Sharpening A Lawn Mower Blade
A sharp lawn mower blade is a crucial part of having a healthy lawn. When your blade is dull, it tears grass rather than cutting it, making the whole lawn look brown or dull and leaves your grass vulnerable to diseases. Dull blades also make the engine work harder than it really should, using up to 20% more fuel. How often your lawn mower blade needs sharpening depends on the size of your lawn and the type of grass, as grasses like Bermuda Grass or Zoysia Grass dull blades faster. It’s best to sharpen your lawn mower blades once a month.
Materials Checklist:
- Dremel Variable Speed Multi Pro
Blain # 443834 - Lawn Mower & Garden Tool Sharpener
Blain # 443835 - Vise
Blain # 386368 - Socket Wrench
Blain # 127004
View Detail - Screwdriver
Blain # 159622 - Safety Glasses
Blain # 389947
View Detail - Gloves (optional)
Blain # 226764
Instructions:
Before you begin, remove the spark plug from the mower. Then remove the blade, wear at least one heavy duty work glove to protect yourself from the sharp edge of the blade.
- Place the mower blade into a vise. Using the Lawn Mower & Garden Tool sharpener, grind the blade, removing as little metal as possible with the grinding stone.
Clean dirt and debris from the blade and then check the balance. A balanced blade will stay level when suspended from a screwdriver inserted through the center hole.
- To restore blade balance, remove some metal from the heavy end of the blade. Do not grind more on the cutting edge.
- Put the lawnmower blade back on the lawnmower, being sure to wear heavy gloves to avoid getting cut by the sharp blade.
- Replace the spark plug only after the blade is properly in place.