Sharpening lawn mower blades

[Picky1]

The guy that used to sharpen my lawn mower (tractor) blades passed away a couple of years ago, so I started to sharpen my blades by hand with a file...well I am finally sick of doing this and I am thinking about buying a bench grinder.

Is this the way to go? or is there a better tool? (would love to be able to sharpen them right on the tractor!) What size grinder do I need? Are the Harbor Freight ones any good?

 

[Brybo86]

used bench grinder can be had for $25 around me on craigslist

 

[fdcg27]

A Dremel with a stone will do a good job of sharpening the blades without your having to remove them.
I've done it this way for years.

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: Picky1
The guy that used to sharpen my lawn mower (tractor) blades passed away a couple of years ago, so I started to sharpen my blades by hand with a file...well I am finally sick of doing this and I am thinking about buying a bench grinder.

Is this the way to go? or is there a better tool? (would love to be able to sharpen them right on the tractor!) What size grinder do I need? Are the Harbor Freight ones any good?


HF would be fine. I use a hand grinder myself since I don't own a bench grinder yet.

Regards, JC.

 

[SrDriver]

Harbor Freight or your local Flea Market is a good place to look for a grinder.

To balance the blade you can buy an inexpensive blade balance device or just use a nail driven into a piece of wood. If the blade tips down on one side just grind off a bit until it is balanced.

 

[FL_Rob]

http://www.amazon.com


How 'bout this? Very dull blades will require way more metal removal.

 

[pcoxe]

I clamp my blade to a heavy table and sharpen it with a side grinder.

 

[DBMaster]

I always used a file. Not hard and good results. Inherited a Dremel. It may be easier, but the results are similar.

 

[nwjones18]

I either clamp in a vise and use an angle grinder or use a bench grinder.

 

[Donald]

Do not forget to balance after sharpening.

 

[BHopkins]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
http://www.amazon.com


How 'bout this? Very dull blades will require way more metal removal.


I had one of these. Lousy design. The mower blade cuts the plastic angle guide. It was trash after one use.

Do you have a Dremel? If yes, pick up the Dremel 6 model 675 mower blade sharpener guide and stone. This is so sweet! It takes longer to take the blade off the mower and clamp it in the vise, that it will to actually sharpen it. The angle is the same every time. I can get a consistent edge along the entire length of the blades.

If you don't have a Dremel, this may be a good excuse to get one. Unless perhaps, the mower blade is the excuse you are using to get a bench grinder.

 

[BHopkins]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I always used a file. Not hard and good results. Inherited a Dremel. It may be easier, but the results are similar.


Perhaps I am just a klutz. But I've cut my knuckles pretty good when I tried the file method. That's another benefit to the Dremel method. I find it much safer.

 

[EA82]

I bought a ryobi bench grinder at HD for that purpose.

 

[spasm3]

Angle grinder. Put the blade in a vice and its way faster than a bench grinder. Another tip, buy an extra set of blades, keep a set sharp and change them, then sharpen the other set when you have time.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-6-Amp-4-in-Angle-Grinder-GA4030K/202312077?N=5yc1vZc2fwZ5yc1v

 

[racer12306]

I take it to the local OPE shop and hand over $6. Drop it off one day after work, pick it up the next.

This is something where I don't have the need to do it myself like many other things.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Do not forget to balance after sharpening.


I was going to say.

I like the idea of a Dremel personally. What kind of stone would you use on it? I'm not very familiar with Dremel attachments..

 

[johnachak]

I use a cheapo Home Depot grinder. $24.99. It works fine. For chisels and lawn mower blades.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
Harbor Freight or your local Flea Market is a good place to look for a grinder.

To balance the blade you can buy an inexpensive blade balance device or just use a nail driven into a piece of wood. If the blade tips down on one side just grind off a bit until it is balanced.


+1 on the way to balance.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: racer12306
I take it to the local OPE shop and hand over $6. Drop it off one day after work, pick it up the next.

This is something where I don't have the need to do it myself like many other things.


You are lucky to have a convenient OPE shop. The only one within 10 miles of me closed as did all the "sharpening" stores and trucks.

 

[BHopkins]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Donald
Do not forget to balance after sharpening.


I was going to say.

I like the idea of a Dremel personally. What kind of stone would you use on it? I'm not very familiar with Dremel attachments..


The 675 attachment comes with both a guide and a stone. I have used the same stone for a few years, and just bought a spare. Still haven't had to use the spare yet.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachments/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=675

The 675 is a little harder to find now. I guess most stores have replaced it with the 679. It includes the mower sharpening guide and stone, but also includes guides and stones for chainsaws and garden shears. I've never used these other tools. But if they work any where near as well as the mower tool, they will be nice to have.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachments/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=A679-02

someone else mentioned buying a second mower blade, so you can have one sharpened and ready when you want to have a sharp blade. Then, you can sharpen at your convenience. That's a good idea. I did the same, and it is convenient.