sharpen the rotary blade’s teeth using a file sharpener when this happens. Always ensure that you push the file forward along the blade’s edge and not backward. 

When to replace your lawn edger blade?

Have you sharpened your edger blades, but there is still no improvement in the performance? When this happens, you may need to replace the blades. More so, you may also consider buying another blade if the previous one gets damaged. The damage may have been caused by stones, debris, or rough dirt that came into contact with the blades. 

However, you should not replace blades every time they get slight damages. You should use a sharpening file to smoothen the dents and continue using the blades. If the blade gets totally damaged, it’s time to replace it.

You can search for new blades online and buy the one that suits your needs and budget. However, only purchase when the blade’s performance is poor, even after sharpening or when you need to upgrade your current blades. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I sharpen Black and Decker edger blades?

The Black and Decker trimmer has a 24-inch-long blade made from steel to provide precise trimming for various hedges and shrubs. Though you don’t have to sharpen the blade regularly, it comes at a time when it gets nicked due to extensive use or hitting hard surfaces. 

You can use a round file with fine grit or a sharpening stone to sharpen it when this happens. Use the following steps: 

1. Use soap and water to clean the edger blade, then dry it using a cloth. Alternatively, you can use a soft-bristled brush if the blade is clean but with light debris. 
2. Use the sharpening stone or file to smoothen the nicks and rough spots. Position the file or stone along the blade’s cutting edge and push it forward severally. If you are using the sharpening stone, you can wet it using water, then wipe the blade once you finish smoothening the nicks. 
3. Using a fine-grit round file, sharpen the Black & Decker edger blades using 3-4 strokes following the blade’s original angle. Ensure you sharpen each tooth properly by sharpening both its sides. 
4. Use a soft brush to eliminate debris or dust, then oil the edger blades using water displacement spray. Once done, store the sharpened trimmer.

How often should I sharpen the edger trimmer blades?

You should sharpen the blades periodically after using them for about 50 hours. However, the time depends on the specific edger trimmer you are using. Always read the product’s manual guide to get the specifications of your trimmer. Even if the recommended time before sharpening is 50 hours, you can sharpen it earlier if you feel that it is dull and thus the performance is poor. 

How much do edgers cost?

The cost depends on the type of edger you wish to purchase. You can get a well-performing electric edger for less than $100. If you are looking for gas-powered edgers, you should have a budget of $200 or more. Averagely, most edgers cost between $50 to $300 depending on power, design, and features. 

Conclusion

You need a good-performing lawn edger to achieve an immaculate garden with clear boundaries between your lawn and garden features such as driveways, patios, and flowerbeds. It must be sharp for the edger to perform excellently and create smooth lines. 

To always ensure your lawn edger blades are sharp, use the techniques discussed in this article to sharpen your lawn edger blade. You can use an angle grinder, sharpening file, or electric grinder. 

Always use a lawn edger with sharp blades for the best results and performance.