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Tips on sharpening lawn mower blade
Looking for your insight/best tips on sharpening lawn mower blades. Yea, it's pretty straightforward, but you never know, maybe one of you guys have an approach I haven't seen before, please share, thanks!
Wayne C. --> Gone from CA, now in VA!!! |
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06-13-2010, 06:29 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,592
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Balance the blade after sharpening...too heavy on one end or the other & you wear out your bearing faster... Otherwise, I just sharpen on a grinder wheel...making sure to not burn the edge of the blade.
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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06-13-2010, 06:40 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lake Cle Elum - Eastern WA.
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Bench Grinder is best. I take some from both edges for a knife edge. On my rider, if I'm in a hurry: I jack it up and put on jackstands, lay on the floor and use my air powered hand grinder.........Not recommended, but it works........
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Bob S. 73.5 911T 1969 911T Coo' pay (one owner) 1960 Mercedes 190SL 1962 XKE Roadster (sold) - 13 motorcycles |
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06-13-2010, 06:43 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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I used to use the dremel kit. Now I use a bench grinder. Much faster with a bench grinder.
By either method, it takes a certain amount of finesse if you are sharpening mulching blades.
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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06-13-2010, 06:44 PM
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canna change law physics
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I use a vice and a file. It is quick and leads to a very sharp edge, while removing minimal material.
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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06-13-2010, 06:54 PM
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Un-Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Upstate New York
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I used to use a bench grinder until I found these...
 Works in a standard hand grinder. It offers much more control. I use 100 grit.
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Don 1988 Targa |
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06-13-2010, 07:10 PM
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If you a sharpening the blade on the mower - be safe and disconnect the sparkplug. Even when you are taking the blade off, you are better off disconnecting the sparkplug - with enough torque, the rotation of the blade due to a slipped wrench may be enough to kick the motor over...
-Z-man.
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2010 Cayman S - 12-2020 - 2014 MINI Cooper S Coupe - 05-17 - 05-21 1989 944S2 - 06-01 - 01-14 Carpe Viam. <>< |
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06-13-2010, 07:17 PM
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JW Apostate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Napa, Ca
Posts: 14,164
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I just prop the mower up and use my Makita grinder.
It takes longer to get the grinder out and put it away then the sharpening. KT
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'74 914-6 2.6 SS #746 '01 Boxster |
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06-13-2010, 07:21 PM
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Just make yourself some biscuits with mustard when you're done.
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1979 911 SC Silver 2002 996 race car 2005 Ford Excursion |
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06-13-2010, 07:22 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,082
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As red-beard said....
A vice and a file is probably your most accurate way to sharpen the blade. I find it's hard not to put waves on the edge of the blade with a grinder. It's easier to control the shape of the edge with a nice quality file. Make sure that when you are filing, you file properly. Remember files only cut in one direction. Not back and forth. Push the file away from your body, lift, re-position, and push away again. Once you start cutting you'll get good feedback through the handle of the file. You will be able to easily match the angle of the edge and produce a very high quality blade. I think you may be in for a surprise what the simple file (when done correctly) can do. |
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06-13-2010, 07:23 PM
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Parrothead member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monmouth county, NJ USA
Posts: 13,853
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Side grinder!
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Vinny Red '86 944, 05 Ford Super Duty Dually '02 Ram 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually, '07Jeep Wrangler '62 Mercury Meteor '90 Harley 1200 XL "Live your Life in such a way that the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket your funeral." |
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06-13-2010, 07:24 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
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A bench grinder...and here's the balancer I use
Amazon.com: Maxpower Lawn Mower Blade Balancer: Home Improvement
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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06-13-2010, 07:24 PM
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I too use a file. I take the blades on my Honda (it has two), and put it in my vice, and take some time to work out the nicks. I then use one of those plastic balancing things that you can get at Dept or Lowes to make sure it is balanced.
And then the next time I use it I hit a rock that one of the kids has left in the yard.... Bill |
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06-13-2010, 09:23 PM
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canna change law physics
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Quote:
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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06-14-2010, 03:43 AM
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Double Trouble
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,705
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Quote:
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06-14-2010, 05:42 AM
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canna change law physics
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Quote:
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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06-14-2010, 05:45 AM
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Unoffended by naked girls
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Quote:
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Dan 1969 911T (sold) 2008 FXDL www.labreaprecision.com www.concealedcarrymidwest.com |
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06-14-2010, 07:36 AM
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,788
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4" grinder, bench grinder, die grinder...... I have used all on different occasions. I balance simply by hanging the blade from piece of scrap round stock clamped in a vice. A "perfect" edge is not all that critical. Just grind it to what appears to be about the same angle while removing the stone dings and worn rounded off edge. Unless the kids hit a bunch of stones or dirt clods, I typically only sharpen once or twice a summer mowing 9 acres.
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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06-14-2010, 07:47 AM
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hand grinder.. a 16p nail in the wall for balancing.
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poof! gone |
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06-14-2010, 08:11 AM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,335
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So no one besides me thought of the movie Sling Blade?
"I aim to kill you withit."
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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06-14-2010, 08:12 AM
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1970/1982 Porsche 914-6/911SC 2.7 RS
1989 Porsche 944S2 3.0l 16v 4cyl
BB
2015 
1969 Porsche 911 T 2.0 L
