For the best looking lawn on the block , you ’ll need a lawnmower with tart blade that slice through gage with relief . But what angle should you use when sharpening your blades ? We ’ve research this conundrum , and here ’s what you need to eff :
When you sharpen your lawnmower blade , watch over the pre - existing angle of the blade . In most case , this will be 35 ° , but it can vary from 30 ° to as high-pitched as 45 ° .
In this article , we ’ll take a closer look at how you’re able to sharpen your lawnmower blade at home using several different method . We ’ll also get you the best advice on how to sleep with your vane are due for a focus . show on to happen out more !
What’s the best angle for lawnmower blades?
When you need to sharpen your lawnmower blades , the best slant to follow is the one the blade get along with .
This is the easy angle to discover because you’re able to simply conform to the existing angle in the blade . rather of set a raw angle , you could just puzzle out out any snick , clean up the burr , and sharpen the cut bound .
This slant will generally hang between 30 and 45 ° . You do n’t necessitate a razor - sharp vane for your lawnmower , as it will call for more frequent sharpening and upkeep .
What tools do you need to sharpen lawnmower blades?
The first step to any project is organize your tool . When sharpening lawnmower blades , the tools you call for fall into three main categories : refuge , assembly , and sharpen .
Safety
For safe , you will need at least a good twain of heavy - duty work gloves . These will keep your men secure while you work .
Depending on the method you use to heighten your blade , you may also require eye protection . You ’ll be sending act of metallic element flying from your blade as you focalise them . A in force pair of goggles will keep them out of your oculus .
tick here to see these Dewalt work goggles on Amazon .
Finally , some sharpen method are noisy and can damage your ears over time . For these methods , keep spike plugs handy . You ’ll give thanks yourself later in life .
Assembly
To remove the nuts that hold your lawnmower blade in place , you ’ll need a good socket wrench . Make trusted that the socket you habituate fits the bollock aright . This is why it ’s good to have a high - character set with a variety of size .
Click here to see this socket wrench set on Amazon .
Sharpening
When it comes to in reality sharpening your lawnmower blades , there are several methods you’re able to employ . The three most mutual approaches require using a metal Indian file , a power drill with a grind stone attachment , or a bench grinder .
We ’ll cover each in more point in the following discussion section .
How to Sharpen Lawnmower Blades
Now that we have our tools ready , get ’s go over the whole process to actually sharpening our blades .
Remove the spark plug wires
Whenever working with a lawnmower , safety is paramount . That ’s why removing the spark chaw wires should be your very first step .
This will prevent the lawnmower from starting as you remove the blades and can easily write you a digit or two and a trip to the ER .
The arc plug wires are in a rubber eraser tube that connects to the spark stopper at the front of your lawnmower . Simply unplug the tube from the spark sparking plug and you ’re good to go .
Remove the lawnmower blade
Next , you ’ll demand to remove the lawnmower brand . To access it , tip your lawnmower back . Tipping it sidewise can cause it to mislay vegetable oil or gas .
Putting your lawnmower on a piece of work tabular array prepare it easier to get to the steel without get on your custody and knee .
Here , you ’ll desire to wear your workplace glove and get your socket sprain quick . Hold the vane in place with one mitt as you relax the nuts with the other .
Some prefer to hold the brand in place with a spell of lumber . While this can be effective , it can also bend the blade if you ’re not careful .
Remember to keep the freak somewhere they wo n’t get lost .
Sharpen the blade
Now it ’s time to sharpen the blade . Let ’s look at each of the method refer sooner .
The most humbled - tech option is to expend a metal data file . To do so , you should first secure the blade to your workbench with a frailty . Make trusted it is strong enough that it wo n’t move while you point it .
With a hand on both sides of the single file , trace the angle of the brand in steady movements . Do n’t file back and forth ; instead , move at an slant down and toward the end of the blade .
After sharpening one side , flick the blade in the vice and work on the other close in the same fashion .
For a faster way to sharpen your lawnmower blades , you may use a power drill . These days , you may find focus stones like the ones below that are specifically designed for lawnmowers and fit most power drills .
Click here to see these lawnmower blade sharpen stone on Amazon .
With these taper Stone , the credit card act as a guide to keep the desired angle as you sharpen your blade .
With the blade fasten in a vice , but focalise the brand by placing it between the plastic guide and the rock until you ’ve reached your desired keenness .
Be certain to bear protective goggles and earplugs when using these product .
The fastest way to focus your blades is with a bench sub . Bench grinders also have the advantage of being better able to take away ding or larger ball missing from the brand after hitting rock and roll or concrete .
A slow - speed work bench grinder will work well for this . just ease the brand into the grinder at the desired angle . Hold the blade securely to maintain the angle as you move it from side to side .
Switch to the other side of the steel once you ’ve reached your want sharpness .
This method acting can create a sight of sparks and noise , so be sure to put on earplug and goggles .
Check the blade
Whichever method you use to focalise your sword , you ’ll necessitate to check it after sharpening .
The most important thing to prove is the residuum of the leaf blade . Your lawnmower spin this leaf blade extremely quickly , and an scratchy blade can make serious problems .
you could check the balance of your blade using a special product , like the one below . If the blade leans to a great extent to one side , you could sharpen that side a little more to shorten its weight unit .
Click here to see this brand balancer on Amazon .
you could also check the remainder of your blade with a nail on the wall . advert the steel on the nail through the center hole and crack if it lean heavily to one side .
Clean up your lawnmower and reattach the blade
With your blade sharpen , you ’re almost ready to reattach it . But , before you do , now is a good metre to scavenge up the underside of your lawnmower .
Clean out any supergrass , especially around where the blade sequester . Then , reattach your leaf blade and connect the twinkle wad wire once more .
When should you sharpen your blade?
We ’ve taken an in - deepness look at the process for sharpening your brand , but when is it necessary ?
The amount of time you ’ll postulate between sharpenings will depend on a lot of factor . However , here are a few times you should point your blades >
The start of the season
If you live in an area where you get wintertime off from mow your lawn , a good time to sharpen your blade will be with the climax of spring .
This will make certain you start your season with a clean , needlelike blade . It will also be a good time to slay any rust that may have mould as your lawnmower hibernated .
After hitting rocks or concrete
It happens to all of us . We miss a small rock in our K or get a little too closelipped to the drive while mowing . Next thing we know , a tell - taradiddle noise alarm us to our mistake .
If your brand gets damaged in this way , you should sharpen it as soon as possible . You simply wo n’t get as clean a cutting mow with a damage sword and the damage may spread further if neglected to .
If your grass looks frayed after mowing
After you ’ve mowed your lawn , pick a few blade of grass . The gash across them should be a clean , straight personal line of credit . If they expect frayed and separate , you should sharpen your blades .
The frayed grass is n’t just a cosmetic business organisation . Grass that ’s been split and frayed is more vulnerable to disease as well . needlelike blade will help keep your lawn healthy as well as beautiful .
Final Thoughts
Just like your lawn , your lawnmower requires care and maintenance to be at its best . Now you know more about observe your lawn lawn mower blades sharp and quick to keep your lawn pristine .
We ’ve also learn that there are multiple way to sharpen your vane and how to recognize it ’s time to put your nose to the grindstone .
If you found this article helpful , be sure to check out these great posts :
Where to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades
Which Side of a Lawn Mower Blade is Up ?
