Dedicated blade sharpener?

[Volp]

A Dremel high speed tool can do the sharpening without removing the blade.

 

[btest]

What I use is my 2 x 72 inch knifemaking belt grinder. The cost is too high for just this, $1000 - $2000. Surely a belt sander would do it. Use about 120 - 280 grit belts. This doesn't have to be brain surgery. The steel involved is probably 1060 - 1080 plain carbon steel or 5160 spring steel like that found in the leaf springs of your pickup. If you take these simple steels to 450 degrees F, you just have just about tempered all the hardness from them. I can't imagine they are treated any harder than 48 - 50 RC, anyway. This about the hardness of hammers, anvils, and Shrade pocket knives. No way you would want one to shatter on impact with a rock or something. No one will return one for not holding an edge, but they will sure complain if one breaks. Not to mention the liability. If they aren't too dull, I just put my finish mower blades in the vise and use a file. I like a small flat or round at the very edge. Used to sharpen them like a pocket knife. Took the blades off an old bush hog once. Then went to the angle grinder. Unhook the top link of the 3ph, then use a comealong to hoist the backend of the bush hog from the truss of a Morton shed. Haven't found balance to be critical in my limited experience. Oh well, this is getting long. Enjoy the forums a lot.

Bill Tester