What is the best way to clean garden tool before putting them away?

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Especially, the metal tools like spades, pruning scissors, etc. which may have some rust. Is there a way I can sharpen their edges myself?
Reply:Normally, yes. It is easy when the tool blade has a flat side and a ground side. |\       | \      <------This would be the ground side. On the flat side, I use a knife sharpening stone to just flatten out any dings in the edge. I do this with the flat edge, flat on the stone and just make small circles.On the ground edge, match the angle and clean the edge with the stone, just like you were going to shave the stone with the tool. Then a coat of light oil, that's it.The trick is when the cutting edge has complex curves, then it is a matter of finding the right sharpening tool to match the contour, perhaps a small, round file? But I always try to use a knife stone, especially on the flat side.Last edited by tanglediver; 08-23-2008 at 08:49 PM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:re: cleaning the garden toolsTake a 5 gallon bucket or a tub or a whatever, fill it with dry sand, add a little motor oil.Then knock off most of the dirt/crud/whatever, and then you plunge the tool into the oily sand a few times.  The sand knocks off the rest of the crud, and you are left with a clean and lightly oiled tool blade.To sharpen the edges of a shovel/hoe/trowel/etc, use a file or a sharpening stone and follow the original edge shape/angle.  For 'real' shears, it's the same idea but you have to keep the angles more consistent and the flat part flat.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:If you are finished with your tools for the season, they should be wiped to remove sand dirt and chemicals, then lightly oiled to keep them from rusting. I use a file to touch up the edges on my hoe and shovel, but I'm sure if I did it on the bench grinder, I would have a better edge. Be sure to re-oil after sharpening. I also keep a five gallon bucket just inside the door of my garden shed with sand 3/4 full. I poured a quart of motor oil in the sand and mixed a little bit. When I'm finished with a spade or my pruning scissors, I put them in the sand before hanging them up or storing them. It removes the dirt and lightly oils them so they last longer. Good luck on the garden.Aluminium Greenhouses
Reply:I try not to use the garden tools, that way they stay nice and clean .AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:And get a wire brush, for knocking off the big stuff before trying to sharpen. Then I just spray with WD40.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Im left wondering if this is a joke, why would a guy register on a welding forum and his first question is about cleaning garden tools.On the plus side I learned a few ways to clean my garden tools so even if it was a joke it had some benefit.
Reply:WD40 or some kind of penetrating oil
Reply:Originally Posted by 737mechanicIm left wondering if this is a joke, why would a guy register on a welding forum and his first question is about cleaning garden tools.On the plus side I learned a few ways to clean my garden tools so even if it was a joke it had some benefit.
Reply:Ahhh, but because -I- have a welder, I was able to take a barely-used (the factory lacquer on the blade was still intact!) square-point fiberglass long-handle shovel with a cracked blade that someone threw out and weld the blade back together.  I just want to smooth out the weld bead a bit with a flap disc and then the shovel goes back into service, with me!Cost: free shovel, some time, some gas, some L-56 wire, and having a welder ($).Showing my wife the fixed up shovel (for free!  not counting the time, gas, wire, and welder): Priceless.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...