Mowing How sharp do mower blades have to be...really.

[TripleR]

Here is a youtube instructional video on sharpening bush hog blades....I use a 4 inch angle grinder to do mine and I leave the blades on..
YouTube - Bush Hog Blade Sharpening

I would have to check my manual, but I believe on my Woods 121, it recommends a leading edge of 1/32". We also use an angle grinder on the machine, but our new DS1260 has easy to remove blades, so we may take them off.

 

[sld]

I run over so many sticks that it is hard to keep a good edge.

If I was mowing a really nice stand of bluegrass or fescue I would put a better edge on the blade. Sharper is better for the grass as it promotes less tearing and more cutting.

 

[Thomas]

Might depend on what type of grass your mowing.
For my use sharper the better because mostly clover..touch up w/hand held grinder w/pad.

 

[npaden]

I have never sharpened my rotary mower and I've been using it 4 years. My blades are more round than sharp. Seems to work fine.

 

[ccsial]

I keep mine at least as sharp as the cord on my weed eater.

 

[JCB]

I've never sharpened my rotary cutter. On my finish mowers I know that when I sharpen the blades it cuts with less engine load and seems to be cleaner.

I still don't sharpen my finish blades enough, but if you've got the time/patience/desire, I say go as sharp as you can get them.

 

[savageactor7]

Our backyard is 'fairway cut' to practice the short game so I sharpen about every 7-10 days or so.

Like a golf course I cut wet grass and that requires sharp blades. Dull blades won't cut clean and will leave a white frizzy look to the lawn.

 

[Grateful11]

1/16" flat is way too much. A 1/32" or less is better. Those of you worried
about a sharp dulling too fast, so what it will only dull to what some of you are
leaving on it to begin with. I can tell why a new blade has such a large flat on
it, it's liability they don't want you cutting yourself on an edge they put on there,
no different from all other safety features. When I bought a JD 425 years ago
fired the deck up the first time it sounded like some kind of wind tunnel. I looked
at the blades and they duller than dogs d..k, sharpened them and she was
smooth as whistle. As a Machinist I've been sharpening tools for 30 years and
I'll continue to bring mine to a sharp edge and then use a smooth file to
remove the burrs and then about 2-3 very light passes prependicular to
edge just enough to where it's not absolutely razor sharp. I use a 6"x48"
belt sander to sharpen all my blades, been doing it for years. I sharpen
about 2-3 times a season.

Those that keep them dull just remember you're adding wear and tear to your
machine, using more fuel and browning the end of your grass. Creeping Red
fescue cannot be cut with a dull blade.

 

[daveshoot]

Beats me, I am a newb... but I was just following the instructions that came with the Gearmore.

 

[Grateful11]

Beats me, I am a newb... but I was just following the instructions that came with the Gearmore.

That appears to a picture of a Bush Hog blade which personally I think 1/16" is
probably fine. You're not going to be manicuring your lawn with that.