Rotary Cutter Bush Hog Blades

[Chain Bender]

I have a KK 5'bush hog. It came with 3" wide, 1/2" thick. 24 1/2" blades. They seem a little light weight. They won't stay remotely sharp even when cutting just grass. So I took them off yesterday to sharpen them again and got to thinking about replacing them with a 3.5" wide or even a 4" wide blade. Something a little bit heaver to have more centrifugal force at 540 rpms. I'm using an L3200 to power the cutter and don't seem to have the least bit of problem running it at 540 rpms.

What is the hardest blade on the market? One that won't be as sharp as my middle finger after a couple acres of heavy pasture grass.

thanks in advance,
CB

 

[MF283]

Hog blades aren't meant to be sharp & 540 RPM isn't fast enough for a good cut. You basically have a light-medium duty cutter, not sure if the gear box will handle heavier blades.

Ronnie

 

[TerryR]

Hog blades aren't meant to be sharp & 540 RPM isn't fast enough for a good cut.

I think he means an engine speed that produces a PTO speed of 540 RPM. That would be correct.

 

[Maxify55]

I agree with Ronnie.

If you want better cut quality, I suggest a flail mower for these type of conditions.

A brush type rotary mower is simply a smasher, more so than a mower.

 

[Chain Bender]

I agree with Ronnie.

If you want better cut quality, I suggest a flail mower for these type of conditions.

A brush type rotary mower is simply a smasher, more so than a mower.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx



I'm talking about 540 rpms at the pto. Isn't that about average for most tractor bush hog combos? My L3200 is running at 2400 rpms to get 540 at the pto

Any advice on blade hardness?

 

[Chain Bender]

What do you mean they are meant to be sharp? New ones right out of the box will cut nylon rope. My dad's old Brown bush hog is nearly 50 years old and will cut a bahia field like a golf course. And I'll bet his pto isn't even 500 rpms.

 

[RickB]

Well, you buy a cheap rotary cutter and they sell cheaply made blades to fit. Woods and Bush Hog blades hold an edge.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Well, you buy a cheap rotary cutter and they sell cheaply made blades to fit. Woods and Bush Hog blades hold an edge.

He's not wrong about the KK products.

 

[orangeandgreen]

Take the blades to a welding shop and have them hard faced. I had the blades done on my old Woods cutter and they stayed sharp twice as long as before.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I have a KK 5'bush hog. It came with 3" wide, 1/2" thick. 24 1/2" blades. They seem a little light weight. They won't stay remotely sharp even when cutting just grass. So I took them off yesterday to sharpen them again and got to thinking about replacing them with a 3.5" wide or even a 4" wide blade. Something a little bit heaver to have more centrifugal force at 540 rpms. I'm using an L3200 to power the cutter and don't seem to have the least bit of problem running it at 540 rpms.

What is the hardest blade on the market? One that won't be as sharp as my middle finger after a couple acres of heavy pasture grass.

thanks in advance,
CB

A king Kutter leaves a better cut than most or that's the way I see it. You don't have to take them of to sharpen. Lift the cutter and support the back wheel so it can't fall. then you can attack the blades with an angle grinder. It should take 10 min tops. Go a little slower and run your rpms just a bit high. both will help cut quality.