How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade If you’ve noticed your lawn looking uneven after mowing, your blade could be the cause. A sharp lawn mower blade is essential for clean cuts, and luckily sharpening a lawn mower blade is easier than you think. Why Should You Keep Your Lawn Mower Blade Sharp? Ok sure, a dull blade won’t kill your lawn, but it will make a big difference to the finish. A dull blade tears the grass instead of cutting it cleanly, with the rough edges potentially turning brown and making your lawn more vulnerable to disease. By keeping your blade sharp you’ll get: A cleaner, neater finish A healthier looking lawn Reduce stress on your mower Cut grass faster & easier As a rough guide, aim to sharpen your lawn mower blade every 20–25 hours of use. Or at least once every mowing season. Signs You Need To Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blade If you’re still not sure, your lawn will usually give you some clues: Does it look frayed or torn after you’ve cut it? Does it have an uneven finish? Does your mower feel like it’s struggling? Does your mower vibrate more than it used to? If so, chances are your blade could do with a sharpening. What You’ll Need to Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blade A few basic tools you’ll need: Gloves & safety glasses Spanner or socket wrench A block of wood Metal file or grinder Blade balancer You don’t need anything too complicated, just some essentials to help get the job done safely. Instructions: How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade Now you know why it’s important to keep your blade sharp, so let’s look at how you actually sharpen your lawn mower blade. 1. Disconnect the Power Disconnect your mower by either unplugging it, removing the battery, or disconnecting the spark plug. This will take away any chance of the mower switching back on while you’re working on it. 2. Tip the Mower on its Side Next, tip your lawn mower onto its side so you can access the underside of the blade. With petrol mowers make sure you tip it the correct way (generally with the air filter facing up) to avoid leakage. Also, be sure to put it down on a flat, stable surface. 3. Remove the Blade Place the block of wood over the blade to stop it spinning, then unscrew the bolt with your spanner. Hang onto the bolt and any washers you remove, then take a quick picture so you can remember how to fit the blade back on. 4. Clean the Blade Grab a brush and wipe away any grass, dirt or rust from the blade. This’ll make it easier to see what you’re doing and ensure you don’t miss any spots. It also helps you spot if the blade is damaged. If the blade is damaged or badly bent, you’ll be better of replacing it. 5. Secure the Blade Use a vice or lay the blade on some wood to keep it steady when sharpening as you don’t want it moving around while your working on it. 6. Sharpen the Blade Take your file or grinder and begin sharpening along the blade, following the original angle. You don’t need to make it razor sharp, just take your time and follow the original angle using smooth strokes. 7. Repeat for the Other Side Flip the blade over and repeat step 6. You want to keep both sides as even as possible to ensure the blade is balanced. 8. Balance the Blade One thing a lot of people forget to do is balance their blade. All you need to do is place the blade on a balancer or carefully hang it over a nail. If one side drops lower than the other, file that side down until it’s level. Balancing your blade will reduce vibration and help your mower run better. 9. Replace the Blade Carefully place the sharpened blade back onto your mower making sure you screw the bolt back on tight and put all the washers back in the correct place. Try and fit it back together as it was using the picture you took earlier. 10. Test Your Mower Plug everything back in and fire it up to test it out on a small patch of grass. If you’ve done everything correctly you should immediately notice an improved, clean cut. If the mower is vibrating more than usual or is making weird noises, double-check the blade is fitted correctly and is balanced. When to Replace Your Lawn Mower Blade Knowing how to sharpen a lawn mower blade is great, but at some point, you may find your blades just can’t be salvaged. If your blade is cracked, bent or just looks excessively worn then it’s time to buy a new one. Lawn mower blades aren’t massively expensive and can seriously improve your mower’s performance. Should I Sharpen My Lawn Mower Blade Myself? For the average person, sharpening your lawn mower blade is a quick and easy DIY job that doesn’t take too long, and can also save you money. That being said, if you don’t feel confident or have the tools, there’s no harm in getting in done professionally. Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Blade Sharp Longer There are also a few simple things you can do to prolong the life of your blade: Avoid cutting over stones/debris Clean your mower after every use Regularly check your blade for damage Sharpen it at the start of each season Quick maintenance like this will help keep your blade in good condition and your mower working as it should. Conclusion Learning how to sharpen a lawn mower blade is a simple maintenance job that can benefit everyone. It may take a bit of time and patience at first, but with these tips you’ll be keeping your mower in great condition and your lawn looking sharp. If you’re after replacement blades, handy tools or maybe a brand new mower, check out everything Mowshop have to offer. You can guarantee that we’ve got everything you need to keep your garden in tip top condition.
