Lawn mowing is a brilliant process to make your yard look beautiful and aesthetic, which helps in removing the bacteria, fungi, etc. from the grasses. Once in every year, you should change or replace the mower blades. Few individuals find this task unnecessary. As the blade goes dull, it is still able to cut the grasses. However, the fine chopping is not possible through those sharp, fewer blades. The grass color may often fade to brown if the cutting is not done correctly. The more the blades are sharp, you can expect a neat grass trimming process.
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Grass Cutting
It is essential to cut all the grasses equally and get a clean lawn. Mowing the garden depends on the height of the grasses and mulching clips. You need a sharp blade for this purpose. You can easily sharpen the mower blades in several ways. Bench grinder, a hand file, or even angle grinders are superb options. Simply take a drill and stone which has sharp ends and cut the dull blades.
Inspecting A Blade
Before you begin the mowing activity, check the condition of the blades. So the question may arise how will you know that blades need sharpening or not? While mowing the yard, if you find blades are getting dents and nicks, it is time to replace them. A best-balanced and sharp blade will only give you the accurate grass chopping. Choose the lawn mower blades from reputed brands if you want to replace them.
Once the blade is checked, you can also observe if there is any rock, pebbles, etc. blocking your lawn. These boulders and stones often tend to obstruct the blades resulting in the dullness.
7 Steps For Sharpening Blades
1. Detach the electricity
Firstly, please wear gloves and glasses for your protection. Then remove the ignited wire from the plugging point. Again, if it is a cordless mower, then you have to remove the cell or battery. This process ensures your safety and unwanted spark appearance from the mower. You can remove the oil or gas from the mower, too, while replacing the blades.
2. Removal Of Accessories
Locate the mower towards the lateral side. This will help you to take out the nuts and bolts smoothly. Again, you can keep a wooden tool or bench in between while removing blades. It will help you to maintain the balance naturally. No injuries can occur if you follow this method carefully.
3. Find Out The Rust
By any means, if you find rust on the fastener, then apply some oil or liquid wrench to clean it. For this method, you need 10-15 minutes so that it is dried. Try putting a wrench handle in case you find the fastener too much stubborn to open.
After you take out the bolts, make a note of the blade direction to avoid confusion later. These bolts will have to be fitted in the same location after removal.
4. Cleaning Is Must While Sharpening
Once you remove the blade, clean the scrape nicely. You may find the messy grass or mud in that area. Check all sides of the lawn mower blades while cleaning. If required, put some more oil and do the scrubbing properly. You can use stiff brushes, which have firm bristles for this purpose.
Lawn mower blade sharpeners have the fine cutting edges towards the end. These should be located accurately side to side. Usually, the cutting edge is measured ranges until 4-4.5 inches long. Their length does not extend anymore. Clamping the blades in the opposite direction is required.
5. Fitting the sharp blade
A power drilled sharpening blade is what you will need now. This sharpening tool has a rounded stone with a flat surface. The diameter is around 1/4th of the steel. It is best for all types of grass cutting. You will have to lower the blade on the rear side. With a little pressure, the blade can be sharpened in a back and forth direction along the edge.
After applying a few strokes, check whether the blade is getting sharpness or not. Repeat the process if you are not satisfied. You can also rotate the direction of the table to get a firmer grip on the mower blade.
6. Balance Check
Once you find your desired sharpness of the blade, it’s time to balance it well. While sharpening, many individuals experience substantial metal movement. This results in blade non-balancing. Remember, if the blades are not appropriately balanced, then mowing will be difficult. It also hampers the motor system of the mower.
You can slide through the blade center and hold it in the horizontal direction. In this way, you can understand whether the mowing blade is stable or not. If you find the blade is at the same level, it is balanced.
However, if the blades are rotating in a vertical direction, then the blades are not balanced correctly. In such conditions, you may remove the metal part edge.
7. Testing The Blades
Once you find the blades are balanced and look sharp, attach it with the mower. You may check the bolts once more to understand whether it is tight enough. Connect the ignition wire and fill gas/oil accordingly. Your mower is ready to work.
How much sharpness is required for mowing blades?
Mower blades should be dynamically sharpened but not as intense as any razor edge. Remember, you have to sharpen the blade in such a way that checking sharpness with hands will not result in an accident. The edge of the mower plays a vital role in rolling that result in blade chipping.
Importance Of Sharp Mowing Blades
If the blades of the mower are not sharp enough, the grasses will cut non-equally. You cannot expect a clean cutting. There are many diseases, which may result if the grass chopping is not done correctly. Healthy soil can fetch better plants. Therefore mowing and mulching both play a significant role. Of course, you will need sharp blades and tools for your lawn care. You may research online to get the best lawn mowing blades at best prices and discounts.
James has been working with lot’s of power tool brands like Husqvarna, Makita and WORX for over 12 years. With his passion for power tools and gardening he is helping both consumers and businesses with his expertise. He now runs the editorial team at HomeGearExpert and loves to support local charities in his spare time.