Resharpen or Replace

[RjCorazza]

Nice jig. I b et that cost more than a couple sets of replacement blades. Around here, it's not the ends of the blades (cutting edges that get ate up) but the heel of the blade that gets worn away from the sandy soil and I can eat up a set of mulcher blades in a couple weeks.

Maybe cost 2 sets of blades, but I generally get 600-700 hours out of a set of blades, so jig and balancer have more than paid for themselves.
I don't have sandy soil, but i'm sure it eats blades.

 

[Mike1955]

I use a jig to get a consistent edge using a 40 or 60g flap disk. Sharpening every 30-40 hours I can keep the tips square, and they get balanced each sharpening.
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Why is it all that important to square the blades. I done many. I just round them off sharpe. And my yard looks great

 

[RjCorazza]

Why is it all that important to square the blades. I done many. I just round them off sharpe. And my yard looks great

I would imagine the blades would have to be pretty rounded off to have cutting issues, and even then the amount of blade overlap should make up for it.
I've always read that the majority of grass is cut with the last 1/4" of the blade, and to keep them square.... So I try to keep them that way during otherwise required sharpening.

 

[John0829]

IMHO squaring off the blades is a waste of time, gains nothing, plus you loose blade overlap. Grass doesn't care if the ends of the blades are round or square. Sharpen them to the end rounded or not and balance... when they get to the point of being thin or you just don't like the looks of them then replace. Yer over thinking it.

 

[5030]

In my situation, like I stated, my blades get ate up from the sandy soil more than anything else. One thing I don't have an issue with is grass clumping under the deck. The sandy soil keeps it clean underneath.

 

[CalG]

is the tip speed on mower blades really 150 mph? (napkin math)

 

[Razzmatazz]

I use an angle grinder and this jig. I use high lift blades spring thru summer and mulching blades fall thru winter. Usually sharpen the high lifts beginning and mid-season. Mulching blade beginning of the fall.

[Updated] Lawn Mower Blade... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBKFCDPT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Razzmatazz]

I use an angle grinder and this jig. I use high lift blades spring thru summer and mulching blades fall thru winter. Usually sharpen the high lifts beginning and mid-season. Mulching blade beginning of the fall.

[Updated] Lawn Mower Blade... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBKFCDPT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[WranglerX]

Always sharpen by eye with angle grinder then balance, even edges on new blades last about ten minutes between gopher mounds, sticks, rocks and whatever else wife runs over on my JD riding mower....

 

[CalG]

Just a bench mark,

I was using the 22" cut walk behind the other day to clean up the small areas and pathways. KER-Chunk! The blade hit an 18 inch long bit or steel wire a bit under 1/8 inch diameter. Maybe a pail handle.
So when done mowing, I pulled the blade to have a look. No damage, but I put the blade which I had mounted new last summer into the bench vise for an edge tune up. About 12-15 strokes with a foot long single cut file had each blade edge in fine shape again.

No gadgets required!