How often do you sharpen mower blades, and to what extent?

[adamsredlines]

Never really done much for sharpening these in the past, but I guess its time since I got the yard looking pretty damn good.
Start of this season I "sharpened" it with the angle grinder trying to follow the angle that was factory. Well here we are a few months in and that sharp edge is GONE, so...how often do yall sharpen them? I bought one of those little drill sharpening doohickies and it seems to be doing pretty good, although I dont know that its any better than the angle grinder but it sure does take more time! I got one side done...and about 1/3 through the other side and the battery in my Dewalt died so will finish later.

Aaaaaaaaaaanywho...how often do you sharpen your blades, and how sharp do you go for? There's gotta be a happy medium here. I know there are surely people who sharpen between every mow, and go for razor sharp...but I'm not gonna be that guy. Maybe once a month with the angle grinder to get a "sharp" edge and call it good?

 

[JeffT]

I sharpen mine in March and July and replace them every other year. I mow about 4.5 acres every 2 weeks.

 

[diggler1833]

I shapen as needed, which is about every other month as the wife has a bad habit of putting on her Sons of Anarchy vest, giving me the finger, and then mowing every tree root and rock she can find at full speed.

I made her buy the last mower. Two years and two blade towers later and she still mows like a storm is about to hit.

 

[Shinneryfarmer]

I have sandy soil and few bare spots so it dulls the blades pretty quick. Also mowing about 3 acres, sharpen blades every other time and replace at beginning of each mowing season. Sand basically sandblast them and eats the lift off them before the actual edge is wore out.

 

[golddigger14s]

Once a year.

 

[KOPBET]

When the grass tells me it's time.

 

[davek]

For me, if the top of the freshly cut grass blade look more torn than cut it's time for a new edge. I have 2 sets of blades so I have a fresh set ready when needed.

 

[xseler]

Sand is the enemy of mower blades. My neighborhood is built on mostly clay, so all I'm cutting is grass. I sharpen mine at the first of the season with a couple of passes on the bench grinder, then dress the bevels with an 8" file. I'm still on the original mower blades!!

BTW, my Honda mower is on it's 16th season!

 

[Perplexed]

Sharpen mower blades? What for? Just bludgeon the grass into submission.

 

[mr ed]

Go to store and take detailed pictures of replacement blades.
They should be angled like scissors, not like a knife.