Best Sharpeners for Gardening & Landscape Tools: Guide & Recommendations – Best review

Does it really make sense to buy a new pruner, lopper, lawnmower blade, machete, hatchet, axe, shovel, hoe, hedge shear, or knife just because the one you have is dull? Does it make sense to take time out of your busy day or precious weekend to drive to a tool sharpening place that may or may not have same day service?

We think there’s a better way. All it requires is a little education and the purchase of some affordable sharpening tools.

But with so many options for sharpening your gardening and landscape tools, where do you turn? There are clearly a lot of choices, so we’ve taken the guesswork out by reviewing a wide variety of tool sharpeners so we can recommend the best options for your sharpening needs.

TYPES OF SHARPENERS

We did not cover every conceivable sharpener currently on the market as we’d never get this review written. But what we did do is pick some well-known manufacturers with a history of providing good to excellent quality gear that will get the job done.

We focused our attention on the following types of tool sharpeners:

Metal files
Bonded abrasive whetstones (man-made, rather than those cut from the earth)
Carbide sharpeners (“V” shaped, chisel-shaped, and flat shaped)
Diamond impregnated tapered rods
Diamond impregnated double-sided sharpeners (sometimes called “paddle” sharpeners)
Ceramic stones and diamond impregnated triangular stones
Electric motor, belt-driven sharpeners and grinders

For details on each type of sharpener, as well as our top recommendations, jump down to Types of Sharpening Tools: Details & Recommendations.

Sharpening Tool Brands

Brands included in this review include:

DMT (Diamond Machining Technology)
Lansky
Corona
Smith’s
AccuSharp
Spyderco
Work Sharp

TOOLS WE SHARPENED

To adequately test the performance of each type of sharpener, we tried them on a wide range of common gardening and DIY landscaping tools. Believe it or not, there’s a sharpener for every kind of tool, including:

Hori horis / digging knives
Shovels and spades
Lawnmower blades
Machetes
Hatchets and axes
Hoes
Bill Hook (Fiskars)
Loppers (both bypass and anvil)
Hedge shears
Hand pruners (both bypass and anvil)
Stick pruners
Landscape bars
Scissors
Knives
Multi-Tools
Box cutters
Wire cutters

Questions to Consider When Choosing a Sharpening Tool

Choosing the right sharpener for the job is both subjective and objective. It’s also a function of what tools you own.

Here are some questions to help you figure out what you need.

What’s my budget?
What sharpening tools do I already have?
What gardening and/or landscaping tools do I own?
Can I get by with just one sharpener for the tools I own, or does it require multiple types of sharpeners?
Do I want to deburr the edges of my tools to make them very sharp?
Do I care if the sharpened edge is a little ragged or do I prefer a finely polished surface?
Is MY take-away “It’s good enough” or “I’m a perfectionist”?
Am I a tool junkie or a minimalist?
Am I planning on sharpening friends’ and family tools? If so, what kind of tools do they have?
Do my tools have straight, curved, or serrated edges, or all three?
Do my tools have serrated edges, how close together are the serrations?
Am I a “tool for life” person or would I rather just rather buy a new one when needed?
Should my sharpener be multi-function (with the ability to sharpen many different types of tools)?
Is size/transportability important?
Are corded and/or cordless sharpeners a consideration?
How hard is the metal I’m sharpening?
How quickly do I want to get the job done?

With those questions in mind, take a look through the following sharpening tool descriptions to see which will be the best option(s) for you.

Sharpeners Included in this Review

We evaluated as many sharpeners as we could, being careful to try similar products within sharpener types and to compare products from multiple brands. We’ll continue to add more items to the sortable list below as we review more sharpening tools.

For details about these tools, click on the tool name or see the section below where each type of tool is described in detail.

Brand	Type	Product
AccuSharp	Carbide	ShearSharp (single carbide)
AccuSharp	Carbide	001C Knife Sharpener (double carbide)
AccuSharp	Carbide	006C GardenSharp (single carbide)
AccuSharp	Carbide	Axes/Machetes/Knives/Hatchets & More (double carbide)
Work Sharp	Belt drive grinder/sharpener	Knife & Tool Sharpener
Corona	Carbide	SolidCARBIDE (single carbide)
Smith’s	Carbide	Mower Blade Sharpener (single carbide)
Smith’s	Carbide	Pruning Tool Sharpener (single carbide)
Spyderco	Ceramic	400F (4 ceramic file set)
Spyderco	Ceramic	Triangle Diamond Rods (204D)
Spyderco	Ceramic	Triangle Sharpmaker
DMT	Diamond flat file	DiaFold Flat File
AccuSharp	Diamond paddle	Diamond Paddle Sharpener Dual Sided (051C)
DMT	Diamond paddle	Diafold Double-Sided Sharpener
Smith’s	Diamond paddle	Diamond Combination Sharpener
DMT	Diamond rod	DiaFold Serrated Knife Sharpener (extra fine 1200 grit, fine 600 grit, coarse 325 grit)
Smith’s	Diamond rod	BE SHARP Diamond Retractable Sharpener (DRET)
AccuSharp	Diamond rod	030C
Smith’s	Diamond rod/carbide/ceramic	PP1-Tactical (knife sharpener)
Corona	Flat file (mill bastard file)	Flat smooth cut file
Lansky	Diamond paddle	Diamond Sharpening Paddle
Lansky	Whetstone (bonded grit)	Lawn & Garden Tool Sharpener
Smith’s	Whetstone (bonded grit)	EdgeEater Multi-Purpose Tool Sharpener
Smith’s	Carbide	Axe and Machete Sharpener (double carbide)

Types of Sharpening Tools: Details & Recommendations

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.

Metal Files

These are the kind of metal files that come either individually or as a set. They’re often referred to as a mill Bastard file and are typically available online or at a hardware or big box store.

Metal files are not only useful for sharpening gardening and landscape tools, but have other filing uses as well (for example, squaring off a PVC pipe that has a been cleaved with a rough cut, removing the end of a bolt down to the nut).

Uses

Quickly removing a lot of material from a gardening or landscaping tool’s edge

Pros

Low price
Takes off a lot of metal relatively quickly (depending on how sharp the file is)
Comes in different shapes (flat, round, half found, triangular, etc.)
Comes in different lengths for easy storage or for longer filing strokes
Lasts a long time (if properly cared for)

Cons

Uncomfortable to hold the “tang” unless purchased with a handle (the handle is often sold separately and can be used on multiple files)
The file’s metal cutting ridges tend to collect filings and debris and have to be cleaned often. A “file card” brush is used to clean the cutting grooves but must be purchased separately.
Tends to rust easily (if not oiled or protected from the elements)
Tends to leave a rougher cutting edge. Don’t use a metal file on fine knives, scissors or anything requiring a very clean/fine edge.
Can leave groove(s) in the material if you’re not careful to keep the file moving in a sweeping motion (not just back and forth in one area).

metal files for sharpening gardening tools

Metal files come in a variety of shapes. Buy a handle and “file card” when you purchase one.

Recommendations

You can’t go wrong with owning at least one metal file. Just make sure you purchase a “file card” (to remove excess filings and debris from the grooves of the file) and a handle. Your file and palm will thank you for both. These two items shouldn’t set you back more than $15.00, perhaps a little more if you want to purchase multiple file handles.

There are many manufacturers of metal files. We reviewed a set of metal files by Corona and can highly recommend their brand. Corona also sells file “kits” that have multiple shaped files and include a handle.

No products found.

Nicholson 10″ File Card and Brush – 21467

If you don’t own a file card, it’s best to buy one when you purchase your metal file. The file won’t work for long without the file card.

Whetstones

Manmade sharpening stones typically remove a lot of metal and may be substituted for a metal file

These types of whetstones are man-made (with a bonded grit surface), rather than natural whetstones which are made from a slab of specialty stone.

Uses

Removing a moderate to large amount of metal in a short period of time

Pros

Low price
Takes off a moderate to large amount of metal on each stroke, depending on the coarseness of the grit
Can last a long time (if properly manufactured and cared for)
Is a good alternative or supplement to a metal file
Does not require oil or water to lubricate the surface while in use (some of the natural stones may require lubricant)
Makes a good deburring tool

Cons

Can easily chip or break if dropped
If the grit is not bonded tight enough in the manufacturing process, a lot of excess grit will wear off the stone and fall to the floor, making for an after-sharpening cleanup chore.
Tends to develop concave or convex wear patterns on the stone’s surface if used repeatedly in one area.

Man-Made Bonded Whetstones We Reviewed

Recommendations

I preferred the round cap of the Smith’s® sharpener (used to hold onto the sharpener) over just a straight stone like the one from Lansky®. But in terms of overall performance, I recommend the Lansky® Lawn & Garden Tool Sharpener. It held up better to the rigors of sharpening heavier, blunter tool edges, like shovels, hoes, and lawnmower blades.

The real deciding factor was that the Smith’s® stone was much softer and a lot of grit scraped off the stone and ended up on the floor. Also, because the stone was not as hard as the Lansky® sharpener, the Smith’s® whetstone developed grooves in the stone very early into the sharpening test.

Price Reduction

Lansky Lawn and Garden Sharpener: Multi-Purpose Sharpening Stone – LGRDN

An excellent choice for sharpening heavier, blunter tool edges, such as shovels, hoes, and lawnmower blades.

Carbide Sharpeners

AccuSharp carbide sharpeners

Carbide sharpeners are made with either a single or double set of tungsten carbide inserts (they’re incredibly hard) that are dragged over the edge of the implement being sharpened.

Uses

For quick touch-ups or aggressive metal removal

Pros

Low price
One of the easiest and quickest ways to put an edge on a tool (as long as the width of the edge will accommodate the carbide spacing)
Reversible carbides (except the Corona AC 8300) for longer tool life
Replaceable carbides can be purchased for the existing tool without having to buy a brand new tool (except the Corona AC 8300).
Lightweight
The tungsten carbide inserts (the sharpeners) will not rust
Certain models will sharpen scissors, others will put a knife edge on axes, machetes, hatchets, knives and more. And still other designs will put a chisel edge on lawnmower blades, loppers, pruners, hoes, shovels and virtually any chisel ground edged piece of gear.

All three manufacturers of the carbide sharpeners we reviewed had a clear winner, depending on the use

Cons

The sharpened edge is more ragged (and can leave burrs) than when sharpened with diamond impregnated tapered rods/triangular stones, paddle files or ceramics.
A lot of material can be taken off quickly from precision cutting blades if too much pressure is applied, leaving an uneven cutting surface.
Based on the design of some of the carbide sharpeners, they will not fit in tight places to fully sharpen a blade.

Carbide Sharpeners We Reviewed

AccuSharp ShearSharp (single carbide)
AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener (double carbide)
AccuSharp 006C GardenSharp (single carbide)
AccuSharp Axes/Machetes/Knives/Hatches & More (double carbide)
Corona SolidCARBIDE (single carbide)
Smith’s Mower Blade Sharpener (single carbide)
Smith’s Pruning Tool Sharpener (single carbide)
Smith’s Axe and Machete Sharpener (double carbide)

Overall Impressions

If you’re primarily interested in an inexpensive tool that does a good job at putting a pretty good (but not the best) edge on a variety of tools, a carbide sharpener is definitely something to consider.

I’ve had a lot of experience with these sharpeners. I owned a tree care company for many years and used one of the AccuSharp sharpeners to put a chisel grind edge on my chipper blades. Although the blades were sharp and did their job, I found that the aggressive carbide put slight ridges in the blades. These ridges were exacerbated the more I used the sharpener. Eventually, I had to send the blades out to be machine ground to remove the ridges.

I also found the same to be true for fine cutlery. The factory edge was replaced with one that was sharp but not as sharp as one honed by diamond impregnated tools or ceramic sharpening technologies.

In my recent testing, I found the carbides very aggressive. If you’re not careful, they can take off more than you intended. I’ve also found that when the carbide inserts get dull, they take off inconsistent amounts of material or virtually none at all.

BUT, with all that said, carbide sharpeners are a great bang for the buck. If you want a quick edge and you’re not a perfectionist, you definitely can’t go wrong with a carbide sharpener.

Recommendations

Depending on the task, I had favorites from each manufacturer.

For sharpening the chisel grind edges of bypass pruners, loppers, stick pruners and hedge shears, and the cutting blades on anvil loppers, I preferred the Corona AC 8300 SolidCARBIDE.

Price Reduction

Corona AC 8300 SolidCARBIDE

The best choice for sharpening the chisel grind edges of bypass pruners, loppers, stick pruners and hedge shears, and the cutting blades on anvil loppers.

For knives, axes, and similar tools, I preferred the AccuSharp Knife and Tool Sharpener and the AccuSharp Sharpener for Axes/Machetes/Knives (non-serrated)/Hatchets & More.

AccuSharp Knife Sharpener, Ergonomic Comfortable Handle, Compact & Easy to Use, Restore and Hone…

An excellent sharpener for knives

AccuSharp Tool Sharpener

Perfect for a range of sharp-edged tools, such as axes, machetes, large non-serrated knives, and hatchets.

For lawnmower blades, shovels, hoes, and hori horis/digging knives, I thought the Smith’s Mower Blade Sharpener was the clear winner.

Smith’s 50603 Handheld Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener – Oversized Handle & Large Safety Guard -…

My recommendation for lawnmower blades, shovels, hoes, and hori horis or digging knives

I experimented with the AccuSharp ShearSharp on a pair of kitchen scissors and found that it did the job but left significant burrs, which I had to remove with a ceramic stone. A great concept, but something I would leave for other sharpeners (like the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker).

Diamond Impregnated Tapered Rods

diamond impregnated tapered sharpening rods

In their closed position these types of sharpeners are an easy carry in your pocket

These steel rods have small diamond particles bonded to the surface. When moved across the surface of a softer material (such as the steel used in garden and landscape tools), the diamond particles wear down/off the softer steel.

Uses

For precision sharpening a variety of edged tools

Pros

Diamonds are really hard and when properly applied to a steel rod, they last a long time.
Great for getting into circular pockets of tools like hori horis, the Lesche Digging Tool, the wire cutting notch of a bypass pruner, and scalloped pockets of hedge shears.
Excels in sharpening knives, chisel ground edges and serrated blades
Leaves a smooth cutting edge
Fits into tight places where other sharpeners fail
Nice deburring tool
Collapsible handles or storage tube minimizes carry size

Cons

Not recommend for taking off large amounts of metal
Takes some practice to get a factory knife-edge angle (without over or under doing it)

Diamond Impregnated Tapered Rods We Reviewed

Recommendations

Right out of the gate, I’ll tell you I’m a “tool for life” guy. I believe in spending the extra money on quality as I want it to last for a LONG time. Other might disagree.

For me, the clear winner in this category is the DMT DiaFold® Serrated Sharpeners. They offer three different grits (coarse, fine, and extra fine). If you want a highly polished, frighteningly sharp edge, then the three-rod package is for you. It will set you back though. Each grit size is in the $25 – $30 range. Part of the cost comes from the quality of the diamonds and substrate steel, and the other is that they are made in USA (which tends to be more expensive than overseas production).

I can attest to the longevity of the DMT sharpeners. I’ve had a set of DMT Dia-Sharp® Bench Stones, have used them regularly for 25 years, and they are still going strong.

And as a final note, they have the smallest tip diameter (for getting into those really small serration pockets) of any of the rod sharpeners I tested (except the Smith’s PP1 –Tactical, which I’ll address below).

Price Reduction

DMT DiaFold® Serrated Sharpeners

Available in a variety of grits, these are the best diamond impregnated tapered rods I’ve used to date.

Next comes the rods from AccuSharp and Smith’s. At a first glance, they look identical except for the color of the tubular housing (Smith’s is a yellowish/orange and AccuSharp is black). With the diamond tapered rods extended to their proper length, the AccuSharp is just a hair longer. The tip diameter is the same for both, and both are made in China. To the touch, the diamond grit appears to be the same (coarse). Based on Amazon pricing, the Smith’s would be about two dollars less expensive. They both had the same performance. I’d go for the Smith’s.

Smith’s DRET Diamond Retractable Sharpener

Smith’s PP1-Tactical Sharpener

Here was the wildcard of the bunch. Not only does it have a tapered diamond rod, but also has a carbide (coarse grit) sharpener and a ceramic (fine hone) knife sharpener, plus an emergency glass breaker. This is a 4-in-1 tool. It also has a handy pocket clip and a lanyard slot.

But let’s talk about the diamond rod. Of those tested, it had the smallest diameter tip by 0.01”. But in practical terms, this is not a replacement for the above rods. The above (DMT, Smith’s, AccuSharp) tool tips will fit most serrations AND they have an upper limit rod diameter that will sharpen the larger serration pockets of most knives on the market. I found in my tests that the PP1’s largest rod diameter would not properly sharpen standard sized serrations.

However, used as an edge-sharpening rod, it worked great. The grit felt coarse, just like the coarse grits of the other tapered rod sharpeners.

I did try the carbide and ceramic sharpeners on anvil pruners (they have a knife edge) and it worked. But it doesn’t have the proper guards for this application. I slipped and got a little nick on my finger (nothing to write home about).

This is definitely a knife sharpener, with the tapered rod used mostly for sharpening knives and less for sharpening serration pockets. It’s a handy tool for the right application.

If you’re a landscaper or gardener who carries a straight bladed knife on you as part of your kit, then I would definitely consider this all-in-one sharpener. Cutting string, rope, burlap, landscaping fabric, roots, soil, etc. can mean you’ll need to sharpen a knife daily (or many times per day). This well-designed tool would be perfect for these applications. And at about $19.00, I think it’s a bargain.

Price Reduction

Smith’s PP1-Tactical

TACTICAL KNIFE SHARPENER – Smith’s “Pocket Pal” Tactical Knife Sharpener features a G-10 handle with a stainless-steel frame, Tungsten Carbide glass break, pocket clip, fold-out diamond-coated…
2 STAGE – The pull-through coarse carbide slot provides a quick edge on dull or damaged knives & should only be used on straight edges. Fine ceramic stones provide a smooth, polished edge & can be…
DIAMOND ROD – This sharpener includes a fold-out, tapered round diamond-coated rod that is designed for sharpening serrations, standard edges, small gut hooks, & fish hooks. It is great for fishing,…
PORTABLE – Smith’s Tactical Knife Sharpener measures 4” long by 1.5” wide & weighs 3.5 ounces. It is designed to easily take on the go and clip onto your pocket. It features a lanyard hole so…
GUARANTEED RESULTS – The 2-Stage preset crossed carbide blades & ceramic stone provide guaranteed results with every use. Smith’s compact versatile sharpener is perfect for fishing, hunting,…

Diamond Impregnated Double-Sided Sharpeners (Paddle Files)

With handles folded or the sharpener inserted into the handle (Smith’s), these types of sharpeners are easy tp transport

These flat sharpeners, sometimes called “paddle sharpeners” or “paddle files”, have two usable sides. Depending on your preference, these can have extra fine, fine, medium or coarse grit (diamond particles bonded to the metal substrate). In this review, we looked at paddle sharpeners with a fine and a coarse grit side.

Uses

To sharpen a variety of garden, lawn and landscape tools

Diamond Double Sided Sharpeners have both a coarse and fine side making them useful in material removal and honing

Pros

Has two different grits, one on each side (we looked at fine/coarse grit paddles), making it a multi-use tool
Long-lasting diamond impregnated surfaces
Best used for medium metal removal and edge touch-ups and deburring
Compact when files are folded or inserted into the handle
Leaves a nice clean, sharp edge (when using the fine grit)

Cons

Difficult to use on tight concave surfaces
Not an aggressive metal removal tool (in comparison to a whetstone, metal file or carbide)
Won’t fit in a lot of places that a diamond tapered rod will

Diamond Impregnated Double Sided Sharpeners We Reviewed

AccuSharp Diamond Paddle Sharpener Dual Sided (model 051C) – Coarse 320 grit, Medium 600 grit
DMT DiaFold Double-Sided Sharpener – Coarse 325 grit, Fine 600 grit
Lansky Diamond Sharpening Paddle – Coarse 120 grit, Fine 600 grit
Smith’s Diamond Combination Sharpener – Coarse 325 grit, Fine 750 grit

Recommendations

DMT Diafold Double-Sided Sharpener

I know you probably think I’m biased by saying that the DMT DiaFold Double-Sided Sharpener is my favorite in this class of sharpening tools. Quite simply, it’s an excellent sharpener (for the same reasons as described above for their tapered rod). But it’s expensive. Enough said.

Price Reduction

DMT FWFC DuoSharp Double-Sided Diamond Sharpening Stone for Knives and More, 8-Inch, Fine/Coarse

Diamond Knife Sharpener: Offering 2-stage sharpening and a compact design, this lightweight DMT diamond sharpening stone is great for the home, camper, tool box, gardening shed, and more
Dual-Diamond Stone 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…
Portable Knife Sharpeners: Compact, lightweight pocket knife sharpener features convenient fold-and-go handles, which enclose and protect the diamond plate when not in use; Measures 9.5 inches open…
Fast & Easy: A micronized monocrystalline diamond surface sharpens edges faster and easier than conventional sharpening stones; No messy oils are needed either — sharpen lapping plate dry or with…
Made In The USA: Preferred by professionals for their superior quality and versatility, our durable diamond sharpening stones are built to provide years of consistent performance and reliable service

Smith’s Diamond Combination Sharpener

Of the other three, I’d have to go with the Smith’s Diamond Combination Sharpener. I like its handle design. Instead of having two handles that fold around the stones (also the reason that this class of sharpener is called a “paddle sharpener”), there’s a single handle into which the double-sided sharpener is inserted. At first I thought this would make for a wobbly product, but after use it was rock solid.

I also like that the Smith’s has an oval polka dotted surface (similar to DMT’s), to catch the metal filings (called swarf). This makes the file more efficient and less likely to clog up. It also has a Micro-Tool Sharpening Pad^TM giving it the ability to file small tools (such as points on a metal gardening stake) “that require an uninterrupted sharpening surface”.

Finally, of all the diamond double-sided sharpeners, Smith’s Diamond Combination Sharpener has the finest grit on the fine side of the sharpener, making it that much easier to obtain a super sharp edge. I found it especially great for sharpening hedge shears and deburring a nice smooth edge on a tool that had been sharpened with a more aggressive tool, such as a carbide, metal file or whetstone.

Smith’s DCS4 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener – Double Sided Stone – Outdoor Field Knife Sharpener…

2-STAGE SHARPENER – Smith’s 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener has a two-sided sharpening stone that features coarse and fine grit surfaces for 2-stage sharpening. Each side is color coded and…
MICRO-SHARPENING PAD – Each side features a micro-tool sharpening pad and sharpening groove that is perfect for fish hooks and pointed tools. This sharpener also features a lanyard loop for easy…
INNOVATIVE DESIGN – Both sides of the stone sharpening surfaces contain multiple layers of micron-sized monocrystalline diamonds and a unique interrupted surface design that speeds up sharpening by…
PORTABLE – Smith’s 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener’s handle features a rubber grip and stores and protects the sharpening stones when you are done! Simply detach the stone from the handle &…
SAFE & EASY TO USE – The soft grip rubber handle provides extra grip for stability during sharpening and features a thumb guard for added protection. This sharpener is a must-have for the field,…

Ceramic Stones & Diamond Impregnated Triangular Rods

The Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker sharpens so many tools and them some

Ceramic stones are made from synthetic sapphire, making them very hard and an excellent tool for sharpening metal implements. Diamond impregnated triangular rods have small diamond particles bonded to a metal surface.

Uses

Multiple sharpening applications

Pros

Fits into very small serrated pockets (not reachable with a tapered diamond rod).
Extremely long life (equal to if not longer than diamond impregnated sharpeners and certainly longer than a metal file).
Great for keeping what is already sharp – extremely sharp vs. heavy duty material removal.
Easy to use.
Can sharpen a variety of knife edges or chisel ground tools including scissors and chisels (for tree root pruning).

Cons

Ceramic sharpeners if dropped can chip or break.
Remove the least amount of material of all the sharpeners (except the diamond impregnated triangle rods).

Ceramic Stones We Reviewed

Recommendations

Spyderco 400F

This tool was initially designed “for sharpening detailed tools like woodcarving tools, gouges, and dental devices”. I specifically requested this set to file some super small serrations in the Fiskars Billhook. The triangular and teardrop files were absolutely perfect, reaching all the nooks and crannies in the blade and making the Billhook extremely sharp. In contrast, even the smallest diameter diamond tapered rod ground the tops off these serrations, making them useless. (As you’ve probably gathered by now, I’m a perfectionist and needed the right tool for the right job.)

The Spyderco 400F set also includes a square and round file. These are nice to hone the edges of pruners, loppers, hedge shears, stick pruners and the like. Their small size (5” long) makes them ideal for intricate work and easy to carry into the field. They come in a nice leather pouch.

For intricate filing of extremely small, serrated edges and honing other precision tools, the 400F by Spyderco is absolutely terrific

Price Reduction

Spyderco 400F

Varied File Shapes: The set includes files in round, square, triangular, and slip (teardrop) shapes, offering versatility for sharpening a wide range of tools.
Fine-Grit Ceramic Material: Each file is made from fine-grit ceramic, ideal for deburring hardened tools, molds, and even carbide, ensuring precise sharpening.
Ideal for Detailed Tools: Perfect for sharpening small, detailed tools such as woodcarving tools, gouges, dental devices, and used by gunsmiths for trigger jobs and detail finishing.
Compact and Portable: Each file measures 5 inches in length, making the set compact and portable, enhanced by the included suede snap-close pouch for easy storage and transport.
Easy to Clean and Maintain: The ceramic files are autoclave safe and can be cleaned with a plastic scouring pad and powdered abrasive cleanser, ensuring longevity and…

Spyderco Tri-Angle “Sharpmaker”

The utility of this sharpening tool is almost endless; it will sharpen just about anything that is already semi-sharp. The sharpener comes in a case that holds four rectangular stones (two coarse grit and two fine grit). Both sets of stones are made from synthetic sapphire and are extremely hard. They’re so hard, you can even use them to remove metal from the edge of a hardened metal file.

In addition to conventional stones for the Sharpmaker, you can also purchase diamond-impregnated (hardest) and cubic boron nitride (second hardest to the diamond) ones. I found the diamond-impregnated stones to be indispensable in removing a little more material faster than just the ceramic stones. They were also great for sharpening a hatchet.

The system is made for sharpening all kinds of tools, but for the gardener and landscaper, it excels at knives (both straight edged and serrated), hatchets, pruners, loppers (both anvil and bypass), machetes, box cutters, diagonal cutters, scissors, and more.

The stones are tough but are not designed to remove large amounts of metal (like a metal file or manmade grit stone). The Sharpmaker ceramic stones are ideally suited for keeping what’s modestly sharp, razor sharp.

The sharpener has a base plate for inserting the stones at either 30⁰ or 40⁰angles, a set of brass rods as a safety system to; protect from accidentally cutting yourself; or tilting up unit for other sharpening tasks. A slot positioned at the end of the base plate is for sharpening scissors, etc. There are also stone holders on both the top and bottom of the base plate that hold the stones flat for sharpening things like chisels (for tree root pruning), etc.. And finally, another important feature of this sharpener is that the triangular stones can be used on their own (not installed in the base plate) for sharpening pruners, loppers, hedge shears, or any type of gardening tool that has a knife or chisel grind edge. And as a side note, it works like a charm for kitchen knives as well.

For someone who wants a keep sharp and deburr a variety of gardening and landscape tool, you can’t go wrong with a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker. I’ve had one for over 15 years (with the original stones) and it is still going strong.

The Sharpmaker comes packages with a base plate and cover that holds the entire sharpening kit

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.
Durable Design: The Sharpmaker has an ABS plastic base/storage case and contains keyed holes that accurately set the stones.
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 Knives,…
Must Have Essentials: Instruction book and DVD. Aluminum Safety Rods, 2 Fine and 2 Medium Grit High Alumina Ceramic Sharpening Stone for aggressive sharpening and Professional-Grade finishing.

Price Reduction

Spyderco Ceramic File Set

Varied File Shapes: The set includes files in round, square, triangular, and slip (teardrop) shapes, offering versatility for sharpening a wide range of tools.
Fine-Grit Ceramic Material: Each file is made from fine-grit ceramic, ideal for deburring hardened tools, molds, and even carbide, ensuring precise sharpening.
Ideal for Detailed Tools: Perfect for sharpening small, detailed tools such as woodcarving tools, gouges, dental devices, and used by gunsmiths for trigger jobs and detail finishing.
Compact and Portable: Each file measures 5 inches in length, making the set compact and portable, enhanced by the included suede snap-close pouch for easy storage and transport.
Easy to Clean and Maintain: The ceramic files are autoclave safe and can be cleaned with a plastic scouring pad and powdered abrasive cleanser, ensuring longevity and…

Spyderco Triangle Diamond Rods

Diamond Coated: These steel triangle stones are blanketed in a bonding agent, then covered in diamond particles.
Professional-Grade: Diamond hard abrasives are recommended when you wish to remove stock, for restoration purposes and to aggressively re-shape, re-bevel and re-profile a cutting edge.
Multifunctional: Sharpen all types of edges including serrated edges and fits into the 204 Sharpmaker Sharpening System.
Easy to Clean: Simply rinse with fresh water and let the product air-dry.
Specifications: Sold as a pair, Overall Length (Inches): 7, Coating: Diamond

Electric Tool Sharpeners

This combination belt-drive grinder and sharpener isn’t your typical hand-held tool like the other sharpeners in this review, but if you have space for an electric sharpener, these types of tools can be invaluable.

Uses

Sharpens knives (straight blade and serrated), scissors, garden, and landscape tools

Pros

Powerful electric motor for grinding applications
Various grit belts from grinding to honing
Pivoting head for easy conversion from sharpening to grinding
Two different guides (for sharpening specific tools at specific angles)
Three position switch (Off, Grinding – ON, momentary sharpening)
Belt tracking adjustment knob
Quick-lock tensioner for belts
Belts are easy to change
Great for sharpening gardening and landscaping tools where a lot of material needs to be taken off

Cons

Won’t set a factory ground chisel angle on bypass pruner and lopper blades, or on anvil lopper blades
Has an electric motor so can’t be used to sharpen tools in the field (unless you’re near an electrical outlet and have an extension cord)
Too aggressive on fine cutting tool blades (such as pruners and loppers), based on the recommended grit for performing these operations

The Work Sharp package comes complete with sharpener/grinder, guides and various grit belts

Recommendation

Sharpener shown with kitchen knife guide installed on motor drive

This is a really awesome tool. The design was well thought out and it is easy to use. If you want to remove some serious material from a gardening or landscape tool (such as a shovel, hoe, hatchet, tines, axe, lawnmower blade, or landscape bar) then this is the tool for you. It converts into a grinder and makes quick work of a variety of tools.

The unit comes with several grinding/sharpening/honing belts (two 80 grit, two 220 grit, and two 6000 grit), a 25⁰ Outdoor Guide (for sharpening serrated edges, hunting knives, pocket knives and scissors), and a 20⁰ Kitchen Guide (for sharpening kitchen knives and filet knives). After a Guide is removed, the head of the unit can be rotated forward to turn it into a belt grinder.

Also included is a well-written instruction manual. Plus, Work Sharp has an excellent website tutorial to get you up and running.

This is a real winner in my book and a must have for the serious gardener and/or landscaper. It won’t accommodate all of your sharpening needs but it comes pretty darn close.

The Work Sharp with the belt drive head rotated into the grinding position

Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener

Comes with easily-replaceable abrasive grit belts (coarse P80, medium P220, and fine 6000) and precision sharpening guides. 1-year warranty.

Summary

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!

OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS

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.

No products found.

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.

Price Reduction

Lansky Lawn & Garden Tool Sharpener

An excellent man-made whetstone that gets the job done without leaving a mess behind

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).

AccuSharp Knife Sharpener, Ergonomic Comfortable Handle, Compact & Easy to Use, Restore and Hone…

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 5 to 10 years between blade replacements. AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners are double-beveled 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…

Smith’s 50603 Handheld Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener – Oversized Handle & Large Safety Guard -…

LAWN MOWER BLADE SHARPENER – Smith’s Handheld Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener features a large safety guard and a preset carbide blade that will sharpen a dull blade with just a few pulls! Measuring…
SAFE TO USE – This mower blade sharpener has an oversized handle, so it is easy to use with gloves and features a large finger guard for safe secure sharpening. It also has a wire-bristled cleaning…
CARBIDE BLADE – The replaceable carbide blade will put a sharp edge on your mower blade in just a few minutes. Premium carbide is a coarse grit material specifically made to get the job done quickly…
DURABLE – Smith’s products are made to last, and this handheld sharpener is made with a durable plastic head for easier sharpening. Forget the hassle of taking your blades in to be sharpened when…
GREAT GIFT – Smith’s Handheld Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener makes a great Father’s Day, Birthday, or Christmas gift. This easy-to-use sharpener minimizes the hassle and will keep your blades sharp…

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.

Price Reduction

DMT DiaFold® Serrated Sharpeners

Available in a variety of grits, these are the best diamond impregnated tapered rods I’ve used to date.

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.

Price Reduction

Smith’s PP1-Tactical

TACTICAL KNIFE SHARPENER – Smith’s “Pocket Pal” Tactical Knife Sharpener features a G-10 handle with a stainless-steel frame, Tungsten Carbide glass break, pocket clip, fold-out diamond-coated…
2 STAGE – The pull-through coarse carbide slot provides a quick edge on dull or damaged knives & should only be used on straight edges. Fine ceramic stones provide a smooth, polished edge & can be…
DIAMOND ROD – This sharpener includes a fold-out, tapered round diamond-coated rod that is designed for sharpening serrations, standard edges, small gut hooks, & fish hooks. It is great for fishing,…
PORTABLE – Smith’s Tactical Knife Sharpener measures 4” long by 1.5” wide & weighs 3.5 ounces. It is designed to easily take on the go and clip onto your pocket. It features a lanyard hole so…
GUARANTEED RESULTS – The 2-Stage preset crossed carbide blades & ceramic stone provide guaranteed results with every use. Smith’s compact versatile sharpener is perfect for fishing, hunting,…

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 Knife Sharpener: Offering 2-stage sharpening and a compact design, this lightweight DMT diamond sharpening stone is great for the home, camper, tool box, gardening shed, and more
Dual-Diamond Stone 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…
Portable Knife Sharpeners: Compact, lightweight pocket knife sharpener features convenient fold-and-go handles, which enclose and protect the diamond plate when not in use; Measures 9.5 inches open…
Fast & Easy: A micronized monocrystalline diamond surface sharpens edges faster and easier than conventional sharpening stones; No messy oils are needed either — sharpen lapping plate dry or with…
Made In The USA: Preferred by professionals for their superior quality and versatility, 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).

Smith’s DCS4 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener – Double Sided Stone – Outdoor Field Knife Sharpener…

2-STAGE SHARPENER – Smith’s 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener has a two-sided sharpening stone that features coarse and fine grit surfaces for 2-stage sharpening. Each side is color coded and…
MICRO-SHARPENING PAD – Each side features a micro-tool sharpening pad and sharpening groove that is perfect for fish hooks and pointed tools. This sharpener also features a lanyard loop for easy…
INNOVATIVE DESIGN – Both sides of the stone sharpening surfaces contain multiple layers of micron-sized monocrystalline diamonds and a unique interrupted surface design that speeds up sharpening by…
PORTABLE – Smith’s 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener’s handle features a rubber grip and stores and protects the sharpening stones when you are done! Simply detach the stone from the handle &…
SAFE & EASY TO USE – The soft grip rubber handle provides extra grip for stability during sharpening and features a thumb guard for added protection. This sharpener is a must-have for the field,…

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.

Lansky Double-Sided Folding Diamond Knife Sharpener Paddle: Coarse/Fine (120/600 Grit) – FP1260

Dual-Grit Versatility: Incorporates a coarse (120 grit) and a fine (600 grit) diamond sharpening stone set, catering to a broad range of knife sharpening needs from coarse reconditioning to fine…
Ergonomic and Portable: This EDC knife sharpener tool folds into two ergonomic handles, offering a compact, portable solution. It’s a pocket knife sharpening kit that fits in the palm of your hand!
Durable Diamond Technology: As a robust blade sharpener, this pocket knife sharpening tool leverages the unparalleled hardness of diamonds to ensure fast, effective sharpening. It’s a worthy material…
User-Friendly Design: Aimed at both novice and professional knife sharpeners, this provides an intuitive sharpening experience. It’s wieldy and portable, as opposed to a knife sharpening rod or a…
Precision Sharpening: Designed to support precise knife sharpening angles, this sharpener for knives and other bladed tools expands your Lansky knife sharpener kit, letting you extend your knife…

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.
Durable Design: The Sharpmaker has an ABS plastic base/storage case and contains keyed holes that accurately set the stones.
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 Knives,…
Must Have Essentials: Instruction book and DVD. Aluminum 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.

Sharpening Resources

How to Sharpen Pruner Blades

A video tutorial showing how to sharpen pruner blades to prolong the life of your pruner and make clean pruning cuts. We cover tools, techniques and tips. Do it right with these easy-to-follow instructions.

How to Sharpen Pruner Blades with a Carbide Sharpener

If you want an easy way to sharpen bypass pruner blades, this brief tutorial is for you. It includes written instructions describing how to properly sharpen bypass pruner blades with a carbide sharpener, plus a video tutorial and the sharpener we recommend.

How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades

It’s simple to sharpen a lawn mower blade yourself and it only requires a few inexpensive tools. We show you how to do it in this step-by-step video tutorial.

How to Sharpen a Spade

Although many of us don’t do this, sharpening a spade can make a huge difference in the ease with which it cuts through soil, sod, and roots. Once you’ve used a sharp spade, you’ll wonder how you managed to work with a dull one! Here are simple, step-by-step directions for how to sharpen a spade, including detailed pictures.

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TYPES OF SHARPENERS

Sharpening Tool Brands

Quick Links

TOOLS WE SHARPENED

Questions to Consider When Choosing a Sharpening Tool

Sharpeners Included in this Review

Types of Sharpening Tools: Details & Recommendations

Summary

OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS

Metal Files

Whetstones (man-made)

Carbide Sharpeners

Diamond-Impregnated Tapered Rods

Multi-Tool Sharpeners

Double-Sided Diamond-Impregnated Sharpeners / Paddle Files

Ceramic Sharpeners

Electric Tool Sharpeners

Sharpening Resources

How to Sharpen Pruner Blades

How to Sharpen Pruner Blades with a Carbide Sharpener

How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades

How to Sharpen a Spade