Finally!! A common sense video about blade sharpening! There are too many videos out there that show how to sharpen as if you're going to shave with them. Just put an edge on them and get back to work! Great job!
Thanks Stuart, gave my lawnmower a shock by sharpening the blade for the first time ever this morning ! Took me longer to get the blade off the mower than it did to sharpen it with a flappy angle grinder disk. Ended up using a screwdriver to wedge the blade in position that gave enough leverage to loosen the blade. If you can put a reminder video up in another couple of years I’ll do it again 😂
Great, now I want a lawn and a mower just to try this method. Thanks Stuart! BTW: thank you for the update on the fertilised part of your lawn, that is a massive difference!
I sharpen my blades twice a year on my Bench Grinder using a sandpaper disc also. I also do not take off much material. Keep your blade in good condition and it will last many years. I also find it to be good practice to walk my lawn prior to cutting so I can remove any stones that have come up. As for the Lawnmower decks, I clean mine after each cut and use the cheapest car wax on an old clean rag to stop them rusting.
This has to be one of the most useful videos currently on RUclips. I Knew about the first, rotary blade as I have only ever had this type, But the second one is just priceless. I would never have thought of doing that. Great stuff Stuart, My Sundays aren't complete until I've watched your vid, and then Mustie1 reviving old engines.
Many years ago I had an aluminium plate that clipped on the bottom plate and you could stick an emery sheet to it to grind the blades. It was a good idea, but it wasn’t sturdy enough hence the result was not what it should have been. This seems a much better solution with the grinding paste! 👍
Just a question: why remove the grass clippings (which is effectively compost) only to add compost later? Not trying to be funny, just would love to understand.
Thanks for taking the time to cover both types of mower and keeping it simple and accessible Stuart, the results speak for themselves ! I reality most of us only deal with things when they go wrong, not ideal of course but we don't all live a perfectly ordered life !
Thank you. This was really helpful. I was just about to go out and buy another hand cylinder mower because I thought I had to grind the blades. Looking at your other posts now.
Another great video from RUclips’s no 1 DIY channel. People just forget to sharpen their mower blade so timely reminder. Loved the drone shot too. Drones are a great tool as well as great fun. Looking forward to next one.
The Stihl demo will help me a lot as this is like our Bosch and I was just thinking the other day that the blade probably needs sharpening. Also, I have an angle grinder I don’t use so will give me a chance to practise. Thanks Stuart! Always helpful videos from you. Looked like fun sharpening your cylinder mower blade. 😀 Didn’t you have a Hayter mower at one point?
I’ve seen another youtube video, where the gent used a small block off wood, when removing the blade & putting it back on, it holds the blade in a lock position.
I filed my rotary mower blades (old school I know).More forgiving than using discs.Seems to have done a good job.The difference the compost has made in the lawn is quite amazing.Thank you Stuart.
Hello Stuart, another great video and such a difference on the lawn with compost. Do you have a video on chisel / knife sharpening? I seem to struggle with getting a good edge even with a honing guide.
Spot on Stuart! Highly informative as always. I've got a file which I use for my Spear and Jackson cordless mower but I will be buying a flap wheel or two for my angle grinder. Thanks and keep 'em coming!
Great video as always Stuart, thanks! You also have one of those ride-on lawnmowers for the paddock, can you maybe do a similar video or a general review of it? And the lawn certainly looks much better with compost, wow, a big difference!
topic for your next video Stuart............tidying up outside that workshop door. There's no excuse with all your cleared storage in the extended garden. 🤣🤣
I'd not wear gloves while sharpening a cylinder blade.... Tbf I've not sharpened mine yet though so I'll shut up and get on with that! Lovely result on the lawn
What timing Stuart excellent video. Up graded to a petrol rotary mower and used it at the weekend i noticed the grass look torn rather than straight cut so definitely think the blade needs sharpening after watching your video think I'll beable to do it myself only how do you get the blade off without tipping it on one side was told when i bought it "second hand" not to. Any advise would be appreciated. Lawn looks amazing and definitely a big difference were compost was used. Thanks for sharing.
On the cylinder blade maybe try double sided tape and stick some emery cloth to the bottom plate, this way the plate doesn't get ground as it would with the grease.
Great job back lapping. You've inspired me to to buy a second hand cylinder mower for my front garden. Did you rotate the blades the opposite way to normal cutting when back lapping? Cheers Stu 🤓
Perfect timing, I definitely need to sharpen my rotary mower blades. Do you think I could use a multitool to do the sharpening? I don't have an angle grinder...
Disconnect the sparkplug before you get under the mower, just in case. Also, check the manual to see which side it should be flipped sideways onto. I think that can be important if there's still gas in the tank.
Hi Steve, nice video, especially with the compost results!)) a question: After back-lapping, obviously in winter will you still send this cylinder for the proper resharpening?
I have a fairly new blade (used 3-4 max) that leaves those white bits on top of the grass too. I expect new blades to be sharpened from the start. Or should I sharpen them before use?
Another reason not to cut on the lower height settings (It can distort the bottom plate, preventing the shear action), I stick emery cloth to the bottom plate instead of using lapping paste, nice job pal.
Hey Stuart, any tips on removing the blade when the nut has seized? I've tried many things (spanners, pliers and grips) but the bolt is millimetres away from stripping the head. I don't want to get another mower as there is nothing wrong with the machine itself.
I can’t believe you didn’t re sharpen the rotary blade in 2 years! I have Triton Briggs & Stratton petrol rotary remove the blade and hone up after a few uses.
I paused the video to have a look as I wanted to know as well. It's an 80 grit flap disc. They only cost about 4 or 5 quid from Screwfix or Toolstation.
A file is the right tool for sharpening mild steel blades. Grinding wheels can glaze and ‘load up’ if used for soft steels. These rotary blades need to be made of soft steels for the simple reason that hard steels become more brittle the harder they are made. So a knife quality hard blade could chip or even shatter upon hitting the first stone. The sudden imbalance would also present a safety issue to the operator and/or anyone standing near by.
so by your thinking steel fabricators have been doing it wrong all these years ? Using a grinding wheel for trimming and dressing mildsteel fabrications.
@@steved8038He is trying to say to avoid damaging the temper of the mild steel cutting edge don’t use high speed grinding just a bastard file will do the trick. 🤔
@@steved8038 Didn’t mean (nor state) Stu was was doing it 'wrong'. That’s why I gave an explanation but not comprehensive enough it now seems. It is just that if someone is used to sharpening cutting tools on say a bench grinder, it is almost certain to have a fine grit, soft grade (soft bond) abrasive wheel. Professionals such as steel fabricators, will no doubt have found by trial, error, cost and time, which abrasive discs suit them best. Being pedantic, a file imho would be a better option in one’s own garden shed as one is less likely to run into clogging up the wheel (and may not have a diamond dresser at hand to clean it up again) and being slower, less likely to end up with an out of balance blade. Even, slightly out of balance, it will reduce the life of the mower’s bearings.
Makes you wonder: Why use a cylindrical mower? Much more difficult to maintain, much more expensive, much more prone to bad cutting. So my question would be: What effective advantage do cylindrical mowers have?
They give a much better, finer and more even cut so are the best mower to use on grass where sports are played. E.g. Cricket, Tennis, Bowls or even Croquet. And of course all the old, small hand pushed mowers were all cylinders.
This video is super helpful but Word of caution regarding the rotary mowers, you can't just tighten the blades back to whatever strength. There is a specific torque (each mower has the recommended torque so you will need a torque wrench for the job) that you tighten the blades to otherwise you will burn the motor out if tighten too much. Trust me, this is from experience because I burned the motors on one of my lawn mowers by over tightening it.
You should not really do that with a cylinder mower because, you are grinding the cylinder to the bottom blade and when, you get the cylinder properly grounded,it will take twice as along to grind it straight it was the bottom blade being bent which was the problem and the rotary blade was more or less the right way 👍
Convenience vs. long term cost effective solution. Would you buy new kitchen knives every time your old ones became blunt or would you buy something to sharpen them with?
Finally!! A common sense video about blade sharpening! There are too many videos out there that show how to sharpen as if you're going to shave with them. Just put an edge on them and get back to work! Great job!
Thanks Stuart, gave my lawnmower a shock by sharpening the blade for the first time ever this morning !
Took me longer to get the blade off the mower than it did to sharpen it with a flappy angle grinder disk. Ended up using a screwdriver to wedge the blade in position that gave enough leverage to loosen the blade.
If you can put a reminder video up in another couple of years I’ll do it again 😂
Thank you Stuart. Me and my 15 year old son watched your video and gave the rotary mower a good sharpening. She’s running like new!
Brilliant! I don’t have a cylinder mower, but enjoyed watching the process. 👍
I did this yesterday to my cordless rotary, using flap disc, and it transformed the mowing, easier cutting and far better collection into the box.
Great, now I want a lawn and a mower just to try this method. Thanks Stuart!
BTW: thank you for the update on the fertilised part of your lawn, that is a massive difference!
Cracking job. Never knew about "back lapping" 👍🏻
I sharpen my blades twice a year on my Bench Grinder using a sandpaper disc also. I also do not take off much material. Keep your blade in good condition and it will last many years. I also find it to be good practice to walk my lawn prior to cutting so I can remove any stones that have come up. As for the Lawnmower decks, I clean mine after each cut and use the cheapest car wax on an old clean rag to stop them rusting.
Try some epsom salts to green the lawn and make it lush, brilliant video 👏.
Well, the compost really works! And rhe grinding too!
This has to be one of the most useful videos currently on RUclips. I Knew about the first, rotary blade as I have only ever had this type, But the second one is just priceless. I would never have thought of doing that. Great stuff Stuart, My Sundays aren't complete until I've watched your vid, and then Mustie1 reviving old engines.
Many years ago I had an aluminium plate that clipped on the bottom plate and you could stick an emery sheet to it to grind the blades. It was a good idea, but it wasn’t sturdy enough hence the result was not what it should have been. This seems a much better solution with the grinding paste! 👍
Brilliant job with the blades. But, what a difference that compost has made to the lawn. It's worth every penny spent. Thanks for sharing, Stewart.
But he didn't say which half had the compost...😂
Just a question: why remove the grass clippings (which is effectively compost) only to add compost later? Not trying to be funny, just would love to understand.
That's useful and a great solution, I am waiting delivery of the same cylinder mower so I will definitely back lap for mine
Great job Stuart, Grinding paste on your cylinder mower blade good idea, as always full of good tips and ideas. As always a great video
As always, some great tips for us all regardless of the type mower you may have, always a pleasure to view your videos.
Thanks for taking the time to cover both types of mower and keeping it simple and accessible Stuart, the results speak for themselves !
I reality most of us only deal with things when they go wrong, not ideal of course but we don't all live a perfectly ordered life !
Thank you. This was really helpful. I was just about to go out and buy another hand cylinder mower because I thought I had to grind the blades. Looking at your other posts now.
Another great video from RUclips’s no 1 DIY channel. People just forget to sharpen their mower blade so timely reminder. Loved the drone shot too. Drones are a great tool as well as great fun. Looking forward to next one.
Great video, thinking of doing the same since last couple of days, now got the condifence
Brilliant, straightforward video as usual- timely for most of us no
doubt as well. Thanks
what about the ride-on mower, awesome video thank you and happy Sunday
The Stihl demo will help me a lot as this is like our Bosch and I was just thinking the other day that the blade probably needs sharpening. Also, I have an angle grinder I don’t use so will give me a chance to practise. Thanks Stuart! Always helpful videos from you. Looked like fun sharpening your cylinder mower blade. 😀 Didn’t you have a Hayter mower at one point?
Sharpened mine yesterday and cleaned out the cowling.
I'm really impressed with the way he works. So many useful lessons here. Good job !
Nice Video. Gonna do my rotary now. I did the compost thing and lawn looks great. Thanks.
Very satisfying to watch and also reminds me I’ve had my new mower for just over 2 years so best get to it thanks for posting
Nice Stuart..! What a difference in the grass..👍 Also:- Would the bottom plate/blade not need sharpening too..🤔👍
Good to someone doing this with finesse
Sadly I don’t think I’ll ever own the lawn that deserves a cylindrical mower but I found the whole process fascinating!
that's a good tip, didn't know this paste existed!
I’ve seen another youtube video, where the gent used a small block off wood, when removing the blade & putting it back on, it holds the blade in a lock position.
I filed my rotary mower blades (old school I know).More forgiving than using discs.Seems to have done a good job.The difference the compost has made in the lawn is quite amazing.Thank you Stuart.
Very useful tips here. That second technique is marvellous.
Just done my push mower with the grinding paste. 🎉 Wow it's awesome great tip thanks 🎉
Hi Stuart can you pop that blade/Stanley knife scraper into your Amazon store please
Hello Stuart, another great video and such a difference on the lawn with compost. Do you have a video on chisel / knife sharpening? I seem to struggle with getting a good edge even with a honing guide.
Spot on Stuart! Highly informative as always. I've got a file which I use for my Spear and Jackson cordless mower but I will be buying a flap wheel or two for my angle grinder. Thanks and keep 'em coming!
That final shot says it all.
Will do my best to follow the instructions. Thank you so much!
I use a dremel multi tool with the little sanding drum to avoid heating up the blade
Nice lines!
For complete testing I'd swap the areas that were composted next year :)
Great video as always Stuart, thanks! You also have one of those ride-on lawnmowers for the paddock, can you maybe do a similar video or a general review of it? And the lawn certainly looks much better with compost, wow, a big difference!
I stick a wooden block next the blade when removing it, and usually use a socket with a long bar to keep my hands well out of the danger area.
topic for your next video Stuart............tidying up outside that workshop door. There's no excuse with all your cleared storage in the extended garden. 🤣🤣
Thank you for this video! i was wondering if you know how to sharpen baldes of Ransomes Ajax vintage mower?
Great 👍. I use a Dremel for the rotary blade works well.
I'd not wear gloves while sharpening a cylinder blade....
Tbf I've not sharpened mine yet though so I'll shut up and get on with that! Lovely result on the lawn
Excellent as always Stuart 👍👍
What timing Stuart excellent video. Up graded to a petrol rotary mower and used it at the weekend i noticed the grass look torn rather than straight cut so definitely think the blade needs sharpening after watching your video think I'll beable to do it myself only how do you get the blade off without tipping it on one side was told when i bought it "second hand" not to. Any advise would be appreciated. Lawn looks amazing and definitely a big difference were compost was used. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much!
Great video thanks
Top tip, clean your mower after every use, makes it more effective at cutting and means you don't have to clean up a build up of dried grass.
Great advice
Excellent vids,I never miss a one.
Nice job 👍
On the cylinder blade maybe try double sided tape and stick some emery cloth to the bottom plate, this way the plate doesn't get ground as it would with the grease.
Great job back lapping. You've inspired me to to buy a second hand cylinder mower for my front garden. Did you rotate the blades the opposite way to normal cutting when back lapping? Cheers Stu 🤓
Perfect timing, I definitely need to sharpen my rotary mower blades. Do you think I could use a multitool to do the sharpening? I don't have an angle grinder...
Not really, you need something that spins and not oscillates. Try a Dremel instead.
@@jayseabie215 I was thinking that might be the case....
Your own workshop. Hideaway with your tools. What a lucky man.
Great last shot.
Question: how about sharpening the back blade?
Known as the bread knife.
Disconnect the sparkplug before you get under the mower, just in case. Also, check the manual to see which side it should be flipped sideways onto. I think that can be important if there's still gas in the tank.
Hi Stuart, where did you get your knife/scraper? It looks really handy to have
Hi Steve, nice video, especially with the compost results!)) a question: After back-lapping, obviously in winter will you still send this cylinder for the proper resharpening?
I have a fairly new blade (used 3-4 max) that leaves those white bits on top of the grass too. I expect new blades to be sharpened from the start. Or should I sharpen them before use?
Please could you advise me the best way to sharpen electric hedge trimmer thanks
Super as always!
Another reason not to cut on the lower height settings (It can distort the bottom plate, preventing the shear action), I stick emery cloth to the bottom plate instead of using lapping paste, nice job pal.
Hey Stuart, any tips on removing the blade when the nut has seized? I've tried many things (spanners, pliers and grips) but the bolt is millimetres away from stripping the head. I don't want to get another mower as there is nothing wrong with the machine itself.
I'm incredibly sad, I give mine a quick go over every weekend 😛🤣 but it is my bread n butter so needs to cut well on every clients lawn
Useful tips 👍 P.S. Time to trim that hedge! 😉
You didn't build a giant jig to get straight lines in your lawn to within 1mm?? 😅 Great video thank you
Coukd you tell how you got your drill to fit a socket
Hi Proper DIY
I can’t believe you didn’t re sharpen the rotary blade in 2 years!
I have Triton Briggs & Stratton petrol rotary remove the blade and hone up after a few uses.
How do you know the blades are not reshaping the bottom plate rather than sharpening the blades?
What kind of disc did you use?? Cheers
I paused the video to have a look as I wanted to know as well. It's an 80 grit flap disc. They only cost about 4 or 5 quid from Screwfix or Toolstation.
You can't make me sharpen my mower blades, Stuart
la la la la la la la la la
15:50 Looks like a project is brewing on the right hand side.
You need to cross out the word wrench and write the word spanner on that set of tools 😜
I suppose you don't really know whether you are grinding the spiral blades to match the bottom plate or vice versa - or both.
A file is the right tool for sharpening mild steel blades. Grinding wheels can glaze and ‘load up’ if used for soft steels. These rotary blades need to be made of soft steels for the simple reason that hard steels become more brittle the harder they are made. So a knife quality hard blade could chip or even shatter upon hitting the first stone. The sudden imbalance would also present a safety issue to the operator and/or anyone standing near by.
so by your thinking steel fabricators have been doing it wrong all these years ? Using a grinding wheel for trimming and dressing mildsteel fabrications.
@@steved8038He is trying to say to avoid damaging the temper of the mild steel cutting edge don’t use high speed grinding just a bastard file will do the trick. 🤔
@@steved8038 Didn’t mean (nor state) Stu was was doing it 'wrong'. That’s why I gave an explanation but not comprehensive enough it now seems. It is just that if someone is used to sharpening cutting tools on say a bench grinder, it is almost certain to have a fine grit, soft grade (soft bond) abrasive wheel.
Professionals such as steel fabricators, will no doubt have found by trial, error, cost and time, which abrasive discs suit them best.
Being pedantic, a file imho would be a better option in one’s own garden shed as one is less likely to run into clogging up the wheel (and may not have a diamond dresser at hand to clean it up again) and being slower, less likely to end up with an out of balance blade. Even, slightly out of balance, it will reduce the life of the mower’s bearings.
Cylinder needs to be ground along with the bottom blade.
Makes you wonder: Why use a cylindrical mower? Much more difficult to maintain, much more expensive, much more prone to bad cutting.
So my question would be: What effective advantage do cylindrical mowers have?
Stripes mainly. And a wider cut. I've never had a lawn big enough to warrant having a cylinder or any sort of petrol mower.
They give a much better, finer and more even cut so are the best mower to use on grass where sports are played. E.g. Cricket, Tennis, Bowls or even Croquet. And of course all the old, small hand pushed mowers were all cylinders.
Stripes, ok, get that. Hadnt seen the video to the end when I posted this. Makes sense. Cheers.
This video is super helpful but Word of caution regarding the rotary mowers, you can't just tighten the blades back to whatever strength. There is a specific torque (each mower has the recommended torque so you will need a torque wrench for the job) that you tighten the blades to otherwise you will burn the motor out if tighten too much. Trust me, this is from experience because I burned the motors on one of my lawn mowers by over tightening it.
🧔💕👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
That reel sounds terrible definitely needs sending out for a reground
That paste is awful for lawnmowers.... Try a water based grinding paste
.. Much easier to clean off!
You should not really do that with a cylinder mower because, you are grinding the cylinder to the bottom blade and when, you get the cylinder properly grounded,it will take twice as along to grind it straight it was the bottom blade being bent which was the problem and the rotary blade was more or less the right way 👍
Just buy a new blade! They're not expensive!
Hmm, buy a bench vice for about £30 and a flap grinder disc for another £5, or just buy a new rotary blade for £30?
Convenience vs. long term cost effective solution. Would you buy new kitchen knives every time your old ones became blunt or would you buy something to sharpen them with?