Do you feel like your lawnmower is tearing your grass apart rather than cutting it? Never have to worry about dull blades again! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to sharpen lawn mower blades.
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The Gardener's Guide on How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades Properly
The Importance of a Sharp Blade
Why go through all the trouble of sharpening your lawnmower blade? Why not use it as it is? Even a dull blade should be able to trim the lawn a bit, right? Not exactly.
Dull blades don't slice grass leaves, but rather, they tear them up. Imagine as if you were swinging a garden trowel around the grass. That's what it's like to use a dull blade.
Not only does this make your lawn look terrible, but it also damages the grass and leaves them susceptible to infections and fungal diseases. This is especially dangerous for those who live in wet, humid areas.
Does Your Lawn Mower Blade Need Sharpening?
The most common telltale sign it's time to bust out the blade sharpener is if your lawn looks terrible after mowing it. The grass should be cut evenly, there shouldn't be any uprooted grass, and the lawn should not have any bald spots.
Step-By-Step Guide on How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades
What You'll Need:
- power drill
- safety glasses
- safety gloves
- wrench
- vise
- workbench
- blade balancer
- sharpening tool attachment
Step 1: Follow the Safety Precautions
Wear your safety gloves and safety goggles. These are very important, so don't proceed with the task unless you have safety gear on — no matter how experienced you are.
Then, take out the lawnmower and remove the spark plug wire. That way, the engine won't start by accident while you're sharpening the blades.
Step 2: Remove the Blade
Once the lawnmower is unplugged, it's time to remove the blade. Flip the entire mower upside down, locate the nuts keeping the blade attached to the machine, and then use a wrench to unscrew them.
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Step 3: Prepare the Workbench
Set the lawnmower aside and then place the blade in the workbench vise. Make sure it's attached to the vise properly. A flimsy, unstable vise is a recipe for disaster.
Take out your power drill and attach the drill attachment onto it. Afterward, slide one end of the blade's cutting edge between the gray sharpening stone and the blue plastic guide of the attachment. The plastic guide should press against the cutting edge's rear.
Step 4: Start Sharpening the Blade
Once everything is set up, you can begin sharpening the blade. Click the drill's trigger and run the drill attachment along the blade. Continue until you're satisfied with its sharpness.
Afterward, carefully remove the blade from the vise and flip it over. This time, the other side of the cutting edge should be pointing up and the one you just sharpened should press against the guide.
Press the drill's trigger and then run the attachment again.
Step 5: Repeat Until Satisfied
Keep sharpening the blade until both sides are even. You can use a blade balancer to make things easier.
For a visual guide on how to sharpen lawn mower blades, check out this video by Ryan Knorr Lawn Care:
Now that you know how to sharpen lawn mower blades, it’s time to put it into practice. Lawnmower blades need to be sharpened after 20 to 25 hours of mowing. If you take around one hour to mow the lawn, do blade sharpening after 20 to 23 sessions.
Also, don’t forget to do maintenance on your other gardening tools as well. A sharp lawnmower blade won’t do much for your grass if you use a rusty rake, dilapidated shovel, and flimsy wheelbarrow.
Do you have any more questions on how to sharpen lawn mower blades? Post them in the comments section below!
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Don’t ever turn your lawnmower upside down! Gasoline will run out! Possibly causing explosion, fire, or death! I ran a lawnmower shop for 10 years, been a mechanic all my life! Trained by Briggs and Stratton, Koehler, Kawasaki, Techumseh and others. Remember safety first! Your family is dependent on you!
And disconnect the spark plug
This guide on sharpening lawn mower blades is so helpful! I’ve been struggling with uneven grass after mowing. Can you recommend a specific type of sharpening tool attachment for the power drill? I’d love to give this a try and improve my lawn’s appearance.