David Lock

A long shot I know

I want to take the two blades apart on some garden shears to sharpen them on my Tormek grindstone. The blades are held in place by a central locking nut and bolt. In the good ol' days this was done simply by using a spanner. Nowadays the central bolt has a "nut" on one side with slots in that seems to need a special tool to undo it.

It's that tool that I want. You'd think it would be simple but I have tried garden centres (that sell the damn shears), hardware stores, Google etc but drawn a complete blank. I don't recall ever seeing such a tool or buying shears with tool included. Surely it must be reasonable to want to take shears apart for sharpening?

Ideas? d

n one

iTrader: (5)

Is it possible to attatch mole grips to the slotted head bolt thingy? Failing that, could you saw through the bolt or grind it off and replace it with a decent one.


Neil

David Lock

Thanks for that thought. No the strange nut is sort of conical shape with no real area to get a grip on. As for grinding off I didn't mention that these are other people's shears as I offer a local blade sharpening service so I can't do that! Cheers, David

PS. I'll give Wilkinson's a ring on Monday and see what they have to say.

Chip

David,

Could you file two flat edges either side of the round nut enough to get a spanner onto.

Chip

David Lock

Hi Chip

An old sheap shearer's trick?

Thanks but as I mentioned they are not my shears to abuse! I did manage to use a pair of long-nosed pliers to "hold" the nut in place whilst I tried to unscrew from other end but the bloody thing still wouldn't shift. I have concluded that they are designed like that and they are not intended to come apart. Part of the throw away society I think

I'll see what Wilkinsons have to say when I call them Monday.

Chip

Not me no, maybe Benni could help you on the shearing though.


Chip

David Lock

And on the spelling sheap!!! Can't believe I did that. doh

what would scooby do

stop wasting our time and get the miser to buy some new shears

Chip

I'll excuse you on that as your english

Chip

fast bloke

If you have lots of them to do you could make your own tool. Take a plaster of paris mould, take a mould of the mould so you have an identical shape to the bolt, pour chemical liquid metal into the second mould and then stick a screwdriver into the liquid metal before it sets. ( You can use play-doh instead of plaster of paris but you inevitably **** it up trying to make the second mould - fibreglass resin also works and will give you a more accurate tool, but it is way harder to work with than plaster of paris)

David Lock

Thanks FB. I was thinking along the lines of trying to make up a tool of sorts if I can't get something from a manufacturer.

WWSD. My apologies for taking time out of your busy schedule Great business idea of your's though - "Sorry little old lady down the road. I can't sharpen your shears so keep your £4.50 and go and spend £25 on a new pair"

POC

Hi David, I have a set of these babies and they come in very handy!

http://loja.najashop.com/loja/images...R%20WRENCH.jpg

They will pretty much grip/undo anything I have come across, rounded nuts, studs, you name it!

Might do the job for you?

David Lock

Thanks POC - they certainly look the part. Bit more professional than my wobbly cheap mole grips

Reminds me of my old dentist