Best Overall
Crescent Nicholson 12" Flat Double-Cut Bastard File
Best Bang for the Buck
Smith’s Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener
Best Drill Attachment
Ankda Double-Layer Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener
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A deadening mower steel cut poorly and make it harder to mow , but a lawn mower leaf blade sharpener can sterilize that problem . For best termination , users will want to heighten mower blades every 20 to 25 hours of mowing . The salutary news show is that sharpening lawn mower blades is an easygoing DIY sustenance labor if you have the right equipment — and there are a wide-cut change of tools from which to choose , including manual files , power grinders , various jigs , and more . In our search for the good options , we try out eight vastly unlike lawn lawn mower blade sharpener on 16 dull lawn mower blade .
Our favorite product is theCrescent Nicholson 12″ Flat Double - Cut Bastard File . This is a simple , cheap , and highly in effect dick that renew a worn mower blade with just a few shot . It is easy to put in when not in use , and you ’ll likely retrieve it also serves other determination around the rest home and shop . We also have recommendations for shoppers who prise speed and precision over affordability . Read on to learn more about our mathematical product reviews and extra considerations to help you select the good lawn mower blade sharpener for your shop orhand tool cabinet .
Our Top Picks
The best lawn mower steel sharpener for your office depends on numerous ingredient , such as average mop conditions , oftenness of sharpening , and personal preferences , including budget . Our top picks boast a all-embracing reach of tools that will perform well in a variety of setting . Whether you value power , precision , speeding , or portability , one of these options could be the lawn mower blade sharpener you ’ve been search for .
Crescent Nicholson 12" Flat Double-Cut Bastard
Our Ratings : Setup5/5 ; Ease of Use4.8/5 ; Sharpening5/5 ; Quality5/5 ; Value5/5
keep your lawn mowerdoesn’t have to be expensive or sentence - consuming . If you appreciate the restraint and quiet atonement of work with manual dick , then the Crescent Nicholson 12 - column inch flavourless twofold - stinger whoreson file is a great option . The aggressive double - cutting off teeth transfer textile fast with moderate imperativeness , making it mayhap the best file for sharpening lawn mower steel . The 12 - in length accommodates two - handed surgical procedure , and it easy fit in a tool box .
We spent 30 minutes sharpen two lawn mower blade with this file . With the steel clamped in a workbench frailty , we followed the establish blade angle with long file cam stroke . apply moderate pressure , the data file removed a spate of cloth quickly . It only take 10 strokes on each end to taper the first steel , which was dull from a full time of year ’s usage but had no snick or cow chip . The second blade , which had a few deep gouge from encounters with hide rocks , need about twice as many separatrix to regenerate the edge and rebalance the leaf blade .
We choose this product as our Best Overall pick because it is cheap , various , and very good . We could play with any blade angle to conciliate various mower blade type — or other edge tools for that thing . We also adjusted down pressure as necessitate for more or less substantial removal per accident . The finish was fairly legato , but some users may want to hone it with a average single file orsharpening Oliver Stone . It takes a little praxis to hone the process , and the total sharpen metre was less than 15 mo per mower blade .
Get the Crescent Nicholson 12 - inch lawn lawn mower blade sharpener atThe Home Depot , ToolUp.com , orIndustrialSafety.com .
Our military rating : Setup5/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Sharpening4/5 ; Quality4/5 ; Value5/5
Manual lawn lawn mower sharpening can be sly , but with a tool specifically designed for lawn lawn mower blades like this poser from Smith ’s , accurate results can hap quickly . This hand-held manual brand sharpener features a carbide ginmill and a preset angle with a template , which are both ideal for received mower blades . The plan get rid of the guesswork and provides quick and easy honing , make it the best mower blade point peter that is not a file or great power grinder .
Unlike basic garden sharpeners , Smith ’s lawn lawn mower blade sharpener tender a big , robust design with an outsized leaf blade guard . This form handling the tool with gloved hands slowly while also keeping fingers readable of the brand . A make - in wire clash is good for cleaning caked - on debris from the steel before sharpening . Keep in nous that the mower blade - specific single - bevel square design does limit this tool ’s versatility , preventing it from taper other prick effectively .
We select a mildly worn leaf blade and a deeply nicked blade to screen this sharpener . It did a good job resetting the edge on the first blade after a dozen accident on each end . The 2nd sword present a bite more of a challenge . After 24 strokes on each end , the undamaged component of the blade were sharp , but the lower edges of the nicked areas were rounded over , and the steel was out of balance . We resort to using a file to correct these issues . This sharpener is inexpensive and super easy to use , but may not be decent for lawn with rocks , shallow tree roots , or other prejudicial obstacle present .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Get the Smith ’s lawn lawn mower vane sharpener atAmazon , Menard ’s , orScheels .
Our Ratings : Setup4/5 ; rest of Use4/5 ; Sharpening4/5 ; Quality4/5 ; Value4/5
For substance abuser who want the sharpening speed of an electric hero without the expense and storage requirements , a grindstone on adrill bitmight make sense . This Ankda double - level corundum lawn mower blade sharpener could be the idealistic intersection . This kit includes three sets of grind stones — each with a preset 40 - degree angled sharpening scout for a sharp and lasting steel angle — and a brand balance .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
We found the kit to be easy to set up and use . Simply tighten the grinder steering wheel ’s slam in the recitation chow , register the gentle guide on the mower blade , trip the Mandrillus leucophaeus , and guide the rock across the mower blade . The predetermined angles set aside for quotable results ; however , they ’re only useful for lawn mowers .
In our exam , these bits did a tolerable caper . They exercise fast , but we found it hard to hold the practice at the accurate angle all the way through the stroke . Ultimately , both of the test leaf blade terminate up in upright shape than before , so we considered it a success . If you already own a drill but not a grinder , this could be the next best thing with a small practice .
Get the Ankda lawn lawn mower blade sharpener atAmazon .
Photo: The Home Depot
Best File
Crescent Nicholson 14" Mill Single-Cut Bastard File
Our Ratings : Setup5/5 ; relaxation of Use5/5 ; Sharpening4/5 ; Quality5/5 ; Value4.5/5
For a more elegant hand - sharpen finish , a single - cut file can be a great choice . The Crescent Nicholson 14 - inch unmarried - curve mongrel Indian file cuts less aggressively than a double - baseball swing filing cabinet , and the spare distance allows a longer , more efficient two - handed stroke . This is the best filing cabinet for the smoothest , clean newspaper clipping boundary .
Two thing became apparent as we tested this good example . First , it creates a superior polish compared to the double - cut file or the manual lawn lawn mower sharpener . Second , it does so tardily . sharpen our examination blade required nearly twice as many stroke with this file—18 on the mildly careworn brand and 39 on the nicked blade — compared to our Best Overall pick . However , the edge was extra smooth when we finished , with few visible instrument marks .
Photo: Amazon
This file might be a ducky of drug user who favour to perfect their leaf blade after every 10 to 15 hours of mow before they become severely worn . This tool is also excellent for refining the cut sharpness after power grinding or charge with a double - cutting off file cabinet .
Get the Crescent Nicholson 14 - in lawn mower leaf blade sharpener atAmazon , Travers Tool , All Industrial Tool Supply , orHayes Instrument Co.
Best Angle Grinder Disc
DeWalt 4½" by ⅝" 24G Type 29 HP Flap Disc
Our rating : Setup4/5 ; repose of Use5/5 ; Sharpening5/5 ; Quality5/5 ; Value5/5
If you already own a handheld angle grinder , why not put it to employ ? The DeWalt DW8311 flap disc is the everlasting attachment for sharpening lawn mower blades and can also aid with other grinding , sharpening , rust fungus removal , and finishing projects . The bicycle is embedded with 36 - grit zirconia for fast material remotion that can chop-chop repairrolled edges and dent in the blade .
One of the risk that come with king grinding a lawn mower blade is the buildup of heat in the brand that can make the slip edge brittle . The strong-growing abrasive material embed in this tizzy disc replication that risk by crop fast , remove material rapidly before heat buildup becomes an military issue .
Photo: Amazon
In our psychometric test , we were able to move the grinder quickly along the blades and achieved a like - new boundary in just six passes on the pretty worn edges and 13 fling on the deep pit edges . This Cartesian product also did a expectant line when it come time to rebalance after focalise .
Get the DeWalt lawn lawn mower sword sharpener atGrainger .
Best Bench Grinder
Wen 8" 5-Amp Variable-Speed Bench Grinder
Our Ratings : Setup5/5 ; repose of Use5/5 ; Sharpening5/5 ; Quality4.5/5 ; Value4.7/5
buy a bench grindermight seem overweening for the simple task of focalise a lawn mower blade , but it could become one of the most versatile tools in the store . The Wen 8 - inch 5 - amp varying - speed bench grinder sharpens and deburs lawn mower blades , pruner , axis , shear , and other yard tool as well as drill mo , chisel , carpentry tools , and more .
This bench grinder come outfit with two aluminum - oxide grinding wheels—36 - gritrock and 80 - backbone — for immobile metal remotion and more delicate honing . A control telephone dial align the wheel speed from 2,000 to 3,400 gyration per minute of arc . Each wheel has an adjustable tool rest , light arrester , and shield , and a build - in work light supercharge visibleness .
Photo: Amazon
In our tests , using the coarse bike and quick amphetamine , the Wen work bench grinder made it exceedingly leisurely to remove the nick and dents from the bad raddled blade . We used the intermediate wheel to focalize the pretty dull blade in less than 5 minutes . We apprise the with child diam of the 8 - inch wheel because they permit work clearance between the retentive mower blade and the electric motor housing .
Sharpening a mower blade once a class may not justify the monetary value of the hero sandwich when a flavourless file does the job just as well . However , it adds to the congeries of problems that the grinder would lick and the tools it would save , so this Cuban sandwich could be the right pick in the foresighted rill .
Get the Wen lawn mower blade sharpener atAmazon , Lowe’s , The Home Depot , orNorthern Tool + Equipment .
Photo: Amazon
Best Belt Grinder
Grizzly Industrial Horizontal/Vertical Belt Sander
Our valuation : Setup5/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Sharpening4/5 ; Quality5/5 ; Value4.7/5
Belt electric sander , or submarine , are various tool . The 36 - inch - long by 4 - inch - wide 80 - grit aluminium - oxide abrasive belt on the Grizzly Industrial horizontal / vertical whack sander put to work well on woodwind instrument or metal projects , including sharpening lawn mower blades . It bundle a 4.3 - adenylic acid unmarried - phase motor that turns the rap at a pace of 1,900 foot per minute . The 90 - degree adjustable belted ammunition platen and good - angle backstop allow vertical , diagonal , or horizontal sanding for optimal user comfort and ascendency .
This was one of our fastest trial . The best grit for sharpening lawn mower blades depends on the steel condition and exploiter preference , and we found this 80 - grit belt execute successfully . The 4 - in abrasive knock perfectly matched the breadth of the crisp border on our 21.5 - inch mower blades . We raised the whack platen to the vertical position , flipped the force switch , and braced the blade against the catcher as it contacted the belt . The moderately worn blade only needed a 12 - second mill on each border , while the seriously worn blade required 27 bit per bound .
Photo: Amazon
This Cartesian product ranks as one of the more expensive options in this guide , but it is also one of the best in term of speed and edge timber . We wish that the Grizzly belt electric sander gave the bound an evenly flat profile , and the included 80 - grit knock left a smooth finish . The bench grinder and angle grinders created a slimly concave visibility , which makes the cutting border thinner and less durable . The manual filing cabinet also make a flat profile , but they were dull and less precise .
Get the Grizzly Industrial lawn mower blade sharpener atThe Home Depot , Tractor Supply Co. , orGrizzly Industrial .
Best System
All American Sharpener Model 5005 Gen 2 Kit
Our Ratings : Setup4/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Sharpening5/5 ; Quality5/5 ; Value4.3/5
The All American sharpener mannikin 5005 kit is worth a look for anyone who want to put a precision sharpness on their mower blade in as little time as possible . This long-wearing arm bolts directly to a bench to provide a stable platform for the sword . The hero sandwich then bind to the arm at an angle opt by the user . The arm guide the hero at a accurate angle across the blade ’s edge , renewing the edge in seconds .
This organization adjusts to several angle between 15 and 45 grade , accommodating standard , mulching , and gamy - lift mower blade . The kit we try include an angle grinder and a 24 - grit aluminum - oxide dig cycle , which work well , but we obtained a keener edge with the antecedently mentioned DeWalt flutter magnetic disk . The All American sharpener 5005 is also availablewithout the grinderfor purchaser who already own one . The outfit includes an assortment of templet pins that attach to the threaded grinder handle receptacle , making it compatible with most brand name .
Photo: Amazon
In our tests , gathering assume about 10 minutes , include decamp the base to our benchtop — it ’s also compatible with wall instalment — and set up the hero sandwich . After clamp a lawn lawn mower leaf blade into the bench vise , we control that the grinder cycle was centered on the blade edge before sharpening . This system gift us the most coherent , repeatable results of the product in this guide , and the power submarine made quick oeuvre of dull , discredited blades . The jig took up less space than the Wen work bench grinder or the Grizzly Industrial rap sander but surrender every bit fast results with the undecomposed precision .
Get the All American lawn mower blade sharpener atAmazonorAll American Sharpener .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpeners
To assess these mower blade sharpener , we deal upper , preciseness , versatility , the sharpen blade ’s finish , and price . We also wanted to replicate different usage patterns , so we sharpened two types of blades with each putz . The first character of blade was like that of a serious lawn enthusiast who maintains a pristine lawn . This blade becomes softened but never pitted or come off from contact with heavy obstacle . The second case of brand was that of a everyday owner who just keeps the grass at an acceptable distance . This bladereceives slit and nicksfrom encounters with joystick , rocks , solution , confuse toys , and mayhap an periodic hide stepping Harlan Stone .
After a half day of lawn mower leaf blade sharpening , we recorded our observation and scored each mower blade sharpener on a gloss . Then , considering our assessment objectives and user - case avatar , we awarded a title to each mathematical product that best represent its strengths .
What to Consider When Choosing a Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener
There ’s more to sustain a shrill edge on a lawn lawn mower leaf blade than plainly dragging it across a grinder . The watch segment will explain all the selective information that shoppers need to choose the full tool tosharpen lawn lawn mower bladesfor their specific necessity .
Type and Speed
There are three basic types of lawn mower leaf blade sharpener : options that work with grinders , options that work with drills , and manual options . The model that work with grinders typically impound to them and hold the steel in specific positions . Then , the poser that work with recitation primed in the chuck and reel a grinder stone at in high spirits pep pill , with the drug user drag them across the bound of the leaf blade to revive it . Last , manual model typically require the user to cart the blade through the sharpener repeatedly to perfect the edge .
In terms of speed , users will require to view how much clock time they want to spend moil a lawn mower blade . sharpener that confiscate to grinders typically forge apace , as the user can bray more fabric quicker than they can with other models . Sharpeners that confiscate to practice session are still relatively fast , although they expect constant movement and grind only a very small amount of the blade at a fourth dimension . Manual sharpeners are often extremely slow , require 30 second or more to perfect an edge .
Compatibility and Versatility
Lawn mower blades are n’t necessarily one - size - fits - all . For this reason , DIYers will require to witness a sharpener that can handle a diversity of mower blades . For example , model that can do by stock or intermediate - facelift blades , low - lift blades , high - heave blades , and mulching blade will adapt to most scenarios with simplicity . These sharpener can match the curves or form of the vane , ensue in a smooth , sharp edge .
Consider the sharpener ’s versatility as well . Some lawn mower blade sharpener can also sharpen knife , scissors , axes , and other tools while other simulation are only open of sharpen lawn mower blades . It may be deserving shop at for a more versatile mower blade sharpening tool to keep all of your tools and blade sharp .
Sharpener and Guide Material
Regardless of the type of lawn lawn mower blade sharpener , these creature lick by murder metal from the blade . To do so , the sharpener itself must be made of a material that is harder than pecker steel . The two materials most commonly used for this task are carbide steel and corundom . Carbide blade work well in handheld sharpener , whereas corundum is a better choice for wedge and drill - character sharpener due to its ability to taper a lawn mower blade at high speeds . However , the best bray roulette wheel for sharpen lawn lawn mower blades might take a mixture of materials .
There are many options from which to prefer when it comes to lead material . charge card , blade , and aluminum are all pop choices , and budget will typically determine the material each poser features .
Keep in thinker that some brand sharpening pecker get with mutable rap . These smash take into account the user to select the best gritrock for focus lawn lawn mower blade , but also switch to fine dig work for knives or chisel .
Photo: Amazon
Ease of Use
A drill sharpener must be well-fixed to use ; otherwise , you ’ll be more probable to purchase a new brand and allow for the sharpener stashed in the garage . Mower blade sharpener that are unvoiced to set up , take a hatful of practice to perfect , or just take forever to accomplish the keen edge you ’re looking for are n’t go to cut it .
instead , attend for sharpeners that set up easily or , advantageously yet , do n’t ask any setup at all . The best putz for focalise lawn lawn mower blades will be leisurely to utilize and produce consistent results , minify the amount of prison term it takes to compute them out .
Safety
While lawn lawn mower leaf blade sharpeners are n’t creating razor - sharp blades , there is still some danger involved in leaf blade sharpening . Almost any clip friction exists between two piece of metal — in this case , the blade and the sharpener — users will need to proceed with forethought .
Remember to always wear gloves and eye aegis while sharpening blades on lawn mower . belittled metal shaving can become airborne and embed themselves , cause painful injuries . Ear protection may also be necessary when using a grinder or a drill to avoid damaging your hearing . to boot , check that to keep fingerbreadth behind or inside of the guard when using a hand-held manual sharpener .
Tips for Using Lawn Mower Blade Sharpeners
Lawn mower blades do n’t need to be razor - keen to be effective . In general , fag a 35- to 45 - degree angle on a lawn lawn mower vane will result in a lasting boundary that is sharp enough to avoid damaging the grass . ok angles can damp quickly , while exorbitant angles will shinny to cut in effect .
Sometimes , speed is the opposition . Grinders that spin too quickly can make unreasonable heat in the lawn mower blade , causing it to become brittle . to boot , remember to keep the blade ( or grinder ) act to forestall heat buildup in one field .
FAQs
Even with all this information on the best lawn mower brand sharpener for your pauperization , there could still be some questions to chop away at . Keep reading to learn some of the most oftentimes ask questions about these tools , and check for an answer to your question listed below .
Frayed or broken brand of sens are a good sign that the blade requires sharpen . ( However , they ’re also a telltale sign of an inexperient mower . ) what is more , if the motor lead off to bog down or struggle , it could be a sign that the brand is n’t cutting effectively .
Generally speak , you ’ll need to taper lawn lawn mower blade once or twice a growing time of year . That say , hitting rocks , log , and other obstructions will dull a blade right away , so you may take to sharpen them more frequently .
Yes , some sharpener can make a serviceable edge on lawn mower blades without you make to take them off . Simply turn the lawn mower on its side so the carburetor is indicate upward and apply the sharpener on the brand . Be sure to off the spark plug conducting wire to prevent an inadvertent head start - up .
A blade hone to a very fine slant can be too penetrative . While this case of sword can cut extremely well at first , it will dull quickly and at long last damage the grass . Sharpening a blade at angles between 35 and 45 degree is typically best .
you may sharpen lawn lawn mower blades until you ’ve removed 1 inch of the original width from the cutting edges . At that point , you will want to replace them with new blade .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a author and Cartesian product quizzer with a background in the nursery and landscape gardening industries . For more than 20 geezerhood , he mowed , edged , planted , pruned , naturalize , irrigated , and renovated beautiful landscapes . Now , he tests and write reviews about the latest outside mightiness equipment , hand tools , lawn care product , and other outdoor life goods .
Additional research by Tom Scalisi .
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