You don't have to sharpen it because you keep it sharp by using it

[masraum]

Just goes to show that everything on the Internet is true.

Who knew that you didn't have to sharpen a blade, because you can keep it sharp by using it. And the way that you know that it's sharp is because the edge is shiny.



But he's right. You wanna get a firm grip on your tool. Then you can rest it between your legs and wedge it in place.

about 2:25

you see that shiny metal underneath? That's where we've removed the rust and, hopefully, sharpened the blade. But again, in my opinion, the best way to sharpen this is just by using it on weeds.

I'm about to throw out my diamond plates, water stones and files! And I'll never sharpen another lawn mower blade again, because using it sharpens it!

[cstreit]

Ah HAH!

So thats why my mower blade is dull at the end of the year. ...its not the cutting, its when its sitting in the tool shed.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I get what he's saying-

but no- do this:


After each use, oxyacetylene torch, heat metal to cherry red, and hammer in a new edge over a vice. (that's the easiest way)

[stevej37]

I have one exactly like that,
Works great for a quick chop-down.

[KFC911]

Now I'm meticulous about keeping my chainsaws sharp, but I've never sharpened a lawnmower blade .... ever . Used to work with a guy that said he sharpened his all the time..... like I do chainsaw teeth.

I then asked him how often he sharpened his line trimmer .... he then got a funny look on his face .

Different strokes...

[cstreit]

He kind of lost credibility with me when he "sharpened" the edge by using the triangular file at 90 degrees to the blade lol

[stevej37]

^^^ I sharpen my mower blades at least 4 times a season. Makes a big diff in the looks of my lawn.
Of course hitting walnuts and small branches doesn't help any.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I sharpen my mower blades at least 4 times a season. Makes a big diff in the looks of my lawn.
Of course hitting walnuts and small branches doesn't help any.

Yeah .... if ya hit stuff and have a walnut farm, it might make a difference .

[stevej37]

^^^ If you hit them right...they fly like a golf ball off a driver.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cstreit

He kind of lost credibility with me when he "sharpened" the edge by using the triangular file at 90 degrees to the blade lol

It took that long?

[masraum]

Wow, this is interesting.

[rusnak]

These get really really sharp by using it:

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I sharpen my mower blades at least 4 times a season. Makes a big diff in the looks of my lawn.
Of course hitting walnuts and small branches doesn't help any.

Mower blades also have to be balanced. I just change them as needed. New blades are cheap and taking the deck on and off is a pain in the butt.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rusnak

These get really really sharp by using it:

Hell yeah! You think choppin' weeds makes something shiny which means sharp. Draggin it through the dirt and rocks makes it REALLY shiny which must make it sharp like a razor.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Mower blades also have to be balanced. I just change them as needed. New blades are cheap and taking the deck on and off is a pain in the butt.

have too? whaaa?!?!? Where I'm going we don't need no stinking balancing!!!! -Doc Brown quote. (1972-2022 and bearings still going strong)
edit- because the more bearings spin, the rounder they get.

edit- Although I do have to admit, the pleasure of mounting new blades on a deck is something special (well.. more special than my bench grinder specials....)

What I want to know is what is your kill ratio.
I have-
One driver's window. 15 feet
Two rear car windows 100 ft. each
Porsche rear deck lid- 50 feet.
One poor turtle.
One poor rabbit.

I wanted to crack a joke about being "really sad about the windows"- but the yard animals get to me. Still feel bad. I walk through really tall grass now to move everyone out before mowing begins. With the critters, I am not proud.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Mower blades also have to be balanced. I just change them as needed. New blades are cheap and taking the deck on and off is a pain in the butt.

Maybe more important with a single blade mower. I've never balanced my three blade deck...always runs smooth.

[gordner]

I have sharpened or changed probably a thousand mower blades in my landscaping days, never once was one balanced unless by happenstance.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

have too? whaaa?!?!? Where I'm going we don't need no stinking balancing!!!! -Doc Brown quote. (1972-2022 and bearings still going strong)
edit- because the more bearings spin, the rounder they get.

edit- Although I do have to admit, the pleasure of mounting new blades on a deck is something special (well.. more special than my bench grinder specials....)

What I want to know is what is your kill ratio.
I have-
One driver's window. 15 feet
Two rear car windows 100 ft. each
Porsche rear deck lid- 50 feet.
One poor turtle.
One poor rabbit.

I wanted to crack a joke about being "really sad about the windows"- but the yard animals get to me. Still feel bad. I walk through really tall grass now to move everyone out before mowing begins. With the critters, I am not proud.

I've sharpened blades, but never balanced one before. I did recently buy a balancer that I will be using soon. I bought new blades for the mower last year which was awesome. They are great blades too.

Originally Posted by stevej37

Maybe more important with a single blade mower. I've never balanced my three blade deck...always runs smooth.

I've never balanced or heard of balancing a blade before, but makes sense.

Originally Posted by gordner

I have sharpened or changed probably a thousand mower blades in my landscaping days, never once was one balanced unless by happenstance.

I'd assume that if they were balanced when you put them on, that they should stay pretty balanced unless you keep and sharpen them a ton until you've changed their size/shape/weight a bunch.

I bought a low tech balancer for $6 on Amazon. I'm going to give the whole balancing thing a shot.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by gordner

I have sharpened or changed probably a thousand mower blades in my landscaping days, never once was one balanced unless by happenstance.

You know how you get that vibration after hitting a rock? It's because the blade that has a chunk missing is out of balance.

When you changed one of your "thousand" blades, they were balanced from the factory.

[cabmandone]

Some folks call it a sling blade... mmm

And I quit balancing blades years ago. I sharpen them twice each mowing season. Use them for about 3 mowing seasons then buy new ones.