Rotary Cutter Thoughts on blade straightening

[rod30215]

Is there any recommended way to straighten blades or do I just need to suck it up and replace?

 

[E/S]

First, Welcome to TBN.

Second, what type of blade? Pictures of the damage would really help.

E/S

 

[TripleR]

Agree, depends on the blade and how bad. I have straightened lawn mower blades with a bench vise and sledge hammer, also used a hydraulic press on some things. I have also just thrown some away and bought new ones.

 

[brin]

Is there any recommended way to straighten blades or do I just need to suck it up and replace?

if it is for a lawn tractor Agri supply is about 1/2 price compared to wal mart and they have bush hog blades as well..Lawn Mower Blades Made To Fit Your Mower Available at Agri Supply

I would tend to say replace...due to balance problems and quality of cut.

 

[dangerdoc]

Is there any recommended way to straighten blades or do I just need to suck it up and replace?

I'm assuming you are talking about rotary cutting blades. If it is significantly bent, I would worry about metal fatigue pounding it out strait again. A piece of rotary blade flying off would be a significant hazard.

 

[rod30215]

Guess I should have given a few more details. I'm talking about a Woods 5ft rotary cutter. I put on new blades about a month ago and then got into a very high lot with hidden rocks & stumps. The blades are now about 2" out of whack.

 

[E/S]

Are they bent up or kinked?
Does the mower run out of balance ?
Are the blades reversible?
Sorry about more questions than answers.

E/S

 

[gauthier]

You need new blades.

 

[John_Mc]

I saw a guy use a log splitter as a hydraulic press once to straighten a brush hog blade. He had to make a support out of an old 6"x6" and some small pieces of scrap wood. Seemed to get decent results - good enough for a brush hog. Might not have been good enough for a finish mower blade (but then they are lighter and easier to bend, so maybe it would have worked OK?)

 

[gauthier]

Like a piece of wire that you may bend back and forth to break it,,so goes all metal,,,if you bend a blade back,,to straighten it,,you will work hardened it,brittle point,,,no I wouldn't do it unless I was disperate....have welded broke brush hog blades,,,wouldn't do it again..think about the person you might be cutting their heads off,,[and it would be totally your fault if it happened,,not real good chance of it happening,but still a chance...]