How to sharpen Brush mower Blades?

[MrSteve]

Ok I know it's a BIG lawn mower blade, but really what is the best way to sharpen brush mower blades? What should be used to sharpen the blade? Can you do a good job by leaving the blade on the mower? When do you know when they need to be sharpened? Can the blade be sharpen down to more of a "edge"? I understand the more of a edge you put on the blade that would make it that much closer to need sharpening or replaced.

I am asking the above because I would like to know if I can get a better cut from my brush mower. I have 11+ acres that has been mowed by a finish mower for 4+ years (by a riding mower, thank God that's over), so all my grass is clean from any "brush". I have used the "hog" to cut the grass last summer and it did "ok", just wondering if I can get it closer to a finish mower look. I guess one day I will get a nice 3pt finish mower, but for now the brush mower is all I have. ANY thought would be great to hear.

Mower is a 72" 3pt.

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Steve,
Hope you and the wife are enjoying your new tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

OK, some will probablly cringe when I say this. I use my Dewalt 5" angle grinder to touch the blades up now and then. If they get really knicked up from the boulders growing out in the field I will change the blades. I use a Woods SQ-60 Squealer bush hog. Out in the field, if those blades are anywhere near sharp they do a good enough job for me. And when I hit another boulder I dont feel as bad /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If your trying to do some semi finish mowing with that implement, well then you might have to have blades in much better condition .

scotty

 

[Gamemaster]

After the 2 years of hogging and finding most of the foreign objects I did the same thing. ( left the hog on the tractor and set it down on blocks ).Used a 4.5" hand grinder with a fine wheel and finished it with a cut-off wheel using the side of the wheel ( blade came to nice cutting edge. ) It will never be the same cut as a finish mower, but came out pretty good.

 

[RedRocker]

Same here, angle grinder.

 

[JLoaf]

DeWalt grinder.
I use it on my finish mower and bushhog blades.
I previously used a bench grinder.
I believe that I get much better (and faster) results with my little angle grinder.

 

[BB_TX]

There have been many discussions on this and many opinions.
<font color="blue"> Here is a previous discussion. </font>
I think in general the majority of us use an angle grinder.

 

[MrSteve]

Thanks to EVERYONE for your replies...

BB_TX... Sorry I should had done a search, I useally do, but I didn't in this case.

 

[BB_TX]

Hey, if everyone always did a search instead of a new post, we would not have nearly as much to talk about. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

As others have said.. I use an angle grinder to sharpen my brushhog blades. I don't 'sharpen' them but rather take them down to a 3/32 or 1/16 edge for brush. However i have sharpened them like a lawnmower blade when i was just clipping black tops off the lawn and pasture... a easy hand ont he position control and you can do a pretty good lawn cut with a brush hog if you don't get in a hurry.

Soundguy

 

[MrSteve]

Well I guess I have some work to do... I don't think my blades have ever been 1/16", more like 3/16"... Maybe I better go see with a tape and not my eyes.