If your lawnmower blade is damaged, it must be sharpening using a bench grinder. Sometimes, however, a replacement is not available. A local service shop may do it for free or let you know when it is ready for the trash can. But if you own your own lawnmower, it is very easy to perform the lawnmower blade sharpening on your own.
The type of damage usually does not depend on the brand of the mower blades. Usually, nicks form in the edge area where the blades meet the turf. The sharper the edges are on the cutting edges, the less likely they will be vulnerable to nicks. Nicks are caused by cutting across the grain of the turf and therefore are more difficult to repair than ones that are located closer to the surface. Dull cutting edges are more prone to nicks.
To sharpen the blades of your lawnmower, you will need a bench that is bolted to the ground, a sharp metal blade and appropriate lubrication. It is always best to use grass-friendly products such as shaving cream or specially made leather tools, since they are designed to remove the nicks from blades. Avoid using normal household tools, which can damage or bend the steel blades. You can also purchase extensive tools that are designed for different cutting tasks. For example, there are those that work better for digging holes and others that are better for cutting weeds.
If you have recently purchased a new mower, it is a good idea to sharpen the mower blade manually before you store it for the first time. To properly sharpen by hand, hold the mower blade upright at an approximate 90 degree angle to the mower’s longitudinal axis. With a steady grip, pull the mower’s blade towards you with a forward motion.
For a circular or “square” area, make sure that you turn the lawn mowing blade in a complete circle several times. Make sure to wear safety glasses, safety gloves and other personal protective equipment to prevent any unnecessary injury. To ensure safety, you should perform this procedure at least once a week.
When learning how to sharpen lawn mower blades, you may want to focus on the outside edges first. You should work on these first because they are the most susceptible to damage. You can start by turning the blade in a “come here” motion, which will push the steel wool down on the nub. This action will force the steel wool to flatten out as you continue down the blade. However, make sure that you don’t stop at the nub.
Yu should move gradually and focus on the areas between the edgy areas. You should also remember to keep the blades touching while you are working on the blades. This will help you identify where you need to apply pressure without causing any additional damage. Some people recommend that you do not settle the blades when they are dull, but this can actually cause more harm than good.
Once you have learned how to sharpen lawn mower blades, you will probably be asked to replace the spark plug. If you don’t know how to do this, then you may have to pay for someone else to complete this task. Lastly, you should replace the plastic protective cover (the one that covers the spark plug). You should also make sure that you disconnect the power cord from the mower. Inspect your work and make sure that everything is intact, including the spark plug wire.
The DIY is Complete
