New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not?

   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #1  

MrZukerman

Bronze Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2005
Messages
70
Location
Northern Ark.
Tractor
Kubota L3410
I just bought a new set of blades for my rotary cutter and was wondering should I sharpen them a little more or leave them as is? They are not near as sharp as a set of mower blades but do they need to be?
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #2  
OK as long as you are not going to get it into the ground or more than tender grass. :)

The sharper the edge the faster it will break down has been my experience.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #3  
Rotary cutter blades usually have a blunt edge.
At least, blunter (some say 1/8" ) than a finish mower.

But up to you to do as you wish. They don't need to be sharp to knock down brush and heavy grass.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #4  
Rocks love sharp edges, go for it.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #5  
Yeah, I think I over sharpen, My guss is that if you keep the blades as sharp as they were "originially" that is sufficient. Anything more prolly wears them out faster.......

Not that I have ever actualy worn a set out. they usually bend beyond usefullness or break before they are worn out.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #6  
The manual for the Bush Hog I had said to leave the 1/8" blunt edge. If I knew I was only going to cut grass and small weeds, I might sharpen it more, but as others have said, you'll have nicks in the leading edge pretty quickly if you start hitting rocks or heavier brush and saplings.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #7  
Blunt. When backing into heavy undergrowth (bushes/saplings) sharp blades make very effective punji sticks to cause all sorts of damage to the tires. The blunt edge will still knock the plants down, but not leaving the pointed ends.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #8  
The blunt edge will still knock the plants down, but not leaving the pointed ends.
Good point.

Shattering the stubble end of the bush will defer regrowth.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #9  
Good advice on which I can't improve; wouldn't touch them.
 
   / New rotary cutter blade sharpen or not? #10  
The manual for my Rhino cutter specifically says leave cutter blades blunt. It says that rotary cutters work by using the shear force of the heavy blades spinning rather than the cutting action of smaller yard mowers and finish mowers.
 
 

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