Sharpen Brush Hog

[kenmissouri]

I have an old Howse 4 foot Brush Hog and have always sharpened the blades with a 4" grinder with the Hog raised on the tractor and blocked up. The downside is that a 4" grinder really only gets the ends of that hardened steel and never truly grinds down the entire taper of the blade like it should be done. My taper now looks more like a rounded off end. A 7" grinder is too big to safely get in there.

I don't have the equipment to take the blades off. If I did get them off they'd probably not go back on tight enough for safety.

Suggestions welcome!

 

[dtd24]

maybe a different blade!!!!!!!!!

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Ken,
Bigger Bush Hog !

All kidding aside, I have always used my Dewalt Angle grinder 5". But the better method would be to get the equipment to take the blades off, and use a large belt grinder to get the blades the way you want them ! Like I said I usually just use the angle grinder, and call it good enough. My fields grow rocks during the winter and I usually find them on the first mowing, so no reason to get too fancy !

 

[RoyJackson]

All my Land pride manual calls for is a 1/16th chamfer on the edge of the blades.
You know these cutters pulverize more then cut, right?

 

[BB_TX]

Ken - If you have an FEL, use a chain and tilt the cutter up on its side so you can easily get to the full length of the blades. Make sure it tilts back and leans against the FEL with the chain tight for safety. Mine is a 6' Howse and I also use an angle grinder. Also makes it easy to inspect the underside and free up the blades if they are stuck. See pictures.

 

[yekrut]

BB_TX,

Great idea. I have a new L39 on the way and can't wait to use the FEL to do the same. Been tryin' to figure out how to sharpen the BH for a while now but I have asways come to the conclusion that it's either to dangerous or too much work for the gain I'd have.

 

[Highbeam]

You can do anything with a standard 4.5" grinder. It just takes longer. Get your ear plugs and glasses and have a seat. Start grinding until you get the profile you want. It seems that the last inch or so of blade does all the cutting anyway, right? I just grind out the big mushrooms and try and feather them in to a decently sharp edge. Yes, new blades have a longer bevel but that is jsut because I don't see any reason to sit there and grind off all of that metal behind the edge on a blade designed to chop. It's like a weedwacker string. Not sharp to slice but speed and mass to chop.

 

[Soundguy]

Perhaps a die grinder or air grinder with a grind stone would be easier to manuver for you.

I use a 4" grinder to do my 5' KK hog, as well as my 10' and 15' mowers.. never seemed to be much of a problem..

Soundguy

 

[sandman2234]

Sitting on a stool behind your tractor loaded on a trailer gets it high enough to deal with. Leave the bush hog sticking out past the end of the trailer so you have more clearence underneath but far enough forward if it drops it will contact the trailer instead of going all the way to the ground.
David from jax

 

[greg_g]

Hey - we're only talking four footer here. On my five footer it's easily a one man job to remove the crown nut and take the blades clean off the mower. Once removed from the center disc, an 8" or 10" bench grinder does a better job of returning the correct cutting angle to the edge. If you don't have a bench grinder that big, clamp the blades in a bench vise and go at them with your 4.5" angle grinder.

//greg//