Adjustable Stand For Sharpening Batwing Cutter Blades

[rockinbbar]

I was using a big C-clamp and 1x4 board to hold the blades while sharpening with an angle grinder. They would slip, skid off, not stay tight... and cause lots of cussing in general.

So... I made a stand that adjusts to any height to sharpen the blades of any batwing cutter with the wings in the "Up" position.

Very simple build.

Base is an old umbrella stand I had sitting around with no umbrella. You can use an old steel trailer or car/pickup wheel too.

Then I used a 7/8" length of steel sucker rod for the shaft. Position it upright on the stand... either by welding it, or as I did, put it in the umbrella base.

For the blade holder, I used an old rotary cutter blade, and cut it about 8" from the base, then welded a simple flat washer to it, centering the washer hole on the existing hole of the cutter blade and welded it in place.

This allows the blade holder to move up or dawn the shaft stand , and the washer bites into the shaft at the desired height to hold position.

Lastly, I put a piece of 2" angle iron on the holder. Just welded it on. This cradles the blade and won't allow it to slip off or wiggle when running your angle grinder on the cutter blade.

Just thought I would share, and maybe save you guys some cussing when sharpening your own cutters.

 

[Tinhack]

It's been a long time since I sharpened my blades, but it sure looks like you have both sharp edges facing the same way--Up.

 

[rockinbbar]

It's been a long time since I sharpened my blades, but it sure looks like you have both sharp edges facing the same way--Up.

Keeps me from having to roll around on the ground sharpening them with the sharp edge pointed down...

 

[Tinhack]

What I mean is, only one blade is going to cut. The other blade is just going to hammer. The mower is not like a washing machine swishing back and forth. The blades spin in one direction. Think about it.

 

[rockinbbar]

What I mean is, only one blade is going to cut. The other blade is just going to hammer. The mower is not like a washing machine swishing back and forth. The blades spin in one direction. Think about it.

You know, I guess myself and all the manufacturers of batwing cutters must have it wrong then.

Forgive me for asking, but which blade "hammers" and which blade cuts? Seems like makers could save a lot of $$$ just by installing those non-sharpened "hammer" blades...

Maybe I'm wrong, so please feel free to correct me, as I've only been in the Ag Service business and shredding ranches for a living for a dozen years or so.... BUT on a given stump jumper, there are 2 blades that rotate in the same direction. Right? And so far, out of all the blades I've replaced or sharpened with thousands of hours of using my rotary cutters, those blades BOTH wear at the same rate, and CUT at the same rate. And when I sharpen blades and keep my deck level, all 3 cutting decks give me a clean cut through brush, or whatever I'm cutting. They all cut as they rotate. They don't "swish back and forth like a washing machine"....

"Think about it"? I have. For half a day operating my 120hp tractor and 15' cutter, and still can't figure out what you are trying to tell me I'm doing wrong.

I'm sure you'll be along to tell me, in more riddles, how I'm not doing it right, and how only one blade cuts and the other hammers, and when I sharpen my blades, with an angle grinder, that I have them "pointed up"...

I'm sure lucky to have you here to correct my ignorance! Lucky indeed! I very much look forward to further my education about how I'm doing everything wrong.
But in the meantime, I'll just keep getting a crappy cut with my wrongly sharpened "hammer blades"... Please examine today's efforts and tell me how I could do it better. More riddles are sure welcome.