I know this thread is old, but I'll post this for the benefit of anyone that finds it in a search... I have the Black & Decker Edge Hog and I am waiting for it to die so I can replace it with a gas-powered model. The corded design is fine for smallish yards, and in fact works very well just edging my driveway...but once your range expands, the cord is a major PITA. It gets in your way, it gets hung up on trees/obstacles, and generally just drags the edger as your working it. The problem is, the dang thing is so durable, I'm not sure it's going to die anytime soon, now after 5+ years of use. Maybe I should just unload it on the in-laws.

If they are very old cutters, you'd do best to simply replace them. Most cutting tools, if not cared for properly, will eventually reach a point where a new edge just won't be possible. Next, if they are not bypass cutters - one blade passes the other during the cut - throw them in the trash and get the proper tool. Any trimmer that crushes - anvil-type trimmers - is the wrong tool for the garden. You'll need a flat file. Never use a round one! Cora, that includes the Dremel. Sharpen the cutting edge first - long strokes, one direction. Then the opposite edge to remove any burrs. Don't wait until the tool needs sharpening, do this at least once a month, and oil the trimmers with vegetable oil not 3-in-one or WD40.

All of these responses are great, and I think what you need to take away from this is that there's no *one* process, everyone works differently. As someone who does this kind of professionally, I can tell you that not even trained designers work exactly the same way. Two things to remember....1) there are no hard and fast rules (or, there's an exception to every rule); 2) a good house is never done -- seriously. Also, as many of the others posters said, it's usually easier to start small rather than try to do it all at once. That being said, this is how I work....when I meet a new client, I ask TONS of questions. Like: -What do you like -- not only in terms if the room, but in life in general? I always look at the whole house, even if I'm just doing the bathroom, because you can't judge on the basis of one room. - How do you use the room now? How do you want to use the room? - What needs to stay in the room, and what would you like to disappear? - what colors do you like or hate. - What do other members of the family think about the room (esp DH)? _ Are there any special concerns (allergies, physical issues, etc) or special needs (like the bedroom also has to have the home office, for example)? -What time of day do you normally use the room? How many people are usually in it? (and there are a lot more, but you get the idea) Then I measure *everything*, make note of outlets & fixtures, and take pictures of *everything*. Then I start my floorplan and gather ideas for the large furniture pieces. Every job is different for me because every client is different. Some say right from the get-go "I like a cottage look", and others have no idea except that they don't want blue. For some I can start with an existing piece (carpet or artwork) and for others I start with traffic pattern and room use. Last thing I'll say is talk to everyone -- especially here! There are a wealth of talented, creative people on this forum, and I have yet to be disappointed when I've needed input from these folks. Hth, and good luck! Leigh

Cheers RockPine! Great minds think alike. Just one clarification for those of you using a "sharpening" steel - your knives will cut better when you're done using it but it doesn't sharpen the blade, it realigns the cutting edge and makes it straight. It can't reshape a dull blade that's worn down. A dull blade requires a sharpener that can cut away metal and restore the 20-degree angle of each side of the edge. If all you're using is a steel, you're in for an epiphany if you actually sharpen your blades some day. My mother used to tell me "there's nothing more dangerous in a kitchen than a dull blade," and by that she wasn't referring to a dim chef :)