How do you sharpen your lawnmower blades?
Hi All,
I own an old 52″ Bunton lawnmower (with 3 blades) and I’ve always brought my blades to a lawnmower shop instead of doing it myself. I have a bench grinder but I don’t think that does a great job. I have seen other options like the following:
- Sharpening attachment to a drill.
- Manually with a file.
- Angle grinder.
I am leaning toward the Angle Grinder route because I know someone who used to work at a lawnmower place and that is what they used. It easily allows them to maintain the 45 degree angle as long as the blade is in a vice. Has anyone used the sharpening attachment for a drill? If so, do you like it and where do you get them?
Just wondering what the concensus is out there?
Thanks,
Bob
Replies
I use what is in the pic, with a coarse belt.
Or I sometimes use a 4.5" mini grinder.
I use a balancer to reduce vibration and bearing stress.
Mini Grinder?
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your reply. What are you referring to when you say a mini grinder? Same type of grinder but smaller?
Thanks,
Bob
This one... see pic. 4.5"
This one... see pic. 4.5" Milwaukee.
Angle Grinder
Thanks. Looks like an angle grinder to me. Is there a specific grit to use for sharpening that you are using for the angle grinder?
Best,
Bob
I use a coarse disk. Rotary lawnmower blades are fairly crude edges, and don't need to have a very keen edge. Nor do they benefit from a low included angle, which will soon be crushed by normal wear. I grind mine to about 45 degrees.
Hi Scott,
Thanks so much for your responses. I'll be picking up an Angle Grinder on the way home.
Best,
Bob
Think about one with a brake. I've almost been biten by mine a few times.
Brake
Hi Scott,
Explain what you mean by a brake on an angle grinder? Pardon for my ignorance.
Best,
Bob
Some tools that rotate quickly (circ. saws, grinders, table saws, etc.) have an electric brake that imediately slow the motor down when the power switch is released. The brake adds some cost, but it can lower the chance of serious injury. It also adds convenience because you don't have to wait so long for the darn thing to stop spinning before you can put it down.
I wish I had bought a grinder with one.
Thanks
Hi,
None of my tools have this feature (circ saw, table saw, bench grinder, etc) so I'll inquire when I am looking.
Best,
Bob
Yep, wit da angle grinder, ya dont even hafta take th blade off the mower.
I tried various grinders, but now I just take the blades to The Guy. I have three, and I always get 2-3 sharpened at once. Less trouble than setting up in the garage to do it myself, and The Guy does a better job than I could ever do.
Angle Grinder it is...
Hi All,
I ended up purchasing a Porter Cable 7.5amp 4.5" angle grinder. I used it yesterday to sharpen all three blades and it worked like a charm. I appreciate everyone's responses. I'm not sure what else I will use the angle grinder for other than sharpening. Any ideas?
Best,
Bob
Cleaning the bathroom, cutting the pizza at Pizza Hut ... I can think of a lot of uses.
Thanks
Yeah, cutting the pizza. Never thought of that... :-)
Best,
Bob
Buy a stack of cuttoff
Buy a stack of cutoff wheels... used for cutting all sorts of metal stock.
Various types of wire wheels are useful for cleaning rust and dirt off of stuff.
If you really want a sense of adventure sometime, try one of these for carving wood:
http://www.katools.com/squire.html
Will do...
Thanks for the info..
Best,
Bob