QA

Quick Answer: How To Sharpen A Lawnmower Blade

Should a lawn mower blade be razor sharp?

How Sharp Should Your Mower Blade Be? Mower blades should be aggressively sharp, but not as sharp as a razor’s edge. You should be able to touch the blade with your hand without getting cut. Contrary to popular belief, a lawn mower blade with a razor sharp edge will not cut grass better.

How often should mower blades be sharpened?

Typically, most home owners just need to sharpen blades twice per season. One good sharpening at the beginning of the season and one around the middle of the mowing season should be good. If you mow over debris such as sticks or rocks, however, you may need to sharpen your blades more than that.

How do you sharpen a lawn mower blade without removing it?

How to sharpen lawn mower blades without removing them? Collect the required tools. Seal the gas tank. Tilt the mower and place the wooden block under it on the other side to give it support. Clean the blade with water and a steel brush. Use the angle grinder or flat-file to sharpen the cutting edge slowly. Lower the mower.

Can you sharpen blades while still on mower?

After all, even if the blade is a little dull, they’ll still cut grass, right? Well, yes, but that’s not the point. There are few different ways to sharpen lawnmower blades, including using a bench grinder, hand file, rotary tool, or angle grinder.

How do I know if my mower blade is dull?

Mowing with a dull blade can create a ragged cut, turning grass brown.Look for these signs that you may need to sharpen the mower blades: Dents or nicks in the mower blades. Uneven grass height after cutting. Grass blades look torn instead of sliced. Brown, frayed grass edges.

Do you sharpen both sides of a mower blade?

Always sharpen from the top side of the cutting edge; this will give you the longest-lasting edge on the blade. Note: The file cuts in one direction only, on the push stroke; you’ll feel it bite into the steel on the blade.

How else can you tell when your lawn mower blades need to be sharpened?

You’ll know that you need to sharpen your lawn mower blades when the tips of your grass are brown and ragged. When this happens, your grass becomes less capable of storing water and more susceptible to disease. Some lawn mower manuals suggest sharpening or replacing blades after every 25 hours of use.

How much does it cost to get a lawn mower blade sharpened?

Depending on the type of your mower, you can expect to pay anywhere between 20 dollars to 60 dollars. If it’s a reel lawn mower you might not even need to take the blades off the mower and sharpen them while they’re attached.

Should you sharpen mulching blades?

Mulching blades should be sharpened once to twice per season, depending on how often you use them. If you mulch the grass weekly or bi-weekly, it’s best to sharpen them twice. The constant cutting will take its toll on the mulching blades, dulling them quickly. Even if they’re sharpened, they won’t cut as well.

Which side of a lawn mower blade faces up?

The wings of the lawn mower blade will be oriented up toward the mower deck and any writing on the blade will likely be facing away from the deck. If the blade bolt comes with a washer, its concave side will be facing the blade.

How long do mower blades last?

On average, most mower blades last up to 100 to 200 hours under normal conditions. The number of hours can be as high as 400 if you use high-quality blades. When blades get dull, you can sharpen them with a grinder or metallic file, but the blade sharpening will only work for 2 to 3 times.

Are Dull mower blades bad for grass?

Dull lawn mower blades can affect not only the look of the lawn but also the health of the grass. Dull lawn mower blades do not cleanly cut the blades of grass. Instead, the grass is ripped or torn, resulting in a jagged edge. This jagged edged will brown within days, causing an uneven look to a recently cut lawn.

What happens when you cut grass with a dull blade?

A dull blade can make your lawn appear yellow, brown and raggedy. A dull lawnmower blade may even pull up portions of the grass because it actually pulls on the entire plant instead of slicing through the blades of grass cleanly.

Do you sharpen both sides of a lawn mower blade?

Always sharpen from the top side of the cutting edge; this will give you the longest-lasting edge on the blade. Note: The file cuts in one direction only, on the push stroke; you’ll feel it bite into the steel on the blade.

How much does it cost to sharpen a lawnmower blade?

Depending on the type of your mower, you can expect to pay anywhere between 20 dollars to 60 dollars. If it’s a reel lawn mower you might not even need to take the blades off the mower and sharpen them while they’re attached.

How do you sharpen a lawnmower blade without removing it?

How to sharpen lawn mower blades without removing them? Collect the required tools. Seal the gas tank. Tilt the mower and place the wooden block under it on the other side to give it support. Clean the blade with water and a steel brush. Use the angle grinder or flat-file to sharpen the cutting edge slowly. Lower the mower.