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Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener {Buyer's Guide}

When’s the last time you sharpened your lawn mower blades? If you can’t remember, then it’s probably time. Maintaining sharp mower blades is important for a healthier, better-looking lawn. Blades that are too dull will damage the roots and result in premature blade wear, which will cost you hundreds down the line. If you need a new blade sharpener that is easy-to-use and efficient at getting your blades to perform optimally, read through our guide for our tips and recommendations.

Our Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener

Bradley Professional Blade Sharpener Grinder S105

This portable grinder has a fully reversible motor, so you can sharpen on both sides. Not only is it the most affordable one of its kind available, but it can also be fitted with a dirt collector and mulch blade adaptor (sold separately or can be bought as a bundle kit). Other notable features include

  • ½ HP, 110-volt motor
  • 1725 RPM speed
  • Adjustable wheel height
  • 60 grit aluminum oxide grinding wheel
  • Blade guide for safer sharpening

Find out more here.

How Sharp Should Your Lawn Mower Blade Be?

It is always advisable to maintain sharp edges on your blades, but that doesn’t mean that they need to be razor-sharp. You should be able to touch the edges without getting cut. They just need to be sharp enough to make a clean cut through grass.

Blades that are too sharp, on the other hand, will dull more quickly and affect the longevity of your blade since you’ll have to sharpen them more frequently.

How Often Should You Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades?

The frequency of sharpening your lawn mower blade depends on the blade's current condition. Some might recommend you sharpen your blades every two weeks, but if your blades are in poor condition, they might require sharpening as often as every week. In our professional opinion, we recommend sharpening blades after every 25 hours (or about once a week) of mowing to get the best results. However, keep in mind that frequency of sharpening depends heavily on the size of the lawn. With this in mind, you can simply base how often you sharpen mower blades by their performance—if you notice a decline in results, it’s probably because the blades have gotten dull.

Do Sharp Mower Blades Make a Difference?

Using sharp blades can make a big difference for the health of your lawn. The sharper the blades, the more evenly you can cut your grass. Over time, blunt blades will lead to dry, brown grass, which makes them susceptible to parasites and diseases.

Because blunt blades have to cut across grass multiple times, they do not cut cleanly, resulting in a patchy lawn that takes hours to mow in full. The sharp blades allow you to clean up the entire lawn in one session. So, if you want to save precious time and have healthy, green, clean-cut grass, always mow with freshly sharpened blades.

How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades

There are numerous ways to sharpen your lawn mower blades, but there are some best practices that you should always follow.

  • Remove the blades and note which side is face down so you can reinstall them correctly after you’re finished.
  • Position the blade in a way that the cutting edges are facing upwards.
  • Sharpen the edges at an angle until you achieve your desired edge. Make sure that you do not sharpen excessively.
  • Replace the blades in the lawn mower in the correct position.

How To Choose The Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener?

Power Type

Different mowers come with different specifications. Some blade sharpeners are manual, while most others are electric. The manual ones require you to apply grease to the blades frequently and also take a longer time to sharpen them. On the other hand, electrically-powered sharpeners are more efficient and do not require as much lubrication. The downside is that they are more expensive compared to the manual sharpeners.

Material and Durability

Blade sharpeners do wear out after some time, which may require you to replace the grinding wheel several times. Always consider picking up a sharpener that is highly durable. There are also materials that produce less wear on the grinding wheel, such as carbide

What to Look for in a Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener

When looking for a lawn mower blade sharpener, you should consider the following factors:

  • The size and the length of the blades
  • The speed of the mower blades
  • Whether the sharpener can be used with both hands (left-handed and right-handed)
  • Angle degrees that the blade sharpener sharpens at

Do I Need To Sharpen a New Lawn Mower Blade?

After purchasing new blades, you do not have to sharpen them. However, some blades come with a paint coating on the edges to prevent injury. You can get rid of the coating by sharpening them a little. To figure out if they need sharpening, you could try out the new blades on your lawn and look at the grass residue. If they cut clean without creating brown, rough patches, there is no need to sharpen the blades.

What Is the Best Angle to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade?

The best angle to sharpen the blades is a 45 degree angle using a file or grindstone. By cutting the blades at this angle, you can achieve strong cuts that do not damage the lawn. With a bench grinder, you’ll want to move the blade back and forth against the wheel.

How Do You Know That Your Lawn Mower Blade Needs Sharpening?

You’ll be able to see that a blade needs sharpening from the appearance of the mowed grass expelled as you cut your lawn. Grass cut with dull blades will be uneven and jagged. The lawn will also have unsightly brown patches from having to mow over the same spots.

Why You Should Consider Bradley Mowers for Your Next Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener

At Bradley Mowers, we offer easy-to-use, professional-grade bench grinders and other models that make your routine blade-sharpening quick and simple. We have the right tools you need for the best angles that won’t warp your blades. Order online today!