How to Sharpen a Pruning Saw Safely

The blade of a pruning saw will become dull over time and make the job you are using it for more difficult and time consuming. By sharpening the blade, not only will you make the work go faster, but the cleaner cut will help the tree limbs heal faster. Properly sharpen your pruning saw before each use.

Clean the Saw

Before sharpening, you will need to make sure the saw is clean. Use a stiff brush and soapy water. If there is sap on the saw, use kerosene to clean it off.

Grind the Blades

There are various sharpening tools you can use, but a whetstone is the most common. Get the stone wet with either water or vegetable oil. Press the blade against the concave side of the stone to maintain the correct angle. Without pressing too hard, work the blade in one direction against the stone. Every 10 strokes to the outer bevel, do one to the inner angel as well. You will need to keep adding water or oil. When the saw is uniformly sharp, repeat the process with the finer whetstone.When you are done, add a coat of oil to the saw.