Sharpening mower blades and other scientific stuff

[butchd]

It soon will be mowing time in the "Bible Belt". As a kid or as a young man I hated it. Now it's the high point of my life. Oh, getting nekkid with all my sagging glory as three nurses (always the youngest and prettiest on staff) rub me down with Betadine and strategicly place sterile drapes so the bald Urologist can run the scope up my "Johnson" rates way up there too.. Personally, I think I've come up with some of my best one-liners at such festive times. It offers the girls a chance to release some of their pent up laughter so I have 'em rolling in the aisles.

Mowing has some practical worth. It lets you know if you really are a year older since the last time you started the Craftsman. The smartest cardiologist I ever went to started his interview with me by asking if I still mowed with a walking mower. I finally gave in to self-propelled but I always feel a little better about myself when I've completed another circuit around the place one more time. Wish I could still cool off out there under the Cedar tree with a few beers. Dang, I miss it then. But I digress.

What's your choice, 12 inch mill (expletive deleted) file or electric device?
Any secrets to share?

 

[Faulkner]

I use a bench grinder and then finish it off with a file.

 

[oldfella]

I used to do mine with the bastard, when it was only one blade and I could do the rounds walking behind that roaring monster; but now I can no longer enjoy the walk, and the three blades go to the shop, and I sit high on the roaring monster.

 

[Frailer]

I use an angle grinder.

 

[DeathGrip]

I use Edwardo.

D.G.

 

[relic]

Bench Mount Belt Grinder

I use a 2 X 42 bench mount Craftsman belt griinder. I have various grit belts but unless a blade has major damage, most or the work is just finish edging. I do a number of blades for neighbor buds. They donate beer to the garage 'fridge. It's all good.

Bob in Indy

 

[DeathGrip]

I drink Edwardos' beer.

D.G.

 

[jahwarrior72]

It soon will be mowing time in the "Bible Belt". As a kid or as a young man I hated it. Now it's the high point of my life. Oh, getting nekkid with all my sagging glory as three nurses (always the youngest and prettiest on staff) rub me down with Betadine and strategicly place sterile drapes so the bald Urologist can run the scope up my "Johnson" rates way up there too.. Personally, I think I've come up with some of my best one-liners at such festive times. It offers the girls a chance to release some of their pent up laughter so I have 'em rolling in the aisles.

i just wanted to say, i loved this paragraph.

 

[bobelk99]

I vote for the angle grinder and industrial edge.

 

[gregintenn]

I mow my yard with a tractor and bushog. I sharpen the blades with a hand grinder.

 

[oldRoger]

I use a belt grinder, it’s a 4”X 24” mounted on a bench, and with a fine belt I can do a nice even job and take off very little metal.

 

[Timman]

Dont forget to balance the blade on the rotary mowers after sharpening.

 

[Bekeart]

Use a single cut file and DRAW file the blade.

Some times I think I am the only person who still knows how to draw file.

Bekeart

 

[truckemup97]

I used an angle grinder (with the blade still on the mower) with poor results last year. It was, however, faster than the file I used before that. This winter, though, I found a bench grinder on sale. I'll have to take the blade off, but it'll get a better edge.

I have a "rock chucker" and a "finish mower", too. I use the nice Craftsman mower in the front and side yards, and save the old Murray for the backyard with all it's hazards.

 

[Glitch]

Bench grinder. Quick and effective. We have so many stones and rocks that I remove, sharpen, and replace the blade almost every time I mow. I try to keep an extra blade ready to go so I can just make a quick switch. Big bench vise and big pipe wrench are used to salvage seriously pretzeled blades. It's a PITA, but part of the price paid for living on "geologically interesting" land.

 

[mwtdvm]

Not limber enough to drop the deck, unhook all the crap and then get the blades off, so I will

1. put it on the utv trailer
2. Secure it with ropes and chains
3. Haul it to the John Deere dealer for servicing and sharpening
4. Bring it home the next week and have fun for the rest of the season.

Yea it costs more but well worth it. Besides helps the local economy.

 

[Vegetaman]

I use a bench grinder and then finish it off with a file.

This is how I do mine. I have one of those little balances, too. Works okay for the $2 I paid.

And usually right after I sharpen it, I (or whomever I sharpened it for) will go and smack a piece of concrete with it the first mowing.

 

[tallpaul]

I use an angle grinder... I recently went from the 4.5 to an 8 incher. I use the sandpaper on an angle wheel- the one that weras off the dull area of the blade and refreshes with "new paper" as ya use it- good stuff.

I want to figure out a way to do them on my horizontal mill due to dust and noise but its not a priority.

I mow commercially though and I think for a homeowner the 4.5 angle grider with the sandpaper wheels would be good enough.

 

[m657]

Several years ago I came across a yard sale with a used planer blade grinder for cheap. It has two separate stones, one with a water drip and stabilizing anvil.

Gives the best edge I've ever managed to produce on mower blades. Only use it a couple times a year on the riding mower.

 

[Jellybean]

My wife had to have a Yard Machine by MTD, the blades are disposable and don't last long enough to need sharpening.