Anybody know of a rotary blade sharpener?

[HEC]

The only thing I have used for the past 25 years is an angle grinder for the rc , bought one of the 4 1/2 inch ones this year and that works great . For the lawn mower I used a bench grinder in the past but will use the smaller angle grinder from now on .

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have always used an angle grinder. I believe on a rotary cutter a good edge is all that is needed, not razor sharp.

I sharpen them to factory cutting edge which is pretty sharp. I don't hone with a stone etc like one poster said about sharpening an axe. I like to start out with a sharp blade which gets dull from hitting rocks pretty quick. I keep 2 sets so it is just a quick change out by lifting the mower with my FEL, impact off the bolts, throw a new blade on and impact back on, maybe a minute per blade, 5 minutes to change including the 2 minutes it takes me to crawl my crotchety butt under/out from the deck.

 

[tallyho8]

Do you really need to sharpen blades on a rotary cutter? I guess it may depend on whether you are cutting grass or cutting high brush and small trees.

I was told (not sure if it is true) that when you cut large weedy brush or small trees with a sharp blade it just prunes them and they rapidly grow back but when you cut them with a dull blade, it shatters the stems killing the brush and it doesn't grow back.

Who knows if this is true?

 

[newbury]

Do you really need to sharpen blades on a rotary cutter? I guess it may depend on whether you are cutting grass or cutting high brush and small trees.

I was told (not sure if it is true) that when you cut large weedy brush or small trees with a sharp blade it just prunes them and they rapidly grow back but when you cut them with a dull blade, it shatters the stems killing the brush and it doesn't grow back.

Who knows if this is true?

Also when they are cut off sharp they are like punji sticks, a dull stem is not as dangerous.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Do you really need to sharpen blades on a rotary cutter? I guess it may depend on whether you are cutting grass or cutting high brush and small trees.

I was told (not sure if it is true) that when you cut large weedy brush or small trees with a sharp blade it just prunes them and they rapidly grow back but when you cut them with a dull blade, it shatters the stems killing the brush and it doesn't grow back.

Who knows if this is true?

We were talking lawn mower blades which need to be sharpened to a fine edge. Bush Hog (rotary cutter) blades can also be sharpened to a fine edge for cutting grass and weeds in a pasture and it makes it much easier to pull, but for cutting shrubs and trees the edge should be about 1/8" wide to shatter the trees so they don't leave punji sticks to jab your tires. I never sharpened my bush hog blades when I had bushes and small trees to cut but now I don't have anything like that so I could sharpen my bush hog blades just like a lawn mower for a good cut on pasture grass. Cutting pasture grass with a fine edged blade makes it grow back thicker and faster than just ripping it off with a dull blade.

 

[GaryM]

Another vote for the 4 1/2" angle grinder.

 

[rutwad]

Blades shouldn't be sharpened to be "sharp". The fine edge will wear faster than if it's not as sharp and reduce blade life. Also heard from a guy in the landscape business that you can put the blades on backwards and run a little in wet grass for a good edge. No idea if this is true.

For rotary cutters, I have seen blades that have no edge to them at all, but still cut fine. I'm sure sharpening will help, but really depends on what you are cutting or trying to accomplish. If mine is cutting good, I keep mowing.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Do you really need to sharpen blades on a rotary cutter? I guess it may depend on whether you are cutting grass or cutting high brush and small trees.

I was told (not sure if it is true) that when you cut large weedy brush or small trees with a sharp blade it just prunes them and they rapidly grow back but when you cut them with a dull blade, it shatters the stems killing the brush and it doesn't grow back.

Who knows if this is true?

I'll let you know.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Another vote for the 4 1/2" angle grinder.

The blades doesn't need to be sharp, but between laying down beads to build up missing material with a welder, grinding and balancing, I was hoping there was a better solution for sharpening.

What do municipalities do, I wonder?

 

[Dead Horse]

yep angle grinder if you want to sharpen blades in situ or bench grinder if you want to take em off. I use both methods. On a big hog, you want to be some what sure the blades weigh the same after sharpening so you wont throw the balance off on the mower.