A few minutes’ work with a file can make many garden tools, especially shovels, much easier to use. The same goes for axes, hoes, and garden trowels. All of these tools are meant for slicing, and a sharp edge always slices more effectively than a dull one.
Sharpening these tools is easy with the right file—a coarse, “mill bastard” file. Mill files have flat surfaces on both sides; bastard, in this context, describes the degree of coarseness. A 10-inch file is a good length for sharpening most garden tools. With the blade of the tool held pointing upward in a vise or clamped to the side of a workbench, use firm strokes to create a sharp edge with an angle of about 45-degrees from square. Any pointier than this and the edge won’t last long before needing to be resharpened. Any blunter and the tool won’t slice well.
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Use firm pressure on the file, but only as you push away from yourself to shape the steel on the tool edge. On the return stroke, lift the file from the metal. This keeps the teeth sharp longer. After you’ve finished sharpening, protect your garden tools with a coat of double-boiled linseed oil, available at hardware stores. Rub an even coat on all metal and wood surfaces, then let the tool sit for three or four days. Don’t worry—your tools won’t feel slippery or greasy. Linseed oil hardens (slowly) in contact with oxygen to create an effective and long-lasting barrier against rust.
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This article was originally published in the March/April 2022 issue of Cottage Life.
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