How Often do you shrapen your blades?

[duckhunter27]

I have a Z-Force 48 inch and I live in very sandy ground I mow atleast 2 acreas sometimes more most is just grass some is very weedy. I have been sharpening about twice a season.

 

[rcbe]

that sandy ground surely won't help. Might look into low-lift blades.. if they are avail for your deck. Yeah, will cut down on yer exhaust throw a bit, but prolly save you one sharpening session/season...

 

[Bird]

For your kind of ground and the size of your mowing, twice a season sounds about right to me. That's what I needed to do when I had a bigger place. But now in town, I only need to do it once a year.

 

[EagleTDL]

Check your grass after mowing... If the blade stems have a clean cut, you're good! If they are torn, or ragged or ripped looking, then it's time to hit 'em a lick with a grinder.

The actual sharpening process is worthy of it's own thread, many options and many opinions!

 

[MoKelly]

The actual sharpening process is worthy of it's own thread, many options and many opinions!

This is very true. I just bought new blades for my Gravely ZT. They are not what I would call sharp. I couldn't cut paper on the blades. Yet I know more than a few folks who insist finish blades need to be sharp enough to cut paper.

I was always under the impression you do not need to sharpen new blades and can install the blades as purchased.

MoKelly

 

[vabiker23518]

I have a rather old Land Pride 48-15 bush hog that I purchased used 5 years ago. I have NEVER sharpened the blades and use it to cut grass around my cabin and keep the trails open. I've looked underneath and they are beat up, but do a good job. I've decided to keep on keeping on for now!

 

[EagleTDL]

This is very true. I just bought new blades for my Gravely ZT. They are not what I would call sharp. I couldn't cut paper on the blades. Yet I know more than a few folks who insist finish blades need to be sharp enough to cut paper.

Personally, I wouldn't go that far... Yeah, you can get 'em that sharp, but after a 1/4 acres worth you'd have to sharpen them again to retain that edge. Not worth the trouble in my opinion?? If you'll talk to any of the guys doing it for a living, they'll tell you that it's all about the "tip speed" of the blade. If the blade is rotating fast enough, even a duller edge will still make a clean cut and that's what you are after... :2cents:

Eagle

 

[caps]

I sharpen my blades 2 or 3 times a season. I mow about 2 acres on sandy soil. I sharpen and balance them when the cut starts to look ragged instead of smooth. I use mulching blades and the sand just grinds them away. I usually only get one or two full seasons out of a blade.

 

[The kid]

I sharpen mine about every fourth cutting. They don't need much but helps make a smooth cut. I also take a nail and clamp in a vise and check the blades for balance after every sharpening.

 

[savageactor7]

imo these newer thinner blades don't hold an edge as long, so you sharpen them when to cut tips of the grass look frosty or ripped instead cut. For us that's every 3 or 4 weeks.

Aside from that I cut a lot of wet grass and a sharp blade makes that a whole lot easier.

Sharpening is pretty easy for me cause I modded our deck to cut closer to the ground. One of the mods was installing a few washers between the blade and spindle well that made it possible for me to use an angle grinder while the blades were still on the deck...

...yeah it's awkward and that move is best rehearsed first before powering up but it works.

My use to be neighbor use sand to fill up his wet holes and that helped a lot because then he could drive over that same wet area and not leave tracks...btw he used blow sand.

I tried that too and it works but we have a larger area plus I'm dragging cut trees across that same pasture so a perfect lawn is not our objective so much as a closely cropped lawn. It's a working lawn.

We hit golf balls out back and if you can't see them 150 yards away ...the pasture needs cutting.