3 Blade Mower Deck Sharpening

[JCM 9,130]

Currently I have 6 decks that I would like to have the blades sharpened, do most of you guy's do this yourselves or do you remove the blades and bring them to have them done. If you do them yourself what is the proper way to sharpen and balance .  Thanks

[WHX?? 48,767]

DIY Jim.... 4 in angle grinder and off the shelf balance thingy. Some guys use the nail thingy to balance but I have yet to try it. SIX DECKS!?! WTF you doin the whole 'hood?!?

[ebinmaine 67,268]

@WHX24

Tha man gotta whole herd of 'em....

 

 

[JCM 9,130]

Ok, now that I have heard from the Three Stooges, Me included can I get a serious response.

[WHX?? 48,767]

Lol... I guess so EB ... you a plunger Jimbo or run a lawn service??? They got these new fangled bubble balancers out now plunger.. prolly pretty cheap. 

[ebinmaine 67,268]

2 minutes ago, JCM said:

Ok, now that I have heard from the Three Stooges, Me included can I get a serious response.

I do sharpen and balance my own push mower blades.

 

I use a bench grinder and a manual balancer that the center of the blade sits on.

 

 

[WHX?? 48,767]

Lol... I guess so EB ... you a plunger Jimbo or run a lawn service??? They got these new fangled bubble balancers out now plunger.. prolly pretty cheap. 

[WHX?? 48,767]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I use a bench grinder and a manual balancer that the center of the blade sits on.

 

 

Bench grinder works too but faster with the angle. 

[JCM 9,130]

I do have a new Milwaukee 4'' grinder still in the box, just don't want inexperience to ruin anything. I will be mowing in both Mass and Maine this year and Mass will be ready in 2 weeks to mow but Maine will be a while.

[horseyheaven 112]

I use a bench grinder and a manual blade balancer.

[ebinmaine 67,268]

Jim there is a small learning curve.

Just take your time and don't remove much metal.

 

Take a slice or two off each side then check balance.

Repeat.

 

[JoeM 7,871]

angle grinder and 36 grit flap disc, clean the blade first with a wire wheel, flap disc, balance and do not sharpen to a point just a flat edge.  I run the grinder down the edge lightly, if you leave the edge too sharp it will roll over. and the flap disc kind of polishes the angle. that's all folks!

Oh and if you turn the metal blue to much pressure and go to take lighter quicker strokes. 

Edited April 15, 2020 by TractorJunkie

[WHX?? 48,767]

One of these works fine Jim...less you want to go hi tech. https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Tecomec-Magnetic-Rotary-Blade-Balancer-P1043.aspx?gclid=CjwKCAjwvtX0BRAFEiwAGWJyZB8geKnLurteRKnLrl40nayRt3SlFrvgDhEqTd12iYOM5nv1Kb9TghoCReIQAvD_BwE

2 minutes ago, TractorJunkie said:

 and go to take lighter quicker strokes. 

That's what she said ...

[JCM 9,130]

Do you just follow the angle that is established with the 4'' grinder ?

[WHX?? 48,767]

Good question. ..not sure on that Plunger.. I usually go with the flow and copy the angle that they were at. One would guess the steeper the angle they would stay sharper longer?  More metal out front?? 

[JCM 9,130]

Ok, do you do both sides and then put it on the balancer and go from there to get it balanced  ?

[WHX?? 48,767]

No .. never grind the flat side plunge... I will take the flat side to the wire wheel just to get the burr off or Junkie's flap wheel works excellent too. Puts a razor edge on them.

If they have alot of nicks you may have to use a stone wheel then finish with the flap wheel. This is why I have four cheap angle grinders... to keep from changing wheels!  

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,032]

I made a jig to hold/clamp the blade tipped at a 45 degree angle. Then grind horizontally. I can do that. I can't hold the grinder at a consistent 45 degree angle.

 

Garry

[roadapples 6,983]

I like my 1"x30" belt sander..

[JCM 9,130]

@WHX24     Meant to say both ends not sides, sorry and thanks for the advice.

[ebinmaine 67,268]

Jim here's a good video with Boston speech so you won't have to have it translated...

I know it was a lot easier for me to understand.

 

 

 

 

 

Neat trick with the nail in the beam.

 

 

 

[JCM 9,130]

Wouldn't have thunk to go to Ask This O H  for that tip. Did you know that Roger is a Mainah, Biddeford I think.       Thank you for that, I think I will start with my beater deck and work my way to the nicer ones.

[Turftech 82]

Excellent video, use the system that works for you.

Only one thing usually left out when discussing blade sharpening is a good overall inspection of the rest of the blade. Checking for a bent blade by nestling it on top of a new/known good one, Cracking around the hole/holes at the attachment point, Pay extra attention to the lift/wing behind the cutting edge for thinning/cracking, these have been known to break off and will do a lot of damage not only to the deck but most importantly to those near by.

New blades are less expensive than someone getting hurt.

[Tractorhead 9,064]

It depends on the age of the Blades.

First time i got my Horse i exchange all the old blades to new ones, because they look very used and raped.

Cost was just 30$ for a complete Set.

 

I resharpen them all 3 Months on a Bench grinder in the Office, because i can easily Setup the Grinding Angle.

Clean them before with a brush wheel is a good way to start.

I work with an grinding Angle of 67deg. What brings me a good cutting results,

also They didn’t get deeper impacts even if there is a smaller gravel or something in the Lawn.

 

After 10 times resharpen i exchange them simply.

 

For balancing i use a Blade scale for my Modellhelicopters for the Main rotor with an adapter.

That works very well 

[bottjernat1 2,190]

I sharpen my own blades. I have my trusty old craftsman bench grinder! it may not be the right way but it works. Mine looks just like this one