I have owned a Bradley blade sharpener for about 3 years. I have used it very little because I cannot figure out how to use it. Now that I have more free time I would like to use it. I would like to have a 30 degree angle but I can’t figure out how to set it up to get that angle. The only way I see to get that angle is to use it like you would a bench grinder. If anyone has a picture of their setup it would be great. Is it possible to get a 30 degree angle and repeat it every time with this machine? With the grinding wheel raised as high as it will go you get a much steeper angle than 30 degrees.
#2
BlazNT
You should sharpen blades to 40 degrees not 30.
Never mind Oragon blades are 30 degrees. Video instructions on how to use your grinder is on youtube.
#3
reynoldston
I guess 300 hundred dollars for a blade sharpener isn't too bad if you sharpen a lot of blades. You will still need something to clean the blades before sharping. I just paid 200 hundred for my angle grinder with a knot brush to clean the blades first and a stone to grind/sharpen them. Just a little harder to get the right angle. Never had a customer complain yet about my sharping job yet.
I was hoping that someone would find that I am doing something wrong, I guess not. It looks like if you want a 30 degree angle every time you cannot do it with this machine. Save your money and buy a bench grinder and you will do the same thing. I had hoped to find videos on YouTube that would show how it do it. The only videos that I find show using it as a bench grinder to get a 30 degree angle.
Could you have too large a wheel? Never heard of a 40 degree angle rule. I've always sharpen straight blades at 30 degrees and match the angle on wavy blades. Never had a complaint and I sharpen an average of 15 blades a day at this time of years.
Could you have too large a wheel? Never heard of a 40 degree angle rule. I've always sharpen straight blades at 30 degrees and match the angle on wavy blades. Never had a complaint and I sharpen an average of 15 blades a day at this time of years.
Could you have too large a wheel? Never heard of a 40 degree angle rule. I've always sharpen straight blades at 30 degrees and match the angle on wavy blades. Never had a complaint and I sharpen an average of 15 blades a day at this time of years.
I have raised the wheel as high as it will go to get the flattest angle and it is much greater than 30 degrees. It is not possible to get a 30 degree angle without doing some major modifications to the grinder. If I am doing something wrong please tell me the right way to do it.
#12
BlazNT
I sharpen mine everyday after mowing with a flapper disk on the angle grinder. 20 min total off and back on.
It's not as bad as it would seem if you have a good grinder, balancer, and system. In our shop it's my job to sharpen any loose blades brought in and I use both a blade grinder or a larger 4" stone hand grinder. Somedays I could have 25-30 if the landscapers have rain and try to get caught up. Have about 6 companies with one company that brings in 15 blades about every two weeks, plus homeowners. That's not including any of the equipment I might be working on. Usually takes 5-7 minutes per blade, clean, sharpen, balance. Everyone gets as close to a 30 degree angle as I can get, no one seems to be complaining, except me when I run out of time, due to poor planning that day. Today was a light day, just 6, but Monday I had 21, keeps me young.
As above wheel size does have an effect on angle, but so does the base the blade is ground from. I do not know what a Bradley looks like , but maybe you could shim under the front or rear of the blade to help you get the angle you want. Once achieved keep the shim as a jig piece. One advantage of hand/grinder sharpening is that you set the angle via judgement. Due respect I'm not sure hitting 30 degrees perfectly is that important. And if it is a thick blade consider "backing off" or grinding a secondary bevel behind the cutting bevel . Thinning a blade like this is beneficial. Before I grind I lock the blade in a vise and use a dull wood chisel to scrape off the dried spinach, followed by rotary wire brush. The 3-5 minute/blade estimate above sounds about right IMO.
Mine get sharped once a year if they need it or not :ashamed: Sharping them every day you can't get much life out of a set of blades. When I worked for a dealer and they had me sharping blades they wanted me to run the grinder over the sharped edge fast just to dull them, because they said the blades last longer.
#16
BlazNT
I run 3 sets of blades. 2 sharp all the time and one on the mower. Makes for fast blade changes. I keep the "best" 3 for trash blades the next year.
