Comments on: How to sharpen the blades on a reel mower http://www.reelmowers.org The ultimate guide to push reel lawnmowers. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:04:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3525 By: Nate http://www.reelmowers.org/how-to-sharpen-the-blades-on-a-reel-mower/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Nate Thu, 21 May 2009 15:18:48 +0000 http://reelmowers.org/?page_id=50#comment-7 Another much easier way to sharpen a reel mower is to run it backward with sharpening compound. I have an "American Lawn Mower" branded unit and they sell a kit that includes a handle, a small container of gritty compound, and a paintbrush. Take off the wheels and the gears, put the handle on, brush a little gritty compound on each rotating blade, and turn the handle for a few minutes (occasionally tightening the blade down ever so slightly as needed). It also gives you the opportunity to put some grease in all the gears and the sharpening process also makes sure that the rotating blade and fixed blade are in perfect alignment, so you can set it to "just about but not quite touching" for a perfect cut and minimum resistance. When I'm done sharpening and greasing, I can push my mower along easily with one finger when it's not cutting grass, and mowing is easily a one-handed job. The rotating blade freewheels ever so slightly when I stop. I've seen so many people sweating behind a reel mower, but when adjusted properly they are really a joy to use. Almost no noise, very little maintenance, and the cut is just beautiful. My reel mower actually pushes with significantly less effort than my gasoline mower. But it has to be adjusted properly for that, and so many people tend to overtighten the blade and then need to put lots of effort into pushing. I only have one complaint about reel mowers. My grass likes to grow a long round stalk if I don't stay on top of it (ryegrass?). The reel mower just lays those stalks down on the ground and hovers right over them. When the stalks get too long for the reel to catch, I have to dig out the gas mower. Fortunately I only have to do it a couple of times a year. Another much easier way to sharpen a reel mower is to run it backward with sharpening compound. I have an “American Lawn Mower” branded unit and they sell a kit that includes a handle, a small container of gritty compound, and a paintbrush. Take off the wheels and the gears, put the handle on, brush a little gritty compound on each rotating blade, and turn the handle for a few minutes (occasionally tightening the blade down ever so slightly as needed).

It also gives you the opportunity to put some grease in all the gears and the sharpening process also makes sure that the rotating blade and fixed blade are in perfect alignment, so you can set it to “just about but not quite touching” for a perfect cut and minimum resistance.

When I’m done sharpening and greasing, I can push my mower along easily with one finger when it’s not cutting grass, and mowing is easily a one-handed job. The rotating blade freewheels ever so slightly when I stop.

I’ve seen so many people sweating behind a reel mower, but when adjusted properly they are really a joy to use. Almost no noise, very little maintenance, and the cut is just beautiful.

My reel mower actually pushes with significantly less effort than my gasoline mower. But it has to be adjusted properly for that, and so many people tend to overtighten the blade and then need to put lots of effort into pushing.

I only have one complaint about reel mowers. My grass likes to grow a long round stalk if I don’t stay on top of it (ryegrass?). The reel mower just lays those stalks down on the ground and hovers right over them. When the stalks get too long for the reel to catch, I have to dig out the gas mower. Fortunately I only have to do it a couple of times a year.

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