How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades
If you’re an avid lawn care enthusiast, or just love the look of a clean and crisp garden, you’re probably all too aware of the nightmare of dull lawnmower blades. Dull blades can literally double the time it takes to mow a lawn and can leave the overall result looking shabby and patchy.
If you have encountered this problem and are looking for a guide on how to sharpen lawn mower blades, then you’ve come to the right place! Read on to find out just how you can sharpen your lawn mower blades, with or without a lawn mower blade sharpener. Let’s take a look, shall we?
The signs that you need to sharpen lawn mower blades
It can be pretty difficult to decide whether or not your lawn mower blades need a sharpen. So, here are some of the biggest signs to look for:
1. Patchy/Uneven Grass:
One of the biggest signs that your lawn mower blades are dull is an uneven grass height after you mow. You should attempt to realign the blades before sharpening, but if this doesn’t fix the problem, your blades are most likely dull and in need of a sharpen.
2. Imperfections on blade:
If your lawn mower blade has imperfections, such as dents or nicks around the edge, you should definitely sharpen your blade. Sharpening your blade will remove these imperfections, giving you a consistent and even cut.
3. Difficulty mowing:
If your mowing is harder than usual, in any way, it’s a pretty good sign that your lawn mower blades need sharpening.
Tools needed to sharpen lawn mower blades
So, you’ve established that your blade is dull, and you need to sharpen it. But just how can you go about doing this? Well, you’re going to need a few tools first. Here are the essentials:
1. Vice
A vice is the tool that will secure your blade in place, allowing for even sharpening. It’s an essential tool for lawn mower care, and if you don’t yet have one, buying one will save you a lot of money in the future, as you’ll be able to do most repairs at home.
2. Metal File
A metal file makes for a perfect lawn mower blade sharpener. It’s important to use a metal file, as other materials simply won’t be firm enough to sharpen lawn mower blades.
3. Screwdriver/ wrench
You’re going to need a way to access the lawn mower blade itself, and a wrench will do a perfect job of unscrewing the various nuts and bolts that house the blade.
4. Old cloths
It’s a good idea to clean your blade both before and after sharpening, to give you a better understanding of the state of your blade, and old rags are a great choice for this, as they’re cheap and effective.
Safety tips before you sharpen lawn mower blades
Safety is always a priority, so here are some important tips for each type of lawnmower that you may be working on.
If you’re working on an electric mower, always ensure to unplug the mower before starting any DIY work. You should push the kill switch as this will prevent the mower from accidentally starting. If you’re using a gas mower, make sure to drain the tank before you start. This will ensure that there is no chance of the mower turning on or leaking when accessing the blade and keeping you as safe as possible. Similarly, cylinder mowers should be drained prior to any kind of DIY.
No matter what kind of lawn mower you have, you should always wear the appropriate safety gear before starting any kind of DIY. This includes gloves, goggles, hard shoes and overalls. Such protective equipment will ensure that any debris that could fly out of the mower won’t harm you.
Steps to sharpen lawn mower blades
Follow these steps when you attempt to sharpen your lawn mower blades:
1. Make the lawnmower safe to operate on.
Remove the sparkplugs and empty the tank of gas for safety reasons, as mentioned above.
2. Remove the lawn mower blade
To do this, turn the mower on its side, with the air filter facing up. Then, using a marker, mark your blade, so you know which way to put it back. To remove the blade, loosen the bolts attaching the blade to the mower and gently remove the blade from the mower.
3. Sharpen the blade.
With the blade clamped in your vice, use a metal file at a 45-degree angle to sharpen the blade on both sides. Read our tips below to gauge how sharp your blade should be.
4. Reinstall the blade.
Carefully place the blade back in its bracket, with the marked side facing up. Then, using your wrench, tightly secure the bolts back on. It’s imperative that this blade is very tight, or it could come loose when mowing.
Correct angle to sharpen lawn mower blades
Getting the angle right when sharpening lawn mower blades will ensure that the blade is sharp across its whole surface. It will also prevent parts of the blade from thinning out from over-sharpening
The best angle to use is a 45-degree angle. This means that the file, not the blade will be at 45-degrees. The goal will be to get the angle on the blade similar to the pre-existing angle, generally this will be between 30-35⁰ but could be as high as 45⁰
Another tip is to only file in one direction, as this will further ensure that the blade comes out smooth and consistently sharp.
How sharp do the blades need to be?
It’s actually a myth that the sharper the mower blade, the better the cut. If you sharpen a lawn mower blade too much, it can lead to long-term damage, as the blade will be more susceptible to nicks.
Lawnmower blades should be sharp enough to cut grass, but not so sharp as a razor blade. A good indicator is that you should be able to touch the edge of the blade without getting a cut.
Always remember that it’s better to sharpen a blade too little than too much, and you should be a professional in no time!
Do I need a lawn mower blade sharpener?
Many people assume that, to sharpen lawn mower blades properly, you need special equipment like blade sharpeners. However, as you can see from our guide, this simply isn’t the case. You can save yourself a lot of money by using a simpler and more universal tool, like a metal file, and you’ll get the same result compared to someone who used a lawn mower blade sharpener.
