Flail Mower Flail Mower- blade sharpener

[Flatheadyoungin]

While continuing to watch the used flail mower market, I have seen several listed with a "handheld electric blade sharpener." I emailed one fella and asked him it was just something a ordinary as a Dewalt angle grinder and he said no. After looking on Google and Alamo's website I couldn't find ANYTHING.

So, what are these sharpeners that can sharpen flail mower blades on the mower?

 

[AlanB]

I don't know, but I would think something like a dremel, or Chain saw sharpening tool.

Looking at the number of flails on mine, I think I would have to look for a comfortable seat to start that operation though.

 

[Timberman444]

Usually I dont waste my time sharpening the knifes on my flail, I will just put new ones on. But on the rare occasion that I do sharpen them I just use the bench grinder to grind them down so there is a good cutting edge again, any knifes that have any chunks taken out of them from hitting rocks or the occasional piece of metal just get thrown away, I would not waste my money on a special tool that is claimed to be just for sharpening flail knifes, when any grinder will do the trick.

 

[J_J]

It depends on what you have installed. If it is the Y shape or T shape, they can be sharpened on the machine. Grab it with a Vise-grip and use a Dremel or something similar.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

that's what i was thinking..........a 90 degree air grinder with a rolock on it
should make quick work of it or, well, relatively quick work..

It depends on what you have installed. If it is the Y shape or T shape, they can be sharpened on the machine. Grab it with a Vise-grip and use a Dremel or something similar.

 

[sandman2234]

My Bomford flail uses hammer knives, and I got an extra new set with it in a box. I did some searches and found out what they cost, so I put them in the safe and grabbed my 4" grinder. Holding the knife in one hand while still on the mower and the grinder in the other quickly taught me a lesson concerning the abrasive resistancey of a fingernail and attached finger. Didn't take me long (after the bleeding stopped) to get a pair of vice grips to go along with the safety glasses I was already wearing. I just grab the back edge of the knife with the vice grips and a few seconds each with the grinder it is good to go.
David from jax

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

i found a used one but i'm not sure if it'll work on my blades......

i just have the regular blades, not the grass or hammer blades...

yes, i did the angle grinder thing and it took me about 2-3 hours.....it really wasn't that bad but if this thing, for $40, would make it faster, i'd buy it...

anyone know what/how to use it??

it's a mott/alamo product....

..kind of looks like a cresent in the end of it.....but, then again, i'm not sure if that's where you sharpen the blade.....

i can't find it on the alamo website or anywhere else for that matter..

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

no one on here has an electric flail knife sharpener???

 

[J_J]

no one on here has an electric flail knife sharpener???

I looked all over the Internet for one, but I could not find one. How is it different than any other sharpener ? Can you take some better pictures, using the macro mode?

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

oh, i found those on craigslist......i haven't even contacted the guy......just curious, really.....especially for only $40

i used an agle grinder and pliers for the easy ones, but it was pretty quick just to remove them and hold them where you could apply pressure...

no big deal....i just have a bad habbit of buying tools!

edit: it is hard to tell where the grind stone even is in those pics...

I looked all over the Internet for one, but I could not find one. How is it different than any other sharpener ? Can you take some better pictures, using the macro mode?

 

[J_J]

oh, i found those on craigslist......i haven't even contacted the guy......just curious, really.....especially for only $40

i used an agle grinder and pliers for the easy ones, but it was pretty quick just to remove them and hold them where you could apply pressure...

no big deal....i just have a bad habbit of buying tools!

edit: it is hard to tell where the grind stone even is in those pics...

I looked again and found this. This pdf is about parts and sharpening, with picures.

http://www.alamo-industrial.com/ProductManuals/Manuals/197_shd_flail_bltns_man_01-04.pdf

Page 14 of 26

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

hey thanks, i couldn't find that on their site....

i'll see if he'll ship it......just might give it a try....

wonder how much the replacement stones are and how often they need replaced....

I looked again and found this. This pdf is about parts and sharpening, with picures.

http://www.alamo-industrial.com/ProductManuals/Manuals/197_shd_flail_bltns_man_01-04.pdf

Page 14 of 26

 

[J_J]

I would think a little Dremel tool would do a credible job on the light weight cutters, either on the shaft or off.

I would call Alamo and talk to their parts dept about replacement grinding wheels. One of these 12 v chain saw sharpeners might work.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

they are very hard steel (of course) and even an agle grinder with a flapper wheel or stone, i had to spend a little time to dress them back down....i really think a dremel wouldn't stand much of a chance....and i love my dremel......

on the other side, my blades were in pretty rough shape.....lot's of nicks, etc....i don't think they'll be nearly as bad......i hit a few things but they seemed to keep the edge pretty nicely.....

i'm gonna try it if he'll ship it.......i'm going to call him right now.....will keep ya'll posted....

I would think a little Dremel tool would do a credible job on the light weight cutters, either on the shaft or off.

I would call Alamo and talk to their parts dept about replacement grinding wheels. One of these 12 v chain saw sharpeners might work.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

well, she emailed me and said she shipped it......

i want to try it when it comes in but the flail is up the hollow ......might have to take a ac converter up there and give it a quick try

will update....

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Ok I don't have any experience with the flail mowers. I do use a flexible grinding disc with my drill motor to sharpen the lawn mower blades. Main thing is not to get the metal too hot on the edge. And of course wear your cotton picking Safety glasses!

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

Well, I got it.....looks pretty slick.....

To replace the stones, you just remove 3-4 screws and remove the end caps....then the stone is just a miniature stone for a bench style grinder.....where to buy them might be a different story...

nice, healthy sounding motor....little bulky to hold in your hand.......we'll see..

i haven't tried it on an actual blade yet, the mower is up on the hill behind my house.....

i'll post might thoughts on it after i sharpen 88 blades on both sides! i've done it with an angle grinder.....we'll see which is better....