sharpening mower blades

[beenthere]

If you are like me you prefer sharp mower blades. I like to sharpen them with each mow. So I cycle three sets of blades for my Ferris zero turn. But it's still a massive $#$&@&$#*% PITA~!!!!!!!!! I got these great grinder disks from PFERD, They are fabulous I got them in 2019 for my large and 4.5" grinders. I've done a lot of sharpening and mill scale removal and the disks I installed back then are still on my grinders. Unlike flap disks, if used correctly (Read Do not lean on them) they last forever and cut steel like butter. Anyway, I got a triton gizmo vice thing to do my grinding outside instead of the dusty shop. BUT STILL, it was a pita. Set the grinder down struggle to get the blade out of the vice flip it clamp it and bend over for the grinder.
Yah, I know modern problems; they built the pyramids with copper chisels and rocks lashed to sticks. Anyway I repurposed a hunk of a pallet to this and it's fast and easy. I did all three sets in like 15 minutes plus balancing Tools I made or purchased - The Axlotal Tank

Am not **** enough to sharpen after every mowing. Mow 6 acres, some open lawn but most wooded like a park.
I buy a new set (3) of blades at least once a year. Replace all three blades in spring and only sharpen the used set to keep on hand in case a blade gets bent (hit a stump, or an oak limb, or hung on a rock). Sharpen with an angle grinder on blade in the vise.

 

[GeneV]

200 dollars for a gizsmo that holds your grinder at an angle?
My hands can hold my grinder at an angle just fine and it don't cost me nuthin'

Yup exactly, and that's why I don't have that thing either.

 

[hube2]

200 dollars for a gizsmo that holds your grinder at an angle?
My hands can hold my grinder at an angle just fine and it don't cost me nuthin'

Well, I'm thinking about it. I don't trust myself with a grinder and I would likely just F it up. A new set of blades for my deck run over $100. I have 2 sets now. If I can sharpen both sets several times rather than replace them it would save quite a lot of money in the long run.

 

[Bearsixty7]

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I bought one of those too, a "blemished" one so I saved on the cost. I also use an All-American sharpener to get the perfect angle, actually had to file it a little to get the correct angle but it works great now.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I bought a set of blades at the flea market a couple of years ago and they had an edge on both sides, so you just flipped them over no sharpening required and the next time that you needed to swap blades the other side would be sharp, I really liked them problem is I have never found another set of them, they name on the blades were Copperhead.

 

[GeneV]

Well, I'm thinking about it. I don't trust myself with a grinder and I would likely just F it up. A new set of blades for my deck run over $100. I have 2 sets now. If I can sharpen both sets several times rather than replace them it would save quite a lot of money in the long run.

Well hey, I don't hate on anybody for buying a tool of their choosing, but how would you screw up your blades with a grinder? People overthink things a lot of times. The 30 deg angle cutting edge is a guideline, but guess what the tolerance to that is not 0.003" or anything. Your blades will cut just fine if you're over/under that, I mean even by a lot. Doing it by hand will, yes, likely curve out that cutting edge a little bit eventually...but that's with you sharpening them like a bunch of times, way more than several times. And even then they'll still work fine enough.

This is a jacked up blade which I knackered when mowing my neighbor's yard as a favor (whoops, she had some not so nice things hidden in that tall grass). Look at that chewed up cutting edge!:




This is the backside of it after I ground out the jagged cutting edge. Looks how curved out that cutting edge is. Cuts just fine, tho:

 

[crashz]

What's wrong with that blade?

I think I need to sharpen my blades. I did the ones on the JD by hand and never checked the balance. When the deck is engaged, I don't feel a vibration, but its loud as can be.

I'm ashamed to say that I've never done the finish mower blades. 5 yrs of cutting my lawn. Guess I found a project for my day off Friday.

BTW do I need a fancy balancing gizmo?

 

[hube2]

I've never sharpened a blade before, but then again I've never had a deck that cost me over $100 to replace the blades on before, and going up every time I look. There are no alternative blades available, only the OEM parts. My main concern would be blade balance. I've read that it can cause bearings to wear out faster and spindle damage.

 

[GeneV]

I've never sharpened a blade before, but then again I've never had a deck that cost me over $100 to replace the blades on before, and going up every time I look. There are no alternative blades available, only the OEM parts. My main concern would be blade balance. I've read that it can cause bearings to wear out faster and spindle damage.

I take it you got that 60" deck, right? That's the problem with Massey's deck, I could never find alternate blades for it either. Other problem is that you can't mulch with it (even if you were able to find mulching blades for it).

Anyways, just get this, Hube: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VYKS1Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

8 bux, and you're good to go. Some people hang them on a nail to check balance, but that won't work on your blades coz the hole is a star pattern (plus that's not a great method).

Some people just count the number of times they run a grinder on one side of the blade, run the exact same number on the other side, call that a balanced blade...and never run into any problems with their spindles (or notice unusual vibration).

But anyways, here's how probably 90% of commercial landscapers do theirs:

 

[GeneV]

Another worthy tool is a deck leveling gauge, those are like $10 too. Great tool.