Can you sharpen spades ?

Tried my friends new spade yesterday and I couldnt believe how blunt mine was next to hers. I sliced through the soil like butter.

So can you sharpen Spades and if so how do you do it.?
Can you take secateurs etc somewhere for sharpening?

 

Yes, I sharpen mine ocasionally.

The blades on modern spades dont taper being all one thickness and therfore dont really self sharpen, even mine which is an expensive hand fordged treaded and steel strapped bulldog.

I use

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/64947/Abrasives/Metal-Cutting-Grinding/Metal-Grinding-Discs/Zirconium-Grinding-Disc-80G-115-x-22mm

In my small angle grinder, a lot easier than a hand file and very good for doing lawn mower blades.

 

My dad used to hand file his old spade to sharpen it. Was pretty old.

 

How old was he BM? :confused:

 

He inhertited my mums dads tools as my grandad died quite young so I imagine the tools were 30 years when he got them in 1977. Wooden handled though so easy to keep and mend. My dad is really ancient, I think he is 63 this year ! :D

 

:D :D :D

 

We all know you came back from egypt an Imortal Shiney

 

BM. That is spelled immoral.

 

It would be hard to resist all those 'Yummy Mummies' :eek: :D

 

Jean, you should be able to buy a secateur sharpener at your local garden centre.

 

quick whipe over the edge wiv an angle grinder should sort ya spade out

 

Try a medium grade file and/or carborundum stone and you'll easily get an edge. If you use an angle grinder you'll end up with a trowel after a couple of years.
Another thing you might try is polishing the spade with medium then fine emery cloth and then rubbing with a candle - this helps stop soil sticking to it. Once you've got a fine surface built up you only need to use fine emery once in a while to maintain it.

 

Dave i feel you underestamate my fav tool . the angle grinder

i am a legend with wot i can do with an agle grinder

 

I've got one too and can use it within about 1mm accuracy and it's a really brilliant tool for lots of work. But for real precision work of less than 1mm I'll stick with hand tools or a Dremel tool.