Sharpening Lawnmower blades

[Beachman]

Hi all,

The blades on my mower are only a couple of months old and have to say they are rubbish when cutting grass and more importantly pushing the grass into the catcher.

When I mowed yesterday I got sick have having to go over the same area twice, so I looked at the blades and they don’t even have a sharp edge, but rather a flat edge about 1.5mm thick.

So has anyone got their grinder out and put edges on their blades?

Thanks

[cardinal28]

Yep - done it heaps of times. I put the mower up on a set of trestles to get under it rather than lie the mower on its side (fuel leaking issues can cause a huge problem). But still be very careful where you spray the sparks and have a fire extinguisher handy. Best to do outside and not in the shed.

[ivan]

Take the blades off to sharpen. Use never sieze type stuff when going back on then when they need resharpen or replace life is easy.

[Jeepers Creepers]

I never sharpen blades, just tweak the governor spring and rev it harder.
1.5mm of steel is stronger than grass, believe it or not.

On a good day, i get 2 weeks to a set of blades.
This time of year when its dry, a week is pretty good. 

[Nomad]

I have a poor old whatever its name mower that I bought in 2000. The bit that held the blades was so dinged up that it was making the whole thing vibrate so much that Jeepers would want to sit on it.

I bought one of those straight blade replacements from Bunnings a couple of years ago and run it through the grinder probably once a year.

I think it cost about $25 bucks and is way easier to deal with than blade bolts etc.

Heres a link, a little dearer now:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/victa-charger-lawnkeeper-mower-bar-blade_p3400227

Theres proably something wrong with it from purist mowers point of view but I don;t care that much and my grass is as green as anyones.

Cheers 

[itchvet]

Hi all,

The blades on my mower are only a couple of months old and have to say they are rubbish when cutting grass and more importantly pushing the grass into the catcher.

When I mowed yesterday I got sick have having to go over the same area twice, so I looked at the blades and they don’t even have a sharp edge, but rather a flat edge about 1.5mm thick.

So has anyone got their grinder out and put edges on their blades?

I certainly would not recommend sharpening lawn mower blades. The heat weakens then further, thus wearing out quicker. Also the thinner edge on the blade gets damaged easier and again wearing out quicker.
Such blades have also been known to break apart under load and injuring people, especially kids.
I cannot believe folks are so short of the ready, they cant afford new blades.

Thanks

[speewa158]

Mower Blades  this is a bane of mine & has been for many years . When cutting 20 to 25 lawns a day my first job of the day was change the blades . A sharp blade will cut with a clean almost surgical cut . This will help the grass  blades of grass quickly repair its self , spending its energy tillering from the base  . This will promote better growth ongoing  . A dull blade will smash the grass creating a haggard wound  , tearing the grass blade . The best description is a razor blade cut on your finger , held together will repair quickly . The same wound with a hack saw will take much longer to repair & heal . lt was put on to this by an Old Mate that explained it to me , he showed me the ruff cut of a dull blade & that of a sharp cut , Sharpen them on a bench grinder & cool them often in water . No Angle grinder , to harsh
My lawns grew better , stronger & longer  .
Sharp blades are the key to a great lawn ongoing                           

[kizza1]

Makes sense

[Jeepers Creepers]

"When cutting 20 to 25 lawns a day my first job of the day was change the blades"

Are you referring to unit courtyards or do you mean 20 to 25 lawns a week?

Most of the stuff we do is a min of 45 minutes to 1 hour 15mins per job from pull up to drive away.

[speewa158]

Most of my jobs were standard house lots nature strip , front & back lawn . The trick is to create pods of as many as possible park up & do 3 or 4 then move not far . Creating a compact round is where the money is Less drive more cutting .ln your case you seem to be doing a lot more ride on work as l wasn't in that side of the business .
Sharp blades are always a requirement                 

[GeoffA]

Start early, finish late, and RUN.....

[speewa158]

                   Beat the Feet