Mower blade sharpening jigs

[lardy1]

What makes one better than another? Any recommendations?

I live in a very, very sandy area and my blades get trashed fast. I've been buying new blades every season and running them until they're about to come apart. I was thinking that if I had multiple sets to interchange I could get a better cut all season and possibly even extend the life of the blades a little.

Appreciate any input users may have.

 

[JeepYJ]

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We invented what has become THE MOST POPULAR and HIGHLY RATED LAWN MOWER BLADE SHARPENER! Our products are made in the USA and built to last, with a lifetime warranty. We also provide video tutorials about the best way to use our jigs to sharpen your blades.

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[seber]

I don't have any technical knowledge so take this for what it's worth. I seriously doubt the exact angle of the cutting edge has any affect on anything. Obviously the sharper the angle, the faster it will wear, but is precision of that angle of any value? What does have a major affect on you mower is the balance. An unbalanced blade will take out the spindle bearings in short order. But a simple nail is all you need for that. Just hang the blade through the hole.

 

[JeepYJ]

but is precision of that angle of any value?

Sir, this is GJ. Overspending on fancy tools to accomplish a simple task is celebrated and encouraged.
Nail? Pffft.

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[Steve_P]

I don't use a fixture, just "eye". IMO, all you need is a table to clamp the blade to and a 4.5" angle grinder with a flap wheel. Oh, and a blade balancer- at least get one of the cheap stepped conical ones. I've been doing it this way for decades and it works fine. I sharpen at the end of every mowing season and get 10+ years out of a blade. At the first small engine shop I worked at in the 1980s, we had a massive "wet" grinding wheel that was probably 36" diameter X 2" wide; it worked great, but again, no fixture, operator eye.

If you are set on a sharpening tool, Project Farm tested them. The issue with these tools are that a lot of the new mulching blades are stepped, and the entire profile can only be done with something like a flap wheel, free hand.

 

[RTM]

I just use a file by hand when I do it, tho I have a dremel bit and guide, I never had the collet to make it work right til now.

A friend bought the multi angle stones, they sucked.

Doing it early, before it’s trashed, is much easier than waiting til it’s dull.

 

[ricleh]

Authentic All American Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener Made in the USA

We invented what has become THE MOST POPULAR and HIGHLY RATED LAWN MOWER BLADE SHARPENER! Our products are made in the USA and built to last, with a lifetime warranty. We also provide video tutorials about the best way to use our jigs to sharpen your blades.

www.allamericansharpener.com

This sharpener with a good magnetic balancer will give excellent results in a short amount of time.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm a sharpening fanatic. I bought a Wicked Edge Pro III for sharpening my kitchen, outdoor and EDC knives.

But I use a bench vise and hand-held angle grinder w/flapwheel to cut the primary bevel on a mower blade (I have to sharpen mine after every full pass over the lawns at work and at home). The flapwheel, held at the proper angle (MKII eyeball gauge) gives me a nicely hollow-ground primary bevel. I use a 10" Mill ******* for the small secondary bevel. I find the double-bevel significantly increases the life of the blades and makes my job easier--if I haven't actually hit a rock, I can generally just touch up the blade with the file.

Like the OP we go through about one set of blades per year. I live and work in an old river bed with river gravel for soil.

 

[PMD1966]

I just use a file by hand when I do it, tho I have a dremel bit and guide, I never had the collet to make it work right til now.

A friend bought the multi angle stones, they sucked.

Doing it early, before it’s trashed, is much easier than waiting til it’s dull.

I use a file and a cone shaped balancer that I picked up at a flea market.

 

[Firebrick43]

I am teaching the boys to file and grind accurate and consistent angles. I set An angle gauge at the appropriate angle on the edge of the bench beside them and have them check their tool against that gauge every 5 strokes or so. With constant checking it doesn’t take one long to learn to hold consistent angles by hand.

More important place to spend money is on good lifting equipment and a battery impact to make pulling and sharpening the blades happen more often because ease to do those task

 

[seber]

More important place to spend money is on good lifting equipment and a battery impact to make pulling and sharpening the blades happen more often because ease to do those task

Instead of lifting, I just drive the tractor up onto the same ramps I use for changing oil on the car. I did the same for the neighbor's zero turn.

 

[Firebrick43]

Instead of lifting, I just drive the tractor up onto the same ramps I use for changing oil on the car. I did the same for the neighbor's zero turn.

Whatever works for you. I am getting old enough that laying on my back with ramps ***** to remove blades and scrape decks.

I personally use a high lift floor Jack and some tall cribbing stands. It allows me to sit instead of lie on a creeper. The make some real nice mower specific stands and jacks now.

 

[RTM]

More important place to spend money is on good lifting equipment and a battery impact to make pulling and sharpening the blades happen more often because ease to do those task

What, grunting the lawnmower up on to the narrow tailgate of the truck bed isn't your idea of fun? Did mine for the first time in a few years ( was on loan to SIL), reminded me that I'm getting old, and that job ***** more each year. But still way better than a R&R on the carb there than on the ground.

 

[neophyte]

 

[paulsomlo]

I use a belt grinder freehand, sharpen about every 3 mowings. I don't bother balancing and my mower's in it's 28th year now.