How to Sharpen Tree Saws

Whether you own a grove of fruit trees or just a couple of trees in the yard, pruning is a necessary annual chore. Sawing through green wood isn't easy, however, and working with dull tools makes the task even harder. Sharpen a tree saw either before a round of pruning or just after pruning, before putting the saw back into storage.

Rag
Solvent (optional)
Vise (recommended)
Mill file

Instructions

- 1
  Wipe the blade down with a damp rag. If you have a folding pruning saw, you might need to unfold the saw blade from the handle first. If the saw has encrusted bits of resin or gum that refuse to budge, use a solvent to break down this residue and then wipe the blade clean.
- 2
  Clamp the tree saw blade into a vise with the saw teeth pointing up. If a vise isn't available, you can use your knees in a pinch.
- 3
  Examine the first saw tooth in the line to determine whether the blade is on the left or right side, then place the mill file against that tooth's blade in a position that is both perpendicular to the saw and at a roughly 65-degree angle to the blade.
- 4
  Push the length of the mill file down against the blade to sharpen it. Repeat once or twice.
- 5
  Sharpen every other saw tooth down to the end of the tree saw. The teeth on tree saws usually follow an alternating, crosscut pattern, so you will sharpen all of the left- or right-facing blades, depending on which way the first tooth faces.
- 6
  Turn the tree saw around and sharpen the teeth facing the opposite side.

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