How To Sharpen A Lawn Mower Blade
Grasscutter is an indispensable machine in modern gardening chores. A sharp scissor helps you clip the forage faster. In contrast, a blunt cut can make your meadow susceptible to decay.
For this reason, professional gardeners agree that the blade is the heart of this device instead of the engine, like many people’s misconception. In this post, I will illustrate how to sharpen a lawn mower blade in three distinctive ways.
Table of Contents
How To Sharpen A Lawnmower Blade?
Sharpen By Hand
Overall, you can sharpen a lawn mower blade by hand using constructive tools such as files, grindstone, chisels, and punches. It is a straightforward and inexpensive way to handle any dull knife.
First of all, you have to prepare a big file or chisel which stands ideally at 10 inches. Use it to rub onto the top side of the knife. Shelve the chisel in an approximately 45-degree oblique angle to get the best result.
You can make the lawn mower blade sharpener by hand
Let me remind you that this process is not similar to smoothing a grainy wood pallet. In this case, you have to put a massive force onto the surface, or else the edge will not improve at all.
Another critical point is to strike along the facet rather than making circular motions as in wood handling. Secondly, you have to polish the sword’s corner, which is usually prone to deterioration. Likewise, honing every sandy area in one direction until it becomes visibly sleeky and incisive.
After finishing one side of the lath, repeat the process on the other side. In my observation, it takes an experienced worker 5 minutes to file each face. However, it mostly depends on the original quality of the material.
Generally speaking, hone the cutting edge by hand is vastly fit for a mini household string trimmer. Even though this manual procedure is simple to perform, automatic machinery is in favour of the majority.
Work With A Drill Sharpener
Many support the view that people who own a weed eater should consider a drill sharpener as a supplementary. Altogether, this gadget records the largest number of users, among other acuminating tools on the market.
In the beginning, you have to put the blade into a vise or any forceps that can hold the knife firmly. Specifically, the cutting edge has to place upwards as it is the spot you need to strike. Then, assemble the stropping widget into the drill’s main body.
Hone the blade by a grind stone drill grinder
This widget contains a whetstone attached to a plastic disc. The gap between these two components is just enough for the fringe of the knife to fit inside. Next, you have to pull the trigger or press the power button, depending on different types, to turn on the drill.
Immediately place the grinder over the mower’s sword. As I described above, the trimming arris should be in the middle of the stone and the supporting plastic plate. Subsequently, move the drill slowly and gently back and forth.
You do not have to execute heavy pressure during this automatic process. It is a significant advantage of the driller over the manual method.
The essential thing to notice is that you are stropping the surface, which contacts the stone only, not on both sides. Thereupon, after polishing one side, you have to turn the drill over to work on the other side.
As far as I know, the common mistake here is to overdo on one face and neglect the opposite. Please try to rasp both sides equally as it affects the outcome tremendously. My suggestion for you is to count the whetting time for each countenance.
Do not freak out! Unlike rubbing by hand, the driller only requires 5 seconds to achieve a perfectly pointy edge.
Utilize An Angle Grinder
Angle grinder has the same feature as the stone driller because it belongs to one automotive function category. Nevertheless, there are still differences in many aspects.
The first stage of using an angle grinder is pretty much like the driller. You have to place the cutting edge of the knife tightly into a clamp and make sure it is entirely stable. On the second stage, power up the acuminating machine before stropping it on the trimmer’s blade.
This worker is sharpening the blade using angle grinder
Direct the device over and over along the surface. While abrading with the lath, the robust spinning vane of the grinder produces dangerous sparks. Please secure your eyes and hands with labour safety glasses and gloves in advance.
This handy apparatus provides multiple refining angles. Meanwhile, the drill can only function in one fixed direction. In the final analysis, the angle sharpener is more dangerous than the others as it creates flammable sparks during the manufacturing process.
On the other hand, trained labour will not be reluctant to use this method due to the convenience and expedience.
The Bottom Line
A chiselled blade is a substantial appliance that requires regenerating periodically. Its resuscitating procedure may seem cumbersome, yet your chores will be more effective and efficient in the long run.
I have depicted how to sharpen a lawn mower blade thoroughly. Now, you can choose the most appropriate scheme according to your situation and gardening devices’ availability.