Hoe sharpening

[hamsterqueen]

Not quite sure where to put this question.

How do you sharpen a hoe? Realise that I have had my dutch hoe for over 25 years and never sharpened it, it is pretty useless now.

So, any ideas

OR

if I need to buy one any recommendations?

[rustylady]

Buy an oilstone - available from most hardware shops. Or if it is that bad maybe you could use a metal file.

[hamsterqueen]

TA!

I looked at new ones and they seemed just as blunt and just felt wrong. I'll call in the hardware shop.

[WrexTheDragon]

They should not be blunt.

You can pick up some nice diamond sharpeners for a reasonable price now.

[singleseeder]

I think new hoes are sold blunt (elf'n safety?) but should be sharpened, and kept sharp, for most effective use.

[hamsterqueen]

Have just come back from hardware shop with sharpening stone. £1.99 - bargain!

Much cheaper than new hoe and I have grown used to my old one, we have seen off lot of weeds over the years!

[matthew2riches]

I use an angle grinder to sharpen mine. I also sharpen spades, forks, etc...

A sharp tool is a safer tool

[HeyWayne]

Thank you for reminding me - and sorry to hijack the thread slightly hamsterqueen.

I've been meaning to ask this for ages, but have always forgotten.

My hoe has never been 'sharp' - even when I bought it. It's not so much a 'blade' as an 'edge'.

Should it be really sharp then?

[matthew2riches]

Thank you for reminding me - and sorry to hijack the thread slightly hamsterqueen.

I've been meaning to ask this for ages, but have always forgotten.

My hoe has never been 'sharp' - even when I bought it. It's not so much a 'blade' as an 'edge'.

Should it be really sharp then?

I get mine like a razor blade so it chops trough the lot It'll even chop straight through bramble

[HeyWayne]

I get mine like a razor blade so it chops trough the lot It'll even chop straight through bramble

See, I think that's where I've been going wrong - I seem to have to 'push' my weeds out.

Now, reckon me dad will lend me his angle grinder...?

[hamsterqueen]

just been out weeding after sharpening a second time..

What a revelation

it took much less effort than usual and I have nearly cleared the paths between beds..

i am converted, now off to sharpen my spade.

[matthew2riches]

just been out weeding after sharpening a second time..

What a revelation

it took much less effort than usual and I have nearly cleared the paths between beds..

i am converted, now off to sharpen my spade.

Yey! And Yey again!

[Mac]

Going to get me a sharpening stone.....as I too have been "pushing" weeds around...thanks for the tip.....

[Snadger]

If you garden on sandy soil your hoe will always be sharp!

[Alison]

My hoe has never been 'sharp' - even when I bought it. It's not so much a 'blade' as an 'edge'.

When you think about it, it's not unreasonable to assume that they're how they should be when you buy them and as far as I'm aware they never come with instructions about sharpening before use so how on earth is anybody going to realise this? Personally I have two hoes which are both nice and sharp as I never use either of them and the second onen was only bought as I thought I must be missing out when I didn't find the first one much use.