JHZR2
Staff member
I bought this mower in 2006, I replace the oil and clean the filter regularly... But have never touched the blade. Decided to do so this year. Found this:
Mower blade - sharpen or replace?
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I would replace. With 8-9 years of service, it is pretty spent. Those gouges also look a little deep, not terrible but enough that I would replace them.
I would use that: Ive seen them 10X worse...Steel cant time time
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If it was mine I'd sharpen it.
Go ahead and sharpen it, assuming you have a way to balance it. The local Agway sharpens then for $3.00.
Sharpen and balance it, no problem, just as good as a new one. Actually since new blades aren't all that sharp, a proper sharpening will be better than new. Sometimes when I sell a new blade the customer wants it sharpened before installation.
JHZR2
Staff member
Our ace hardware was selling balancers, which is why this task came to mind at all. A guy around here does them for $5 or so.
It was oil change/mower away for the season day so that's why I took it off and cleaned the deck. It was pretty bad, and showing some rust after I cleaned it off.
I sprayed it with crc 6-56 penetrating spray, which contains an inhibitor and leaves an oily film. I'll coat it with something heavier/more permanent when spring comes.
It was oil change/mower away for the season day so that's why I took it off and cleaned the deck. It was pretty bad, and showing some rust after I cleaned it off.
I sprayed it with crc 6-56 penetrating spray, which contains an inhibitor and leaves an oily film. I'll coat it with something heavier/more permanent when spring comes.
I have sharpend blades like that back to use. You will have to take a bit off the end. A hand grinder is easier to use than a bench grinder. I try though not to take too much off at once and heat up the blade and take the temper out. Make it look good and see if its reasonably balanced. If not toss it, but i'd grind it up a bit. Just make sure there are no cracks there.
As far as balancers, i just stick a phillips head screwdriver through the hold and see if it stays horizontal while wiggling.
As far as balancers, i just stick a phillips head screwdriver through the hold and see if it stays horizontal while wiggling.
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I have not found a coating that will hold up. I've tried epoxy paint, bedliner spray, and recently Ez slide graphite paint. I had hopes for the graphite paint. but nothing seems to hold up to the abrasions of mowing. I probably have a lot more leaves and twigs than some. So it its only grass and no dirt or other debris, the EZ slide might work.
Get a coffee can of water and sharpen with a bench grinder if you have one. Be careful about over heating and very frequently plunge in water to cool. I have and used blades much worse than this. Just balance after you sharpen. ed
Looks like a Honda type blade mount. New blades on Amazon for 10 bucks or less.
I keep two blades, that way i sharpen when i have time and there is always a sharp one on the wall when i change blades.
+ to sharpening. I would not have a problem doing it once, or twice.
JHZR2
Staff member
Is there a specific pad/wheel to use for a handheld angle grinder? I think that's easiest to take the big stuff out, then a dremel for the fine work... Or even a file.
Sharpen and balance it, and put it back in service.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I keep two blades, that way i sharpen when i have time and there is always a sharp one on the wall when i change blades.
Then do this. And in the future, instead of waiting every 8 years to sharpen, swap out the dull blade with the already sharpened blade whenever it feels dull. I do this once or twice a season. But even if you do it once a season, it is still easier and quicker when you have a spare blade.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I keep two blades, that way i sharpen when i have time and there is always a sharp one on the wall when i change blades.
Then do this. And in the future, instead of waiting every 8 years to sharpen, swap out the dull blade with the already sharpened blade whenever it feels dull. I do this once or twice a season. But even if you do it once a season, it is still easier and quicker when you have a spare blade.
As long as it is balanced, there's no reason to replace it. I find that sharpening my blade 3 or 4 times a season keeps my motor from straining, as well as making the lawn (and weeds) look better.
http://www.amazon.com/SBB-102-Lawn-Mower...=blade+balancer
I usually just use an aggressive file, and am done in about 3 minutes.
I have a star-shaped mounting hole, and my circular balancer like the one in the link no longer works. So I don't even bother balancing mine...
http://www.amazon.com/SBB-102-Lawn-Mower...=blade+balancer
I usually just use an aggressive file, and am done in about 3 minutes.
I have a star-shaped mounting hole, and my circular balancer like the one in the link no longer works. So I don't even bother balancing mine...
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Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Is there a specific pad/wheel to use for a handheld angle grinder? I think that's easiest to take the big stuff out, then a dremel for the fine work... Or even a file.
I use a regular grinding wheel, i'm not ever sure what grit it is. I find that in a vise i control the angle well enough that i never use a hand file or dremel. Sometimes if the edge is bent over from rocks, you might have to grind the back side lightly and only where the rock ding is, before grinding the edge.
Is there a specific pad/wheel to use for a handheld angle grinder? I think that's easiest to take the big stuff out, then a dremel for the fine work... Or even a file.
I use a regular grinding wheel, i'm not ever sure what grit it is. I find that in a vise i control the angle well enough that i never use a hand file or dremel. Sometimes if the edge is bent over from rocks, you might have to grind the back side lightly and only where the rock ding is, before grinding the edge.
That thing looks great! Here in Florida, the blades get sandblasted which rapidly eats away the metal and feathers the end of the blade to the point it's paper thin.
I would have no problem putting a sharp edge on that bad boy and putting it back in service.
I would have no problem putting a sharp edge on that bad boy and putting it back in service.
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