When you own a garden auger, it’s imperative that you know how to maintain it in order to keep it working in perfect condition. Aside from using garden auger parts in order to help you loosen and remove the soil around your garden beds, there are other considerations that need to be taken into account. One of these is ensuring that your garden auger drills bits are kept sharp. By sharpening your own bits, you can ensure that they will do their job for you, which will ensure that your garden is as good as new.
As anyone with garden equipment and tools can tell you, the world of gardening can get quite messy at times. This is especially true if you are working in an area that has hard clay soil, and that has a tendency to expand when temperatures rise above 100 degrees. The expansion of the clay soil can cause small holes to form in your garden equipment, which is a major safety concern. In order to prevent this from happening, you need to sharpen your equipment using a special type of compound.
There are many brands out there, but Ace Hardware carries one of the most popular brands in the market. Using this type of brand, will ensure that your equipment remains sharp and can do its job in the most efficient manner possible. Here is how to sharpen your drill bit:
First, you need to locate the “Ace Pocket” which is located on the top of the garden auger. Once you have located this bit, you should tap it slightly. This will serve two purposes. If you are just drilling a hole in the ground for something such as a garden hose, you will not need to use much pressure. However, if you are planning on digging a larger hole, then you will want to tap it harder.
Next, place your hand into the drilled hole. The reason for this is so that you can feel where the bit is going. If it begins to dig into the dirt too quickly, you may end up with an injury. Instead, you will want to move your arm in and out to ensure that the bit continues to rotate smoothly. Also, be sure to use your other hand to push the drill in and out as you turn it, so that you don’t put too much force on the drill.
Now that you have moved your hand in and out to allow the bit to rotate correctly, you should slowly close the drill bit until the hole is dug a little bit. After it is dug to the correct depth, you should then begin to tighten the nut on the spindle and re-arm the garden tool. This will ensure that your equipment works properly and you don’t have to constantly adjust it. This is especially important if you have a smaller garden tool.
Finally, reassemble your garden auger and place everything back in the hole. You will probably need someone to help you put it all back together, but at least you will know that it is fully functional again before you try to use it. Be sure that you thoroughly read and understand the directions provided with your equipment. Most people find that it is quite easy to assemble the equipment and that they can put it together in just a few minutes. Once you finish up, be sure to thoroughly test the garden tool to ensure that it is working correctly.
Remember that these are some simple steps that you can take to ensure that your equipment functions properly when you are digging. If you do not follow the directions properly, you could potentially injure yourself or damage the equipment. For this reason, be sure that you learn how to properly use your drill and how to reset it after you are done drilling. You should also be sure to read through the instructions that you receive from your equipment manufacturer in case you have any questions about how to use the equipment.