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How to Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blade: The Easy Way

While the sharpening of your lawnmower blade may be easily mistaken as a matter of mower care, it is actually a matter of lawn care. Sharpening your lawnmower blade is a very important maintenance task that must be done from time to time. This is because dull blades often tear grass blades instead of cutting them neatly and nicely. A dull blade will rip and pull the grass blades, which often results in ragged tears that weaken the plant and encourage the growth of fungi as well as other grass diseases. As you already know, fungal diseases often take advantage of any open wounds in plants, especially when the weather is moist or humid.

How to sharpen your lawn mower blade, the easy way:

  • Step 1: Disconnet the ignition wire
  • Step 2: Tile the mower and remove the blade
  • Step 3: Note the side of the blade
  • Step 4: Clean the underside of the lawn mower
  • Step 5: Clamp the blade
  • Step 6: Sharpen the blade using one of the following methods: Clamp and File, Using a Bench Grinder Using a Drill and Blade Sharpening Stone
  • Step 7: Balance the blade
  • Step 8: Reattach the blade

A sharp blade, on the other hand, cuts your lawn grasses neatly and cleanly, providing a means for the plant to heal and recover quickly. Sharpening  your lawnmower blade also allows you to carry out your lawn-mowing chore faster and easier with less stress on the mower. Sharpening a lawnmower blade is a pretty simple task, and it often takes only a few sharpening to eventually master this technique. Do you want to know how to sharpen your lawnmower blade? You are at the right place. In the rest of this article, we’ll walk you through the best and easy way to sharpen your lawnmower blade.

Why Do I Need to Sharpen My Lawn Mower Blades?

As mentioned above, your lawnmower blade must be sharpened in order to achieve a clean cut. Once the blade gets dull, rather than actually cutting the grass, it will tear the grass blades, and this will cause the grass blade to have a brownish color on the tip. This is not usually a great sight for your lawn as it will appear to be unhealthy when in fact, the lawn could actually be thriving.

What You Need to Know Before Sharpening Your Mower Blade

Before you start the process, there are some things you must know or keep in mind regardless of which tool you choose to use. You need to know how sharp the blade should be when sharpening is not enough, and how often you must sharpen your blade. Since you are carrying out this task to correct the dullness of your blade, it is normal to think that your aim is the sharpest blade possible. However, this isn’t always the case as a delicate balance is what you should be working towards. Undoubtedly, the cutting edge of the blade must be sharp, but it should not be razor-sharp. A razor-sharp edge will not hold out for long, meaning that you will have to sharpen it again, soon. In addition, once you notice large nicks or bends on your blade, you should consider buying a new lawnmower blade. This is because no amount of sharpening can correct the problem. Finally, your blade should be sharpened once every month.

Methods of Sharpening the Blade

When sharpening your lawnmower blade, the idea is to make the blade as sharp as a butter knife, and not razor-blade sharp. This is to ensure its effectiveness since the blade rotates at a high speed. Here are the methods by which you can sharpen your mower blades:

● Method 1: Clamp and File

In this method, you’ll make use of a file to sharpen your dull blade but first, make sure the blade secured in a vice. Apply pressure to the file, then run it perpendicular to the edge of the blade, grinding down any imperfections in the blade and maintaining the shape of the existing edge. After sharpening one side, reposition the blade in the vice and work on the other side. Although this method is slower than when you use a hand file, you’ll still get your results.

● Method 2: Using a Bench Grinder

The fastest way to sharpen a lawnmower blade is by using a bench grinder. Simply grind the edge of your blade against the spinning wheel of the grinder. However, you should always wear protective equipment such as safety goggles, earplugs, and work gloves to avoid the risk of injury. While a bench grinder is usually loud and produces sparks, you’ll be able to sharpen the blade in a matter of minutes. A bench grinder is also a great option for repairing heavily-damaged blades that are hard to file smoothly by hand.

● Method 3: Using a Drill and Blade Sharpening Stone

A blade sharpening drill operates in a similar manner as a bench grinder, but it is much smaller and more affordable. Being faster than hand filing, the stone of the bit is designed to hug the edge of a lawnmower blade, making it easy to sharpen with only little effort. If you’re using a drill attachment, here are some tools and supplies you will need for the job:

  • A power drill
  • Blade balancer
  • Sharpening attachment
  • Workbench
  • Vice and wrench
  • Safety equipment

How to Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blade

Sharpening your lawnmower blade will take about fifteen minutes (per blade), and the equipment required are a wrench, a vice, a 24” piece of 2×4 or 3” diameter pipe, and a file.

● Step 1: Disconnet the ignition wire

The first thing to do is to disconnect the ignition wire from the spark plug. If you’re using a cordless mower, remove the battery pack. This is to prevent the risk of the engine accidentally starting up while you’re working. You should also drain the gas tank so it won’t spill any fuel while you’re working on the blades.

● Step 2: Tile the mower and remove the blade

Tilt the mower on its side to expose the nut or bolt that secures the blade to the mower. Wedge a short wood block between the end of the blade and inside surface of the mowing deck to keep the blade from turning. Then use a wrench and socket to loosen the nut or bolt. To increase the leverage when loosening any stubborn fastener, you can slip a metal pipe over the wrench handle.

● Step 3: Note the side of the blade

Remember to make a mental note of which side of the blade faces downward. It’s important to bolt back the blade in the same orientation.

● Step 4: Clean the underside of the lawn mower

Once the blade is removed, try to scrape clean the underside of the mowing deck to remove all caked-on debris and grass. You can use a narrow-blade putty knife to get better results. In addition, clean both sides of the lawnmower blade by first spraying it with penetrating oil, and then scrubbing it with a stiff-bristle brush.

● Step 5: Clamp the blade

Next, clamp the mower blade in a vice with one of its cutting edges facing up.

● Step 6: Sharpen the blade

You’ll be making use of a drill-powered blade sharpener. This equipment consists of a round abrasive stone, a flat sharpening guide, and a ¼-inch-diameter steel shank. Chuck the sharpening stone into a drill but remember to first put on your safety goggles. Next, press the trigger to cause the drill to run at a full speed, then put the spinning sharpener over the edge of the blade. When doing this, make sure the dull cutting edge is facing the beveled side of the stone, while the flat surface of the guide is against the rear of the blade. Apply moderate pressure and slowly move the stone back and forth along the cutting edge.

After about five back and forth strokes, pause to check the sharpness of the blade. If it’s not sharp enough, repeat the process until all nicks and chips have been ground off. After sharpening one edge, remove the blade from the vice and rotate it to sharpen the other cutting edge.

● Step 7: Balance the blade

There’s another important thing to note: balancing the blade. Sharpening can remove more metal from one side of the blade than the other, and this may result in an unbalanced blade. Mowing with an unbalanced blade will cause excessive wobbling, which can put undue stress on your mower and damage the motor. There’s good news to this though; you can easily determine if your lawnmower blade is properly balanced or not. Simply slip the center hole of the blade over a nail attached to a wall.

Then hold the blade in the horizontal position and let it go. If either end of the blade rotates down toward vertical, then the blade is unbalanced and the heavier end will require additional sharpening until it’s balanced. However, if the blade remains level, then it’s balanced. The nail-in-the-wall technique may not always provide precise results, hence, you can use a lawnmower blade balancer, or a multi-tiered, cone-shaped metal fixture. Simply place the balancer on a flat surface, and set the blade on top. If it remains level, then the blade is balanced. If not, it’ll tilt to one side, indicating which end is heavier and needs additional sharpening.

● Step 8: Reattach the blade

Once your blade has been sharpened and balanced, attach it back onto the mower, using the wrench to tighten up the retaining nut or bolt. Reattach the ignition wire, replace the battery or fill the gas tank and test run your newly sharpened mower blade.

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  1. Darlene Harper says:

    Is it better to sharpen the blade during a specific time of the year?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you for your question, Darlene! It’s best to sharpen your blade when you notice reduced cutting efficiency. Keeping your blade sharp will help maintain a healthy lawn.

  2. Sharlene Nguyen says:

    Do I need a special type of file to sharpen the blade?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Yes, you will need a file to sharpen the blade. Follow the steps outlined in the blog post to ensure you have the proper technique.

  3. Connor Cole says:

    I appreciate the explanation on why sharpening the blade is important for lawn health.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you for your comment, Connor. I’m glad you found the explanation on why sharpening the blade is important for lawn health useful. Happy mowing!

  4. Harry Stone says:

    Are there any signs I should look for to know when it’s time to sharpen my blade?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      To know when it’s time to sharpen your blade, look for ragged grass tears and brownish tips on your lawn. Remember monthly sharpening is key to a clean cut.

  5. Heidi Stevens says:

    The video tutorials are really helpful, thank you for including them.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you for your kind words, Heidi! I’m glad you found the video tutorials helpful. Stay tuned for more informative content on lawn care and maintenance.

  6. Frances Gilbert says:

    How often should I be sharpening my lawnmower blade?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Hi Frances! A general rule of thumb is to sharpen your lawnmower blade once a month for optimal performance. Be sure to balance the blade after sharpening for even cuts!

  7. Loretta Watson says:

    I never knew about balancing the blade after sharpening, great tip!

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you, Loretta! Balancing the blade is crucial for a smooth cut. Happy mowing!

  8. Juanita Lowe says:

    I had no idea how important it was to sharpen the lawnmower blade, thank you for the information.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you for your comment, Juanita! I’m glad you found the information helpful. Happy mowing!

  9. June Rose says:

    Can I use the same sharpening method for different types of lawnmower blades?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Yes, you can use the same sharpening method for different types of lawnmower blades. Just make sure to follow the steps and techniques outlined in the blog post.

  10. Lydia Gray says:

    What happens if I over-sharpen my blade?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Over-sharpening your blade could make it too thin, weak, or unbalanced. Just focus on getting rid of nicks and chips. Sharpen as needed, but don’t go overboard.

  11. Wesley Patterson says:

    Super informative article, thank you for sharing these tips.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you for your kind words, Wesley! I’m glad you found the tips helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions. Happy mowing!

  12. Alan Sullivan says:

    Is there a specific angle I should be sharpening the blade at?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      To sharpen your lawnmower blade, try sharpening it at the same angle it was originally sharpened at. This will maintain the blade’s effectiveness while ensuring a clean cut.

  13. Mabel Mason says:

    I’m excited to try out the drill and blade sharpening stone method, seems easy.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you, Mabel! Enjoy trying out the drill and blade sharpening stone method – it really does make the process much easier. Let me know how it goes!

  14. Justin Holland says:

    Can a dull blade actually damage my lawn?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Dull blades do harm by tearing grass rather than cutting it cleanly, damaging your lawn’s health. Sharpening the blade is crucial for a neat, healthy grass cut.

  15. Eva Wagner says:

    Is it possible to over-tighten the blade when reattaching it?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Yes, it is possible to over-tighten the blade when reattaching it. Be sure to secure it snugly, but not overly tight, to avoid any potential damage or issues.

  16. Corey Williams says:

    What should I do if I notice some rust on the blade?

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      To remove rust from your lawnmower blade, you can use a wire brush or steel wool to scrub it off. Be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the blade before reattaching it.

  17. Cecil Carr says:

    Very clear step-by-step guide on how to sharpen the lawnmower blade.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you for your feedback, Cecil! I’m glad you found the step-by-step guide helpful. Happy mowing!

  18. Gina Reynolds says:

    Thanks for detailing the different methods of sharpening the lawnmower blade.

  19. Hector King says:

    This article has made me realize how much more efficient a sharp blade can be.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Sharpening your mower blade is key to a healthy lawn! Great to hear it made a difference for you, Hector. Keep up the good work!

  20. Jacob Adams says:

    Great tips! I’ll definitely be sharpening my lawnmower blade this weekend.

    • Allard Vdhooft says:

      Thank you, Jacob! Enjoy sharpening your lawnmower blade this weekend for a cleaner cut and healthier lawn. Happy mowing!

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