Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Maxpower Mulching: amzn.to/43Jp9Uz Maxpower 3-N-1: amzn.to/3Nc3MWv Oregon G5 Mulching: amzn.to/43HjSgs Oregon: amzn.to/43GoCTB 8TEN Mulching: amzn.to/3KQab6P 8TEN High Lift: amzn.to/3KLSB3K Arnold Extreme: amzn.to/3mLNCrU
At the 11 minute release point the video already had 2400 views, and now almost an hour later it has 21k 🎉. My wife doesn’t get that Project Farm is a staple for some of us that value the dedication he puts into every video for our money we’ll spend on what tests out the best.
AMEN! Money is hard to come by and this is a dang fine resource he puts out there for free! If I only had back all of the money I spent on items which didn't live up to expectations...
I've been on RUclips for almost 17 years (since 2006) and while I've done many DIY projects and tons of car maintenance and repairs from videos on here, this channel is the BEST that I've ever seen.
Ive had mixed results using different lawn mower blades but one thing I will say is always use a SOCKET WRENCH to loosen and tighten your mower blades. I had a crescent wrench slip while reinstalling a freshly sharpened blade and i spent 4 hours and $400 in the emergency room getting stitched up
Oh gosh. I'm sorry. Yep. Crescent usually plays the role of holding a slipping screw while tightening a nut or getting in a tight spot but will always slip if you put much gusto on it.
I watched this when new; came back today because I dug out an old mower that was buried in my garage and it needs a new blade. You videos are not only entertaining; they are great refererence material. Thank you for your work.
Hats off to Project Farm for making some of the best informative videos on RUclips. He provides strait to the point, rapid information, that's well tested, that balances hard evidence and personal opinion. No fluff, no ads, just data delivered directly with a kind smile.
THREE MILLION SUBS just around the corner! Man, that must feel good. You deserve every single one. This is the "Consumer Reports" of RUclips tool related reviews. You've gained the trust, and keep it, with these thorough unsponsored break-downs. Thank you so much.
Especially because actual Consumer Reports is sponsored and cherry picked to fit their agenda. Read into how they destroyed Suzuki; manipulating and falsifying safety tests to permanently damage the brand.
As a small engine shop owner I’d love to see a riding mower one if you can put one together! I can’t recall if I recommended testing blades at one point or not. I think I did but that’s irrelevant anyway. Love the videos and keep up the hard work! Thanks for all the time, effort, and unbiased testing you put into all your videos!
@MrHaydenJr My uncle would cut my lawn for me to help some times. I could mow about 2 acres going slow with one pass with gas left and he would run out of gas around 1.5 on the same mower.
@@ShawnDickens i was more curious about do certain blades cut better at speed or does cutting slow allow poor blades to perform better.. i just used that little tidbit about my dad cause thats what made me think about it...
I just replaced the badly underperforming Arnold blade on my 2006 Craftsman mower with a Maxpower 3 in 1. What a huge difference in mowing and mulching performance. Must say,I am totally shocked to see that Briggs &. Stratton survive many rebar strikes and live. I BROKE the crank on a six month old B&S I/C engine by hitting a piece of rebar. Your content and testing is so much more useful than any of the "Consumer" reporting sites and magazines. Keep up the great, informative and entertaining videos!
@@chrisbrasher6177 I was a mower mechanic for about 15 years (first 5 of that was full-time) and there is not a mower built that can survive it's operator. 😉 People bend and even break crankshafts all the time!
That rebar test was the most informative for me. We have a lot of rocks in the dirt where we live. You don't just simply dig a hole to plant a shrub or something around here. You get a big steel bar and jamming to the ground and work everything loose where you can then scoop it out with a shovel. Mowing grass there's usually rocks laying around, and the blades on my dad's lawn mower just get trashed because he just mows over them where I reach down and kick them out of the way when I mow their yard for them. If a blade holds up to rebar, I would imagine it would do all right against rocks.
yeah, a digging bar is a staple tool for me as well lol. especially sing iv spent what feels like the last six months building fences at work. cant use a post hole digger without a digging bas, that's for sure
I recently ordered my own tools with much help from your previous testings and ratings. Words can not express the usefulness of your unbiased reviews for us all. Thank you
I have the G5 blades for my mower. I went through a few stock blades before going to the G5 which did cost more but the cut quality is amazing. With the stock blades I could only effectively use 2/3rds of the mowing width when mulching, but with the G5's I can utilize the full width of the deck when mulching. I have a Toro 50" zero-turn with 24hp Kawasaki engine.
@@safffff1000 They are a much heavier blade so do not engage you deck at full power but at reduced power. It is a lot of weight to just spin right up, you are going to feel it. But once it is going at reduced power go to your desired power range. I just hope you have a heavy-duty deck, because these blades do not care how thick the grass is and will thrash it around in the deck mulching the grass. Helps you understand where the word "Gator" comes from. Kind of what the tall grass sounds like getting mulched!
I have used the Oregon G5 on my husky mower for a couple years. This blade is very heavy in weight and actually changed the sound of the engine when I started using it. But the thickness can handle sticks like a boss without getting beat up like thin blades, even mulching some smaller sticks. I think this video is really accurate to my results.
I like the Oregon G5. But unlike the Toro OEM blades, once they hit the point of bending they do get bent up very bad. Yes in tall grass you have to go slow. And they mulch and compact enough grass to delay bag emptying.
I'd say a riding lawn mower version would be great! As a brushless yard tool user, I'd also wonder how their blades stand up. Many are just slightly different than normal blades.
the G5 does have a rider varient and can say they are just as tuff and work just as well. 60 hours and less sharpenings then they should and they are still going strong.
I wonder what would happen if you sharpened the different blades after they've been used? It's funny how dull the factory new blades look when compared to my freshly sharpened blades from the grinder. Good video. I'd like to see a follow up of how these perform after sharpening them. Especially the blades with very little cutting surface.
@@Omniverse0 But it needs some kind of edge to cut rather than tear. There was a strong correlation between how well blades performed and how sharp they were. Those round 8TEN blades didn't perform nearly as well as the other, sharper ones.
I've heard that sharpness doesn't really matter, and too sharp dulls quicker than slightly sharp. I typically only sharpen at the beginning of the season, just once, NOT mowing commercially, just my own 1/4 acre lot.
THANK YOU! The rebar test has settled a life long fear of hitting a curb, metal, or a water meter cover with a lawn mower and having that blade break and flying out the lawn mower and chopping off my foot or injuring me. I mow peacefully now.
Having seen blades snap and exit mower deck sides on riding mowers I'd say you should still take care not to strike anything hard. may not be as likely on a push mower as a riding mower with the lower engine power but all it takes is once to ruin your day.
Project Farm...a true national treasure! Thanks for all your hard work Todd. I don't purchase anything until I check your reviews. And judging by your view numbers, I'm certainly not alone. We're lucky to have you!
I think munching is dependent on the clippings staying under the deck for an extended period of time. The bag and chute allow the clippings to readily escape.
This is a huge rabbit hole to go into, since landscapers debate this all the time. Time. Very little empirical evidence. I love you to do a deep dive into this with a lot more blade types!! A newer common aftermarket style based on something Honda did a few years back are X blades, where you get two blades mounted to the same spindle at a 90° angle to each other. There's a lot of debate whether those destroy spindles, and if they actually improve performance. Especially on larger mowers. I'd love to see you take a look at some of those.
My Honda has duel blades but there not in a x pattern there only offset by maybe 5-10° there at different heights so they mulch better. There offset by 0.5-1”. The top blade is further forward and the lower one is further back so it can chop tall grass and get a clean cut with small clippings.
I am so glad that I got the Oregon G5 Mulching blade last year because getting that blade compared to other ones I have had is a NIGHT AND DAY difference. It is just so good to see my suspicions actually tested to prove that it isn't just a placebo effect on my part. Great video as always Project Farm!
They do great. I run the G5's on my Cub Cadet XT1 42" lawn tractor. They do make quite the dust and dirt mess though and its even worse in mulching mode....but they do work great, I don't rake leaves anymore I just mulch them. I have G3's on my push mower, they do just as good, but aren't as heavy as the G5's....I mow 3/4 of an acre and in the past 2 years with the G5's I haven't had to sharpen them, the G3 I've sharpened twice, just once each season....they do very well.
I don't know how many people will notice, but I LOVE that you left a little gap between each pass when testing the mulching mode. Also really love using the boards to measure the throw, I was wondering how you'd be able to demonstrate it
@@ProjectFarm I've been wondering if the YETI lunchbox that costs 300 dollars keeps things colder than the 30 dollar lunchbox from other brands. Have you thought of coolers/lunchbox testing?
I've had Oregon gator mulching blades on my 42 inch for a few years and have no complaints. Definitely have to slow down with the mulching plug in but they do an excellent job.
Quite interesting. I'd definitely love to see a ride-on mower blade test, but a battery mower blade test would be really cool as well. Especially how different blades affect battery runtime. Hope your Briggs&Stratton engine is doing fine ;)
I have a Ryobi 11" 18v mower, and I can attest that after sharpening the blade with my Dremel (tm), the cutting went far smoother with fewer battery changes. (Very tiny lawn. I can usually do the front, back, and sides with three batteries, and that's the mower, string trimmer, and blower)
@@ProjectFarm What about the Honda twin blade micro cut system? Honda is so good at engineering their products I wonder if there is actually a better blade for their mowers. I have the HRN216VKA and the stock Honda blade.
@@ProjectFarm Yes we would like to see the cast for riding mowers. The battery mower sounds interesting as well. Somebody mentioned the Honda blade....maybe you need to start planning on round 2??
@@tbelding I have the same experience with my 38 cm Makita LXT mower. This one still has a brushed DC motor, and it's losing far less RPM when the blade is razor-sharp. I'm using a Proxxon belt sander that allows me to sharpen the blade even when installed.
It doesn't matter WHAT you test, this is the greatest channel ever! Keep these marketing guys honest!! Very interesting designs here and must say - Gotta keep those blades sharp and balanced. 👍
You don't have to tell me twice. I added wings to a blade that was not available with wings to make my own "high lift blade." A year later, I hit a rock. One of the wings broke off. The mower was unusable until I welded the wing back on.
I can’t tell you how much your videos are appreciated! Searching the internet for intelligent unbiased reviews, well unbiased anything really, is impossible. It almost seems like other blog style reviews are actually the result of AI pulling ratings and buyer reviews together and calling it an unbiased review. Keep on doing what you are doing!
I’ve been watching PF for years now and I tell everyone to go to his page before they buy any new equipment or have just any general questions for around the house stuff! Your videos are awesome and I hope you enjoy making them as much as we all enjoy watching them! Keep it up this is the stuff these companies don’t want people to see but need too. Thank you PF
Been seeing a lot of videos lately on how much easier dry pouring concrete is. Would love to see you do some tests on dry pour concrete vs. standard wet pouring. I know it's not exactly the brand comparison testing you normally do.
There are some quantitative, forensic, dry pour results on RUclips, even comparing how various brands of concrete affect the strength. I would recommend "Dry Pour Showdown" on Michael Builds channel. Avoid videos by "professional masons" as their turf-guarding instincts usually elicit a subjective, negative opinion with no objective reasons. As someone who has done both, dry pours are perfectly fine for low impact projects like sidewalks and shed slabs (and 5X easier!). Don't plan on dry pouring your driveway, however.
Id love to see a tractor version of this. Also, I really like the idea of testing how well they sharpen. The factory edge isn't meant to last a lifetime
I run the Gator G5 mulching blades on my Cub Cadet XT1 42" lawn tractor...they do a great job mulching, but in mulching mode be prepared to wear a lot of whatever you are mowing, it gets pretty dusty and dirty. I've ran the G5's for 2 years, mowing 3/4 of an acre and have yet to need to sharpen them. I've ran Gator G3 mulching blades in the past, just had to sharpen them more frequently, but the same mulching and discharging capabilities. The G5 blades are heavier than the G3 blades, so on a lower powered mower you'll want the lighter G3 blades. The standard Oregon blades are just replacement blades for OEM direct replacements. The G-series are the mulching series of blades with the G3 being the lower grade. A G5 blade is good for a lawn or garden tractor if you have a higher horsepower engine, wouldn't recommend trying them on a regular box store push mower...they're more geared towards the commercial type mowers anyways. For bagging a high lift or a G-series blade will work fine....I thought I'd have to switch back to the OEM high lift blades on my lawn tractor for side discharging clippings but the G5 blades work just fine. I don't have a bagger for my lawn tractor so I cannot say how the G5 or even the G3 blades would work for that application...I do know the G3 blades work great on my push mower in bagging, mulching, or side discharge applications....but their main job is mulching.
@@ProjectFarm Along with the tractor test we're gonna need a video demonstrating which of your wife's retaliation methods was most effective for putting her new mower through all that abuse 🤣
I've been using the G5 mulching for my fall clean-ups for at least 10 years, and it works great. In the fall after the horrible oak leaves finally fall, using them with the mulching plate makes the leaves just disappear.
PF even took into account how clean of a cut it made…this man is a legend!!! And I’m only halfway through!! Never fails to exceed my expectations with these tests, if I think of something I would like to know about a product he’s testing I need only finish watching, cause he’s gonna test that! ;)
I would love to see a camp stove showdown. I was going camping last week and I didn't realize how many options there were. Also, it would be great to see things like: is the BTU correct, how long will each run, how well are the wind guards, hot spots or how large of a skillet can it realistically heat. I already got one that preformed... buutttt I still would love to see it. Thank you for the awesome reviews and keeping honest people honest!
Love it! So frequently you're reviewing things that people actually use (like these mower blades) and it keeps the channel very interesting. I started watching your videos when you compared motor oils, and I find myself watching nearly every video you release. I've made a lot of purchasing decisions based on the outcome of your videos, and you haven't steered me wrong yet! Keep up the good work!
bad boy riding mowers actually test there mowers at the factory by shoving rebar into the bottom of the deck a full speed to check to see if every thing is buttoned up tight. then they put the customer blades on if it passes and sends it out the door.
I can’t tell you how much I admire and appreciate all of work you put into these videos. I would love to see your review on lawn tractor blades. Thanks again for sharing!
I recently changed my OEM craftsman blades on my 42" riding mower with the maxpower mulching and mowed 2 acres of rough field and after cleaning the underside of the mower the blades looked awesome. Great video love your dedication.
@@dewcool i have a 23hp massey furguson, with a 52" deck, that should be good yeah? the g6 might not even come in sizes for 52"... i haven't checked, the g5's do
@@jbkibs my stander x is a 52". I ranthe G6's on it for a while but noticed is bogged down a bit when engaging pto. when I switched to the G5's it was much happier when hitting the pto so thats when I run now. my scag never bogs down with the G6's so I run them because they are thicker and last longer. you might have run try a set and see how your machine likes them.
I've been watching this channel for years now. I'm so happy to see all the love and growth that is happening. Amazing videos! I watch everything. Even if it's something I domt think I'll ever buy.
This is one I was looking forward to! I switched to the g5 blades in my zero turn and the difference was night and day. My lawn is often damp and I was looking for a blade that “pushed” hard enough to keep the chute clear, and the G5s do this perfectly. They also seem to do a better job chopping and dispersing the clippings so I don’t end up with wind rows like I did with the factory style blades. Thanks as always!!
I've seen many blade sharpening videos and still resharpen my blade regularly, but this has me thinking a $22 investment to a G5 would make a huge difference than my stock blade! Ty Todd!
Yep, the G5 is a great blade for less sharpening....I've had the G5 blades on my lawn tractor for 2 years, I mow 3/4 of an acre and have yet to need to sharpen them. The G3 blade on my push mower I've had to sharpen once each season.
I'm an Oregon mulching blade fan. The only problem with the thicker blades is when they hit a rock and your mower's crankshaft it a long one, where it either bends or breaks.
This was a fun review. I would love to see the Cutlass and Mega-Mo blades included in the next test so we can see if they outperform traditional style blades or if they are just an expensive gimmick!
I’m really surprised that the flywheel key didn’t sheared off as many times as you hit that rebar. That Briggs engine on that Craftsman mower took it like a champ!! Keep up the awesome work!
I did landscaping for many years , mulching grass during growing season was done at least 2 times a week . That is why some blades made the mower struggle!! Nice review!!
Great test! I've been using an Oregon G5 on my Husqvarna self propelled mower for a couple years now and I've been very impressed with the performance and durability. I always mulch, never bag or throw, and it does a great job mulching grass, leaves, and branches.
Awesome video! I’ve been using G5 blades for a few years now, haven’t found a better substitute. They work just as well on a 48” tractor as they do on an old 2 stroke lawnboy
I would definitely like to see a comparison of riding mower blades. This video confirms what I've found with the Oregon G5 blades. I have a set on my toro zero turn with a mulching kit. It takes longer to cut the grass but it definitely does a better job of mulching, compared to the toro mulching blades.
I concur, we have been using those Beastly G5s on my walk behinds and bought a 4 pack (2 sharp spares for later) of 92-676 Gators for my old JD riding mower. They have definitely held up much longer for our weed mowing and their weight and thickness really make a difference, especially with durability in our rocky terrain. I also can mulch oak leaves up finely enough to leave in place. Oregon is my only source for blades and chains, for good reason. Great job Project Farm!
Here it is yet again. You have a video on something I'm about to buy. I cannot express how much I appreciate your unbiased data only videos! YOU ARE A HERO! Thank you for everything you do.
Just finished 4 years selling parts and whole goods in a saw/mower shop. Also a retired Director of Quality Assurance from stainless and auto foundry industry. I oversaw laboratories, NDT programs, and metrology systems. Metrology requires the ability to repeat measurements and reproduce tests. I have to compliment PF on his practical if not in every instance traceable tests. His findings are useful and credible. I admire the detail and the reporting. Considering the biased useless of most general “consumer” publications (See Bose vs Consumer Reports lawsuit) the PF channel is outstanding.
PS - Air movement by mower blades is one of the most ignored characteristics by both consumers and designers (and legislators…see the law passed in the late 80s that literally ruined residential mowers). High air velocity is important even if you DON’T bag clippings. Unless you’re mulching; you’re wasting energy if the cut grass is not out of the way for blades to maintain their speed and cut the next stem of grass.
Have you ever tested sunscreen? As someone with very fair skin, that works outside a lot, sunscreen has become a regular part of my work bag. Finding out which blocks the most sun or lasts the longest while sweating and which are overpriced gimmicks would be awesome! Keep up the good work!
Try the Neutrogena aerosol spray 70 SPF -- I think they call it Ultra Sheer Body Mist. I usually get burned in 15 minutes in heavy sun (and have scars to prove it), but this stuff sprays on as easily as hair spray and I could be out all day without getting burned.
This is a fantastic idea. I’m 46, fair skinned guy who grew up in FL. I’ve had several precancerous and cancerous lesions removed by various methods including surgery on my nose, so it’s extremely important I wear sunscreen and hats anytime I’m outside. I’m very interested in which brand stays on when sweating/ wet.
Been using gator mulching blades for years, they rock, but those oregon blades give me pause for thought! Anything Oregon is top notch, imho!!!! Thanks again, Todd!!!!
Your channel rocks! I use an Exmark Lazer Z 25hp with a 60" deck that's 6" thick/tall (important for better recycling) and each of the 3 blades has it's own "surround" rings keeping each blades waste in each of it's surrounds and also has the plugged discharge. These mulching blades have a sharp double step forward edge like you showed but a high lift bent rear corner of the blade creating crazy lift inside to recycle better. Nothing I've tried can out perform their blades in mulching fall into COMPLETE oblivion. After cross hatching, every inch looks like a golf course. Seriously a mind boggling event NOBODY can believe till you see it in person. Forget raking...my mother in law 1st said "I'll believe it when I see it". We were both blown away! Just need your cut at about 3" tall to accept fall clippings that will rapidly decay. These blades cut any length clippings short and compost quickly unlike others I've tried. I once threw away a set of $80.00 gator blades after one cutting...Once you see how effective it is your completely ruined for life. Skip cleanup and enjoy your yard while composting/fertilizing and replenishing a full 30% back to your soil for free.
Awesome testing once again! Alright, gotta say this, kind of odd but stay with me. Watching your videos throughout the years and watching your confidence grow has given me the inspiration to start my own channel and not be too afraid of being on camera. We both make completely different content but I gotta say I really appreciate you doing what you do. Thanks so much for testing these!
I'm actually in the market for lawnmower. Just bought the house in December and the grass is starting to finally grow. Thank you for this awesome comparison.
Definitely would love to see a rider blade test.. I just bought the most rock filled over grown land on earth! Would be nice to see what holds up on the damage testing
Great video! I’m a small engine mechanic and see all kinds of blades come through. Please include a Kubota branded blade in your next review. Hardest steel I’ve ever sharpened in a lawn mower blade!!! Also would love to see a Toro Atomic blade & Gator blade compared too. 💪
Mulching and bagging are two different processes, and the mower deck makes a difference as well. I would not expect a mulched product with a bag attached unless you have double blades. Also, the mulching process will strain the motor more.
Definitely want a riding mower blade test! If not I'll go with this test and hope the shorter blades are the same quality. Just in time for mowing season too!
The Maxpower Mulching probably also will stay sharp for the longest time. If it can take a piece of rebar like that a few stones also shouldn't be a big problem for it. Definitely will go on my mower now! Thanks for the test!
Blade tests for riding mower would be amazing, especially when it comes to durability. Seems to matter how careful I am, I end up trashing blades every 1-2 years.
My experience is - the blade nearest the discharge always wears the worst since it’s not only cutting but discharging all the clippings from the other blade(s). So I generally replace the discharge blade and sharpen the others. As they wear I install the newest ones away from the discharge side while putting the oldest ( most worn ) nearest to the discharge. I average replacing 1 blade per year on a deck w 3 blades.
I would love to see this for riding mowers. I trust your assessment over most because you test for real-world comparisons. Thanks a ton. I use the Oregon G5 for my mowers. It would be nice, though, to find a brand that mulches as good but doesn't require so much power.
I would also love to see the riding mower blade comparison but I would add specifically bagging performance! With the extra long chutes to get to the bagger on the back of the mower damp grass clog the chute significantly slowing down mowing.
I will almost definitely never use 90% of the beautiful information you give us here irl but your videos are something I'll always find myself watching at 4am. Thank you so much for all of your work
Great comparison. informative and entertaining as always. I recommend to make a review using an electric mower (battery powered). I think you will find different results. Thank you 😊
Would love to see more Lawnmower reviews in general! Maybe some electric vs gas types. I know there is going to be a pretty big difference somewhere, since it doesn't appear recommended to use ANY heavy blade on an electric due to the torque difference.
*I can simplify this for you. If you're rich and you're having your servant cut the lawn, get an electric mower and feel smug. If you're a normal person doing your own lawn, stick with gas.*
@@m4rvinmartian I have an Ego electric and it works great for my relatively small lawn (about 1/10 acre). For city property I would not hesitate to recommend.
@@m4rvinmartian I bought a Greenworks 80volt, variable drive speed lawn mower from Costco last year after my previous gas mower failed. Bad carb after 5 years. And to be honest, I was just tired of the entire gas mower maintenance experience. The mower came with two 80v batteries, each good for a half an hour on my small lot. Not only that, it folds so you can store it upright in your garage over the winter. Best yard maintenance machine I've ever purchased. Roughly $500 on sale. I'm not rich, but at 71 years old I can afford it. The question will be reliability, but so far so good.
I was surprised walking down the lawn mower isle at Lowes recently, almost all electric push mowers and maybe only 3 gas models. What has this world come to.
@@timb7775 once you’ve used the electric you won’t want to go back. Quiet, efficient, maintenance free, non polluting. The battery on my Ego is good for 3 mows. I get if you have a large property you’ll want gas but for most of us living in the cities or suburbs electric is the way to go.
Very interesting! I never knew that different blades had such a significant effect on performance. I've found the stock Honda GX mower quadra-cut blade design (2 blades stacked on top of each other) works extremely well, but like your results showed, these special heavy blades require a more powerful engine to work properly.
I always remember to 👍 and or comment when I am made to laugh... I don't think you have ever failed to get at least one and or the other. Love your content and personality. This one got me at "my wife's brand new red lawn mower" and almost at contact with rebar. Thanks for your time, energy and enthusiasm, it's appreciated.😆 We'll Test That!
This is an awesome test but it would have been cool for you to include a well used and then re-sharpened (with a grinder by you) OEM style blade as many of us don't replace a blade, but grind a new edge onto the blade we already have.
Fantastic work as always! Quick question; Any plans to revisit this with more blades? I'd love to see some of the other types like the Oregon's "Gator Blade" put to the test. Less for bagging grass but would be nice to know for those of us who tend to leave grass behind with so much more land to cut. Or perhaps some of these carbide blended metal blades. See if they really are worth it in the torture test. No matter what your next project on the farm i look forward to it! :)
I just pulled the 3 blades off my Scag zero turn after a full year of use and was amazed that all 3 still looked nearly new, not a single ding or any wear marks. I've been cutting grass for nearly 50 years and haven't seen this before. Blades are USA Mower Blades from Amazon.
Yes to a riding mower blade review. I have a Gravely ZTHD60 riding mower with the 17hp Kawasaki engine. I use a combination of Oregon G5 and OE Gravely blades on it, double-stacked with 90 degrees between them. It does a fantastic job of cutting and mulching. I don't bag nor believe in it. Yes, it takes a lot of power to turn this setup, and the engine needs to be at half throttle and the engine warmed up or some choke on it to be able to take the hit of engaging the blade clutch. Blade balance is paramount to reduce vibration and spindle bearing wear. I've been using this configuration for 10 years and no problems.
Only thing missing was showing if/how bent the brand new crankshaft was after all of the rebar tests! 😳 Good to know overall though. I've used the Max Power blades on service and flip mowers. Never had any issues or come backs as a result. I'll definitely try the Oregon G5 though so long as the engine in question has enough stones.
Great video as usual. Mulching blades are usually paired up with a mulch plug or a mulch plate. I think the bagger is not giving the grass enough time to circulate under the deck for additional mulching cuts
I just want to say I appreciate you taking time money out to do these reviews. They are very helpful and help me to deicide which item I need to buy to do the job. It helps me not waste my time and money buying the wrong tool for the job. Keep up the nice work 👍
Another great video testing something I'd never have thought about. I'd LOVE to see this same test for riding mowers. As someone who has been tinkering with lawnmowers since he was 9, I have to ask how many flywheel keys did the rebar test cost you?
Hey Project Farm! Could you do a comparison between bigger impact drills like the Milwaukee 2767-20 , DeWalt DCF900B , and similar higher torque impacts? Highly appreciated!!!!
Bought a set of the G5s last summer and was really surprised at how hefty they are....much more so than the ones I have bought from Home Depot in the past. Not overly curved either which makes them a lot easier to sharpen which I do on a bench vise using a file. Definitely the best blades I have ever bought, by far, and worth the extra cost. Nice to see your testing proved my money was well spent !!
I don't think it is possible to test entry level CNCs, but I wonder if it is possible to make a test for mini lathes? I often find myself in a situation were I am missing a certain screw or other part and think to myself having a lathe would solve this issue much easier than having to go to the next hardware store and hope they have a fitting one. Yet the issue which recommendations and reviews to trust.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Maxpower Mulching: amzn.to/43Jp9Uz
Maxpower 3-N-1: amzn.to/3Nc3MWv
Oregon G5 Mulching: amzn.to/43HjSgs
Oregon: amzn.to/43GoCTB
8TEN Mulching: amzn.to/3KQab6P
8TEN High Lift: amzn.to/3KLSB3K
Arnold Extreme: amzn.to/3mLNCrU
At the 11 minute release point the video already had 2400 views, and now almost an hour later it has 21k 🎉. My wife doesn’t get that Project Farm is a staple for some of us that value the dedication he puts into every video for our money we’ll spend on what tests out the best.
AMEN! Money is hard to come by and this is a dang fine resource he puts out there for free! If I only had back all of the money I spent on items which didn't live up to expectations...
I've been on RUclips for almost 17 years (since 2006) and while I've done many DIY projects and tons of car maintenance and repairs from videos on here, this channel is the BEST that I've ever seen.
When I was a kid it was Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday evening. Now days it's ProjectFarm FTW...
9 hrs later - 170k views.
He is fantastic !!!
Tell it, brother, the ladies will never understand why we aren't buying that HIGH DOLLAR tool anymore!!
I'm a multi-craft mechanic and while every single video Project Farm puts out doesn't necessarily apply to me I get a lot out of them and enjoy them.
Thanks so much!
I'm a multi-craft beer drinker and this comment doesnt pay to me neither 😂😂😂. Former Navy Avionics Tech
90% of these videos don’t apply to me. But I watch every single one. So interesting. One day I’ll use this info. Maybe.
What is a multi-craft?
@@benryals7475 A mechanic with multiple craft skills.
Ive had mixed results using different lawn mower blades but one thing I will say is always use a SOCKET WRENCH to loosen and tighten your mower blades. I had a crescent wrench slip while reinstalling a freshly sharpened blade and i spent 4 hours and $400 in the emergency room getting stitched up
Great point! Thanks for sharing that
Or a box combo with a hammer.
Impact for me. No need to block the blade and no risk of slipping
VERY good lesson. Other, take note!
Oh gosh. I'm sorry. Yep. Crescent usually plays the role of holding a slipping screw while tightening a nut or getting in a tight spot but will always slip if you put much gusto on it.
I watched this when new; came back today because I dug out an old mower that was buried in my garage and it needs a new blade. You videos are not only entertaining; they are great refererence material.
Thank you for your work.
You are welcome!
Hats off to Project Farm for making some of the best informative videos on RUclips. He provides strait to the point, rapid information, that's well tested, that balances hard evidence and personal opinion. No fluff, no ads, just data delivered directly with a kind smile.
THREE MILLION SUBS just around the corner! Man, that must feel good. You deserve every single one. This is the "Consumer Reports" of RUclips tool related reviews. You've gained the trust, and keep it, with these thorough unsponsored break-downs. Thank you so much.
You are welcome!
Especially because actual Consumer Reports is sponsored and cherry picked to fit their agenda.
Read into how they destroyed Suzuki; manipulating and falsifying safety tests to permanently damage the brand.
@@williamshaw3rd You have proof that Consumer Reports is sponsored?
And Well deserved .. better than Consumer Reports..
@the x force,,,only unbiased and honest!! better than consumer report ever was.
As a small engine shop owner I’d love to see a riding mower one if you can put one together! I can’t recall if I recommended testing blades at one point or not. I think I did but that’s irrelevant anyway. Love the videos and keep up the hard work! Thanks for all the time, effort, and unbiased testing you put into all your videos!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Are there significant differences between push mower and riding mower blades?
If riding mowers are used id like to see a comparison of the lowest speed vs fastest speed... (as a kid my dad always told me i mowed too fast...)
@MrHaydenJr My uncle would cut my lawn for me to help some times. I could mow about 2 acres going slow with one pass with gas left and he would run out of gas around 1.5 on the same mower.
@@ShawnDickens i was more curious about do certain blades cut better at speed or does cutting slow allow poor blades to perform better.. i just used that little tidbit about my dad cause thats what made me think about it...
I just replaced the badly underperforming Arnold blade on my 2006 Craftsman mower with a Maxpower 3 in 1. What a huge difference in mowing and mulching performance. Must say,I am totally shocked to see that Briggs &. Stratton survive many rebar strikes and live. I BROKE the crank on a six month old B&S I/C engine by hitting a piece of rebar. Your content and testing is so much more useful than any of the "Consumer" reporting sites and magazines. Keep up the great, informative and entertaining videos!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for sharing.
Wait,you broke a CRANKSHAFT? Never heard of that happening, then again I’m just a 12 year old. Also, yeah,agreed.
@@chrisbrasher6177 I was a mower mechanic for about 15 years (first 5 of that was full-time) and there is not a mower built that can survive it's operator. 😉 People bend and even break crankshafts all the time!
That rebar test was the most informative for me. We have a lot of rocks in the dirt where we live. You don't just simply dig a hole to plant a shrub or something around here. You get a big steel bar and jamming to the ground and work everything loose where you can then scoop it out with a shovel. Mowing grass there's usually rocks laying around, and the blades on my dad's lawn mower just get trashed because he just mows over them where I reach down and kick them out of the way when I mow their yard for them. If a blade holds up to rebar, I would imagine it would do all right against rocks.
Thanks for sharing.
Hard same. I was entirely too old when I learned digging bars exist. Before that I used a pickaxe.
yeah, a digging bar is a staple tool for me as well lol. especially sing iv spent what feels like the last six months building fences at work. cant use a post hole digger without a digging bas, that's for sure
I recently ordered my own tools with much help from your previous testings and ratings. Words can not express the usefulness of your unbiased reviews for us all. Thank you
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
I have the G5 blades for my mower. I went through a few stock blades before going to the G5 which did cost more but the cut quality is amazing. With the stock blades I could only effectively use 2/3rds of the mowing width when mulching, but with the G5's I can utilize the full width of the deck when mulching. I have a Toro 50" zero-turn with 24hp Kawasaki engine.
Good to hear, I bought those last winter and have to install them
@@safffff1000 They are a much heavier blade so do not engage you deck at full power but at reduced power. It is a lot of weight to just spin right up, you are going to feel it. But once it is going at reduced power go to your desired power range. I just hope you have a heavy-duty deck, because these blades do not care how thick the grass is and will thrash it around in the deck mulching the grass. Helps you understand where the word "Gator" comes from. Kind of what the tall grass sounds like getting mulched!
@@jonesgang Thanks for the heads up,
@@jonesgang That's good advice, Sparky. It's my standard practice just to prevent unnecessary stress on the components.
Les passes less time more yards in a day, More money in your pocket.
I have used the Oregon G5 on my husky mower for a couple years. This blade is very heavy in weight and actually changed the sound of the engine when I started using it. But the thickness can handle sticks like a boss without getting beat up like thin blades, even mulching some smaller sticks. I think this video is really accurate to my results.
Thanks for the feedback.
I like the Oregon G5. But unlike the Toro OEM blades, once they hit the point of bending they do get bent up very bad. Yes in tall grass you have to go slow. And they mulch and compact enough grass to delay bag emptying.
I'd say a riding lawn mower version would be great! As a brushless yard tool user, I'd also wonder how their blades stand up. Many are just slightly different than normal blades.
Thanks for the suggestion.
the G5 does have a rider varient and can say they are just as tuff and work just as well. 60 hours and less sharpenings then they should and they are still going strong.
Gonna make our boy spend a ton of money…
I wonder what would happen if you sharpened the different blades after they've been used? It's funny how dull the factory new blades look when compared to my freshly sharpened blades from the grinder. Good video. I'd like to see a follow up of how these perform after sharpening them. Especially the blades with very little cutting surface.
Great point! I believe the 8TEN blades would indeed perform much better with a nice edge
You're not supposed to bring them to a knife-sharp edge. You want more of a "wedge" than a blade, since a more acute angle dulls faster.
@@Omniverse0 But it needs some kind of edge to cut rather than tear. There was a strong correlation between how well blades performed and how sharp they were. Those round 8TEN blades didn't perform nearly as well as the other, sharper ones.
@@reverse_engineered sharpening and retesting would also show how good the steel is at holding an edge and how often a resharpen it would be needed.
I've heard that sharpness doesn't really matter, and too sharp dulls quicker than slightly sharp. I typically only sharpen at the beginning of the season, just once, NOT mowing commercially, just my own 1/4 acre lot.
I don't use a lawnmower but it's always fun to see these videos and the types of tests he uses.
Awesome! Thank you!
His ingenuity in testing methods is unsurpassed in all of RUclips.
What do you use? Scissors?
@@Farquad76.547 they probably don't have/maintain their yard (themselves)
@@Farquad76.547 It's possible they live in the city and don't have a yard.
THANK YOU! The rebar test has settled a life long fear of hitting a curb, metal, or a water meter cover with a lawn mower and having that blade break and flying out the lawn mower and chopping off my foot or injuring me. I mow peacefully now.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Having seen blades snap and exit mower deck sides on riding mowers I'd say you should still take care not to strike anything hard. may not be as likely on a push mower as a riding mower with the lower engine power but all it takes is once to ruin your day.
Project Farm...a true national treasure!
Thanks for all your hard work Todd. I don't purchase anything until I check your reviews. And judging by your view numbers, I'm certainly not alone.
We're lucky to have you!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I agree completely. I check here before buying anything.
Glad to see that you have the OEM in this one. Having a control makes the scientific experiment more valid.
Could argue the Oregon blade is OEM, it's the exact replacement for my Troybilt mower.
I think munching is dependent on the clippings staying under the deck for an extended period of time. The bag and chute allow the clippings to readily escape.
Great point. Thank you
munching? or mulching?
That was my thought at first, but he did test it out without the bag or side discharge open later in the video.
@@turn-n-burn1421 Yes
@@turn-n-burn1421 Depends on how hungry you are when mowing.
There no one better at testing and are as Thorough as you thanks man!
Thanks and you are welcome!
This is a huge rabbit hole to go into, since landscapers debate this all the time. Time. Very little empirical evidence. I love you to do a deep dive into this with a lot more blade types!!
A newer common aftermarket style based on something Honda did a few years back are X blades, where you get two blades mounted to the same spindle at a 90° angle to each other. There's a lot of debate whether those destroy spindles, and if they actually improve performance. Especially on larger mowers. I'd love to see you take a look at some of those.
Great suggestion for a follow-up video! Thank you
Lawn boy 2 strokes have the same x design
husqvarna/klippo has a vary special blade to.
My Honda has duel blades but there not in a x pattern there only offset by maybe 5-10° there at different heights so they mulch better. There offset by 0.5-1”. The top blade is further forward and the lower one is further back so it can chop tall grass and get a clean cut with small clippings.
@@ProjectFarm Gravely used to have 2 blades in an + pattern for finish mowing with the bush hog deck.
I am so glad that I got the Oregon G5 Mulching blade last year because getting that blade compared to other ones I have had is a NIGHT AND DAY difference. It is just so good to see my suspicions actually tested to prove that it isn't just a placebo effect on my part. Great video as always Project Farm!
I have also owned the G5 and was pretty confident it would come out on top on this video. So cool to see my irl experience confirmed by his testing.
They do great. I run the G5's on my Cub Cadet XT1 42" lawn tractor. They do make quite the dust and dirt mess though and its even worse in mulching mode....but they do work great, I don't rake leaves anymore I just mulch them.
I have G3's on my push mower, they do just as good, but aren't as heavy as the G5's....I mow 3/4 of an acre and in the past 2 years with the G5's I haven't had to sharpen them, the G3 I've sharpened twice, just once each season....they do very well.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
@Project Farm is the g5 also known as a Gator G5 blade?
@@lancebeers5599 no because they are made by Oregon and not Gator.
I don't know how many people will notice, but I LOVE that you left a little gap between each pass when testing the mulching mode. Also really love using the boards to measure the throw, I was wondering how you'd be able to demonstrate it
Thanks!
I was thinking the exact same thing!
@@ProjectFarm I've been wondering if the YETI lunchbox that costs 300 dollars keeps things colder than the 30 dollar lunchbox from other brands. Have you thought of coolers/lunchbox testing?
This is my GO TO place before buying any tool, part, scaffold, jack, etc. I love this guy.
Thanks!
I've had Oregon gator mulching blades on my 42 inch for a few years and have no complaints. Definitely have to slow down with the mulching plug in but they do an excellent job.
Quite interesting. I'd definitely love to see a ride-on mower blade test, but a battery mower blade test would be really cool as well. Especially how different blades affect battery runtime. Hope your Briggs&Stratton engine is doing fine ;)
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have a Ryobi 11" 18v mower, and I can attest that after sharpening the blade with my Dremel (tm), the cutting went far smoother with fewer battery changes. (Very tiny lawn. I can usually do the front, back, and sides with three batteries, and that's the mower, string trimmer, and blower)
@@ProjectFarm What about the Honda twin blade micro cut system? Honda is so good at engineering their products I wonder if there is actually a better blade for their mowers. I have the HRN216VKA and the stock Honda blade.
@@ProjectFarm
Yes we would like to see the cast for riding mowers.
The battery mower sounds interesting as well.
Somebody mentioned the Honda blade....maybe you need to start planning on round 2??
@@tbelding I have the same experience with my 38 cm Makita LXT mower. This one still has a brushed DC motor, and it's losing far less RPM when the blade is razor-sharp. I'm using a Proxxon belt sander that allows me to sharpen the blade even when installed.
It doesn't matter WHAT you test, this is the greatest channel ever! Keep these marketing guys honest!! Very interesting designs here and must say - Gotta keep those blades sharp and balanced. 👍
You don't have to tell me twice. I added wings to a blade that was not available with wings to make my own "high lift blade." A year later, I hit a rock. One of the wings broke off. The mower was unusable until I welded the wing back on.
I can’t tell you how much your videos are appreciated! Searching the internet for intelligent unbiased reviews, well unbiased anything really, is impossible. It almost seems like other blog style reviews are actually the result of AI pulling ratings and buyer reviews together and calling it an unbiased review. Keep on doing what you are doing!
Thanks, will do!
I’ve been watching PF for years now and I tell everyone to go to his page before they buy any new equipment or have just any general questions for around the house stuff! Your videos are awesome and I hope you enjoy making them as much as we all enjoy watching them! Keep it up this is the stuff these companies don’t want people to see but need too. Thank you PF
A well maintained mower blade makes all the difference, Thank you Todd for all of the time and effort you put in to these tests. 👍 🇺🇸
You are welcome!
I like how the $16 Oregon blade performed mid-range in nearly all categories. Honestly seems like good value
Thanks for the feedback.
I work at a small engine shop we sell a lot of oregon blades best bang for you buck!
Yep best for the bucks
I think there the Best Buy or 8ten
Been seeing a lot of videos lately on how much easier dry pouring concrete is. Would love to see you do some tests on dry pour concrete vs. standard wet pouring. I know it's not exactly the brand comparison testing you normally do.
Thanks for the suggstion.
There are some quantitative, forensic, dry pour results on RUclips, even comparing how various brands of concrete affect the strength. I would recommend "Dry Pour Showdown" on Michael Builds channel. Avoid videos by "professional masons" as their turf-guarding instincts usually elicit a subjective, negative opinion with no objective reasons. As someone who has done both, dry pours are perfectly fine for low impact projects like sidewalks and shed slabs (and 5X easier!). Don't plan on dry pouring your driveway, however.
Id love to see a tractor version of this. Also, I really like the idea of testing how well they sharpen. The factory edge isn't meant to last a lifetime
Thanks for the suggestion.
I run the Gator G5 mulching blades on my Cub Cadet XT1 42" lawn tractor...they do a great job mulching, but in mulching mode be prepared to wear a lot of whatever you are mowing, it gets pretty dusty and dirty. I've ran the G5's for 2 years, mowing 3/4 of an acre and have yet to need to sharpen them. I've ran Gator G3 mulching blades in the past, just had to sharpen them more frequently, but the same mulching and discharging capabilities.
The G5 blades are heavier than the G3 blades, so on a lower powered mower you'll want the lighter G3 blades.
The standard Oregon blades are just replacement blades for OEM direct replacements. The G-series are the mulching series of blades with the G3 being the lower grade. A G5 blade is good for a lawn or garden tractor if you have a higher horsepower engine, wouldn't recommend trying them on a regular box store push mower...they're more geared towards the commercial type mowers anyways.
For bagging a high lift or a G-series blade will work fine....I thought I'd have to switch back to the OEM high lift blades on my lawn tractor for side discharging clippings but the G5 blades work just fine. I don't have a bagger for my lawn tractor so I cannot say how the G5 or even the G3 blades would work for that application...I do know the G3 blades work great on my push mower in bagging, mulching, or side discharge applications....but their main job is mulching.
@@ProjectFarm Along with the tractor test we're gonna need a video demonstrating which of your wife's retaliation methods was most effective for putting her new mower through all that abuse 🤣
a lot of people just replace blades every other year and never sharpen them
I've been using the G5 mulching for my fall clean-ups for at least 10 years, and it works great. In the fall after the horrible oak leaves finally fall, using them with the mulching plate makes the leaves just disappear.
Thanks for the feedback.
PF even took into account how clean of a cut it made…this man is a legend!!! And I’m only halfway through!! Never fails to exceed my expectations with these tests, if I think of something I would like to know about a product he’s testing I need only finish watching, cause he’s gonna test that! ;)
Thanks!
Right!! He really thinks about a lot of the details most of us would over look.
I would love to see a camp stove showdown. I was going camping last week and I didn't realize how many options there were. Also, it would be great to see things like: is the BTU correct, how long will each run, how well are the wind guards, hot spots or how large of a skillet can it realistically heat. I already got one that preformed... buutttt I still would love to see it. Thank you for the awesome reviews and keeping honest people honest!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Love it! So frequently you're reviewing things that people actually use (like these mower blades) and it keeps the channel very interesting. I started watching your videos when you compared motor oils, and I find myself watching nearly every video you release. I've made a lot of purchasing decisions based on the outcome of your videos, and you haven't steered me wrong yet! Keep up the good work!
Surprised the B&S mower was able to survive all that rebar abuse. I was definitely expecting a bent crankshaft by the end. Great video.
Thanks!
I expected at least a sheared flywheel key. Great comparo!
bad boy riding mowers actually test there mowers at the factory by shoving rebar into the bottom of the deck a full speed to check to see if every thing is buttoned up tight. then they put the customer blades on if it passes and sends it out the door.
@@flashgo2 Sounds like a really dumb test, and really just a marketing gimmick for the easily fooled.
Same. They're practically designed to be as weak as possible.
I can’t tell you how much I admire and appreciate all of work you put into these videos. I would love to see your review on lawn tractor blades. Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
I recently changed my OEM craftsman blades on my 42" riding mower with the maxpower mulching and mowed 2 acres of rough field and after cleaning the underside of the mower the blades looked awesome. Great video love your dedication.
Thanks!
I like G5 the best with my 61" Scag zero turn. It also was the top performer at chopping up dried leaves in the fall.
i'm going to buy the G5's for sure after seeing this.
Agreed. Have used them for years with great results and durability.
G6 is great if your machine can handle it. My Wright stander X likes the G5 because they are lighter but I can run the beefier G6's on my Scag ZTR
@@dewcool i have a 23hp massey furguson, with a 52" deck, that should be good yeah? the g6 might not even come in sizes for 52"... i haven't checked, the g5's do
@@jbkibs my stander x is a 52". I ranthe G6's on it for a while but noticed is bogged down a bit when engaging pto. when I switched to the G5's it was much happier when hitting the pto so thats when I run now. my scag never bogs down with the G6's so I run them because they are thicker and last longer. you might have run try a set and see how your machine likes them.
Definitely enjoyed this one and really looking forward to a test of blades for riding lawnmowers!
Thank you!
You know you’re getting old af when you comment something like that about lawnmower blades 😂
@@Farquad76.547 haha guilty 🤣
I've been watching this channel for years now. I'm so happy to see all the love and growth that is happening. Amazing videos! I watch everything. Even if it's something I domt think I'll ever buy.
Thanks! Thanks for watching!
This is one I was looking forward to! I switched to the g5 blades in my zero turn and the difference was night and day. My lawn is often damp and I was looking for a blade that “pushed” hard enough to keep the chute clear, and the G5s do this perfectly. They also seem to do a better job chopping and dispersing the clippings so I don’t end up with wind rows like I did with the factory style blades. Thanks as always!!
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
Thanks for the info! Will try the g5s on my zero turn when the time comes.
I've seen many blade sharpening videos and still resharpen my blade regularly, but this has me thinking a $22 investment to a G5 would make a huge difference than my stock blade! Ty Todd!
Yep, the G5 is a great blade for less sharpening....I've had the G5 blades on my lawn tractor for 2 years, I mow 3/4 of an acre and have yet to need to sharpen them. The G3 blade on my push mower I've had to sharpen once each season.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
I've also been using the Oregon "Gator" blades for years. Been very satisfied with their performance and durability.
Thanks for sharing.
I'm an Oregon mulching blade fan. The only problem with the thicker blades is when they hit a rock and your mower's crankshaft it a long one, where it either bends or breaks.
Dude! Another bang up job. I would like to see riding lawnmower blades tested. Thank you for your great videos!
Thank you!!
This was a fun review. I would love to see the Cutlass and Mega-Mo blades included in the next test so we can see if they outperform traditional style blades or if they are just an expensive gimmick!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
I’m really surprised that the flywheel key didn’t sheared off as many times as you hit that rebar. That Briggs engine on that Craftsman mower took it like a champ!! Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks!
Thanks for supporting the channel! I really appreciate it!
I did landscaping for many years , mulching grass during growing season was done at least 2 times a week . That is why some blades made the mower struggle!! Nice review!!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Great test! I've been using an Oregon G5 on my Husqvarna self propelled mower for a couple years now and I've been very impressed with the performance and durability. I always mulch, never bag or throw, and it does a great job mulching grass, leaves, and branches.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Awesome video! I’ve been using G5 blades for a few years now, haven’t found a better substitute. They work just as well on a 48” tractor as they do on an old 2 stroke lawnboy
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
this is the most complete, easy to follow, informative review I have ever seen on any product anywhere, Thanks.
Thanks and you are welcome!
These videos are so very timely. Thank you Todd. I need to get blades, and I believe that Oregon G5 is the way I'll go.
Thank you!
I would definitely like to see a comparison of riding mower blades. This video confirms what I've found with the Oregon G5 blades. I have a set on my toro zero turn with a mulching kit. It takes longer to cut the grass but it definitely does a better job of mulching, compared to the toro mulching blades.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I concur, we have been using those Beastly G5s on my walk behinds and bought a 4 pack (2 sharp spares for later) of 92-676 Gators for my old JD riding mower. They have definitely held up much longer for our weed mowing and their weight and thickness really make a difference, especially with durability in our rocky terrain. I also can mulch oak leaves up finely enough to leave in place.
Oregon is my only source for blades and chains, for good reason.
Great job Project Farm!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Here it is yet again. You have a video on something I'm about to buy. I cannot express how much I appreciate your unbiased data only videos! YOU ARE A HERO! Thank you for everything you do.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Just finished 4 years selling parts and whole goods in a saw/mower shop.
Also a retired Director of Quality Assurance from stainless and auto foundry industry.
I oversaw laboratories, NDT programs, and metrology systems.
Metrology requires the ability to repeat measurements and reproduce tests.
I have to compliment PF on his practical if not in every instance traceable tests. His findings are useful and credible.
I admire the detail and the reporting.
Considering the biased useless of most general “consumer” publications
(See Bose vs Consumer Reports lawsuit) the PF channel is outstanding.
Thanks!
PS - Air movement by mower blades is one of the most ignored characteristics by both consumers and designers (and legislators…see the law passed in the late 80s that literally ruined residential mowers).
High air velocity is important even if you DON’T bag clippings.
Unless you’re mulching; you’re wasting energy if the cut grass is not out of the way for blades to maintain their speed and cut the next stem of grass.
Have you ever tested sunscreen? As someone with very fair skin, that works outside a lot, sunscreen has become a regular part of my work bag. Finding out which blocks the most sun or lasts the longest while sweating and which are overpriced gimmicks would be awesome! Keep up the good work!
Blue Lizard
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the suggestion.
Be sure it does not have Retinol, which ironically has been shown to cause cancer. A large brim hat and long white sleeves is the way to go.
Try the Neutrogena aerosol spray 70 SPF -- I think they call it Ultra Sheer Body Mist. I usually get burned in 15 minutes in heavy sun (and have scars to prove it), but this stuff sprays on as easily as hair spray and I could be out all day without getting burned.
This is a fantastic idea. I’m 46, fair skinned guy who grew up in FL. I’ve had several precancerous and cancerous lesions removed by various methods including surgery on my nose, so it’s extremely important I wear sunscreen and hats anytime I’m outside. I’m very interested in which brand stays on when sweating/ wet.
Been using gator mulching blades for years, they rock, but those oregon blades give me pause for thought! Anything Oregon is top notch, imho!!!! Thanks again, Todd!!!!
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Your channel rocks! I use an Exmark Lazer Z 25hp with a 60" deck that's 6" thick/tall (important for better recycling) and each of the 3 blades has it's own "surround" rings keeping each blades waste in each of it's surrounds and also has the plugged discharge. These mulching blades have a sharp double step forward edge like you showed but a high lift bent rear corner of the blade creating crazy lift inside to recycle better. Nothing I've tried can out perform their blades in mulching fall into COMPLETE oblivion. After cross hatching, every inch looks like a golf course. Seriously a mind boggling event NOBODY can believe till you see it in person. Forget raking...my mother in law 1st said "I'll believe it when I see it". We were both blown away! Just need your cut at about 3" tall to accept fall clippings that will rapidly decay. These blades cut any length clippings short and compost quickly unlike others I've tried. I once threw away a set of $80.00 gator blades after one cutting...Once you see how effective it is your completely ruined for life. Skip cleanup and enjoy your yard while composting/fertilizing and replenishing a full 30% back to your soil for free.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Can we all appreciate the amount of work he puts In his videos for us 👍👌
Thanks!
The test are literally completely fucking random and says nothing about the blade.
The fact this shit has so many views is actually mindblowing.
You don't speak for me.
@@Jonathan-fw6ty let us know when your channel is up and running.
Awesome testing once again! Alright, gotta say this, kind of odd but stay with me. Watching your videos throughout the years and watching your confidence grow has given me the inspiration to start my own channel and not be too afraid of being on camera. We both make completely different content but I gotta say I really appreciate you doing what you do. Thanks so much for testing these!
I'm actually in the market for lawnmower. Just bought the house in December and the grass is starting to finally grow. Thank you for this awesome comparison.
You are welcome!
Definitely would love to see a rider blade test.. I just bought the most rock filled over grown land on earth! Would be nice to see what holds up on the damage testing
Oregon G6
Great video! I’m a small engine mechanic and see all kinds of blades come through. Please include a Kubota branded blade in your next review. Hardest steel I’ve ever sharpened in a lawn mower blade!!! Also would love to see a Toro Atomic blade & Gator blade compared too. 💪
Thanks for the suggestions.
The Oregon G5 is the Gator blade.
I hope Mrs Farm didn't get *too* mad at you using her brand spankin lawn mower.
Well done as always, Todd :)
Let's hope she doesn't watch this video. lol
There definitely was some humor in watching a brand new mower get seized up!
@@ProjectFarm I do all our mower fixing so mine knows it'll be fixed sooner or later. Hers is a 2010 Troy-bilt. Interesting!
Thanks!
Thanks for supporting the channel! I really appreciate it!
I've had similar results with the Oregon G5. Actually surprised! Toro oem mulching blades were soft garbage on my Zero Turn
Fantastic blade by Oregon. I wish my wife's push mower made a little more horsepower
wonder how the klippo romb blade whould fair
Oregon "Gator" blades have been my go-to for years and years. It's very satisfying to see them perform so well under your assessment. 👍
Thanks!
Mulching and bagging are two different processes, and the mower deck makes a difference as well. I would not expect a mulched product with a bag attached unless you have double blades. Also, the mulching process will strain the motor more.
I thought I was losing my mind until I saw your post lol. Mulching requires the chute to be closed (at least that has always been my understanding)
@@rudymaldonado667 when he did his grass mulching test the bag was off and the chute was closed. he showed that in the video.
WOW The G5 mulching blade is amazing! Cuts and picks up so well i'm blown away! Thanks for the video!!
Definitely want a riding mower blade test! If not I'll go with this test and hope the shorter blades are the same quality.
Just in time for mowing season too!
The Maxpower Mulching probably also will stay sharp for the longest time. If it can take a piece of rebar like that a few stones also shouldn't be a big problem for it. Definitely will go on my mower now! Thanks for the test!
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
Blade tests for riding mower would be amazing, especially when it comes to durability. Seems to matter how careful I am, I end up trashing blades every 1-2 years.
Thanks for the suggestion. Thanks for sharing.
My experience is - the blade nearest the discharge always wears the worst since it’s not only cutting but discharging all the clippings from the other blade(s). So I generally replace the discharge blade and sharpen the others. As they wear I install the newest ones away from the discharge side while putting the oldest ( most worn ) nearest to the discharge. I average replacing 1 blade per year on a deck w 3 blades.
I would love to see this for riding mowers. I trust your assessment over most because you test for real-world comparisons. Thanks a ton. I use the Oregon G5 for my mowers. It would be nice, though, to find a brand that mulches as good but doesn't require so much power.
I would also love to see the riding mower blade comparison but I would add specifically bagging performance! With the extra long chutes to get to the bagger on the back of the mower damp grass clog the chute significantly slowing down mowing.
Riding mower tyest would be great, but who can afford to pay for them?
I will almost definitely never use 90% of the beautiful information you give us here irl but your videos are something I'll always find myself watching at 4am. Thank you so much for all of your work
You are welcome! Thanks for watching!
Great comparison. informative and entertaining as always.
I recommend to make a review using an electric mower (battery powered).
I think you will find different results.
Thank you 😊
Would love to see more Lawnmower reviews in general! Maybe some electric vs gas types. I know there is going to be a pretty big difference somewhere, since it doesn't appear recommended to use ANY heavy blade on an electric due to the torque difference.
*I can simplify this for you. If you're rich and you're having your servant cut the lawn, get an electric mower and feel smug. If you're a normal person doing your own lawn, stick with gas.*
@@m4rvinmartian I have an Ego electric and it works great for my relatively small lawn (about 1/10 acre). For city property I would not hesitate to recommend.
@@m4rvinmartian I bought a Greenworks 80volt, variable drive speed lawn mower from Costco last year after my previous gas mower failed. Bad carb after 5 years. And to be honest, I was just tired of the entire gas mower maintenance experience. The mower came with two 80v batteries, each good for a half an hour on my small lot. Not only that, it folds so you can store it upright in your garage over the winter. Best yard maintenance machine I've ever purchased. Roughly $500 on sale. I'm not rich, but at 71 years old I can afford it. The question will be reliability, but so far so good.
I was surprised walking down the lawn mower isle at Lowes recently, almost all electric push mowers and maybe only 3 gas models. What has this world come to.
@@timb7775 once you’ve used the electric you won’t want to go back. Quiet, efficient, maintenance free, non polluting. The battery on my Ego is good for 3 mows. I get if you have a large property you’ll want gas but for most of us living in the cities or suburbs electric is the way to go.
Very interesting! I never knew that different blades had such a significant effect on performance. I've found the stock Honda GX mower quadra-cut blade design (2 blades stacked on top of each other) works extremely well, but like your results showed, these special heavy blades require a more powerful engine to work properly.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
I always remember to 👍 and or comment when I am made to laugh... I don't think you have ever failed to get at least one and or the other. Love your content and personality. This one got me at "my wife's brand new red lawn mower" and almost at contact with rebar. Thanks for your time, energy and enthusiasm, it's appreciated.😆 We'll Test That!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing!
This is an awesome test but it would have been cool for you to include a well used and then re-sharpened (with a grinder by you) OEM style blade as many of us don't replace a blade, but grind a new edge onto the blade we already have.
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
I've watched every video. And literally this guy could review soap and I'd watch it with a smile
Thank you very much! This means a lot to me!!
@@ProjectFarm speaking of soap have you reviewed hand soaps for mechanics like fast orange hand cleaner?
Soap is important enough to test.
Fantastic work as always!
Quick question; Any plans to revisit this with more blades? I'd love to see some of the other types like the Oregon's "Gator Blade" put to the test. Less for bagging grass but would be nice to know for those of us who tend to leave grass behind with so much more land to cut. Or perhaps some of these carbide blended metal blades. See if they really are worth it in the torture test.
No matter what your next project on the farm i look forward to it! :)
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
The G in the Oregon G5 blade tested in the video stands for gator…
I would like to see a video comparison of the different Oregon Gator blades. From what I can find is there is the G3, G5, and G6.
I just pulled the 3 blades off my Scag zero turn after a full year of use and was amazed that all 3 still looked nearly new, not a single ding or any wear marks. I've been cutting grass for nearly 50 years and haven't seen this before. Blades are USA Mower Blades from Amazon.
YES!! GATOR BLADES!!!!
Yes to a riding mower blade review.
I have a Gravely ZTHD60 riding mower with the 17hp Kawasaki engine. I use a combination of Oregon G5 and OE Gravely blades on it, double-stacked with 90 degrees between them. It does a fantastic job of cutting and mulching. I don't bag nor believe in it. Yes, it takes a lot of power to turn this setup, and the engine needs to be at half throttle and the engine warmed up or some choke on it to be able to take the hit of engaging the blade clutch. Blade balance is paramount to reduce vibration and spindle bearing wear. I've been using this configuration for 10 years and no problems.
Thanks for the suggestion.
This "old school" videos are my favorites👍.
Always clear, always Sharp.
Thank you!
Thank you very much!
Only thing missing was showing if/how bent the brand new crankshaft was after all of the rebar tests! 😳 Good to know overall though. I've used the Max Power blades on service and flip mowers. Never had any issues or come backs as a result. I'll definitely try the Oregon G5 though so long as the engine in question has enough stones.
The G5 blades are heavier than the G3 blades, same blade styling, just the G5's are heavier and stay sharp longer.
Thanks for the constructive feedback.
Great video as usual. Mulching blades are usually paired up with a mulch plug or a mulch plate. I think the bagger is not giving the grass enough time to circulate under the deck for additional mulching cuts
At 10:45 he plugged the discharge and took the bag off.
@@classicrider103 I always make the mistake of commenting BEFORE I finish the entire video...😁
I just want to say I appreciate you taking time money out to do these reviews. They are very helpful and help me to deicide which item I need to buy to do the job. It helps me not waste my time and money buying the wrong tool for the job. Keep up the nice work 👍
Thanks, will do!
Fantastic video, i would love to see a video on different walk behind/self propelled mowers, Honda, craftsman etc. great job Todd!
Thank you for the video idea!
Mulching blades are designed to mulch with the collection vent closed!
Love the first person action shots! Your film making gets more and more sophisticated!
Was wifey cameraman?
Ifhewouldnttalksofast!
My man just blessed the world with best comparison video anyone has ever seen.
Thanks!
Always thought blades took more importance than we thought
Thank you and hope you enjoy the video!
Here all this time I've just been using whatever cheapie one for $10 I could find at Lowe's.
@@ProjectFarm I went with Cutlass. No tools to remove the tips to sharpen & they pivot if they hit something hard.
Another great video testing something I'd never have thought about.
I'd LOVE to see this same test for riding mowers. As someone who has been tinkering with lawnmowers since he was 9, I have to ask how many flywheel keys did the rebar test cost you?
I am wondering the same thing, I have a Husqvarna YT42DXL Clear cut, I want to find a quality mulching blade for it.
@@jeff3183 I'm not even worried about the mulching, I just want something that will handle some sticks before they get bent!
@@Oddman1980 I been lucky with oem highlift blades taking a beating.
Hey Project Farm! Could you do a comparison between bigger impact drills like the Milwaukee 2767-20 , DeWalt DCF900B , and similar higher torque impacts? Highly appreciated!!!!
Thanks for the video idea.
Bought a set of the G5s last summer and was really surprised at how hefty they are....much more so than the ones I have bought from Home Depot in the past. Not overly curved either which makes them a lot easier to sharpen which I do on a bench vise using a file. Definitely the best blades I have ever bought, by far, and worth the extra cost. Nice to see your testing proved my money was well spent !!
Thanks for sharing.
I don't think it is possible to test entry level CNCs, but I wonder if it is possible to make a test for mini lathes?
I often find myself in a situation were I am missing a certain screw or other part and think to myself having a lathe would solve this issue much easier than having to go to the next hardware store and hope they have a fitting one.
Yet the issue which recommendations and reviews to trust.
Great suggestions. I fear the price of the reviews might be more than the budget allows.
@@ProjectFarm I know, still wanted to mention it.
Thank you for taking the time to reply nonetheless.