Signs of a dull edge
In the yard and shop
Yard and shop tools
A row of ragged grass tips, a crushed stem, a rough patch on a planed board. Sometimes the work shows you the worn edge before you can see it on the tool.
Ask about a tool
What to look for
When the cut changes
- Grass tips look frayed after mowing.
- Pruners pinch green stems and leave strips of bark hanging.
- A chisel tears wood fibers. A planer leaves a raised line in the same spot on each board.
Before a visit
What to mention
- Which tool you use and what the cut looks like now.
- The make and model if the blade fits a machine.
- How many blades you have, especially if they work as a set.
Before you buy a new blade
Tell Jeff your town and which tool you have. He can check whether sharpening makes sense for yours.