Sharpening a shovel is funny, right? Who sharpens the shovel, tell me? If the ground is like fluff, then you can dig with a felt boot, but you can’t get into the ancient road, trampled by thousands of feet, spikes and runners, with a felt boot, nor with a sapper! Now, gentlemen, it’s time to drag around a compressor and a team of hard workers in orange sweatshirts. If you find a signal, you whistle, they will instantly hammer it with jackhammers, the main thing is to be careful not to scratch the swag, so what!
Seriously, a shovel needs to be sharpened and it needs to be done wisely, efficiently; a new one needs to be sharpened and then regularly maintained in proper condition, as it is prone to damage and dulling.
If we take the good old shortened “Fiskar” as a basis, then from the factory it already comes with a sharpened “sting,” but this is not even sharpening, and there is no way to cut out the workpiece itself and the required sharpness.
Over the years, the cop tried different methods, but the main thing remained the good old file.
Wanting to speed up the process, I even used a grinder, but this is not at all the same: the disc spins at breakneck speed and it is impossible to sharpen a shovel with it correctly and evenly, traces of the blade being burned are always visible, nicks and burrs appear, and this is not gut.
The ideal tool, of course, would be an emery wheel with a slow rotation speed, such as can be found on special household sharpening machines (one small wheel rotates quickly, and the other, large one, rotates slowly, and some models even have a gearbox to change the speed).
But I don’t have such crap, so I take, as I already said, an ordinary triangular file of fine cross-section and - go ahead! I put the spatula on the table, clamp it with a clamp (if you don’t have one, then just press it with your hand, and if you can reach it, with your knee) and - squeak, squeak, squack, squack. What did you want? No, the twenty-first century has nothing to do with it! Immerse yourself in the moment, feel like a real samurai, charging your sword with the necessary, correct and all-conquering energy!..
What is important to consider. The first is the sharpening side. The shovel is sharpened on the side on which you pull out the soil during digging - in fact, the factory sharpening will tell you this.
The second thing that is very important is to maintain a sharpening angle of approximately 45 degrees. Too much obtuse angle will not allow you to dig hard soils, too sharp will force you to edit and sharpen the shovel too often, since even small stones will cause the blade to bend.
The third thing that is especially important is to ideally maintain the tip of the shovel - the place that is located in the middle of the blade and looks like a corner - it is the one that sticks first into the ground and its condition and sharpening will determine whether you will come home after digging like a squeezed lemon , or you will remain a cucumber...lightly salted.))
What else? Well, as far as sharpening goes, that’s it. And, according to the frequency of “sharpening procedures”. There’s no telling, it all depends on the intensity of your digging - just inspect the blade and as it becomes dull, don’t be lazy, sharpen it!
8-915-420-1941
Online Mozhaisky
Just try to beat off (a shovel) like a scythe, the result will surprise you
Sergey! So, I don’t rip articles off the Internet for myself, but, so to speak, for general development and help forum members, I have a shovel sharpened, lying in the car and rushing into the fields.
Offline Maximys
Just try to beat off (a shovel) like a scythe, the result will surprise you
Sergey! So, I’m not ripping off articles from the Internet for myself, but, so to speak, for general development and to help forum members, I have a shovel sharpened, it’s in the car and rush into the fields.
Hello, Tolya! How are you doing in the fields? Isn't it time to start? Otherwise, all the details have been itching for a long time. I tried to wash myself, but it didn’t help!!!
Summer residents often have a question: how to sharpen a shovel? It can be done different ways subject to availability the necessary tool. However, with any sharpening method there are a few points that must always be observed.
What is the purpose of sharpening shovels?
Sharpening and removing rust from a shovel is necessary to reduce the digging effort by making it easier to enter the ground and trim plant roots. It is worth sharpening the edge even on a new shovel, since they are made by stamping, and the equipment leaves the factory with an unsharpened cutting part.
Sharpening a shovel
Shovel shovels are usually not sharpened; only bayonet shovels require a sharp edge. Domestic tools must be sharpened, including shovels made from so-called “rail” steel. The equipment of many imported manufacturers, such as the popular Fiskars, should not be subjected to this operation, because it is made of steel of a special structure that ensures sharpness for the entire period of operation.
Where to begin
First, before properly sharpening bayonet shovel, it should be cleaned of dirt and rust. You can do this using:
- grinder with wire brush;
- coarse sandpaper;
- metal brushes.
There are also chemical methods rust removal.
Sharpening methods
The shape and principles of sharpening for bayonet equipment with a rectangular or tapering blade do not differ and do not depend on the method of sharpening. When processing, there is no need to shorten the tool blade, but it can be narrowed.
Using a file
Sharpening with a file
This type of sharpening is the most time-consuming and tedious, but has advantages:
- mobility (the file can be easily brought to the country house or to the field);
- does not require electricity;
- metal overheating is excluded;
- It's easy to control the force and get optimal sharpness.
Only the outer edge should be sharpened. First, rough sharpening is done with a coarse file, then using a small tool or an abrasive stone the edge is brought to the desired shape.
Sharpening a shovel using an angle grinder (“grinder”)
Sharpening a shovel using an angle grinder
This method has an undoubted advantage - speed of work. But the level of sharpening provided by a file can only be achieved by qualified master, since it is difficult to sharpen a shovel efficiently using this method. You should use a regular metal disk, the direction of movement is from bottom to top. After machine sharpening, minor flaws will have to be removed with a file.
Important! When sharpening with an angle grinder, a lot of heat is generated. Care should be taken not to overheat the shovel and not to damage the structure of the metal. Otherwise, it will become soft and dull or deformed during use.
How to sharpen a bayonet shovel on an emery machine
The best option for the ratio of quality and speed is an electric emery (preferably with a heavy grinding wheel). Sharpening is done as usual, but you won’t be able to move the tool, so during the process you will have to move the shovel, observing the direction from the edge up. It's great if sharpening machine It has an adjustable rotation speed, since this is how it is more convenient to sharpen a bayonet shovel.
Further care of shovels and their storage
To keep the edges of shovels (and other garden tools such as hoes, forks, etc.) sharp and prevent them from rusting, you should clean them after each use and allow them to dry before storing them in the shed. It is worth remembering that you should not sharpen shovels too often, as this reduces their service life. Tools should be stored in dry conditions, preferably on shelves or racks.
An excellent option is to store household equipment in a bucket with a mixture of sand and mineral oil.
If you do everything as described above, the purchased tools for working in the garden will last a very long time.
A shovel is rightfully considered the most popular and frequently used garden tool. Caring for it is simple, but requires certain skills. Not every gardener knows how to sharpen a shovel correctly. Meanwhile, this matter is simple and not labor-intensive. You just need to familiarize yourself with the rules and features of the process. The issue of preparing and sharpening garden tools is especially relevant at the beginning of the spring season. But even during the operation of the shovel, it has to be adjusted (sharpened) several times.
This can be done with:
- file;
- angle grinder (angle grinder);
- grinding machine.
Types of shovels and features of their choice
The effectiveness of straightening garden tools largely depends on the material from which it is made. There are 3 classes of shovels: gardening, construction, loading and unloading. All of them, according to the shape of the blade, are divided into 2 main types: bayonet and scoop.
Gardening:
- digging;
- excavation;
- universal.
Construction:
- copal pointed;
- digging rectangular;
- selection;
- selection faceted;
- mortar
Loading and unloading:
- sand scoops;
- scoop grains;
- coal;
- metallurgical;
- snow removal
A special type of shovel is sapper shovel. They are similar to a garden bayonet, but have a unique blade shape that allows this tool to be used as a bayonet and shovel. This inventory has standard sizes blades and handles, which are strictly observed during the production of the product. Therefore, a mining shovel can be used as a tool for measuring distances.
Sharpening is required only for those tools that are equipped with a bayonet-shaped blade. Shovels are used primarily for moving bulk materials, therefore, the sharpness of the edge of the metal blade is not so important for them. The success of sharpening a blade largely depends on what material it is made of.
What are shovel blades made from?
Not always the manufacturer of gardening and construction equipment indicates what material it is made of. On shovels it is most often noted that they are made of rail steel (that is, from a rail that has served its purpose).
This material is not bad, but does not provide any guarantee of the quality of the canvas. In most cases, it is used to produce bayonet-type pointed digging shovels.
When choosing a tool, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the blade: it should be at least 2 mm. Optimal thickness cutting edge – 0.5 mm.
It is extremely important that there are no flaws on this part of the blade. It is recommended to choose shovels made from the following materials:
- carbon steel;
- stainless steel;
- alloy steel;
- alloys.
Preparatory stage
It is important to remember one rule: sharpening a shovel should only begin if the blade is securely connected to the handle. This will allow you to avoid injury to your hands during work and perform it efficiently, which is especially important when using power tools. If you decide to sharpen using a grinder, it is recommended to prepare a bench vise, disconnect metal sheet from the handle and securely fasten it between the jaws of the tool. While sharpening, you should not hold the shovel blade with your foot, pressing it against a block or stone: this method of fixation is dangerous.
Protective measures should not be neglected. When working with metalworking tools, glasses and gloves are required. It is recommended to check the integrity electrical cords grinder or sharpening machine. The blade of the shovel is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and wiped with a dry cloth, after which the edge is carefully inspected and the sharpening side is selected. It is best to carry out metal processing from the side on which it was done at the manufacturer.
Knocking the shovel blade
Before sharpening, it is advisable to beat off the metal blade (rivet it, pull it off). This process is similar to beating a braid, but in the case of a shovel it is not performed as delicately.
For this work they previously had on the farm special tools: an anvil (“grandmother”) mounted on a massive block, and a hammer, one side of the head of which is made in the form of a cone.
Today, many craftsmen use improvised tools for beating or completely abandon this preparatory process.
However, it is he who largely determines the correctness and quality of sharpening the shovel. Experts assure that a “pulled” blade is much easier and more convenient to process.
IN modern conditions can be used for beating regular hammer. The process is as follows: the metal blade is “pulled” with light blows of the hammer towards the cutting edge. If you plan to sharpen the side ribs of the shovel, they should also be beaten off.
How to properly sharpen a shovel with a file
The simplest and most commonly used method of sharpening a shovel is filing the cutting edge. Since this method is the most accessible, you should familiarize yourself with all its nuances. Among its advantages are the low cost and small size of the tool, which allows it to be used in field conditions. In addition, when working with a file, it is much easier to control the thickness and uniformity of the metal layer being removed.
The shovel should be sharpened using the side of the file.
Stages of work:
- It is advisable to disconnect the shovel blade from the handle, but this is not absolutely necessary.
- Next, you need to fix the blade in a stationary position. A bench vise is suitable for this purpose. In field conditions, you can use heavy stones or hold the canvas with your foot, pressing it against a strong support.
- Primary metal processing is performed on the front side of the cutting edge using a file with a coarse cut. The direction of hand movements is from the edge of the blade towards the handle.
- Finish sharpening is done with a finely cut file. At this stage, the thickness of the treated surface is adjusted to 0.5-0.6 mm. It is important to endure optimal angle sharpening: 40-45°.
- The height of the cutting edge should not exceed 5 mm.
How to sharpen a shovel with a grinder
When using power tools, you must comply with the safety requirements described above. The main difficulty of this sharpening method is the high probability of overheating of the metal, which leads to a change in its physical and chemical properties.
The blade becomes more flexible and the cutting edge quickly becomes dull. The advantage of this method is that preparing the shovel for further work performed quickly - within 1-2 minutes.
When sharpening a shovel with a grinder, you need to make sure that the material does not overheat.
When working with a grinder, it is difficult to achieve uniform removal of the thickness of the metal.
Moreover, burrs and chips will inevitably form on the edge, which will have to be removed with a file.
Using an angle grinder is the most traumatic way to sharpen a shovel, so you should be extremely careful while working.
Basic rules for the sharpening process:
- the blade is securely fixed in a vice;
- the grinder disk should rotate towards the handle;
- the pressure should be weak and uniform;
- Sharpening of the back side of the blade is performed only for scoop-type shovels.
Sharpening a shovel using a sharpening machine
This method is more acceptable than the previous one, since it allows you to get high quality cutting edge processing. Modern machines are equipped with a disk rotation regulator, which helps to fully control the metal sharpening process.
The most uniform cut is obtained when using massive abrasive wheels. You should start the work with a rougher one and end with a finer notch. The main difficulty of this sharpening method is fixing the blade of the shovel. The use of a bench vice in this case is unacceptable, but modern models The machines are equipped with a special stop that allows you to absorb vibration as much as possible.
When roughing, a layer of metal 0.3-0.4 mm thick is removed. The shovel blade is held at an angle of 40° relative to the rotating emery wheel. Make smooth movements with your hands in the direction of the edge (up and down). Finishing is carried out until the tip thickness reaches 0.5 mm. Upon completion of the sharpening process on the machine, the edge is refined with a finely cut file.
A shovel is an indispensable tool when solving a large number of problems, especially in agriculture. But with frequent use, it can become dull, and therefore the work process will slow down significantly and become more complicated. It is still possible to solve this problem, but to do this you need to sharpen the shovel. And we will look at how to do this correctly in this article.
Shovel sharpening options
Before you begin the sharpening process itself, you also need to clean the surface of the shovel from any soil stuck to it, as this may complicate further sharpening.
To sharpen a shovel, you can use one of the following tools:
- File;
- Bulgarian;
- Emery machine;
How to sharpen a shovel with a file?
The oldest and traditional method of processing the surface of a shovel is sharpening with a file. The undeniable advantages of a file are its small size and low cost, which is why it can be found in almost every home. In addition, the working edge of the tool processed with a file is obtained excellent quality.
Sharpening a shovel with a file should be done along the front part of the edge While working with a file, you can also control the thickness of the metal layer being removed, and this in turn will allow you to maintain the thickness along the frontal and lateral planes.
Another advantage is that when sharpening with a file, the surface does not overheat, which could change the physical Chemical properties metal And because of this, the shovel will become dull much more often.
How to sharpen?
When sharpening a shovel with a file, to ensure its immobility, we need to fix its blade. For these purposes, you can use a bench vice. However, it is also not recommended to tighten them too much, as this may damage the stamped blade.
Next, take a file with a large notch and begin processing the front part of the edge. In this way we carry out the first rough processing of the product. It is recommended to sharpen the shovel only on the front side of the cutting part. But we move the file from the edge of the blade towards the handle.
Next, we need a file with a fine notch, with which we perform fine sharpening. Using this file, we adjust the surface to be treated to a thickness of 0.5 - 0.6 mm. At the same time, to preserve the metal from premature abrasion, it is recommended to perform work at an angle of 40 - 45 degrees. The width of the processed edge should not exceed 5 mm.
During the work, it is also necessary to ensure that there are no thin areas, since such areas quickly become dull, which is why the shovel will fail prematurely.
How to sharpen a shovel with a grinder?
Thanks to modern power tools, the process of sharpening agricultural tools has become significantly easier. For these purposes, you can use a grinder or a regular grinder.
Using such devices, you can sharpen a shovel blade in 1-2 minutes. But at the same time, this must be done extremely carefully, since if sharpened incorrectly, the metal can overheat. And this in turn will lead to a change in the structure of the metal, that is, the metal becomes soft.
When sharpening a shovel with a grinder, you need to monitor the temperature - it is unacceptable for the metal to overheat. This quality is unacceptable for a cutting edge, as it will bend and quickly become dull.
In this case, you will have to process the surface of the shovel quite often, which can lead to its rapid abrasion. It is possible that you will not be able to work with such a shovel even for one season.
Since the rotation speed of the disc on a grinder is quite high, it will be quite difficult to achieve a uniform edge thickness. Consequently, the cut of the shovel will be of poor quality, which will make further work more difficult.
In addition, burrs and chips that are created due to the high processing speed can lead to injuries.
How to sharpen?
But if you decide to sharpen a shovel with a grinder, you need to do it extremely carefully. We fasten the shovel in a vice, and hold the sharpening tool so that the disk rotates towards the handle. Only the front part is processed, and the processing direction should be from bottom to top. We sharpen the back part of the working element only with shovels.
In order not to get too thin an edge of the surface being processed, do not press too hard on the grinder.
How to sharpen a shovel with an emery machine?
An electric sanding machine has the most optimal processing speed, which allows the cutting part to be processed with sufficient quality. Modern sanding machines have smooth stroke adjustment, so you can get the optimal rotation speed of the sanding wheel.
To obtain a more uniform surface of the cutting part, heavy abrasive wheels should be used. Wheels of this type are less susceptible to vibrations and vibrations during operation. Consequently, it is possible to obtain a more accurate amount of the removed layer.
For better sharpening, the workpiece must also be firmly secured. IN in this case, the vice will no longer fit. But as a rule, modern emery tools have special stops that make it possible to minimize vibrations of the workpiece.
How to sharpen?
First of all, rough processing of the edge of the part is carried out. To do this, remove to a thickness of 0.3 - 0.4 mm upper layer metal Thanks to this operation, it is possible to eliminate all mechanical damage that may occur during the operation of the tool.
After this (relatively abrasive wheel and at an angle of 40 degrees) we turn the workpiece and make uniform translational movements up and down. We carry out the processing until we achieve a thickness of the remaining layer of 0.5 mm. To prevent the metal from overheating during processing, its surface should be watered.
In this case, “tarnish” colors will appear on the material being processed, which should not be alarmed. This is due to the physical and chemical effect on the metal.
After finishing work on the machine, we begin to adjust the part, which can be done with an ordinary file with a fine notch. Thanks to this procedure, it will be possible to remove defects that appeared as a result of processing (burrs, chips, tears, etc.). Otherwise, garden tools will quickly fail.
Working shovel handle
A properly sharpened shovel is not the only factor that will make the work easier. The handle of the instrument also plays an important role. Its length must correspond to the height of the employee. A shorter lever can cause fatigue quickly. It is convenient only when digging narrow holes and wells. Ideally, the total length of the shovel with the handle should reach the worker’s shoulder.
It is recommended to make it from hard wood (birch, oak, etc.), from even stem trees of 5-7 years of age. You can, of course, use soft woods (aspen, alder) for these purposes, but such a cutting will not last long.
Storage
A shovel is an indispensable tool that helps in solving a large number of tasks, especially in agriculture. But with frequent use, the shovel can become dull, which complicates its further use. Will help solve this problem correct sharpening shovels.
To sharpen a shovel, the first step is to clean its surface from any soil stuck to it. This earth will complicate further sharpening.
You can sharpen a shovel with the following tools:
- file;
- grinder;
- emery machine.
Sharpening with a file
The oldest and traditional method surface treatment of the shovel is sharpening with a file. The undeniable advantage of the file is its small size and low price, which allows you to always have it at hand. In addition, its use allows you to obtain a working edge of an excellent quality tool. While working with a file, you can always control the thickness of the metal layer being removed, which will help maintain its uniform thickness along the front and side planes.
There is no overheating when using a file metal surface, which can change its physical and mechanical properties. This, in turn, can cause the shovel to become dull frequently.
Sharpening a shovel with a file should be done along the front part of the edge.
In order to sharpen a shovel using a file, it is necessary to fix the blade so as to ensure its immobility. Best for these purposes suitable use bench vice. But you should not tighten the vice too much, otherwise you may damage the stamped blade.
After this, you need to take a file with a large notch and process the front part of the edge. In this way, the first rough processing of the product is performed. The shovel should be sharpened only on the front side of the cutting part. Movements with the file should be made from the edge of the blade towards the handle.
The next step is to arm yourself with a file that has a fine notch. It will help you perform a fine sharpening. Using such a file, it is necessary to adjust the surface being processed to a thickness of 0.5-0.6 mm. In this case, work should be performed at an angle of 40-45 degrees, which will preserve the metal from premature abrasion. The width of the processed edge should not be more than 5 mm.
During this process, thin areas are not allowed to appear, which will then quickly become dull and lead to rapid failure of the shovel.
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Sharpening with a grinder
When sharpening a shovel with a grinder, you need to monitor the temperature - it is unacceptable for the metal to overheat.
The use of modern power tools makes it possible to simplify and automate the procedure for sharpening agricultural tools as much as possible. The easiest way to do this is Sander or an ordinary grinder.
Using these devices, you can prepare a shovel blade for work within 1-2 minutes. But at the same time, turning using such methods must be carried out very carefully so as not to cause overheating of the metal.
Overheating causes the structure of the metal to change and become soft. This quality is unacceptable for a cutting edge, since it will bend and quickly become dull.
In this case, you will have to very often resort to the procedure for treating the surface of the shovel, which will lead to rapid abrasion and will render it inoperable within 1 season of operation.
Since the grinder has a high speed of rotation of the disk, it is impossible to achieve uniform edge thickness. As a result, the cut of the shovel will be of poor quality, which will make further work more difficult.
Moreover, at high processing speeds, a large number of burrs and chips will be created, which can lead to injuries during operation.
But if you decide to use an angle grinder, you need to carefully monitor the speed of its operation during the process. The shovel must be secured in a vice and held sharpening tool so that its disk rotates towards the handle. Only the front part needs to be processed, and the processing direction should be from bottom to top. Sharpening the back of the working element should only be done with shovels.
The pressure of the grinder on the part being processed should be light so as not to get too thin an edge part.
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Using an Emery Machine
An electric sanding machine has the most optimal processing speed, which allows you to obtain high quality processing of the cutting part. Modern sanding machines have smooth adjustment stroke, which allows you to achieve the optimal rotation speed of the sanding wheel.
In order to achieve the most uniform processing of the cutting part, heavy abrasive wheels should be used. Such a circle will be less susceptible to vibrations and vibrations during operation. This quality of the wheel will allow you to achieve the exact size of the removed layer.
To achieve high-quality performance of the sharpening process, it is necessary to firmly fasten the workpiece. A vice is not suitable for use in this case. All modern emery tools must have a special stop that allows you to minimize vibrations of the workpiece.
The first step is to rough the edge of the part. To do this, it is necessary to remove the top layer of metal to a thickness of 0.3-0.4 mm. This operation is necessary in order to eliminate all mechanical damage that occurs during the operation of the tool.
Next, you need to turn the workpiece at an angle of 40 degrees relative to the abrasive wheel and make uniform translational movements up and down. Treatment should be carried out until the thickness of the remaining layer is 0.5 mm. To avoid overheating of the shovel, water should be poured onto its surface during processing. In this case, “tarnish” colors should appear on the material. There is no need to be afraid of this: this is due to the physical and mechanical effect on the metal.
Having finished working on the machine, you should move on to fitting the part. It is performed using a regular file with a fine notch. This procedure will eliminate any processing defects that have appeared (chips, burrs, tears, etc.). If this is not done, the garden tools will fail after a few days of use.
