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

[Buddhaman]

I don’t sharpen, just replace every two years.

 

[Parks 788]

So, how does a weekend lawn warrior balance a lawn mower blade?

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

So, how does a weekend lawn warrior balance a lawn mower blade?

 

[adamsredlines]

My sharpening doohickey came with a balancer like this.
I think I got it sharpened to my requirements, now working on balancing it.

Put the cone through the blades bolt hole, let it settle and take weight off the low side (grinding) til it's even

 

[RickN]

Heck I have to take mine in to be sharpened now. Seems O2 and hot sparks do not mix.

 

[FullAuto]

I mow 1.5 acres with a 54" Hustler. I just buy new blades every year. They're cheap.

 

[cdschoonie]

I’ve done tons of times, as to how often, in every case, once you start sharpening them, the sharpness lasts shorter and shorter time. Case in point, let’s take my last mower, the blade was good the first season and a half, I sharpened it, and finished out the season. I still lacked 3 mowings on the next season, had to sharpen it. Made it through half the next season, etc.. The times I had to sharpen it, seemed to come 10-15% faster than the time before.

 

[Glocktogo]

Twice a year for me. End/beginning of the season and mid-summer.

 

[Shoot Summ]

I have several different blades for my mower. I sharpen my blades sharp, not razor knife sharp, but probably sharper than what is needed. When the blade on the mower feels dull, I change it, I check it every time I mow.

 

[SlugSlinger]

An angle grinder should do just fine. I used to use a bench grinder and just follow the slope of the blade until it is sharp. No need to make it razor sharp or spend much time on it. I only sharpen once a year, but an angle grinder is so quick you could touch it up as often as you want/need.

This works great if you use a flapper disc with a 120 grit or so. The flapper doesn’t heat the edge like a stone wheel, so you don’t lose the temper and it will stay sharp longer.