Not Stationary Bench Grinders: Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades With A Durable Alternative

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Many people find mowing their lawn to be a lovely contemplative experience. Slowly strolling around the yard, making it look nicely groomed — what could be better? But if your mower blade is dull, that bucolic scene becomes a problem. Sharpening a lawnmower blade might seem like a daunting task, but with the help of this $99 paddle switch Makita angle grinder from Amazon, it is much easier than you may think. In this case, you can skip the bench grinder and use an angle grinder. Angle grinders are handheld machines that, in this case, feature a 4.5-inch abrasive grinding wheel. It's called an "angle grinder" because the grinding wheel is attached to the handle of the tool at a 90-degree angle, making it very easy to use.

To use an angle grinder to sharpen a lawnmower blade, first take the blade off of the lawnmower. If the mower is gas-powered, take the wire off the spark plug before you wrench it off. Clean off any crud and corrosion that may have built up on the mower blade. To safely grind the blade with a powerful tool like this one, you need to secure the blade; clamping it in a vise is your best bet. Then, with safety measures employed (we'll discuss more in a moment), align the grinding wheel to the angle of the cutting edge. The goal is to remove as little metal from the edge as possible as you recreate the existing cutting edge. Light, smooth passes will get the job done. Retain the original angle of the cutting edge, usually 25 to 35 degrees to the flat of the blade.

These tools are very powerful, making them perfect for sharpening lawnmower blades, even ones that are super dull and abused. Because they are powerful and aggressive, it's essential to use some basic safety gear when putting them to work. First off, you need to protect both your eyes and your ears. Safety goggles and some sort of ear protection are a must. You should also wear protective gloves, and either wear a short-sleeved shirt or roll up your sleeves. Long hair around a high RPM grinding wheel is also a hazard, so pull your hair back or put it up under a hat. Make sure you have plenty of light when grinding and keep the power cord out of the cutting head. One important rule of thumb is: if you feel that what you are about to do is unsafe, stop and figure out how to do it safely.

Angle grinders are versatile and can perform many different tasks. Similar to sharpening a lawnmower blade, you can also use one to sharpen shovels (yes, they need to be sharpened), axes, or mattocks. Obviously, the same safety concerns must be addressed for any tool you sharpen. Using an angle grinder to sharpen your lawnmower blade is something most DIYers can master in no time. After that, your contemplative mowing experience can return to being pleasant and unencumbered.