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Best technique for sharpening mulching blades

Posted on 9/9/24 at 8:59 am
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
81360 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 8:59 am
I heard you don't want them to be knife edge sharp so would love to hear how you baws keep your mower blades in shape.

My technique is to try and glance them off a stone or concrete now and then while mowing.
Posted by Yewkindewit
Near Birmingham, Alabama
Member since Apr 2012
20469 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 9:39 am to
LOL. I sharpen mine to be sharp to the touch. They dull fairly quickly when running over sticks and mulch I’m to lazy to move out of the way but, hey, I’m ridin’……
Posted by Tifway419
Member since Sep 2022
1027 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 9:40 am to
quote:

My technique is to try and glance them off a stone or concrete now and then while mowing.


I use the flap disc on my grinder to sharpen the blade. Doesn’t take too much off, just make sure to keep the factory blade angle the same and don’t take more off of one side than the other.
Posted by White Bear
Yonnygo
Member since Jul 2014
15044 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 9:53 am to
Vice + flat bastard
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
19791 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 10:41 am to
quote:

Vice + flat bastard

Yup. Mine seem to get really dull every 2-3 weeks.
It must be the sand leveling I did. Also, I mow a lot.
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
17135 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 1:52 pm to
Best, fastest way I've found is a good 4.5" grinder and an 80-grit 3M Cubitron II flap disk. Very light touch and will remove metal quickly without burning the edge. Probably the last metal grinding wheels you'll ever buy too.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4742 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 2:33 pm to
Hand grinder with a grinding wheel. All of the comments are valuable so far. Keep them balanced as far as removing material from each side. The blades you have also make a difference. My original blades aren't as hard, strong, or thick as the second set I bought. They are like Gator's but a different brand, where the "teeth" on top face inward instead of outward. They are hefty and hold an edge for a long time. I used to sharpen my stock blades once per year, whereas these other ones I sharpen every two years, and even then they could probably go a third year.
Posted by kengel2
Team Gun
Member since Mar 2004
31633 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 2:35 pm to
quote:

Best technique for sharpening mulching blades


I just order another one for $27 on amazon.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
25729 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 2:55 pm to
I've never sharpened the blades on my mowers. I've replaced a couple of times but never sharpened them.

Although, I did sharpen the blade on my bush hog at my farm a couple of weeks ago. It was pretty dinged up. Had to do a few other things to it and thought while I was doing those, I might as well sharpen the blades.
I used my grinder with 60 grit pads.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
10503 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 3:25 pm to
I call the local shop who offers free pickup and blade sharpening with an oil change/tuneup.

I do it ever two years.
Posted by tke_swamprat
Houma, LA
Member since Aug 2004
9985 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 3:27 pm to
I just took my mower blades off and sharpened for the first time. They were so dull. I used my grinder and got them sharp to the touch. Cut grass this morning and the mower never bogged down!
Posted by calcotron
Member since Nov 2007
8571 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 7:23 pm to
I just do it with the grinder, takes maybe 10 minutes total to do both blades. Sharp to the touch. Remember eye protection.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
37759 posts
Posted on 9/9/24 at 7:40 pm to
I used a flap disc as well. Now, I'm sold on a hand file. Better sharpening.
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
35901 posts
Posted on 9/10/24 at 8:54 am to
I've yet to sharpen mine on my zero turn because I have this odd fear that my mower is going to fall on me while taking the blades off
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
12603 posts
Posted on 9/10/24 at 8:56 am to
I use a grinder with a 60 grit flapper disc along with a china knockoff all american sharpening guide. I have 3 sets that I rotate every other week. The bermuda is hell on them.
Posted by Turnblad85
Member since Sep 2022
1997 posts
Posted on 9/10/24 at 9:59 am to
Sharpen mine with a grinder 3 times a year.

Had an old baw tell me that even the little sticks you don't want to pick up with eat a blade. Hard for me to believe since a machete can cut all day and still be pretty sharp. But he has mowed more grass and sharpened more blades than I ever will even if I live 300 years.
Posted by BiggerBear
Redbone Country
Member since Sep 2011
2967 posts
Posted on 9/10/24 at 10:19 am to
This is a tool (beltsander/file) and not a technique I guess, but I find that makes it easier to control the angle than with an angle grinder.

Link to Bauer variety tool at Harbor Freight

There are more expensive ones and air-driven ones, but this one does a pretty good job.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
16193 posts
Posted on 9/10/24 at 11:32 am to
I just use my Makita grinder I use to do prep work for painting house exteriors. I'll toss on a 50 grit disc and hit both sides of the blade to get a decent edge.

To check for balance, I have a framing nail driven in at a 90 degree angle to the face of a 4 x 4. When done sharpening I'll hang the blade by the center hole on that and make sure the blade is level left to right. If one side is lower than the other, just take off a little more metal until it is level when hung on the nail.
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
12915 posts
Posted on 9/10/24 at 11:50 am to
quote:

My technique is to try and glance them off a stone or concrete now and then while mowing


I'm in this camp. I just buy a new blade every couple of years. The blade is the cheapest thing on there, including the gas I run through it every summer. Typically after the first cut, once the old little sticks and pinecones get chopped up. But I only use mine about 6-8 times a summer to mow the backyard.
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