How to Sharpen a Pole Saw Blade – 3 Effective Ways

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First things first, what is a pole saw blade? A pole saw blade is a saw blade installed at the end of a pole.

It is very efficient when pruning higher tree branches which make working simpler and quicker. So here’s the question, what happens when your saw blade gets dull?

The blade won’t perform efficiently. You will work at a deficient speed because of the sawdust formed on it.

When this happens, do not throw the blade away; instead, you can choose to sharpen the saw blades yourself. So how do you sharpen a saw blade?

Below you will find the different ways on how to sharpen a pole saw blade. Whether you are a beginner or not, you can master these simple ways at the first try.

Of course, there are different things you will need when sharpening a pole saw blade. These will entirely depend on the type of tool you choose to use.

How To Sharpen A Pole Saw Blade

The Tools You Can Use To Sharpen A Pole Saw Blade Include:

  • A file.
  • A sharpening rod (whetstone, diamond, or ceramic rods are highly recommended.
  • A grinder.
  • And always have a table vice regardless of the tool you are using.

The very first thing you must do is to clean the blade before you start sharpening it. You can use a brush wire to clean off the tree Debris as well as the dust.

In case there is any oil build up on the blade, use a right degreaser product to do away with the oil.

When using a degreaser, mix it in water in a clean container and then place the blade inside. Leave it to soak for a few minutes.

Once it has soaked well, scrub it with a rug. Rinse it well and leave it to dry for a while. If you are in a hurry, you can choose to wipe the water off the blade using a clean rug.

3 Super Effective Method To Sharpen A Pole Saw Blade

Method: 1) How to Sharpen a Pole Saw Blade Using a File and a Sharpening Rod

In this method, you will learn how to sharpen a saw blade by hand. Several sharpening rods are available on the market to choose from.

First, we can see how to sharpen using a file. Files can be used if the blades are smooth.

Step 1. Secure The Pole Saw Blade

Place the blade of the saw in a table vice. Make sure that you keep the edge face up and then secure the blade tightly so as it doesn’t slip off and cut your hand.

Using the control rope, pull the pole saw, and make sure it is in an open position. With that, fasten it in place that it remains open.

Step 2. File The Beveled Blade

Start by sharpening blade from the back of the bevelled. The bevelled of a blade is the surface it has been ground to form the edge.

Start filing the edge of the Beveled, pushing the file to the teeth.

Note: Don’t move the file back and forth instead strike the blade continuously moving your hand in one direction. This will help prevent the blade from getting textured, making the blade duller.

It is advisable to file in the direction off your body to avoid accidents.

Once the back teeth are done, proceed to the front teeth and file. Endeavor to sharpen the top edges as well by brushing the file front-to-back striking the whole cutting surface.

File the end of the blade how to make it Sharp and smooth.

Step 3. File The Saw Blade

In this step, you will learn how to sharpen saw teeth. Grab a small round metal file to sharpen the saw blade.

You will have to be extra careful so that your hand does not land on the saw teeth.

Each Sawtooth features around and straight edge with the metal file, file on round edge while moving your hand in one direction.

Step 4. Oil The Pole Saw Blade

Once you are through with sharpening, ensure to apply oil on all the joints of the pole saw. This will help you cut and prune tree branches neatly and fast.

Method: 2) Using A Sharpening Rod

Step 1. Clamp The Blade

Have the blade clamped on a table vice having the serrated edge facing up.

Step 2. Position The Rod Correctly

Place the sharpening rod in the groove in the middle of two teeth. Pushing the rod forward, file away the metal so to sharpen the blade.

Continue doing this up to three to six times until you see a burr of curled metal fillings formed on the back of the blade.

Rub the sharpening rod against the back of the blade to do away with the burrs. Make sure that all the burrs fall off with just one or two passes.

Step 3. Lubrication

After you are through with sharpening, coat the blade edges by spraying lubricating oil to prevent the blade from rusting.

Step 4. Ensure Regular Maintenance

If you don’t like frustrating work, then you need to carry out regular maintenance on your pole saw blade.

Also, if you are to do lots of trimming and cutting using this tool, you can always carry a few files just to save you time in case the blade gets dull with all the pruning.

Method: 3) How to Sharpen a Pole Saw Blade with a Grinder

An angle grinder can be used to sharpen a pruning saw. It is faster and more efficient than a hand file. You can use a grinder to sharpen a pole saw blade in the following steps.

Step 1. Remove The Blade From The Pole

In this method, you must detach the blade from the pole before you start sharpening with a grinder.

Remember to wear safety gear like goggles, helmet, gloves, and a long-sleeved shirt during the whole process.

Loosen the bolt and free the blade. In case it is a little complicated can use the buying guide and see how safely you can remove the blade.

Step 2. Secure The Blade

Once you remove the blade, clamp the blade on to a workbench secure it tightly. Make sure to identify the angle that you will use before you start sharpening.

This is important for the grinding disc to be aligned with the angle of the blade.

Note. Don’t apply a lot of pressure while sharpening because it will cause overheating in the process.

Step 3. Check Your Work

To avoid over-sharpening, check the progress after every strike on the blade. Always sharpen the blade, ensuring that all sides are equally balanced.

Keep doing this until you are sure the blade is sharp enough.

Step 4. Place Back The Blade On The Pole

After sharpening the blade, place it back on the pole correctly and carefully to avoid any accidents or injuries.

Once you are through, you can go ahead and start trimming your tree branches.

Guidance And Tips

  • Select a sharpening Rod that will fit the groves of the pole saw blade perfectly. You should know that a very large Rod will take off a lot from the teeth is the blade well as a small Rod, will not effectively make contact with the teeth of the blade to give you the best sharpening.
  • We suggest you try a Whetstone file and a diamond file. This is because these have an excellent capability to sharpen your pole saw blade.
  • If you find it hard to remove the blade from the pole, hold the blade and secure it in a table vice. The pole should be laid at an angle from the floor to the vice and then tighten the vice securely on the blade.
  • You can choose to begin the sharpening process of any method you choose by spraying orange oil on the blade teeth as this will help to clean out impurities as well as dirt in between the teeth.
  • While sharpening, make sure that the teeth of the blade are visible over the vice securing it. Shape the teeth with a triangle saw file to have a consistent pitch to each tooth.
  • Place tooth covers on the blade after sharpening when you want to store it away. This is important to keep away dirt and debris on the teeth as well as avoid injuries.
  • Endeavor to see that you sharpen every tooth. If you are using a file, mark the teeth that you have finished sharpening so that you don’t get confused.
  • After sharpening, ensure that you Spray oil on the pole saw blade for lubrication to prevent corrosion.

Conclusion

Choose any of the two methods to sharpen your tree saw blade. You can choose to sharpen your blades by hand using different sharpening rods that you can find on the market.

We recommend that you follow the steps and tips carefully and always remember to be very cautious during the process.

It is a must always to wear safety gear when handling such tools. Invest your time in maintaining the pole saw blade to avoid replacing it regularly. Keep running to build an eco-friendly environment.

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