Where To Get Garden Tools Sharpened

In this section we cover:

the different types of sharpening tools
what each type is best used for
the pros and cons of each type of sharpener
our top recommendations for each type of sharpener

Click on each sharpener type below to view the details.

Hopefully, we've shed some light on some of the sharpening tools that are readily available for the gardening and DIY landscape enthusiast. Clearly, there are a lot of choices.

In my opinion, you'll need more than one tool to get the job done right, particularly if you own different types of gardening tools.

The best sharpening tool for your needs will vary based on which tools you'll be sharpening, whether you prefer electric or "person-powered" sharpeners, how quickly you want to get the job done, and more.

For perfectionists like me who want only the best quality (even if it's at a higher cost) because they want it to last a lifetime, there are some brands that consistently put out excellent sharpening tools (DMT and Spyderco come to mind). But there are plenty of more moderately-priced options that will also do a very good job.

Basically, there's something for everyone in the list of recommended sharpeners below!

Metal Files

You can't go wrong with a set of good quality metal files. Corona sells sets of them and you can also buy handles for them (get the handles, you'll thank me for it). You can bull your way through about any metal and a variety of angles (even concave if you get a round file). My pick is Corona.

Whetstones (man-made)

I'd go for the Lansky whetstone. Although the Smith's whetstone sharpener did its job, it left a fair amount of the stone's abrasive on the floor and tended to develop grooves in the stone more quickly than the Lansky.

Carbide Sharpeners

I tested three different manufacturers of Carbide sharpeners: AccuSharp, Smith's, and Corona. Each company manufactured a winner in my mind – any would be a good choice (more above).

Price Reduction

AccuSharp Knife & Tool Sharpener - Diamond-Honed Tungsten Carbide Rust-Free Sharpener Quickly...

EASY TO USE KNIFE SHARPENER: This is the perfect knife sharpener for chef's knives, paring knives, serrated knives, filet knives, cleavers – you name it. If you own a knife, you need this...
GET A SHARP EDGE IN 10 SECONDS: A sharp blade makes it easier to get work done quickly and safely. The innovative AccuSharp Knife Sharpener lets you sharpen most blades in around ten seconds.
DIAMOND-HONED TUNGSTEN CARBIDE SHARPENER: AccuSharp sharpening blades are crafted from diamond-honed tungsten carbide, one of the hardest known materials. With it's unique design, the sharpening...
DEPENDABLE & LONG-LASTING CONSTRUCTION: Most users report an average of five to 10 years between blade replacements. AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners will not rust and can be cleaned easily with soap and...
SAFE, UNIQUE, ERGONOMIC HANDLE: Featuring a unique, ergonomic handle, the AccuSharp fits neatly in either hand to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed users. Includes a full-length guard that...

Price Reduction

Smith's 50603 Lawn Mower Blade Shop Essentials Sharpener, Orange

Quickly sharpens dull lawnmower blade with just a few easy pulls
Durable head for easier sharpening
Oversized handle allows for use with gloves
Large safety guard; Cleaning brush, with wire bristles, stores in the handle
Replaceable carbide blade; Abrasive: Premium Carbides; Grit: Coarse

Price Reduction

Corona SolidCARBIDE

IDEAL FOR SHARPENING ALL STRAIGHT BLADES: Excludes saw blades.
SMALL, CONVENIENT SIZE: Easily fits in a pocket or tool bag.
NON-SLIP GRIP FOR EASY USE: Rubber grip helps prevent slipping, keeping you safe while sharpening.
5" SUPER CARBIDE FILE: File is durable and designed to be comfortable to hold.

Diamond-Impregnated Tapered Rods

When it comes to diamond tapered rods, I'd go for the DMT sharpeners due to the quality and the precision that comes from having three different grit sizes to choose from. They are also made in USA – I like purchasing in-country when I have the opportunity. Otherwise, one by AccuSharp or Smith's will do the trick. They are virtually the same.

Multi-Tool Sharpeners

The PP1 Tactical from Smith's is a great multi-tool and is definitely handy for sharpening knives and smaller serrations. I see it more for the DIY landscaper who needs to constantly sharpen a knife for the work they do. And who wouldn't want an emergency glass breaker – just in case. As a gardening tool probably not, but then again plenty of gardeners carry a multi-tool into the garden and use it frequently.

Smith's PP1-Tactical

Ceramic (fine) sharpening slot, Carbide (coarse) sharpening slot
Lanyard hole for easy carry
G10 handle
Diamond coated sharpening rod

Double-Sided Diamond-Impregnated Sharpeners / Paddle Files

I have a favorite for Double-Sided Diamond Impregnated Sharpeners (sometimes called "Paddle Files"), and that's the DMT DiaFold Double-Sided Sharpener.

Price Reduction

DMT Double-Sided DiaFold Sharpener (fine/coarse)

Diamond Wet Stone Sharpener: Offering two-stage sharpening and a compact design, this lightweight diamond stone is great for the home, camper, tool box, gardening shed, and more
Dual Diamond Surface: Specialized fine diamond (25 micron / 600 mesh) hones any blade or chisel to a razor-sharp edge; Specialized coarse diamond (45 micron / 325 mesh) quickly restores neglected...
Portable: Compact, lightweight diamond stone sharpener features convenient fold and go handles which enclose and protect the diamond plate when not in use; Measures 9.5" open and 5" closed
Fast & Easy: A micronized monocrystalline diamond surface sharpens edges faster and easier than conventional sharpening stones; No messy oils are needed either -- sharpen dry or with water
Made In The USA: Preferred by woodworkers, chefs, and other professionals, our durable diamond sharpening stones are built to provide years of consistent performance and reliable service

Outside my go-to preference for DMT, I'd recommend the Smith's Diamond Combination Sharpener. Its plastic polka dots to accept the swarf, combined with pretty standard coarse and fine grits, make it a great choice. The handle is beefy, rigid and strong and I like the way the file stores inside the single-piece plastic handle. It also cut into the metal more smoothly than the others (except DMT).

Price Reduction

Smith's DCS4 Diamond Combo Bench Stone

Coarse and fine diamond stones in one compact sharpener
Soft grip rubber handle
Thumb guard
Sharpening groove for fish hooks and pointed tools
Micro-Tool sharpening pad

If you're after fast metal removal then the Lansky Sharpening Paddle is for you. Of the above tools I tested, most have a coarse grit in the 320 range and a fine grit in the 600 – 750 range (the smaller the number the coarser the grit). Lansky's coarse grit came in at 120. This is by far the most aggressive coarse file I tested. If you had to choose between a man-made whetstone versus the Lansky Diamond Sharpening Paddle, I'd go for the paddle. I wasn't a real fan of the handle design - the handles flopped around when not in the "in-use" position, but they did stiffen up when brought together to do the work. This is an example of where one tool could substitute for another.

Ceramic Sharpeners

We only had one contender in the Ceramic Sharpeners category (diamond rods included) and that was Spyderco. I've owned one of their Tri-Angle Sharpmakers for many, many years. It has been my go-to for knives, scissors and many other cutting tools. But its sharpening abilities don't stop there. The ceramic sharpening stones can be used on their own to sharpen and deburr a variety of gardening and landscape tools, as well as to put both chisel and knife edges on pruners, loppers, shears and the like. This is not a heavy duty metal removal kit but, rather, a "keep it sharp" tool for use when an edge becomes dull.

And let's not forget the 400F ceramic rod sharpening kit. Some may see this as an extravagance but it sure did the trick when honing those hard to get serrations or putting a mirror-like finish on a set of pruners. Is it a must? Not for most. But for me, the owner of a Fiskars Billhook, it's indispensable.

And as an upgrade to the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, Spyderco offers a set of diamond impregnated sharpening rods. These were a nice addition when I wanted to sharpen a hatchet while using the Sharpmaker base, or when used as a single rod to touch up a machete, wire cutters or hori hori.

Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker

Easy to Use, Outstanding Results - This has everything necessary to sharpen any type of edged or pointed tool in just a few minutes' time. Simply keep the plane of your knife's blade vertical and...
Durable Design - The Sharpmaker has an ABS plastic base/storage case and contains keyed holes that accurately set the stones' sharpening angles at a 30-degrees or 40-degrees.
Ready to Travel - The 204MF is designed to be handheld and portable. Simply snap all the components into the self-contained ABS durable plastic base and lid. You are good to go!
Works on All Knives - Every Sharpmaker comes complete with a detailed instruction book and DVD that guides you step by step through the process of sharpening kitchen knives, chef knives, Pocket...
Must have Essentials - Instruction book and DVD. Safety Rods, 2 Fine and 2 Medium Grit High Alumina Ceramic Sharpening Stone for aggressive sharpening and professional-grade finishing.

Electric Tool Sharpeners

The Work Sharp is an impressive multi-tool. Part sharpener, part grinder, it sharpened/honed a lot of tools.

I used it to put a new tip on a broken knife and it performed beautifully. Not only did it remove considerable material (to put a point back on the blade), it honed it to a gleaming razor-sharp finish.

It did have one downside. When sharpening bypass pruning shears and loppers the recommended sharpening grit was too aggressive and left a flat spot in the blade (even though I kept the belt moving down the blade at a continuous rate). It was also hard to reach into the tight spaces where the two blades came together.

Additionally, it did not put the "factory" sharpened angle back on the blade but rather ground its own angle. The sharpened tool was super sharp (even in the flat spot), but I would not recommend it for pruners, loppers or any precision tool where two blades come together to cause a cutting action (I'd save that for the diamond tapered rods or ceramics noted above). The power of this device is awesome but a little too much for those fine cutting gardening tool edges.

As a knife and scissor sharpener, this baby really excelled. And as a grinder it was phenomenal! With the coarse 80 grit belt, it blasted its way through lawnmower blades, hatchets, hori horis, shovels, hoes, weeding tool tines, and more.

Despite its limitations noted above, I can unequivocally recommend this sharpener. If it's in your budget, get one. I love it and I think you will too.

Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener

Part sharpener, part grinder, this electric tool sharpener excels at sharpening digging knives, scissors, lawnmower blades, hatchets, shovels, hoes and weeding tools. It's a little too aggressive for fine cutting tools, such as bypass pruners and loppers.