Blade sharpening questions

[wedge40]

Originally Posted by johnnylight

thanks for the replys.

I bought 3 new blades and would like to keep the others for back up.
I currently use a Milwaukee die grinder while the blades are still on.(looking for the best way)
wow what a pain in the --- taking these blades off.--Do you have any tips on a better way to get them off I used a block 4x4 then I use breaking bar with a pipe for a extender and bang she pops then I used the ratchet, my impact gun will not do it.

getting back to the right tool for the job of sharpening --is the bench grinder the only one with the built in angle feature?

I ended up getting a 3/4" impact wrench from Harbor freight. I think the torque is over 1000 ft-lbs. This will snap the nut loose and the you still have hammer the bolt out. I just went through this in the spring. Might tackle it again in the fall.. Didn't have all the grinding wheels I needed.

Wedge

[ampsucker]

i use an agressive rattail file and do them by hand. it offers the best control and you only take off the material you need to get it back to sharp without gouging out chunks of material.

if they are really bad, i use an angle or bench grinder. but, then again, they shouldn't be really bad unless you out brush hogging with your mower. i mow at 3-4" and rarely hit a rock and only the occasional limb. you should police your mowing area before mowing and you won't have much grinding to do.

amp

[thatguy]

Originally Posted by barneyrb

I use a 4.5" angle grinder with a flapper wheel, I think in 60 grit. Doesn't heat the edge and turn it blue nearly as quick Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices and leaves a very smooth edge, almost polished.

This is what I am using as well.. For my infrequent needs a HF $12-15 (on sale), 4.5" grinder and a flap disc does a good job.. I try to get them sharp but not so sharp you can easily cut yourself if you touch them..

As mentioned I use put them in a vise (another HF great buy - $60 normaly but with coupon it was $29) and follow the original angle.

I have tried using a stand grinder but it didnt offer the flexibility of the hand grinder in getter the angle i wanted..

Brian

[thatguy]

Originally Posted by johnnylight

thanks for the replys.

I bought 3 new blades and would like to keep the others for back up.
I currently use a Milwaukee die grinder while the blades are still on.(looking for the best way)
wow what a pain in the --- taking these blades off.--Do you have any tips on a better way to get them off I used a block 4x4 then I use breaking bar with a pipe for a extender and bang she pops then I used the ratchet, my impact gun will not do it.

getting back to the right tool for the job of sharpening --is the bench grinder the only one with the built in angle feature?

Like a lot of things getting them off the first time was the hardest part.. I ended up using a 1/2 drive socket and a piece of pipe to get enough leverage.. I do not put them back on as tight though..

to keep the blades from moving i use a blade holder i got at Lowes that works pretty good.. I have tried the block of wood trick, but everything you let off the pressure the wood would drop free.. here is a link to what I have http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl....=4&test=testpl The worst part is finding a place on the deck so it can be mounted..


Brian

[jsboening]

Impact gun and angle grinder with the flexible sanding wheel. With the impact gun getting all three blades off is a two minute job.

[johnnylight]

Originally Posted by wedge40

I ended up getting a 3/4" impact wrench from Harbor freight. I think the torque is over 1000 ft-lbs. This will snap the nut loose and the you still have hammer the bolt out. I just went through this in the spring. Might tackle it again in the fall.. Didn't have all the grinding wheels I needed.

Wedge

1000 torque wow I should check this out what are they going for?

[johnnylight]

Does anybody have the built in angle adjustment? makes it sound simple to get the right angle and not unbalanced.

[wedge40]

Originally Posted by johnnylight

1000 torque wow I should check this out what are they going for?

Ok so I was off by a few ft-lbs.
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
They are not cheap, but my bush-hog required my nuts to be torqued to 650 ft-lbs. To get them loose the first time I had to have a friend come over and help break them loose. 3/4" breaker bar and a 5' pipe. Each nut snapped loose and my friend ended up sitting on the ground.

Wedge

[Timber]

I always use a disk sander to address deep nicks but you always dress the edge with a cold file. Doesn't matter what the edge is on. That is the way to do it

[Bird]

Originally Posted by Timber

I always use a disk sander to address deep nicks but you always dress the edge with a cold file. Doesn't matter what the edge is on. That is the way to do it

OK, but why do you need to dress the edge with a file?