Sharpen Pruners (Bypass Pruners & Loppers)

Whether pruning or for propagation, your plants will benefit from clean, sharp blades. This video will cover basic sharpening, disinfection and tightening adjustment for bypass pruners (secateurs) and loppers, particularly those styled after the Felco models. I use a carbide sharpener because it's fast and relatively easy. I clean with household hard surface cleaners like Lysol or Clorox wipes (but not with bleach).
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[@cindyl3916]

I like rubbing alcohol for cleaning tools. Works good on a lot of things. Especially sticky residue.

[@bryan3550]

Great stuff, Jason. Felcos are just a pleasure to work on... I must concede that I go the whole hog and completely disassemble them when servicing. But even cheap secateurs can be given a new life too: can't stand folk throwing things away unnecessarily! Totally recommend WD40 and I use bicycle chain dry lube inside the fulcrum joint to keep things smooth. 😉

[@VelvetandToads]

Best, most concise pruner sharpening video out there!

[@jrcastillo2824]

Well done, direct and to the point

[@mikeq6384]

Great instructional video, going out to clean and sharpen my bypass pruners ! Thanks Jason

[@stevenread1094]

Thank you Jason for another timely, helpful video. You're reminding me of the jobs I need to finish (soon).

[@Tarot_Time_with_Belle]

So informative. Thank you!! I’ve struggled with other videos giving differing advice on sharpening etc. Could you please do a video showing how to take apart the felco and deep clean?

[@elenarepka]

Helpful to see that I don't need to disassemble my Felco pruners to clean and sharpen. Have been doing it, but always resent the re-assembly! :) Thanks!

[@Combatpzman]

This is a good video. I use a little carbide sharpener on my F8, and Felco oil/cleaning spay. Not cheap, but it also helps to stop rust, and that little bottle seems to last a long time.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

It's good point about the oil - and I know the tool makers recommend a "real" lubricant instead of WD40, so I definitely wouldn't argue against it. I find that I'm dealing with so wet material (plant sap and just our general climate) that a good spray and clean with WD40 keeps my (old) pruners corrosion free and moving freely. It's been over 10 years, and I'm pretty sure I haven't even replaced the spring yet.

[@Combatpzman]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm No argument from me. I use cheap pruners and hedge trimmer spray on my commercial pruners. I only baby my home tools with the expensive stuff. I'm also in the Fraser Valley, so I know the weather all too well.

[@ugtitto2654]

I’ve rusted my tools overnight by using a diluted bleach solution. I feel so stupid. Thanks for another great video.

[@matadaniel6520]

Thank you Jason as always your videos have such good info/content 👍

[@gwbuilder5779]

Excellent tips Jason. I remember an individual who tried to tell me the pruners needed to be disassembled and sharpened from the flat side. While I actually have resurfaced a pair of 75 year old Princeton bypass shears to restore the mating surfaces, definitely never to sharpen any bypass tools. I use motorcycle clutch cable spray with silicone (not chain lube), a tiny bit works very well for the pivot and spring steel coil.

[@jamestaylor8217]

Good UNIQUE video. Thank you. Jim

[@chitracoulton7926]

Very helpful tips ,thanks for sharing,

[@KosmicKaren]

This was informative. Thank you. I just bought some Felcos from David Austin, and I gotta admit, I like the unlocking mechanism on my Corona shears I got from HD much better than the Felcos.

[@annieyue9184]

Thank you for the useful information.

[@hisherbs8538]

Yay tools. Great explanation and good details. Thanks gromie

[@capbin146]

WD40 what a product! Had a problem for years with a garage door before I thought of WD bang no problem. Help I’ve been using the rounded edge of the carbide sharpener, What’s it for. Small garden so I’m hibernating with the plants. 👍

[@johnman559]

I prefer fine sandpaper, it cleans the face of the blade too👍

[@agnescarbone6815]

Thank you so much for this video .

[@suerodgers8922]

Thank you❤

[@l.medina6251]

Good tutorial! Thank you!!

[@JLWTH]

Thank you on the how to sharp part, I guess that's why my pruner was ruined because I tried to polish the wrong side of blade. However minor but could be important suggestion here. Use WD-40 to clean out rust and dirt, wipe it clean then use vegetable oil or lubricant for such purpose. WD-40 can be a problem as a lubricant in a long run (sometimes short.) I learned it a hard way :(

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks J L. You could definitely add a true lubricant after cleaning with WD40, but I've never found it necessary. Because I'm using the pruners so frequently with plant sap, soil and moisture my main concern is to clean and keep the moisture (thus corrosion) off. The lubricating effects are pretty short-lived - and there's a whole list of applications where it wouldn't be appropriate (drive chain, gears, hinges - where true long-term lubrication is required), but because you wouldn't use pruners for long without cleaning, disinfection and the WD40 treatment, I've never seen a need.

[@JLWTH]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm I see. Thanks, it's good to know so :) You are the best !

[@bartb217]

I got a Felco 2 as a Chritmas present, So thanks for the good tips, to keep it in prefect shape. BTW, it will take some getting use to it, it is a lot bigger than my old pruners. It is impossible to keep all my fingers on both the handles when it is fully opened and I don't have small hands.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks Bart. It does take a bit of getting used to - and because they use a thicker blade than the knock-offs, the Felcos are a bit heavier too. I don't think about it anymore, but I can definitely feel the difference when I pick up a less robust pruner now.

[@hollycurtis5267]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm I’m about to attempt a rejuvenation of two sets of found pruners (I think over 100 years old)…gottem when inheriting my folks’estate…any idea of Felco ever had handles that weren’t red? I’m going to start removing the rust with steel wool-I was about to buy myself Felco’s for Xmas but put it off until I figure out what I’ve got-if anything!

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

That's a great project! A quick soak in regular household vinegar after disassembly can really help with rust removal. I'm not sure if Felco ever produced pruners without their distinctive red handles.

[@Moh_432]

very informative,thanks!

[@ankita3214]

Likely video jason sir 👍

[@sloppydoggy9257]

I like the note on oiling them, but I prefer food grade lubricants such as super lube or mineral oil. Even better a natural oil such as jojoba oil.

[@breakingburque2200]

Having clean sharp blades is one of the most important part of pruning. I’ve seen so many plants ruined by gross dirty pruners.

[@gigartina]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

I had no idea about a bleach solution causing corrosion. It's often suggested that pruners need to be disinfected between cuts on different plants. So I often have a bowl with water and bleach when I'm in the garden. What should be used instead?

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Lots of different options. Lysol spray might be my first choice if I didn't mind lugging around the can. Disinfectant wipes use the same ingredients and can be pretty handy. I also use a horticultural disinfectant called Virkon (mixed with water from a powder, so you'd use it like your bleach solution)

[@marmaladesunrise]

Nice!

[@wayneessar7489]

The Felco company has their own videos if folks want to make their tools look new again, the supplies needed are things like steel wool or scotchbrite pads, a pair of small metric wrenches and some grease. Also all parts are available for Felco's.

[@hollycurtis5267]

Glad to read this-I just found a couple of very old/antique pruners that I think my dad’s dad gave him (and dad is 88-so I think they are over 100!)-not sure if they are Felco’s or not but the steel wool is what I was thinking might reveal their brand. They are from the UK most likely as that is where dad’s folks hailed from. Wish me luck! (And thanks for the tip re Felco site)

[@wayneessar7489]

@@hollycurtis5267 Steel wool is great on aluminum handles and parts, they will look brand new. A brass brush like used on suede leather is another cleaning tool that will not scratch steel.

[@MemeScreen]

I know WD-40 is great, but if it’s just normal WD-40, it’s a degreaser. It will not properly lubricate anything. I think you already know that so after you use it, wipe it off and use some penetrating oil. 👍

[@yonokzeller5402]

🙏🙏🙏

[@davidjamgochian]

Calgary Flames 1 - 4 Tampa Bay Lightning "Go Bolts"!!!

[@angelaobrien7698]

Thanks so much for the video. I have been sharpening my secaters all wrong. But now thanks to you I am on the right track.

[@정영준-d3s]

자막땜에 영상을 볼수가없으니 갑갑하 군요

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

미안합니다. 브라우저에서 캡션 기능을 끌 수 있어야 합니다.