Any blade experts?

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

When do we condemn mower blades? Dismantling a junk 42SD and I assumed these were junk but maybe not… can these still be sharpened? 
 

 

 

[rjg854 11,361]

I'd say yes, seems to be a lot of blade left.  

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

3 minutes ago, rjg854 said:

I'd say yes, seems to be a lot of blade left.  

Thanks! 

[Ed Kennell 38,158]

Yes, they can be sharpened, but they are all ready a tad shorter than when new.   May leave a streak in turns.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Ed Kennell

[squonk 41,079]

You can 2 things with them. E tank them and sharpen and they will still cut like Ed says. 

 

OR

 

Use them for anodes in an E tank 

[TonyToro Jr. 1,415]

Yes, you got a lot more sharpening’s out of those and alot more cutting. You can tell if there no good if the lift on the blade on the corner if it is really thin or rub your finger around the edge and if there’s a like ridge they are no good.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

47 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Yes, they can be sharpened, but they are all ready a tad shorter than when new.   May leave a streak in turns.

  Ed, are you talking about the corners I have circled in yellow? These are the old blades laid directly on top of a brand new one. 
 

 

 

[peter lena 8,619]

@Sparky  when ever I  touch up a blade,  I use   small fine file  , minimizes metal loss , always use a cutting oil with it , does agood job , you going to oil treat that deck ?  kill off the grunge and help the deck out . if you establish a lubricant finish , and  leave oil on it over winter , upside down , it will soak in place for months , pretty simple , mine are stained oil / grease black , just a  suggestion . pete

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

13 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@Sparky  when ever I  touch up a blade,  I use   small fine file  , minimizes metal loss , always use a cutting oil with it , does agood job , you going to oil treat that deck ?  kill off the grunge and help the deck out . if you establish a lubricant finish , and  leave oil on it over winter , upside down , it will soak in place for months , pretty simple , mine are stained oil / grease black , just a  suggestion . pete

   This one can’t be brought back with any oils on the market Pete   @peter lena …she’s never going to mow again. Next stop will be the town transfer stations scrap metal dumpster.

  The plan here is to strip what’s still good and use those parts to keep a solid deck going. 

 

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

  One spindle pulley will need to soak to get it off in the next day or two. But she is essentially stripped with the good stuff in a bucket. 
  Gotta stop workin in shorts (Pullstart style !)  … one of my knobby knees took a hit. 

 

[ri702bill 8,316]

Mike  - they are still worth the time to clean them up and resharpen. Yes, they are worn - but - I do not see any cracks, broken out areas, etc. Worth redressing as a second set spares, or a first set on a used deck for sale.....

[ri702bill 8,316]

Using the can of Natty cheap brew to break the rust??!!!!!!

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

1 minute ago, ri702bill said:

Using the can of Natty cheap brew to break the rust??!!!!!!

  Natty Lite is a perfect garage beer 🍺.. 

[Shynon 7,459]

3 hours ago, Sparky said:

  Ed, are you talking about the corners I have circled in yellow? These are the old blades laid directly on top of a brand new one. 
 

 

 

the rounded corners need to be squared off, otherwise grass just rolls passed without cutting

[Rick3478 428]

2 hours ago, Shynon said:

the rounded corners need to be squared off, otherwise grass just rolls passed without cutting

Yeah, in fact the tips do most of the work, which is why they wear away and get rounded like that.

[Ed Kennell 38,158]

5 hours ago, Sparky said:

Ed, are you talking about the corners I have circled in yellow?

Exactly Mike.  Although the old blades are as long as the new blades,   The effective cutting length must be measured from the center of rotation to the fartherest point on the blade.

It looks like the old blades will measure about 1/4" shorter than the new blades.     Here's a crude not to scale sketch to show how the cutting circle  decreases in size.

c                     

[Rick3478 428]

18 hours ago, Sparky said:

 

 

 

 

I've seen worse.  When you start getting into the upturned wing area, it's time to retire them.

 

[Bill D 1,920]

On 7/31/2023 at 6:29 PM, Sparky said:

  One spindle pulley will need to soak to get it off in the next day or two. But she is essentially stripped with the good stuff in a bucket. 
  Gotta stop workin in shorts (Pullstart style !)  … one of my knobby knees took a hit. 

 

I hope you saved the gauge wheel bar.  I used one like that for a custom deck build.

[c-series don 8,690]

I have several decks like @Sparky does if anybody wants them for parts. I have enough used spindles and parts already and probably will never strip the decks I’d like to give away. Shame but some day I’ll get sick of looking at them and throw them away. 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

On 8/12/2023 at 12:31 AM, Bill D said:

I hope you saved the gauge wheel bar.  I used one like that for a custom deck build.

  Nope…it went into the scrap metal dumpster with the shell. I know I won’t ever build a custom deck.