Sharpening Blades

[LawnBoy627]

What is the best way to sharpen blades? With a hand grinder or bench grinder? Also how often should blades be sharpens?
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[Nate'sLawnCare]

The "best" way to sharpen blades is with a dedicated blade sharpening machine, but not all of us can justify that expense. I use a bench grinder and try to sharpen before they get really dull. Otherwise, it effects the cut quality and takes much more effort to restore the blade edge. I'd say my blades normally don't go more than 6 or 8 hours at the most without being sharpened and I try to keep a sharp spare set ready all the time in case I don't have time to stop and sharpen.

[Sprinkler Buddy]

Their are a few post on here on this very topic, search for them, they will answer your questions and then some. :-)

[grasshopperslawn]

We sharpen blades everyday

[Mickhippy]

Originally Posted by Nate'sLawnCare

The "best" way to sharpen blades is with a dedicated blade sharpening machine, but not all of us can justify that expense.

I dont know how you cant justify the initial expense! The amount of time saved on daily maintenance, ease of use, extended blade lifespan etc make a dedicated sharpener a very good purchase! Its up there with air compressor, a good impact wrench and air gun. If your in the business long term, get shop tools that make life easier and saves money long term.

Heres a vid. Excuse the talking etc, seemed a good idea at the time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZyZy...HkqgRFLbcdGSgQ

[Landrus2]

If you practice enough a hand grinder will do a great job. And for how often every day.
We usually sharpen blades on service day. We sharpen like 50 blades at a time from different machines and every morning we switch them.

[Magna-Matic]

Hello All,

Just posting so any new people to lawnsite have our website link.

Aside from our equipment we do provide educational information at our site about lawnmower blade tip geometry and information about proper balance.

If you are not in the market for a lawnmower blade sharpener, we generally recommend a good machinist metal file over bench grinders or angle grinders. Simply due to the fact that with those motorized options where you "free hand" the angle - it is very difficult to maintain any consistency of the angle.
So while it is slower, the file will allow you much better control of the quality.

www.magna-matic.com

Thank you,

[LawnGuy73]

Originally Posted by Magna-Matic

Hello All,

Just posting so any new people to lawnsite have our website link.

Aside from our equipment we do provide educational information at our site about lawnmower blade tip geometry and information about proper balance.

If you are not in the market for a lawnmower blade sharpener, we generally recommend a good machinist metal file over bench grinders or angle grinders. Simply due to the fact that with those motorized options where you "free hand" the angle - it is very difficult to maintain any consistency of the angle.
So while it is slower, the file will allow you much better control of the quality.

www.magna-matic.com

Thank you,

^^^ Agreed, spendy but worth every dime! ^^^

[BckYrdLmbrJk]

I've tried several methods throughout the past couple years. I don't like using my bench grinder for blades, occasionally for a quick sharpen I'll put each blade in a vise and run a grinder over in from the inside to the outside with equal pressure.

The problem with doing it this way, atleast for me is that after a while your blades will get a curve in them thats hard to get rid of.

Now I use a metal chop saw with a blade that's about 12" in diameter. I hold the saw in the raised position and sharpen the mower blade against the side of the saw blade. This way I get a straight even sharpen. I think this is the best way for me to sharpen blades, and the quickest, but it doesn't work well on blades that already have that curve cut into them so watch for that

[grasshopperslawn]

We use a magnamatic blade sharpener.