Time To Ditch The Bench Grinder: Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades With 5 Easy-To-Use Lowe's Finds

When your lawn mower starts shredding your grass instead of making clean cuts, a bench grinder works wonders to sharpen the blades. Unfortunately, even though you can do a lot with a bench grinder, it's not exactly a casual purchase. The most popular and highest-rated ones at Lowe's cost over $150, with fancier variable-speed versions quickly shooting up in price. And the bulky power tools aren't just costly. They also take up valuable space in a garage or shed and come with a pretty steep learning curve that may result in uneven or unbalanced blades that can damage your lawn. Plus, they create lots of sparks, dust, and noise, turning one of the easiest lawn mower maintenance jobs into a full-blown hassle. 

Fortunately, there are several easy-to-use and affordable Lowe's finds that will sharpen lawn mower blades. A hand file is the most manual bench grinder alternative, but it gets the job done even if you're a total blade-sharpening beginner. If you can't be bothered to do the work by hand, the home improvement store also sells an inexpensive drill attachment that gets great reviews from satisfied customers, as well as a traditional angle grinder and a versatile handheld sharpener and steel grinding kit.

If it's your first time sharpening a mower blade or you're concerned about using power tools, consider a hand file like the Work Sharp Field/Pack Sharpener at Lowe's. The $40 hand file is a simple solution, although the process will take longer than using a bench grinder. The upside is that a hand file removes metal gradually, so it's easy to control the shape of your blade edge. 

Since most lawn mower blades don't need to be sharpened as often as you think, hand files are perfect for homeowners with smaller residential lawns or anyone who doesn't want to deal with the mess a bench grinder creates. Over 100 Lowe's customers have given the Work Sharp hand file a 5-star rating, with positive feedback coming from users with varying levels of experience. "This thing is incredible, it has everything you need to sharpen all your bladed tools," wrote one satisfied user. Despite measuring just under 7 inches long, the portable tool comes with two diamond plates, two ceramic rods, and a leather strop.

To sharpen your lawn mower blade using this hand file, don some eye protection and a pair of work gloves before securing the blade firmly with clamps or a vise. Then, run the file along the existing cutting edge. Instead of a sawing motion, use the file in one direction, following the blade's existing bevel. Repeat the process on the other side, removing the same amount of metal. Finally, test the blade's balance before reinstalling it.

One of the biggest lawn mower blade sharpening mistakes is going at it until you've reached a knife-sharp edge, since this can make the cutting edge weaker or throw the entire blade off balance. You may be able to avoid this with a product like the Sunbelt Blade Sharpening and Balancing Kit, an inexpensive power drill attachment designed to speed up your mower maintenance. The $16 attachment, which is the most affordable bench grinder alternative on our list, fits into a standard drill chuck. Fit the mower blade edge into the sharpener's groove, with the nylon guide sitting flush against the backside of the cutting edge, and it will quickly sharpen the blade at the proper angle. After securing your blade so it doesn't shift, run your drill at the recommended speed along the cutting edge in a smooth pass.

This kit makes sense for homeowners who already have a drill and prefer a small solution that fits into a tool box. It's also a good choice if you're ready to move away from manual files but are nervous about free-handing the sharpening process at an angle with a grinder. Since the attachment does most of the positioning work, mastering the technique is relatively straightforward for DIYers. One beginner loved the simplicity and price, writing, "I was sharpening mower blades for the first time and just needed a simple, affordable tool to get the job done. This sharpener worked exactly as expected and was easy to use."

When you're willing to spend a little more, it may make sense to invest in a purpose-built tool like the Work Sharp Mark II Knife and Tool Sharpener. The powered, handheld belt grinder, which runs $90 at Lowe's, works for sharpening lawn mower blades and practically every other knife you own. A toggle lets you switch between two angles, so anyone who wants to sharpen a set of kitchen knives and mower blades can do so in the same session. "I was blown away with the quick and easy way to change from sharpening a knife to grinding my lawn mower blades," wrote one user.

The Work Sharp sharpener also has a two-speed power control and comes with ½-inch by 12-inch flexible abrasive belts in fine, medium, and coarse grits. Experts say the right grit for sharpening lawn mower blades is 60 to 80 grit, which leans toward medium to coarse. A sharpening guide rounds out the design, making the process repeatable from blade to blade.

Despite having a price tag slightly higher than some basic bench grinders, this tool has received high praise and a 4.7-star rating from over 200 Lowe's customers. As one user stated, "I've tried so many different ways to sharpen my kitchen knives, pocket knives, and lawn mower blades. This is by far the easiest way to get it done and very sharp."

Many find a Dremel tool to be a smarter way to sharpen lawn mower blades if you want to skip the bulky bench grinder. The handheld device is small but effective and convenient for various sharpening tasks, especially when paired with the Dremel 3-Piece Steel Grinding/Sharpening Accessory Bit Set from Lowe's. Designed for tackling maintenance on a wide range of outdoor tools, the $20 find includes a chainsaw sharpener, lawn mower sharpener, garden tool sharpener, and four sharpening stones. Each one screws into the built-in Dremel mounting system.

Although many of its 5-star ratings are based on promotional reviews, the inexpensive Lowe's find has received positive feedback for being versatile and simple to operate, even if you're a total beginner. Because Dremels are lightweight and portable, you might be tempted to try sharpening your lawn mower blades without removing them. Many users have tried it, but this approach won't ensure your sharpened lawn mower blades are balanced. Instead, you'll want to remove your mower blade and clamp it in a vise. After screwing the lawn mower sharpener attachment into your Dremel, follow along the original beveled edge of the blade at a speed of 25,000 rpm. You can then check for balance by placing your blade on a balancer or a nail on a wall. If it remains horizontal, the blade is balanced; if one side drops, that end is too heavy and needs another sharpening pass.

Sometimes, you simply need to bring out the bigger guns, like the Craftsman 20-Volt Brushless Cordless Angle Grinder. The $149 tool is the most expensive Lowe's sharpening tool on our list, but it's also the most powerful. The 4 ½-inch tool has an easily accessible paddle switch, quick-adjusting discs and guard, and an adjustable side handle intended to make the tool more comfortable to hold. Its brushless motor is powered by a 4.0-Ah battery, which is sold separately, and Craftsman provides a three-year warranty against defects.

Although a few people found that the grinder runs hot, nearly 200 users gave the tool an average rating of 4.7 stars. One customer wrote, "This angle grinder is perfect for sharpening lawn mower blades." Others appreciated its value for the money. "Bought this just to upgrade from the brushed version ... I am becoming a Craftsman fan boy. You just can't beat these tools for the price," explained one happy user.

Wondering how to sharpen lawn mower blades with an angle grinder? You'll need to wear the right safety gear, remove and secure your blades in a vise, and clean them before getting started. Working at the existing angle of each edge, apply light pressure while making smooth passes along the blade. Repeat the process on the opposite side, and make sure your newly sharpened lawn mower blades are balanced before reinstalling them.