Brush Hog Blade Sharpening

[LD1]

stiff stemy weeds and saplings...no

Grass....yes

 

[EddieWalker]

Total waste of time sharpening or cleaning up the edge of a bush hog blade. They are disposable and you just run them until one of them breaks off, then replace both of them with brand new blades and start all over again. Depending on use, I can go a year on a set of blades, or a couple of years if I'm mostly just doing grass and weeds. I can see no difference in the results from brand new blades, and highly abused blades.

 

[LD1]

I dont consider the blades disposable.

Time frame to replace I guess depends on how much you cut. I have ~800 acres over the last 3 years on a set of blades. Been touched up a few times to take out the bad rock dings and whatnot. Not even close to considering replacement. At the pace I am going, and how often I have to touch them up, I am guessing these blades are good for another 3000 acres easy. Or probably another 10 years.

I notice a big difference in both cut quality and power required between a set of nice sharp blades and blunt ones in pasture grass. Stiff stuff, like ragweed, briars, etc....no I dont notice much difference.

Wonder if it has to do with blade speed of different cutters. Mine is on the low end of the scale @ 10,900fpm @540. (allthough I normally run around 650 rpm, or about 12,200fpm). But alot of cutters push 15-16k blade speed. I am sure on those it dont make as much of a difference between sharp or dul

 

[DK35vince]

My brush mower blades were not sharp when I was clearing the brush off my field.
Now that the brush is cleared and all I mow is mostly field grass I keep the blades sharp.

 

[N80]

I don't consider them disposable either but mostly because they are so darn hard to get off. I touched mine up once. Years ago. No difference in performance. Plus I hit rocks and stumps and all sorts of stuff every time I use it. So I don't bother anymore.

The only reliable improvement in cut quality is blade tip speed which is a product of keeping the rpms in the right place.

Now, if one day I really smash the blades into a big rock or something, I'll take the nicks out. No big deal.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The tools used and methods to get the "knicks" out are the same. You just sharpen a mower blade to a finer edge. But the process is still the same. . . .

Yes! Thank you. That's what I've been trying to explain.

 

[100 td]

Yes! Thank you. That's what I've been trying to explain.

Funny thing, me too, but some people can't read the context. Interesting how the blades come from the factory sharpened as described, not flat like hammer mill blades!

 

[Coyote machine]

I just happened to read the entire owner/repair manual for my relatively new Woods BrushBull 72X Extreme. It has very specific instructions as to what the blades need to look like when sharp.
From the Owner manual:

Blade Sharpening
NOTICE
■ When sharpening blades, grind the same
amount on each blade to maintain balance.
Replace blades in pairs. Unbalanced blades will
cause excessive vibration, which can damage
gearbox bearings. Vibration may also cause structural
cracks to cutter.
1. Sharpen both blades at the same time to maintain
balance. Follow original sharpening pattern.
2. Do not sharpen blade to a razor edge leave at least a 1/16" blunt edge.
3. Do not sharpen back side of blade.
Figure 14. Blade Sharpening

This diagram shows the profile of a properly sharpened blade, and the squared edge at the end of the blade.

Many users may not notice any difference between sharp hog blades and dull ones, BUT the machine and hog do. Tip speed, 14,963 fps, (feet per second!), at 540 PTO RPMs and ground speed as recommended of around 1-2 MPH results in a cleaner cut and less stress on bearings etc. for the hog, and less fuel consumption and wear on the tractor. Sharp blades make for healthier grass in fields too because the grass is CUT instead of ripped/torn. This may lead to less disease in the field, healthier animals grazing the field and more money in the bank when you auction off your prized Holstein. This may lead to prettier women on your arm at the local hoedown or bar on Saturday night. That and certain types of chemical enhancements may lead to more offspring draining you dry and spending all your extra cash.
Be careful what you wish for.:laughing:

And, I agree that duller blades are good for beating the brush into submission in prep for a nice clean grass pasture, if that what you seek, and certainly hitting rocks, stumps etc. while bringing a field back to pasture doesn't need sharp blades.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

All this time I never realized why I couldn't get lucky, and now I find out it was dull brush hog blades. Dang it.

 

[stuckmotor]

Don't forget how correctly sharpened blades can lead to world peace.