No, mower blades are only sharpened on one side, which makes the job a little easier. Look for the beveled edge and hold your file against the existing angle and you will sharpen in the direction that meets resistance. You’ll feel it bite the steel and this is how you know that you are doing it right!
Today we’ll answer the most common questions that people are asking about installing and maintaining your mower blades. Stick around and you can get all of the answers that need in this handy Blade FAQ. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to know!
What does grass side mean on a mower blade?
Mower blades will typically come with a sticker on them which helps you with installing the blade. When you see ‘grass side’, this simply means that this is the side of your mower blade which needs to face down, towards the grass. You’ll also sometimes see similar messages, such as ‘this side up’, ‘towards ground’, or simply ‘bottom’ as well.
Can you sharpen lawn mower blades without taking them off?
You can, but you’ll need to prop up your mower at the lip of the deck, so that you can access the blades below. Make sure to remove the spark plug in your mower and turn off gas flow if you have a tap, and you’ll want to use a C-clamp to secure the blades in place.
This should let you sharpen them, but it’s much easier to simply remove them at this point and sharpen them in a vice, as you still have limited access and it’s much harder to sharpen the blades while they are still attached.
Can you sharpen blades while still on mower?
No, not unless the mower was propped up, spark plug removed, and with a wood block in place, a second person were to sharpen the blade with an angle grinder. Barring this scenario, there is no way that one person could stay on the mower and sharpen the blade.
Can a mower blade be too sharp?
Yes, a mower blade can be too sharp. Oversharpening mower blades is a common mistake and it is a good idea not to do this. When you hone a mower blade to a razor sharpness, it will quickly dull with normal use and the thinner blade is more prone to damage in this state.
You want to sharpen your blade to as close to the original sharpness as possible, which is basically about as sharp as a butter knife.
What is the best angle to sharpen a lawn mower blade?
The most common angle for sharpening your mower blades is going to be 30 – 35 degrees, but there are occasional exceptions. The best way to be 100% sure that you are sharpening at the perfect angle is to simply follow the current bevel. The angle of the existing edge will show you exactly how to hold your whetstone or file.
Which side of mower blade faces ground?
When you aren’t certain what side faces the ground, the first thing to do is to check your blades for a sticker or writing. Typically, a sticker will be present that says something like ‘towards the ground’ or ‘bottom’, but barring this you can also look for these words printed on the blade itself or even simply the model number.
If you just find a model number, this is typically the side that goes down, and if you find no stickers or writing, install it with the edge facing slanting downward towards the ground and the thick edge towards the deck.
Which side of mower blade goes up?
If you don’t see a sticker or writing indicating which side of the blade should be facing up, don’t worry – there is another way to know for certain. Look for the wings on the blade. These wings should be facing up, towards the deck, so once you see them then you will know exactly which part of the mower blade should be facing up.
Which side of mulching blade goes up?
With mulching blades, the trick to knowing which side is up is quite easy once you know it. Look for teeth on the blades. These teeth are there for mulching leaves and when you install mulching blades, then these teeth should always be facing up. So, once you spot the teeth, then you’ll know exactly how to install your mulching blades – sticker or no!
Should you sharpen mulching blades?
Yes, mulching blades should be sharpened on a regular basis if you want them to always be performing at their best. A good rule is that for every 20 to 25 hours of use you should remove the blades, clean them, clamp them in a vise to hold them still, and then sharpen them.
This will keep them sharp and help you to get the most work life out of your blades.
Should you sharpen new mower blades?
No, there is no need to sharpen newly purchased mower blades. When these blades leave the factory, they are already sharpened and balanced, so all that you need to do is remove your old blades, install the new ones, and you are ready to mow. After the first 20 to 25 hours of use, sharpen them, and repeat this every 20 to 25 hours of use.
Do you need to balance mower blades?
Yes, you should balance your blades every time that you sharpen them for best results. An unbalanced blade can damage not only your lawn, but your mower as well, and the first thing that you will notice is that your mower is vibrating more than usual.
If you notice this, remove the blades and check their balance, or you can have it professionally done at your local hardware store if you are not comfortable with balancing them at home.
How do you bend a lawn mower blade?
If you are repairing a bend in a mower blade, you will need to clamp the blade in place so that it is laying flat on top of an anvil. Once it is secured, you can carefully hammer the blade back to flat, after which you should sharpen it and reattach it to the mower.
This can be tricky if you haven’t done this sort of thing before, so have a spare blade handy in case there are any issues, or you can bring it in to the hardware store and they can unbend it for you professionally (don’t worry, it’s inexpensive).
Hi, I’m John Stephens, chief editor and writer for Totalgardener.com. I’ve been gardening and raising animals for over 15 years starting with a small backyard plot in Northern Virginia where I grew corn, potatoes, squash, and using a high mulch technique called the Ruth Stout Method. I also raised ducks and small mammals for meat and eggs in a movable pen similar to the ones used by Joel Salatin. I later moved to Colorado where I experimented with growing greens using aquaponics inside. I eventually added a microgreens setup and home sprouting operation. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned plus more from the other local gardening and animal raising experts I know.
