How hard are your blades at the cutting edge? Do they have a Rockwell rating or other. Are they easily filed or is it difficult to sharpen them with a hand file.
Doubt many would pay for hardness test. I found a lab once to do a Brinell test for $45. My only experience is with the 48* craftsman blades on my dyt4000. It appears they were heat treated to yield an owner- friendly- file -sharpening- hardness, although I hand grind on a 60 grit HF wheel. I have seen a file set of graduated hardness which would give rough hardness measurements when run accross a sample, but expensive.
#3
Nwatson99
Yes sir, John Deere blades are superb and do have a Rockwell rating:
· Made from high-carbon, nickel-alloy steel
- Same steel used for automotive leaf springs.
- Extremely hard and resistant to wear and breakage.
· Heat treated
- Gives consistent hardness throughout the blade.
- Helps to keep blade straight, even in tough use conditions, for level mowing.
- Reduces wear and breakage for longer blade life.
· High quality-control standards
- Ensures that only the best blades are used.
· John Deere blades are designed to exact specifications for the individual mower to ensure optimum performance.
High quality
Mower blades are not all manufactured the same. Blades used on John Deere tractors, riders, and mowers are the tops in the industry. This high quality is achieved by:
· Using superior material,
· Taking extra care in manufacturing.
. Made of high-carbon steel
John Deere mower blades are made of abrasion-resistant, high-carbon, nickel-alloy steel. This steel (commonly used for automotive leaf springs) has the hardness to be extremely resistant to wear and breakage. Unlike the lower-carbon blades used by many manufacturers, John Deere blades will withstand sand, stones, or other hard objects with little cracking or chipping. The result is a better cutting job and longer blade life.
Precision manufacturing process
In providing a quality blade, the attention given to the manufacturing process is as important as using high-quality material. John Deere mower blades are precision manufactured. The process includes:
· The blades are precision milled at each end for a smooth, sharp cutting surface.
· They are then induction heated to 1600ï½°F. This gives them a consistent hardness.
· Next they are èŸlastic quenched. This process of dipping and cooling the blade in a special solution ensures that the hardness attained during heat treating is not lost.
· The next process is to draw and temper the blades in an oven to reduce brittleness and increase toughness. This further decreases the chance of the blade edges cracking or chipping.
· All John Deere blades have a Rockwell Hardness of 40-C to 45-C. Hardness below 40-C results in a surface that is too soft. Hardness over 45-C makes the blade too brittle.
· The blades are then flattened to ensure they are perfectly straight and balanced to permit a smoother cut.
· Finally the blades are inspected to be sure they meet rigid quality control standards. This ensures that only the best mower blades are used.
