Mower blade orientation make a difference?

aczlan · Jun 25, 2013

woodlandfarms said:
As I understand it, brush hogs tend to not have sharpened blades, for two reasons. One is that good luck keeping that edge if you are using it for its design, the second is that by breaking, instead of cutting, you increase the chance of killing the plant, which tends to be the more desireable result when brush hogging.

Another is that a sharp blade will slice saplings off vs shattering them like a blunt edged blade will. A sliced sapling could go through a tire unlike a shattered one.

Aaron Z

J_J · Jun 25, 2013

I would think a new blade is a sharp blade.

However razor sharp is not desired, nor is a dull flat sided blade, or the tips worn down..

ponytug · Jun 25, 2013

The new PT brush hog blades are not sharp; they have about a 1/16-1/8" radius at the front of the bevel. That is to say the blade is ~3/8" thick, with a leading edge bevel down to 1/16-1/8", where it is unsharpened and radiused.

From personal experience, I think that having a sharp blade if you are cutting brush is risky, because sooner or later, you will hit a sapling just right and it will end up with a knife edge on it that will slice your tire. That said, you don't want a totally round edge for HP and efficiency reasons.

All the best,

Peter

J_J said:
I would think a new blade is a sharp blade.

However razor sharp is not desired, nor is a dull flat sided blade, or the tips worn down..

J_J · Jun 25, 2013

I do believe some of you are mixing up brush blades and finish blades.

I cut lawns for about 20 years, and sharp blades are necessary, or your customers will notice the shredded look and can your but. You want the blades sharp enough to make the cut grass to almost disappear.

I also have a bush hog and would not give it a sharp edge as it will dull rather quickly.

I have installed many bush hog blades and they are somewhat sharp, at least the ones I buy are.

If you want to shred, do so, and if you want to cut, then you know what to do.