Blade sharpen?

[bridges]

So how does every one sharpen their mower blades?<br>I use a bench grinder, but have no where to rest the blade and the motor gets in the way. And i also use a belt sander. that works better, but go thru belts once a month. I sharpen my blades every week. <p>

[MOW ED]

If you don't want to spend 400+ on a blade sharpener then get yourself a good vise and a decent angle grinder. Dont sharpen the blade like a knife. Sharpen it like an axe. Make sure you balance the blade or you will be in the market for new spindles too. Good Luck.

[southside]

I agree with MowEd,it would be easier to use<br>a 4&quot; angle grinder.If you can though,leave<br>the blades on the mower,yhat is if you have<br>easy access.<p>Karl<br>

[DMC300]

THE BENCH GRINDER IS TO SLOW AND AWKWARD,I USE A BENCH VISE AND A 7&quot; GRINDER.BALANCERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL AND ONLY COST $2.<p>----------<br>DON<br>LIANNES' MOWING

[Alan]

I sharpen with an angle grinder and balance afterwards. I can't see any way to justify the ridiculous cost of a dedicated blade grinder. Can anyone tell me exactly what the advantage of using one is supposed to be?

[Toroguy]

I use a bench grinder, and finish with a file and balancing. I sharpen every other day during summer, every day during fall clean-ups.

[bridges]

Thanks i just came back from home depot. I bought dewalt angle grinder. Works Great<p>----------<br>Tony<br>

[yardsmith]

be sure to check a previous post from back in feb-march of this year. Had lots of info.<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[gene gls]

The easyest and fastest way to sharpen a blade is with a dedicated blade grinder.The enichal cost is returned many times over and your angles are always the same whitch makes it easier and faster. I change blades every day or sooner depending on the property.

[AB Lawn Care]

I agree with gene gls.I bought a professional blade sharpener and It has worked awsome!!!!!Also I made a cheap way to balance my blades.Find two bearings that fit in the bolt hole in the center of your blade.Then attach the bearings to each other with a nut and bolt system.Take the bearings that are now on the bolt and attach it to a 2 by 4 peice of wood.Then take the bord with the bolt and berings and mount it on you shop wall.All you have to do is place the blade on the berings horizontally and let go.If one side is heavy it will swing down.Just take the blade off and grind it untill their balanced.Hope this will save you guys some money it is cheaper than an electronic one and more accurate than placing it on somthing like a nail.<p>from:Adam<p>AB Lawn Care<br>

[Eric ELM]

I have to agree with Gene, the blade grinders are great. I bought one this spring and it is the easiest way to sharpen a blade there is. Once you get all the blades sharpened the same angle, it is very easy to resharpen them. Is it me or do they seem to stay sharper longer to you guys too.<p>I extended the length of my table by 4&quot; and it seems to make it easier for me to use now. I'll never go back to the hand grinder again. This is the best way for me.<p>Adam: I like your idea for a balancer. I am going to do this same thing. Thanks for sharing.<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.townserver.com/elm/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<p><br>

[PLS]

Eric:<br>Glad you replied. I was wondering the other day how you were liking your grinder. I remember the earlier discussion about blade grinders when you decided to go buy one. I as well went from a hand grinder to a RBG blade grinder, that was 6 years ago and I've never regreted spending that $400 one minute. They work great.

[Eric ELM]

PLS:<br>It was you telling me that these grinding wheels last for years that helped me decide to buy. Knowing what I know now about them, if the wheels only lasted a year, I'd buy another one. The problem I had with the hand grinders is the arthritus in my shoulder made it very painful to sharpen blades. Now I only have to move a blade back and forth, which is easy for me to do now. Thanks to all the guys that posted in the original grinder post, I can now sharpen blades without a lot of pain.<br>Over the past 15 years, I have spent more money on hand grinders and a vise than what the RBG cost me. I still haven't ordered the diamond dresser, but will soon.<br>For you guys that are wondering about the RBG blade sharpeners, the whole motor and wheel raises and lowers with a crank to set the blade angle adjustment and the blade lays on a flat table. Once you get your angle set, you can tighten it down in that spot to have consistant angles. The motor will run both directions for left or right hand blades. The link to see it is http://www.amleo.com/help-desk/item.php?bg218

[Edited by Eric ELM on 12-16-2000 at 04:27 PM]

[Toroguy]

The peer pressure is driving me towards the RGB!<p>Sounds alot nicer/ effective than my method

[ZYAL8R]

what model RGB grinder do you guys use??

[Eric ELM]

The model I use is the 2181P RBG by Wall Enterprises. This is the picture of it at Leonards, but their catolog number is 218. The link to see it is https://www.amleo.com/help-desk/item.php?bg218



[Edited by Eric ELM on 10-23-2000 at 02:28 AM]

[ZYAL8R]

anyone have the RBG model BG121? 1/2hp, 8 inch wheel. 316.99 from Mow More

[gene gls]

I for got to mention in my earlier post that I also use a 4&quot; vertical stand mounted belt sander to grind the nicks flat on the bottom of the blade so it makes it easier grinding on the blade grinder.I don't double angle grind my blades like some guys do.The bad nicks will catch the edge of the blade rest and make the blade jump as you grind it.<p>Eric: Save your $$'s on the diamond dresser and use a dressing stone.You can't hold the blade square to the wheel when you grind so the wheel wears uneven.The diamond dresser will waste alot of wheel keeping it flat.<br>

[PLS]

I like my diamond dresser, I can sure tell a difference after I use it. It takes a little effort, but I don't have that much trouble keeping my blade square. But, I am pretty careful about just taking a slight amount off when I'm dressing it off, and I do it before it gets very bad. Just a touch up now and then.<p>Mine is a 2181P also, but I got lucky and got a 3/4 HP motor on mine,mmmmmm that baby purrrrrrs.<p>How is everyone dealing with the dust? I'm not talking about the grit box, but the fine steel dust that comes from it.<p>

[tom]

I agree, RBG best unit in the world.We bought our first one about six years ago! It is still is in operation today. I think we have saved alot of money in doing this. We sharpen about 12 blades a day. We also extended the &quot;table&quot; by the width of a 2X4 to keep things more level.

[Millertime34]

I bought the same model RBG that Eric did about a month and a half ago after reading the grinder posts about that time. It is great. It will save alot of time and the edges will be consistent. Approximately what angle do you guys grind at. I have a Lazer and I set the grinder to cut the same as a brand new blade, but I think I read a while back that some of you experimented with different angles to see what cut better or maybe lasted a little longer. I'll do a search and see what I find. Any thoughts on this subject?<p>----------<br>Bryan..Heartland Lawn Care<br>heartlandlawn@hotmail.com

[Millertime34]

I found a couple of answer to my blade angle question. Some cut at approx 30 degrees and some try match factory blades. Any other thoughts?<p>----------<br>Bryan..Heartland Lawn Care<br>heartlandlawn@hotmail.com

[Eric ELM]

Bryan:<br>I put a brand new blade in mine and matched it. I didn't put an angle gauge on it, but I'd guess it's close to 30 degrees. This grinder sure has given me a whole new outlook on blade sharpening. I'm almost starting to enjoy this job. :)<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.townserver.com/elm/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<br>

[gorrell]

I must agree with Eric that the rbg is the best investment i've made in a good while. Last Sunday I sharpened over 100 blades that I'd put off since finishing last fall. It didn't take over two hours, and most of them look like new. There is no substitute for a dedicated blade grinder. The $400 you spend for one is definitely money well spent. Lynn

[slagerlawncare]

i found a retired guy that has been sharpening blades for many years...i pass the work onto him.1.50 a blade..my time is worth more than that..plus buying the grinder etc...

[bdemir]

I have returened my small rgb and purchased a new one the 218 model and i think it is a great investment because you will always have sharp blades. This will make your lawns always look good and make it a little easier on the mower. If you change them everyday then think about it you will save adn the blades will always stay straight and sharp.Why is it not worth it exspecially if you live in the northern regions where blades get dull so much faster. You might pick up more work if your blades are sharper. Maybe or maybe not but i just like doing things the best i can then i know i did my best and without the sharpest blade possible then your lawns cant look as good period.<br>

[PLS]

I've played with the angle a little, not much. The OEM angle was 30 degrees and I went to a 35 degree angle. I use the same angle on my Scag walk behind and a 21&quot; Honda. It seemed to me that it didn't take as long to sharpen and that it held its edge a little better. I havn't tried a 40 degree angle, I was pleased with the 35. I use a 12&quot;flat file to remove the nicks and any curl on the bottom edge of the blade, it's quick, cheap and works well.

[jrblawncare]

Well,you guys should be in sales,I guess we are anyway...I have just ordered the Leonard catalog to check out the blade grinders.I had a guy up north that did my blades for me with a blade grinder,He did a great job for me,even a fresh coat of paint when he was done.How is Leonard to deal with {price & service} or should I shop around a bit,Thanks <p>----------<br>John <br>

[gene gls]

A.M.Lenord is a good Company.I use them now and then. Their price may be higher than others but they have stuff that others don't.Their catolog is on their web site.

[Eric ELM]

John, I thought their prices were fair and if the order is over $400, it's free shipping and it got here in 3 days.<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.townserver.com/elm/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<br>