Dedicated Blade Sharpener

[missourihick]

I run the mower up the loading ramps on the pickup and park it on them to get to the blades. I put my blades in the vise and sharpen them with a 4" angle grinder.

 

[dummy]

For those of us that like inexpensive, sharpener this one works reasonably well. Mounting it with a table type setup might be a really good idea. For in-between touchups, we just use a 4" angle grinder without removing the blades.

 

[Soundguy]

Anyone use the type you mount to a power drill.. It is an abrasive stone and a plastic guard. The bottom of the blade runs along the guard.. and the stone is ground at the 'correct' angle for sharpening. I think this is for lawnmower blades.. but should work great on finish mower blades.. and heck.. even brushhog blades.. just to take the 'round' off the edge.

Soundguy

 

[AlanB]

It is something I do fairly often. And think about even more! My wife runs a commercial Lawncare business so I have plenty of opportunity.

I currently sharpen in a big vice, with the 7" grinder. Grind the blade straight on the face first, remove the back side burr, then grind the angle onto the front. Burning occurs occassionally when I get in a rush. Light cuts and a practiced hand make it go pretty quickly.

I have been eyeing a Magna Matic for the last several years, but the price covers an awful lot of my time.

A bench grinder is not the same, as it is a low speed wheel designed for high removal speeds.

It really comes down to how much you are sharpening blades. My case is I should do 12 blades every other day or every third day, and realisticly do the 12 blades once a week to week and a half. I teeter on the brink of it being cost effective to buy the Magna Matic in my opinion. Anything less I would not bother, anything more and I am shelling out the bucks.

Soundguy, I have looked at those wheels, and cannot picture them doing anything but "dressing" which may be what you are saying, but for me, it is quicker to have a good sharp set, reach under the mower with the burp gun and swap them out.

 

[slowzuki]

I usually run the 12 hp craftsman ride-on out of gas once a year or so then roll it on it's side and take the angle grinder to the blades. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Sometimes there are big (nickle/quarter sizes) pieces missing out of the blades so I sharpen the remaining blade and take some off the other to balance it by eye.

Someday I should take them off and replace or do a proper sharpening.

EDIT I should note we only paid 50$ for the thing 5 years ago so I'm not to careful with it.

 

[TheKid]

I quit using grinders to sharpen blades because I was always burning the edge one place or another. Now I clamp my $50 cheepie 3" B&D belt sander upside down in the vice with a 50 grit belt on it. The flat surface is great for regular blades and the curved ends work good on mulcher blades.

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It really comes down to how much you are sharpening blades. My case is I should do 12 blades every other day or every third day, and realisticly do the 12 blades once a week to week and a half. I teeter on the brink of it being cost effective to buy the Magna Matic in my opinion. Anything less I would not bother, anything more and I am shelling out the bucks.
)</font>

Maybe you've already considered this, but are you, or someone, around in your shop throughout the day? If the answer is yes, could you consider offering blade sharpening to the general public? You know, a kind of walk in service where they come to you and you could sharopen the blades while they wait? I know I'd use a service like that if I had one around my area.

Maybe there isn't really a market for this, but it might be a way to earn enough extra to warrant the purchase of the Magna Matic.

Just a thought that came to me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AlanB]

Yes, it is on my mind, but the reality is that I hate sharpening blades. I work a regular full time job, 40+ hours a week, and am the "maintenance Man" for the wifes business. I also do a fair amount of welding, fabricating and motorcycle work on the side.

I live by that motto of the secret to success in a small business is to only work half days, and the good thing is that it does not matter which 12 hours you choose.

I have gotten to where if I could just keep up with the projects I have, I would be doing well!


I am wandering too much, but I guess the answer is yes, I have considered it, but I just have too much on my plate to take on any more.

 

[MikePA]

Wouldn't the $239 Oregon blade sharpener work just as well as the $600 Magna Matic? Just curious. At $239, I was thinking about getting one and I'm just a homeowner who mows his grass twice a week. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[beenthere]

Bob'nMN
Dug my grinder system out for a pic, and will attach. I don't find it makes a big difference which way the blade is ground, but did have to go to a courser stone (7") than the original I bought. This one is about right, and it is helpful to have some water to cool the blade between passes. If dinged up real bad, it takes a while to get the notches out. But this system keeps a constant angle which I like, and is easy to do. The plywood 'table' is probably temporary, but has done ok for a good number of years now. Just lay the blade on the plywood table under the stone and draw (or push) across the wheel edge. Any burr can be taken off by standing the blade on edge and lightly drawing along the wheel.