Dedicated blade sharpener?

[Mike_S]

Although I have used my bench grinder, hand grinder, files and have found my stationary 48 inch belt sander to do the best job of sharpening the blades for my mower deck, I am interested in a commercial dedicated mower blade sharpener. Does anyone know of any dedicated blade sharpeners for mower blades? Mike S.

 

[Mrwurm]

Mike, I don't know where you could get one or if such a thing even exists, but I have often dreamed of a big (say 14 in dia) wet wheel that would sharpen my blades and not heat them up and ruin the temper.

 

[hogboy]

Mike, take a look at www.lawnsite.com. Check under the commercial lawn care section. I'm sure you will find info on a sharpener there.Good luck.

 

[jhburke]

I just looked in my Maple GRove catalog. They have one.
Maple Grove Distributing
10998 E State Rd 18
Galveston, IN 46932
1-800-356-0331 order line
Order a catalog. They have very decent prices.

 

[Mike_S]

Your response brings up another question--with whatever the Rockwell hardness of JD blades that I use, how hot can I get them without affecting the temper of the steel? For example, some tool steel does not loose its temper until it reaches 1100 degrees which means that it can even get red before it loses its temper, while another type of tool steel may loose its temper at 850 degrees, which means it an get black when sharpening, but not cherry red. Good answers bring more questions. Mike S.

 

[Mrwurm]

Mike, I am not very well versed in tool hardness. Often, when I am done sharpening things, the edge takes on a permanent 'blue' color. This always seems to happen if I get the blade very hot from agressive grinding. Maybe I need some schooling in this area.

 

[Turfman]

This has been discussed on Lawnsite.com. Any of the landscaper supply houses have them, but a good one that does a proper job is VERY expensive. I don't recall how much, but around $1,000 comes to mind. The general opinion there is that the cheaper ones don't do the job right and you are better off doing them like you are now than buying a cheap one.

 

[btest]

By way of introduction, I make hunting knives. If you see any color when grinding the blade, you have softened the blade. Those blades shouldn't see anything darker than a dark straw color or they are getting too soft. They will still be usable, but won't hold an edge as long. When grinding heat treated steel, I keep a 5 gallon bucket of water to dunk the blade in after every pass on the grinder. A belt grinder
doesn't heat up the steel near as bad as the stone ones.

 

[Mrwurm]

When you say a belt grinder, are you talking about the belt sander that I use to plane wooden doors. Can I use this tool to sharpen mower blades? I can't get quite the control that I desire using a bench grinder or angle grinder.

 

[Ozarker]

I have one that will fit the bill. It is about 100 years old and you sit on it and pedal it. The only thing that overheats is the operator.