Export thread

Just wanted to share with everyone on the forum that I discovered a great way to get an incredibly smooth edge on my lawn mower blades. I usually sharpen them with my bench grinder but it has a tendency to gouge the blade and it's difficult to sharpen mulching blades because of the curves. So I got my trusty old dremel out today to see if it could do any better. It takes a little longer with a dremel but it sure makes a super fine edge! Also it didn't heat up the metal while it was grinding. I can't wait till spring to see how the blade does. Let me know what y'all think about this technique.

So just what do you use for a stone in your dremel ?

reynoldston said:

So just what do you use for a stone in your dremel ?

Click to expand...

I used the brown stone on the far right today. I'll probably try the beefier brown stone closer to the middle next time.

I have heard of guys using a dremel to sharpen blades before, I think that dremel even offers a jig and stone set-up for the task. I have never tried sharpening a blade this way. I'll bet it takes some time considering the surface area of the stone being used. If you are only taking care of your own equipment I'll bet this is more than adequate. I opted for a blade grinder last season and it was one of the best purchases I have invested in to date. The downside is that it will take a lot of blades going across it before it's paid for.

Just out of curiosity, how long did it take to sharpen and balance the blade using this method?

Probably 5 or 10 minutes for one blade if you take your time like I did. I think it will be worth it if it stays sharp longer. The edge was so smooth that I could run my finger across it without getting a single burr.

A679-03 I just looked up that kit on the web. It's dremel's sharpening kit. You may already have it, can't tell from you pic. This has that jig in it for keeping the angle. It says it will do saw chain as well.

I just free handed mine. I don't have the blade sharpening attachment.

So what do you use to clean your blade before you sharped it?

I usually wire wheel the caked on grass off before sharpening. Other than that I've never cleaned them prior to sharpening.

Cool, don't forget to check the balance on the finished blades..

reynoldston said:

So what do you use to clean your blade before you sharped it?

Click to expand...

I have had good luck using white vinegar in a container that I can submerge the whole blade over night.

You can pretty much wipe the dried on grass and grime with a rag, use a brush for really tough buildup.

Before I inherited a bench grinder, I used to sharpen the blade on my 8255 with a single cut file.

I have learned that a properly sharpened & balanced blade is key to getting a nice cut. In direct drive applications, (i.e. push mower) a balanced blade helps balance the crankshaft of the engine. Most flywheels don't have enough mass to do this, especially newer engines. In the past I used my bench grinder to sharpen and then chuck the blade into my vice and use a cross cut file to bull nose it. If only doing a handful of blades a season, this way works well. As years have passed the number of blades I sharpen has drastically increased. I have found that when sharpening blades to make a profit, this way is not successful. Last year a few of the hardware stores in my area started farming their blades out to me. (works great, cust drops off to hardware, I pick up and drop off 2 times weekly) I started looking at blade grinders. I realized it was time to purchase one if I were to do this appropriately. I checked several of the leading brands out, Oregon, Wall/RBG. I have used both and have been really impressed with both. I ended up taking a gamble on a Bradley Grinder from Havener Ent. I love it! If suits my needs perfectly. It is a well built machine and at a price point that most can afford. I think I paid $240 ish including shipping. I spent almost that much on my balancer (Magna-Matic) but it is every bit as important. I still chuck each blade in my vice and bull nose them by hand with a file. Most of my customer are on board with proper sharpening of a blade now, (after my 20 min dissertation on why blades should not be razor sharp) and they appreciate the extra effort.

d_sharier,

Do you have a video camera? It would be great to see you sharpen a blade with your grinder and then one by hand with a file. Kinda like a video tutorial. That would be awesome. I'm sure they are tons of tips you could share with us and put it on Youtube.

After reading the OP's post I tried to use the dremel on my blade with the jig attachment provided, but no luck. My blade is turned up towards the end and does not allow for the jig to move freely across the blade cutting surface. I just free handed it, seems like a nice result vs. using a hand file (which is what I always do).

No I sure don't have a video camera. I can barely get by on this computer or my phone. LOL I never used my file to "sharpen" a blade. After sharpening and balancing a blade. I chuck it into the vice and bull nose the edge. Have you ever seen a brand new blade and noticed it wasn't razor sharp? The science behind it says that if a blade is razor sharp and used to cut grass, spinning at operating rpm ( usually 3,000-3,600) it will be just about useless. The thin sharp edge gets folded under and creates a crap cutting edge. John Deere spent a ton of money researching the best way to sharpen a blade. What they came up with was to sharpen the blade and then bull nose the edge. It cuts better, doesn't hurt the grass, gets less burrs. It really is just a better way to keep blades preforming to the best of their abilities.

QUOTE: John Deere spent a ton of money researching the best way to sharpen a blade.
****************************************************************************
Shortly after the jet engine was developed out gvmt. spent a ton of money building a refinery to make a better jet fuel. Later they discovered kerosene was as good as it gets. :laughing:

We're all free to sharpen a blade as we like but if I take a dull blade off to be sharpened I'm not putting a dull blade back on. But I will mention the technique to my barber to see if he thinks my hair would look better if clipper blades were bullnosed.

A blade that can readily be filed isn't much of a blade. A blade about the rockwell of a cold chisel is much better. Can be filed with difficulty.

d_sharier- I certainly agree with you.. I see so many ppl sharpen blades like they are gonna shave their face w/them..

New blades indeed do not have a razor sharp edge..


I'm sharpening on my (approx) 30 year old Sears & Roebuck 6" bench grinder, which I made an angle iron attachment to keep the blade at proper angle as I pull it along.
I have been finishing my edges with a hand held grinder, using the side of a cut-off wheel. Which leaves like a new blade edge.

I would like to up-grade my balancer tho..

SeniorCitizen
Re: Sharpening blades with a dremel works great!

QUOTE: John Deere spent a ton of money researching the best way to sharpen a blade.
************************************************** **************************
Shortly after the jet engine was developed out gvmt. spent a ton of money building a refinery to make a better jet fuel. Later they discovered kerosene was as good as it gets.

We're all free to sharpen a blade as we like but if I take a dull blade off to be sharpened I'm not putting a dull blade back on. But I will mention the technique to my barber to see if he thinks my hair would look better if clipper blades were bullnosed.

A blade that can readily be filed isn't much of a blade. A blade about the rockwell of a cold chisel is much better. Can be filed with difficulty.

Click to expand...

There are two kinds of people. People that can verify their statements with facts, and those that chose to use passive aggressive insults in place of facts. Anyone reading this thread will be given examples of both. I won't dive to deep into this because I don't find it necessary to convince anyone of anything. My only hope is to provide valid information to other readers so they don't have to rely only on some of the outright BS that gets posted. Anyone who has done any research on blade angle and tip speed knows what happens to a razor sharp blade when used for mowing. Read anyone of the several published studies available.

BEFCO - Technical - Technical Tips - Mower blade maintenance & replacement

Besides, it wouldn't be fair for me to argue with someone that would willing compare the governments ability in "research and development" to a private corporation, in order to prove a point. I mean, c'mon let's compare Amazon.com to the Affordable Health Care Act (ObamaCare) Healthcare.gov website. That should provide a clear example of the government's "research and development", but alas, that is an argument for another day and another forum.

Good day to all. I will not post on this thread again. There are too many other threads and areas that will be a better use of my time.

Thanks:thumbsup:

d_sharier said:

There are two kinds of people. People that can verify their statements with facts, and those that chose to use passive aggressive insults in place of facts. Anyone reading this thread will be given examples of both. I won't dive to deep into this because I don't find it necessary to convince anyone of anything. My only hope is to provide valid information to other readers so they don't have to rely only on some of the outright BS that gets posted. Anyone who has done any research on blade angle and tip speed know what happens to a razor sharp blade when used for mowing. Read anyone of the several published studies available.

BEFCO - Technical - Technical Tips - Mower blade maintenance & replacement

Besides, it wouldn't be fair for me to argue with someone that would willing compare the governments ability in "research and development" to a private corporation, in order to prove a point. I mean, c'mon let's compare Amazon.com to the Affordable Health Care Act (ObamaCare) Healthcare.gov website. That should provide a clear example of the government's "research and development", but alas, that is an argument for another day and another forum.

Good day to all. I will not post on this thread again. There are too many other threads and areas that will be a better use of my time.

Thanks:thumbsup:

Click to expand...

Being your time is valuable you be ahead to go sharpen and then dull the blades just sharpened. And by all means quit using your time reading all those technical bulletins.

The only thing sharping a blade razor sharp does is waste time and money.

They dull and chip twice as fast.

There really is a reason new blades do not come razor sharp. And it is not so assclowns do not cut them selfs.

Blade manufactures have done test and test and more test to find the best angle and sharpness. For the best cut.

Put a razor edge on a blade then cut a acre of grass then look at the blade.

You dull blade advocates may as well rig square trimmer line under your mowers. :laughing:

SeniorCitizen said:

You dull blade advocates may as well rig square trimmer line under your mowers. :laughing:

Click to expand...

Actually square trimmer line cuts grass very well.

To keep a razor edge on a blade you would have to stop and sharping the blades 4 or 5 times if you cut a acre.

Anyone that cuts grass for a living knows you do not over sharping a blade.

Maybe you are right and we need to tell oragon that they have been doing it wrong.

d_sharier said:

There are two kinds of people. People that can verify their statements with facts, and those that chose to use passive aggressive insults in place of facts. Anyone reading this thread will be given examples of both. I won't dive to deep into this because I don't find it necessary to convince anyone of anything. My only hope is to provide valid information to other readers so they don't have to rely only on some of the outright BS that gets posted. Anyone who has done any research on blade angle and tip speed knows what happens to a razor sharp blade when used for mowing. Read anyone of the several published studies available.

BEFCO - Technical - Technical Tips - Mower blade maintenance & replacement

Besides, it wouldn't be fair for me to argue with someone that would willing compare the governments ability in "research and development" to a private corporation, in order to prove a point. I mean, c'mon let's compare Amazon.com to the Affordable Health Care Act (ObamaCare) Healthcare.gov website. That should provide a clear example of the government's "research and development", but alas, that is an argument for another day and another forum.

Good day to all. I will not post on this thread again. There are too many other threads and areas that will be a better use of my time.

Thanks:thumbsup:

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip.

I've known for a long time -- as Carscw pointed out -- that it's pointless to sharpen a mower blade to razor-sharpness since it will be dull the first time you cut a lawn with it. I like your idea of putting a bullnose on the edge -- to help protect the blade.

Since this is the Lawn-Boy forum it's worth noting that a really fine engine deserves a well-balanced blade. I try to treat my vintage LBs with TLC and one of the most important things is keeping the blade balanced properly. IMO, balance is more important than sharpeness.

@d_sharier -- I hope to hear your thoughts on all things related to Lawn-Boy mowers. :thumbsup: