What Is The Best Way To Sharpen The Cutting Edges Of Dull Pliers?

Pliers are one of the tools every homeowner should own. Combination pliers (also known as lineman pliers) are the ones usually found in a DIY tool kit and are tremendously versatile. They are great for gripping, twisting, cutting, and wire stripping, and can even be used as a secret weapon against weeds. They are tough tools that often get taken for granted, and cutting edges can suffer. So how do you sharpen them? There are a couple of alternatives.

If the cutting edges have developed rust, they can usually be restored with an emery board (yes, the kind used for fingernails). The key to any sharpening is to follow the existing blade profile carefully. You'll need to put the pliers in a vise or clamp them to a bench to keep them steady. Work slowly with the emery board on the push stroke only. This helps you keep the emery board flat and preserve that all-important edge angle. Stop every half dozen strokes or so, wipe the blade carefully with a rag or kitchen paper, and check if it is clean. If it is, reverse the pliers and do the other blade. The emery board may be too wide for the cutting edge on some pliers, but should be easy to trim down with a utility knife if necessary.

If the cutting edges have been damaged or are very blunt, you'll need a file. Fine whetstones or diamond files are the preferred option, but these can be expensive. Standard needle files, like this Kapoua 6-Piece Metal Needle File Set, can be found online for under $10 and should be perfectly adequate for DIY tools. The method is the same as described above. Needle files are more aggressive than an emery board, so care is needed not to overdo it. If you do, the cutting edges may be sharp, but they won't meet properly because the gripping jaws at the front will close first.

So, although this method will work perfectly well for extending the life of your wire cutters and other tools where the blades are prominent, it may not be successful with combination or lineman pliers. In many situations, the time and effort is not worth it. Replacing something like Knipex Combination Pliers could run you around $30, but a similar tool from a different brand, like the Dowell Lineman's Pliers will cost less than $10 (about the same as those needle files). When you compare costs, buying new rather than sharpening dull pliers becomes an affordable option.

Interestingly, having blunt cutting edges doesn't necessarily mean your pliers can't cut. Confused? Well, pliers have a hidden feature that many people are unaware of. It's called a joint cutter, and it's the part of the pliers you should be using for heavy-duty wire cutting instead of the blades. Utilizing this can allow you to get some extra life out of your pliers, helping to avoid this issue altogether.