Do you know how to sharpen Stihl hedge trimmer blades? Ending up with a sharpened Stihl hedge trimmer blade is possible, but you must know the proper procedure to carry out the sharpening task.
A Stihl hedge trimmer blade is excellent for removing unwanted branches or cleaning the bush area in your backyard. However, we recommend using this deadly-looking trimmer blade with necessary safety precautions because, with one wrong step, it can cut your fingers like a toothpick.
That said, let’s guide you through the steps you should follow while sharpening a hedge trimmer blade.
How To Sharpen Stihl Hedge Trimmer Blade?
Before proceeding, make sure you have all the Stihl hedge trimmer sharpening tools that are mentioned below available to you:
Consider how you can best protect yourself before you start to sharpen the hedge trimmer blade. To avoid such hazardous situations, use gloves that are made of durable materials, and wear safety eyewear. Also, make sure that the tool doesn’t slip when sharpening it.
Apart from this, do you want to know about all the Stihl hedge trimmer lubricants you can use besides Stihl lubricant?
Let’s start-
1. Clean Your Blade Teeth
Pour some water Stihl resin solvent all over the hedge trimmer blade to dissolve any dirt accumulating on the blade surface.
After that, use a soft fabric cloth to wash the dissolved dirt from the blade for a shiny look.
2. Use Flat Files To Sharpen The Blades Of The Hedge Trimmer
A flat file is an essential tool for sharpening a hedge trimmer blade. With this tool, you can account for a longer cutting performance from your trimmer blades.
There are some tips you should keep in mind while using flat files. This tool works in the same direction. Therefore, you should apply the pressure in that one way towards your cutting edge.
If you set up a side-by-side motion, you will end up with blunt trimmer blades rather than sharpening them. You should also be careful about not applying too much pressure on the blades.
Due to the greater amount of friction, the sharpening might hamper an abrasion limit, which is about 5 mm, of the blade. This will make the blade unsuitable to use for any cutting application.
3. Remove Side Debris With The Whetstone
After you’re done with the sharpening, it’s time to clear off any debris that might result from the one-directional stroke of the flat file. The best way to clean that debris and give your blades a nice finishing is to use a whetstone.
Now, you need to turn the trimmer on the blade’s rear side to work and moisten them lightly as you go.
Next, rub the blades over the whetstone to smooth the roughened surface as you go with a gentle swiping motion towards the tip.
4. Giving a Finishing Touch After You’re Done With Sharpening
Now, all that is left is to give the blades of the hedge trimmer a nice wash before you can use them to cut branches again. Again, you can use the resin solvent as the spraying will give a protection layer from all the rust.
We won’t suggest you dry wash the blade using a can of compressed air because it contains a greater source of oxygen which might trigger the corrosion process.
There are mainly two common types of blades of the hedge trimmer- electric and gas. Therefore, cleaning them on your own won’t be a burden on the expenses.
The cost to sharpen hedge trimmer blades falls in the range of $15 – $30 in the case of electric hedge trimmers. If the tool is a gas hedge trimmer, the expense range falls between $6 and $10.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you sharpen hedge clippers?
Yes! Hedge clippers are very easy to sharpen if you know the correct procedure. In short, you’ll need flat files, whetstone, and the proper resin solvent to carry out the task.
Can you sharpen a hedge Stihl trimmer?
You can either sharpen the blades of the hedge trimmer or seek some help from a professional. Our suggestion will be if you don’t know the necessary steps and the safety precautions, it’s better to get the work done by an expert.
Do I need to sharpen my hedge trimmer?
Yes! A blunt hedge trimmer will slow down your every cutting task, and the cutting edges won’t generate a good finishing. Based on the usage level, we recommend sharpening the hedge trimmer every 50 hours before the next cutting task.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to sharpen Stihl hedge trimmer blades take all the safety measurements before you perform one.
Not everyone is skilled enough to sharpen the blades of the hedge trimmer. Therefore, there’s no shame in calling for expert help. We hope this article came in handy for you, and don’t forget to mention it to other hedge trimmer owners.