Sharpening and Maintaining Your Tools Workshop at Mara Tui, Kerikeri

I’ve always wanted to know how to keep my tools sharp so when Transition Towns had a workshop for just this, I jumped at the opportunity!

Held at Mara Tui community gardens in Kerikeri, we drank fresh Kawakawa tea and learned how to care for our tools. Alex, who also volunteers his German engineering skills at the monthly Kerikeri Repair Café, got us in the zone by explaining how different cutting tools work and to “be one with your tools”. This understanding and way of thinking will hopefully stop me using my cutting tools the wrong way and forcing them to do what they were never designed to do! (See previous blog about my loppers needing straightening.)

We used this simple little tool, with the fancy name of tungsten carbide blade sharpener, to sharpen the blades. The angle is important, and so is the presence of teeth on the blade.

My spade needed the help of an angle grinder, but it was actually very quick and simple to perform. I’ll not be nervous to do that in the future.

Protecting from rust is simple, any oil or grease will do. CRC is great for loosening stuck blades, springs, etc, but not so much for protection. WD40 or other spray or rub on oils are the choice for this. A quick spray after every use before being put away is Alex’s recommendation, along with a greasy rag in a sealed container for easy use.