It is extremely important to get the angle right, which is why I don't sharpen them myself. The local cooking store will do it for about $5, so they get the privilege. There are little jigs that hold the blade at the right angle. I've never changed the blade. If you get them professionally sharpened, the sharpener guy should have an opinion.

We have gotten our knives done at Sur La Table, but the only trouble with getting our pruners sharpened that way, is that during the growing season, they are getting a lot of use and need sharpening often. Sometimes daily. I thought that was true for everyone?

I have seen those 'jigs' that hold it at the right angle, but whenever I see an article on sharpening, or someone at a garden center explains how to sharpen, they never suggest using these, so I guess I've figured, they are not effective. I'd love to see a Poll on how many gardeners are sharpening their own pruners and other tools. [g]

I occasionally take my small hand trimmers and all the household shears in to a local gardening center/ grain store that sharpens them. (In fact they badly need a trip to the sharpeners this year.) I'm afraid my long handled and short handled pruners have never been sharpened, but I do occasionally spray their joints and blades with WD40 to keep them operational and to allay rust.

Kitchen knives I sharpen myself with a whetstone or knife sharpener. I once attempted to sharpen a pair of cheap scissors, and did improve them somewhat, but I would hesitate to try it on a more valuable pair of shears, garden or household. As others said, getting the angle right is tricky.

Master Gardener Sharpens Blade

We've always done it ourselves with a diamond stone. Nothing to be afraid of, just follow the existing angle.

You’re doing well to sharpen your own Kitchen Knives, Spedigrees! My loppers stay sharp a long time, because I just don’t use them all that often, but the pruners are in my pocket every day being used for something. WD40 - is the oil you use. I’ve heard that before. Someone suggested Vegetable spray oil too.

Jane, thanks for that link. I just watched it. Interesting that he used Scrubbing Bubbles to clean them up. And I liked that he demonstrated three different types of sharpening tools.

That’s interesting what you said, about following the existing angle. I hadn’t thought of that, but that makes sense.

Thank you all.