How to sharpen Brush mower Blades?

MrSteve · Jan 20, 2006

Ok I know it's a BIG lawn mower blade, but really what is the best way to sharpen brush mower blades? What should be used to sharpen the blade? Can you do a good job by leaving the blade on the mower? When do you know when they need to be sharpened? Can the blade be sharpen down to more of a "edge"? I understand the more of a edge you put on the blade that would make it that much closer to need sharpening or replaced.

I am asking the above because I would like to know if I can get a better cut from my brush mower. I have 11+ acres that has been mowed by a finish mower for 4+ years (by a riding mower, thank God that's over), so all my grass is clean from any "brush". I have used the "hog" to cut the grass last summer and it did "ok", just wondering if I can get it closer to a finish mower look. I guess one day I will get a nice 3pt finish mower, but for now the brush mower is all I have. ANY thought would be great to hear.

Mower is a 72" 3pt.

scott_vt · Jan 20, 2006

Hi Steve,
Hope you and the wife are enjoying your new tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

OK, some will probablly cringe when I say this. I use my Dewalt 5" angle grinder to touch the blades up now and then. If they get really knicked up from the boulders growing out in the field I will change the blades. I use a Woods SQ-60 Squealer bush hog. Out in the field, if those blades are anywhere near sharp they do a good enough job for me. And when I hit another boulder I dont feel as bad /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If your trying to do some semi finish mowing with that implement, well then you might have to have blades in much better condition .

scotty

Gamemaster · Jan 20, 2006

After the 2 years of hogging and finding most of the foreign objects I did the same thing. ( left the hog on the tractor and set it down on blocks ).Used a 4.5" hand grinder with a fine wheel and finished it with a cut-off wheel using the side of the wheel ( blade came to nice cutting edge. ) It will never be the same cut as a finish mower, but came out pretty good.

RedRocker · Jan 20, 2006

Same here, angle grinder.

JLoaf · Jan 20, 2006

DeWalt grinder.
I use it on my finish mower and bushhog blades.
I previously used a bench grinder.
I believe that I get much better (and faster) results with my little angle grinder.

BB_TX · Jan 20, 2006

There have been many discussions on this and many opinions.
 Here is a previous discussion. 
I think in general the majority of us use an angle grinder.

MrSteve · Jan 20, 2006

Thanks to EVERYONE for your replies...

BB_TX... Sorry I should had done a search, I useally do, but I didn't in this case.

BB_TX · Jan 20, 2006

Hey, if everyone always did a search instead of a new post, we would not have nearly as much to talk about. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Jan 20, 2006

As others have said.. I use an angle grinder to sharpen my brushhog blades. I don't 'sharpen' them but rather take them down to a 3/32 or 1/16 edge for brush. However i have sharpened them like a lawnmower blade when i was just clipping black tops off the lawn and pasture... a easy hand ont he position control and you can do a pretty good lawn cut with a brush hog if you don't get in a hurry.

Soundguy

MrSteve · Jan 20, 2006

Well I guess I have some work to do... I don't think my blades have ever been 1/16", more like 3/16"... Maybe I better go see with a tape and not my eyes.

oldgoat2 · Jan 20, 2006

The way we lazy guys approach this is to lift the mower on to its side with our FEL and remove the blades. Then we lock the blades into a vise to grind it down with a 9" angle grinder. Everything is done at waist level to qualify as completely lazy. When reinstalling, use lost of anti-seize and new cotter keys to make the next time even easier.

MrSteve · Jan 20, 2006

Well I just checked... It is 3/16" at the "TIP" (about 1/4" from the end of the blade) and about 1/16 from there on.

NOW why would it be like that on the tip of the blade? You would think the 1/16" would travel the cutting edge.

By the way this is a Kodiak 72" cutter if that matters.

About this mower... It seems I should have no problem at all keeping the blades on the mower and the mower on the tractor to sharpen them. I say that because I have a opening at the PTO (front?) and a opening in the back (the back opening is half the size of the front). Seems to be all kinds of room.

Oh... scott_vt. LOVE the tractor! The wife, who cares??? Its mine you understand mine! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Highbeam · Jan 20, 2006

Mine are now blunt. Barely any different that a squared off 1/2" thick weed wacker that won't cut but rather beat the material into submission. The tips are worse as they seem to do the cutting, wwhen I say worse I mean the actual tips have an inch or so radius horizontally.

I have even thought about welding on a new edge instead of grinding off a bunch of blade material to make an edge out of the stock blade.

I guess what I am saying is that your blades can get much worse than 3/16 and still cut a pretty nice field. And that there is a point where removing more material to sharpen them might not be wise.

scott_vt · Jan 21, 2006

Hi Steve,
I was wondering when you were gonna read between the lines on that question /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I thought you would eventually find the humor there /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

scotty

MrSteve · Jan 21, 2006

( Hi Steve,
I was wondering when you were gonna read between the lines on that question /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I thought you would eventually find the humor there /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

scotty )

Oh I did right away, I thought I posted my reply before I did. BUT after reading all the post again I saw that I didn't.

PineRidge · Jan 22, 2006

We use the FEL and a chain to flip the rotary cutter upside down. We then dig out the small angle grinder and sharpen the blades right on the deck. Why take them off if you don't have to?

If you use this method, once you put the deck right side up be sure to check the gear oil level to be sure that you haven't lost any while the deck was inverted.

Oleozz · Jan 22, 2006

In 22 years of use I have never taken my blades off the Bush Hog. I lift it as high as it will go with the 3 pt hitch and then from the highest point in the back I use my Dremel tool with the grinding stone attachment to sharpen it. I put safety glasses on because you are at about the same height when you are kneeling down as the blade and I never get under the Hog. Only do it from the side and it does a good job of getting the blades sharp without a lot of hassle.

Gavman · Jan 22, 2006

Angle grinder.

I don't get them razor sharp either. Like Highbeam said, they don't cut the grass, they beat it. I know an older gentleman who has farmed for many years, who calls a brush hog a "brush beater".

MrSteve · Jan 23, 2006

Thanks for the replies everyone... I guess I better get a grinder. Um why don't I have one? I know I have needed one 100x or more.

What amps are you guys using with your 4 1/2" or 5"grinders? The biggest amps I have found is around 10amps for $90, it seems 7 amps is average for around $40 or so. Keep in mind, I am sure I will use this grinder for more then just sharpening blades, so what amps should I go with (I know allot has to do with how thick the steel I could cut/grind and so on)

greg_g · Jan 23, 2006

I've got a 6.9 amp Hitachi, and consider it inadequate to the task. Takes too long, and I can't get a consistent bevel with it. I'm shopping for a reasonably priced 9 inch, probably in the 12 to 13 amp range.

//greg//