71_Bronco 1,072 #1 Posted October 3, 2018 Just curious how you guys sharpen your blades for your mowers. Do you use a special piece of machinery? Angle Grinder? Bench Grinder and a steady hand? I recently came across a Foley 398 blade sharpener / grinder that I am thinking about picking up, looks like the unit below. Has the cone shaped blade balancer too. Not sure if I need this type of equipment or if my money is better spent elsewhere. The seller is asking $100, but would take $80. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,373 #2 Posted October 3, 2018 If it works not a bad price they do keep the blade at the correct angle but you could recoup your investment next year sharpening and balancing blades in your neighborhood, to answer your other question I just use an angle grinder with flap wheel holding the blade in a bench vice then use one the aluminum cone balancers,Jeff. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,782 #3 Posted October 3, 2018 4 inch angle grinder & cone balancer. I wouldn't mind one of those if it would save some time & like Billy says let the neighbors know. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,871 #4 Posted October 3, 2018 (edited) I'm with Jeff, the flap disc works great. Edited October 3, 2018 by OILUJ52 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,795 #5 Posted October 3, 2018 I typically find a good patch of stones, and let them true themselves up.... 1 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,336 #6 Posted October 3, 2018 11 minutes ago, pullstart said: I typically find a good patch of stones, and let them true themselves up.... Rolling? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,795 #7 Posted October 3, 2018 6 minutes ago, The Tool Crib said: Rolling? Any way I can get it! I usually actually use an angle grinder. With the 42” deck, I didn’t even remove the blades most th time, but there wasn’t a whole lot of real estate on those things to begin with. Now that I have the 52” Scag, I’ll probably lift the front with the cherry picker, pull the blades and try my hand at filing them in. I try to stay away from rocks with that thing! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skipper 1,788 #8 Posted October 3, 2018 I have done it that way countless times too. But a belt sander is what I use now. Much faster, and easy to make a straight blade on with the correct angles etc. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,168 #9 Posted October 3, 2018 I use a 4 1/2" grinder with a 36grit disc ---- and I quit trying to balance long ago after taking about 1/4-3/8" off perfectly good blades hunting that sweet spot. And I cannot tell a bit of difference in deck smoothness. This IS on the horses and misc other tractors/push mowers -- with the high blade speeds on the ZTR's it would be much more critical. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,373 #10 Posted October 3, 2018 1 hour ago, pullstart said: I typically find a good patch of stones, and let them true themselves up.... Sounds like back home in WV I whooped a bunch o' blades back then...pics from last weekend I loosened them up with the Kioti and FEL instead of your method Kevin 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,710 #11 Posted October 3, 2018 I use the 4" grinder and a long heavy file with the blade in a vise. As for balancing, I hang them on a 16 penny nail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,795 #12 Posted October 3, 2018 You got stones alright... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,064 #13 Posted October 3, 2018 @wvhillbilly520H looklike you have some "rolling stones" sorry... a small angle grinder with an 80 flap disc to sharpen in vice and a simple a nail for centering. if blades has light rips or damages (Impacts more as 1mm) - just exchange, no mess... I Think about, to rework my mower Deck with Butterfly knifes with quick changable blades... like the drum blades on huger Drum mower Systems. Ended to bottom with a Slip plate as cup-spring. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dcrage 627 #14 Posted October 3, 2018 (edited) I with Pacer on this. I use small angle grinder with 36 grit. I also don’t worry about balancing. I do make sure to make approx the same # of passes on each end. Have not noticed any change in deck performance or vibrations. I do hit rocks and sticks. There are nicks in the blades. I do NOT remove them each time I sharpen. For $80 I would take a chance on that sharpener. It can’t hurt. Edited October 3, 2018 by dcrage 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,782 #15 Posted October 3, 2018 5 hours ago, pullstart said: I typically find a good patch of stones, and let them true themselves up.... You don't really do that do ya or you just busting my stones? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge 3,463 #16 Posted October 7, 2018 I had been using flap wheels but recently switched to the 3/16" thick 4.5" Ceramic fast cutting wheels from CGW (Camel Grinding Wheel) - they cut extremely fast and don't build up nearly as much heat on the heat-treated blade steel. That's a really cheap price on that Foley sharpener - if the stone is still good I'd already own it. Sarge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
