Most reel mower owners still own rotary mowers. They make good vacuums :rofl:cnet24 said:
I use an angle grinder to get the right profile then use a file to finish the edge.
Rotary Mower- Blade Sharpening
Ok, so I know I just disqualified about half of this board by asking a question about rotary mowers (haha), but I'm curious to hear some of your preferred methods to sharpen your blade.
Reason I ask, I went to sharpen both of my blades tonight with this kit from Home Depot, while trying to go the cheap route:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Arnold-Universal-Lawn-Mower-Blade-Sharpening-Kit-490-850-0006/300615901
I came away very unimpressed. The process took way longer than I expected, the blades didn't come out nearly has sharp as I had hoped, and I burned through almost half of the sharpening stone bit.
How do you keep your blades sharp?
Reason I ask, I went to sharpen both of my blades tonight with this kit from Home Depot, while trying to go the cheap route:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Arnold-Universal-Lawn-Mower-Blade-Sharpening-Kit-490-850-0006/300615901
I came away very unimpressed. The process took way longer than I expected, the blades didn't come out nearly has sharp as I had hoped, and I burned through almost half of the sharpening stone bit.
How do you keep your blades sharp?
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I use an angle grinder to get the right profile then use a file to finish the edge.
I use an angle die grinder with my air compressor. I clamp my blades to a table, bust out the die grinder with a "medium" sanding pad and go to town. I try to match the angle of the existing grind, but I don't stress over it. I grind it down until it's sharp. Takes just a few minutes per blade.
Here are the sanding pads I use:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HZMUNMK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_13?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3FV4MIBE1RGSA
Here are the sanding pads I use:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HZMUNMK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_13?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3FV4MIBE1RGSA
I use a simple bench grinder that's older than I am.
Haha, that's one way to keep the rotary in commission once you make the switch. Which I can say, I have the itch now to get a reel since joining this forum :shock:J_nick said:Most reel mower owners still own rotary mowers. They make good vacuums :rofl:cnet24 said:Ok, so I know I just disqualified about half of this board by asking a question about rotary mowers (haha)
I use an angle grinder to get the right profile then use a file to finish the edge.
Thanks for the info.
Awesome, thanks for the link. If you use a rotary as your main mower, what's the lowest setting you are willing to go to cut?chrismar said:I use an angle die grinder with my air compressor. I clamp my blades to a table, bust out the die grinder with a "medium" sanding pad and go to town. I try to match the angle of the existing grind, but I don't stress over it. I grind it down until it's sharp. Takes just a few minutes per blade.
Here are the sanding pads I use:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HZMUNMK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_13?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3FV4MIBE1RGSA
I'm a cool season guy with a commercial walk behind mower. Changing heights on it is a royal b*tch, so I try not to adjust it unless I absolutely have to. For me, that usually means about twice a year: 3" for fall and spring, 4" for summer.cnet24 said:Awesome, thanks for the link. If you use a rotary as your main mower, what's the lowest setting you are willing to go to cut?
As low as possible with Bermuda without scalping it. If you're getting a lot of half moons then go up a notch.cnet24 said:....what's the lowest setting you are willing to go to cut?
Kind of upset this didn't come with a picture!dfw_pilot said:I use a simple bench grinder that's older than I am.
I use an angle grinder with flapper disk. Takes about 30 seconds per blade.
Angle grinder with flap disc for me too...works great and you can see the angle you're getting on the blade better than with a bench grinder
Angle grinder ($5 at harbor freight) and flap disc (forget the cost but similar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXWNon54juw
I found doing it this way to be a lot easier than the bench grinder I previously used. You can follow the angle of the blade much easier because you see the angle. When you use a bench grinder you are kinda guessing because the part you are sharpening is opposite of you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXWNon54juw
I found doing it this way to be a lot easier than the bench grinder I previously used. You can follow the angle of the blade much easier because you see the angle. When you use a bench grinder you are kinda guessing because the part you are sharpening is opposite of you.
I've been sharpening my blades with a die grinder and Roloc discs for years. If you'd like a video demonstration of this method, Wranglerstar has a nice video showing you this method on how to do it this way. I really enjoy watching his videos regardless. This one is about 5 years old. His channel is great.
https://youtu.be/oKvONc59Erg
https://youtu.be/oKvONc59Erg
Angle grinder and flap disk it is. Appreciate everyone's input!
Grassdaddy- Newly subscribed to the YouTube channel, great work.
Grassdaddy- Newly subscribed to the YouTube channel, great work.
I used to have a proper grinder for rotary blades, did a fantastic job. Sold it with my trailer (was a mobile SE shop) though so it's back to the angle grinder for me. Find a way to prop and hold the grinder steady and you might surprise yourself how well you do. Oh yeah, when it's sharp, I will square the leading edge so instead of a razor point, just so it's about a 1/32" (less than a mm) flat face. Performs more better for longer like that.
I hand file. Files really aren't that hard to get the feel for if you just give a little time. Mower blade steels aren't tempered that hard so really any file should bite in fine. OF course a quality one made in USA, Swiss, or Germany will be even better. Follow the flat surface angle the blade already has. You are just cleaning up the edge to bring it back. You can do this with minimal material removal and get a super sharp edge. File into the edge, wear gloves. Hand tools are much more forgiving than power tools.
+1 - although I probably average closer to 34.5 seconds.Overfloater said:I use an angle grinder with flapper disk. Takes about 30 seconds per blade.
I just recently purchased the Dremel blade sharpening kit, but haven't had a chance to use it. If it doesn't work well, I'll go to the angle grinder. I've always paid $10 and had them sharpened once a year, but now that I'm trying to have a really good yard, I'm trying to learn and keep a sharper blade.
As many have said, angle grinder and a flap disc. Takes a couple seconds each side.
Same here. Bench grinder. I probably buy new blades sooner than I actually need to.dfw_pilot said:I use a simple bench grinder that's older than I am.
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
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