How to make your garden scissors last

Keeping your hand-forged Japanese tools in good condition doesn’t just extend their life—it helps them work better, feel better in hand, and honour the craftsmanship behind them. Whether you’re using secateurs, shears, or garden knives, proper maintenance keeps them performing at their best and helps prevent long-term wear.

We’re often asked:

How do you remove sap from garden scissors?
How often should you oil garden tools?
What’s the best way to prevent rust on secateurs?

Here’s our step-by-step guide to caring for your tools—both daily and monthly.

Illustration of pruning shears, camellia oil bottle, sap remover, and sharpening stone on a textured background. — Caring for your garden scissors – Camellia Oil, Sap Remover, and Sharpening Stone

Daily Maintenance – The Simple Habit That Matters

1. Wipe after every use.
Always. Moisture is the enemy of any blade. If your tools get wet—either from plant sap or water – the best practice is wipe them dry immediately with a clean cloth.

2. Sap matters too.
Some plants, like jasmine, release a heavy sap that can gum up your blades. After pruning, wipe the blade clean using a light lubricant spray (such as WD-40) or a specialised sap remover to maintain smooth cutting. Leaving the sap to sit only makes it harder to clean later—regular light cleaning saves time in the long run. And when it comes to Japanese forged hand tools, “the long run” can mean decades. So it pays to care.

Monthly Maintenance – A Deeper Clean

Over time, plant sap and fine particles settle inside the joints of your tools. This buildup can make them stiff or misaligned, even if the blade still looks sharp.

Prevent Rust on Secateurs and Shears

Clean the Joints Thoroughly. Generously apply sap cleaner into the joints and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, shake the tool until no liquid comes out—this removes hidden gunk inside.

For Heavy Build-up

If there’s a lot of sap, soak the tool in warm water for 10–15 minutes. Sap is water-soluble, and this helps loosen it. Be sure to remove all water from the joints afterward—shake it thoroughly until it’s dry to prevent rust.

Tools & Products to Use

We recommend using a rust and sap remover from the Shokunin Store range. When cleaning, be gentle—especially on the back of the blade. It’s okay if it doesn’t come clean in one go. Repeat the same process after a few days and you’ll see gradual improvement.

Professional Tips: From the Field

Our trusted users share their practical advice:

Use a rubber eraser-type cleaner like our Sap and Rust Remover to gently scrub sap and rust from your tools.
When cleaning the back of the blade, go very gently as the back blades of Japanese scissors are concave. For other areas, avoid rubbing the blade edge directly. If unsure, consult the maker. It’s okay if you can’t remove all the sap at once. Even repeating the process weekly will slowly make the tool cleaner.

Final Step: Oil It Well

Once your tools are clean and dry, it’s time to apply tool oil. You might be wondering: What’s the best oil for rusty tools? We recommend camellia tool oil. It’s a light, non-drying oil that won’t leave a sticky residue. Our 100% Camellia Seed Oil is even better—it’s edible-grade and exceptionally safe to use, even on kitchen tools or your hands.

How do you oil garden scissors? It’s very simple. Some scissor manufacturers recommend applying oil only to the joints and moving parts, but many users prefer to apply it more broadly—anywhere rust tends to form.

Protecting Your Scissors During Storage

Same goes for when you are not using your scissors for months. Just coat the blades with oil, then wipe off the excess.

Deep Rust Care

If your tools are fully rusted, here’s what one of our pro users does:

Wet the tool and spray with a mix of detergent, bicarbonate soda, and washing soda.
Scrub with a nylon brush (or a brass brush gently, avoiding the edge).

Sharpening – When & How Often?

Thanks to the high-grade materials used by artisan makers like Yoshioka Hamono and Tobisho, the blade typically retains sharpness for a long time—even with daily use. Rather than sharpening too frequently (and risking damage), consider sending your tool for professional maintenance once every 1 to 2 years.

The reason tools feel dull isn’t always the blade itself—it’s often the buildup of grime that shifts the alignment. So regular cleaning of both the surface and the joints may be more important than sharpening.