We've found a cordless grinder is so convenient that we tend to keep our blades sharpened more regularly! If you missed our video on different types of brush hogs, check it out here: ruclips.net/video/INA5muA7NWE/видео.html Products in our Amazon store used in this video (costs nothing extra to use these links!). You don't have to buy these specific items to support our channel....just use a link below to get to Amazon then make any purchase: Dewalt 20V grinder: amzn.to/3n7gQxZ Dewalt 4.5” Grinding Wheel: amzn.to/3ymYnUk Mechanix Leather Gloves: amzn.to/3HjoZZf Peltor 30db Hearing Protection: amzn.to/3aSziYa Oakley Polarized Square Wire Sunglasses: amzn.to/3HjzAU0 Under Armour Iso Chill Wicking Shirt: amzn.to/3zvSTYD HUK Wicking Fishing Shirt: amzn.to/3QgtvMk Solomon Quest Hiking boots: amzn.to/3mFeW7x Rode Wireless GO II microphones: amzn.to/3trABE3 Ubeesize Camera Tripod: amzn.to/3xl6uiN
I was told by my grandfather. If your using it to mow pasture grass sharpen the. If your using it for clearing and mowing down brush and saplings don't sharpen. The dull blades will bust up the stems and let water get down in em to rot em out. So they don't grow back. Not saying that's right. Just what I was told and has worked for me for years.
My 60 inch mower is a Southeast brand. It was purchased in 1986 and the blades have never been sharpened. My Dad was in the camp of not believing in doing that. I mow our 100 acres of pasture with it . I don’t know how it cuts at all but it still actually cuts quite well. I think I will mow one more year with the existing blades before I change them out for new ones. There is no material left to sharpen. They are so rounded off now. Once I get the blades changed I will be firmly in your camp Brad. They will be sharpened regularly Thanks for sharing. Really good information
lol. I just changed the blades my uncle used since 1996. Idk how that thing even cut. But boy is it sexier with nice sharp blades. I plan to keep em sharp lol
Great help dispelling the "don't sharpen" crowd. It seem to just be common sense that a sharp blade will make life easier. Great t-shirt logo - Go Navy.
@@PineyGroveHomesteadThanks for your service. Navy man myself. I sharpened the blades on my Woods brand rotary bush hog brush hog mower and they worked so nice through the 10" pasture grasses. Great tip again!
It depends on the results you expect. Sharp blades make a neater looking cut on grass. Dull blades splinter and crush, slowing recovery growth after the cut, which is preferred with woody vegetation like tree seedlings and tough weeds.
14 acres.....that's a big chunk to mow! Good luck and thanks for watching. We have lots of videos about brush hogging in this playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLG5yS75HLzo3RVqEuA0f6IioXV6FtFhHW
I grew up using a bush hog for mowing our 72 acre farm in the non hay cutting months and I can't wrap my head around why anyone would want to cut the grass in their fields using dull blades. It just looks ratty and sloppy.
It all depends on what you're cutting. We take down trees with our 6ft Bush Hog, and we don't want the stobs/stumps to be sharp and puncture tires. Hitting a big hard stump can leave a bigass "dent" in the edge that you can't even grind out. I even broke a blade the other day(it probably wouldn't have broke if it was sharp, but the sharp edge probably wouldn't last long enough to worry about sharpening). We've stalled a 65hp many times by hitting hidden stumps
Glad to see someone like me that just gets under with a hand held grinder , the heck with taking them off , just put a bevel on them and go ! I'll take them off later. ( right ? )
I sharpen 'em. But I shape them like a machete and not like a knife or mower blade. That puts about a 1/8 inch flat on the bottom of the leading edge with a gradual return on the top of the blades. Also, I tilt the brush hog on its side instead of climbing under it. And I make sure to check the fluid in the gear box if I take very long - it doesn't usually take much time.
I count the number of passes I make with the grinder to clean up the edge. Repeat that number on opposing blade. Not perfect but close enough. PS - 60 grit flap disc works better than a standard grinding disc
Having a hard time with the mounting bolts and dome lock nuts when removing the blades. Very hard to take the nuts off. Even very hard to install the lock nuts. I replaced the bolts and nuts. The nuts damaged the threads on the bolt. Something is wrong.
@@PineyGroveHomestead I may have to try that next time. But I would still have to deal with those lock nuts. 1/2” impact driver struggles on and off. Even a 3/4” air driver had a hard time. Something is wrong. The original JD threads were buggered. I replaced them with jobber and the same thing happened. They are on but Im not looking forward to taking them off
@@parkland4530 I've changed a lot of those blade bolts and the hardest thing was removing the cotter pin. Sounds like yours were severely cross threaded or just rusted badly....maybe some torch heat next time?? Most people aren't going to wear out a set of blade in a lifetime though!
@ It would almost seem so but on close inspection the thread damage is where the nut locking threads came in contact. But maybe so. I had it done at a shop the second time and they had the same problem. They hate dome type locking nuts. Stump jumper next time. Thanks.
I cut my lawn with a bush hog for over ten years before I got a finish mower and I always sharpened. I use the same unit to clear out paths in the woods and my theory has always been, if the tractor can push it over the bush hog should be able to chew it up. Sharp blades make that happen. I've never had to change blades and touched the edge up every week during mowing season while I used it as a mower
I've heard that you should get a blacksmith to sharpen the blades as sharpening them risks getting them out of balance. Not sure but would really like to have the blades on the 6' mower that we use sharpened as it is used primarily for pasture grass.
Yea , if you're money grows on trees go ahead a pay a blacksmith. This is one of the most simple things to do in maintenance. Mowing the lawn is harder than sharpening the blades with an angle grinder and flap disc for crying out loud.
As they wear down take them off and do like I do and weld more surface back on and they'll stay sharper longer as the weld I'm using is a bit harder than the original material
An expert is someone who is more than 60 miles away ... I use a rotary mower lots... it is actually mounted on a excavator but same concept, I mow everything, grass, cat tails, phragmities, tires, plastic toys, brush, shopping carts, every thing up to and exceeding 8" trees.... I try to keep it under 4"... I always have sharp blades, razor sharp. Reasons are simple, sharp cuts faster. And very importantly, sharp blades don't throw material. I run a flatter angle, probably closer to 60 degrees, I am able to get some lift even, not that it really matters. I use 3-M cubatron sanding disks on a 6" grinder, used to run flap wheels but they have a tendency to bevel the edge, the disk runs flat. What I love about the 3-M is it leaves filings similar to a file... no heat temper issues. As far as balance... I weight the blades to the gram prior to installing. Rest of the time, sharpen takes place installed, I count the strokes and use the same pressure. When the blades are ready for a flip, I re weigh, it is common to find them still within a few grams...
The only advantage I can think for dull blades is to shatter the remaining trunk so it's not sharp to puncture tractor tires. Here is the brush hog in action: ruclips.net/video/2LtKLLMwSRE/видео.html
When you have a tool that is cordless they need to be used for only short burst so a grinder is continuous so it really is best to use a corded grinder how lever having a cordless is nice just to touch it up. Always use Jack stands under the box blade please
@@PineyGroveHomestead yes I mean are they sharp or do they have a blunt end? If you sharpen it you could just be re-profiling the blade. So they come sharp from the factory? Would love to see a new blade straight from the factory.
When the mower blade is not sharpened you are adding a huge strain on the motor as well as the gear box only to have a mow that looks like hell. The sharper the better. If they get dull then they will only be what they already were before the sharpening so why not. I super sharp blade also prevents clumping. I can make it look like a finish mower with a sharp bush hog blade
When the mower bushing is not sharpened you are adding a huge strain on the motor as well as the gear box only to have a mower that looks like hell. The sharper the better. If they get dull then they will only be what they already were before the sharpening so why not. I super sharp blade also prevents clumping. I can make it look like a finish mower with a sharp bush hog blade
The only reason to sharpen your blades is using your bush hog as a finish mower. If that's what you want to do , go for it. I never understand why so many people want to convince everyone else to do it how THEY do.
Brush hog is a genaric term for rotary mowers. Bush Hog is a brand name. Calling just any rotory mower a Bush Hog is like calling all snowmobiles a Skidoo.
We've found a cordless grinder is so convenient that we tend to keep our blades sharpened more regularly! If you missed our video on different types of brush hogs, check it out here: ruclips.net/video/INA5muA7NWE/видео.html
Products in our Amazon store used in this video (costs nothing extra to use these links!). You don't have to buy these specific items to support our channel....just use a link below to get to Amazon then make any purchase:
Dewalt 20V grinder: amzn.to/3n7gQxZ
Dewalt 4.5” Grinding Wheel: amzn.to/3ymYnUk
Mechanix Leather Gloves: amzn.to/3HjoZZf
Peltor 30db Hearing Protection: amzn.to/3aSziYa
Oakley Polarized Square Wire Sunglasses: amzn.to/3HjzAU0
Under Armour Iso Chill Wicking Shirt: amzn.to/3zvSTYD
HUK Wicking Fishing Shirt: amzn.to/3QgtvMk
Solomon Quest Hiking boots: amzn.to/3mFeW7x
Rode Wireless GO II microphones: amzn.to/3trABE3
Ubeesize Camera Tripod: amzn.to/3xl6uiN
I was told by my grandfather. If your using it to mow pasture grass sharpen the. If your using it for clearing and mowing down brush and saplings don't sharpen. The dull blades will bust up the stems and let water get down in em to rot em out. So they don't grow back. Not saying that's right. Just what I was told and has worked for me for years.
He's not wrong. Shredding them with a dull blade will prevent sharp spears from going through tires too.
What my dad always taught me.@@PineyGroveHomestead
Thanks for the video and input, that's all I needed. I have a Kubota too same size as yours and mow 10 acres, blade sharpness is everything.
Agree. We've mowed several times already this year!
My 60 inch mower is a Southeast brand. It was purchased in 1986 and the blades have never been sharpened. My Dad was in the camp of not believing in doing that.
I mow our 100 acres of pasture with it . I don’t know how it cuts at all but it still actually cuts quite well. I think I will mow one more year with the existing blades before I change them out for new ones. There is no material left to sharpen. They are so rounded off now.
Once I get the blades changed I will be firmly in your camp Brad. They will be sharpened regularly
Thanks for sharing. Really good information
I think we have the same Dad! Thanks for watching Gary. B&D
lol. I just changed the blades my uncle used since 1996. Idk how that thing even cut. But boy is it sexier with nice sharp blades. I plan to keep em sharp lol
Great help dispelling the "don't sharpen" crowd. It seem to just be common sense that a sharp blade will make life easier. Great t-shirt logo - Go Navy.
My career is just about split even between the Air Force and Navy! Thanks for watching.
@@PineyGroveHomesteadThanks for your service. Navy man myself. I sharpened the blades on my Woods brand rotary bush hog brush hog mower and they worked so nice through the 10" pasture grasses. Great tip again!
Yes, you should sharpen them.
Sharpened blades cuts better and takes the strain off your equipment.
It is a win win.
It depends on the results you expect. Sharp blades make a neater looking cut on grass.
Dull blades splinter and crush, slowing recovery growth after the cut, which is preferred with woody vegetation like tree seedlings and tough weeds.
Great video, thank you for the pointers. Breaking out angle grinder to go mow 14 acre vineyard 🤠
14 acres.....that's a big chunk to mow! Good luck and thanks for watching. We have lots of videos about brush hogging in this playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLG5yS75HLzo3RVqEuA0f6IioXV6FtFhHW
Got my sub just for the shirt!!
Go Navy, Beat Army!
Good video. Explained why, how to, and without rambling. Very helpful. Thank you and subscribed.😊😊
I grew up using a bush hog for mowing our 72 acre farm in the non hay cutting months and I can't wrap my head around why anyone would want to cut the grass in their fields using dull blades. It just looks ratty and sloppy.
I agree. Thanks for watching.
well said... i agree
It all depends on what you're cutting. We take down trees with our 6ft Bush Hog, and we don't want the stobs/stumps to be sharp and puncture tires. Hitting a big hard stump can leave a bigass "dent" in the edge that you can't even grind out. I even broke a blade the other day(it probably wouldn't have broke if it was sharp, but the sharp edge probably wouldn't last long enough to worry about sharpening). We've stalled a 65hp many times by hitting hidden stumps
We are pretty rough on our brush hog too: ruclips.net/video/2LtKLLMwSRE/видео.html
Totally agree on sharpening. Just recommend flap disc instead of rock disc. Easier on metal temper.
We tried a disc and it seemed to wear out quickly....they aren't cheap! Thanks for watching.
I have looked at both sides of this and am on the fence but am leaning towards the sharpening side.
We feel a clean cut is better than a tear! Thanks for watching.
Glad to see someone like me that just gets under with a hand held grinder , the heck with taking them off , just put a bevel on them and go ! I'll take them off later. ( right ? )
If rough cut blades are meant to be dull, why are they shipped from the factory sharp?
Right? Some people never sharpen....it's a choice.
what attachment do you use on the drill, or is there a dedicated Dewalt grinder?
It's a cordless dewalt grinder: Amazon affiliate link: amzn.to/3KFGzJr
I sharpen 'em. But I shape them like a machete and not like a knife or mower blade. That puts about a 1/8 inch flat on the bottom of the leading edge with a gradual return on the top of the blades. Also, I tilt the brush hog on its side instead of climbing under it. And I make sure to check the fluid in the gear box if I take very long - it doesn't usually take much time.
Thanks for your clip.👌
Thanks for watching.
Very good. Thank you
Thanks. More info here: ruclips.net/p/PLG5yS75HLzo0LLO3hc5C4S1nwlbRDFXZh
How do you keep the blades balanced?
I don't worry about it..... I know you should but I've been grinding them for 14 years....no issues.
I count the number of passes I make with the grinder to clean up the edge. Repeat that number on opposing blade. Not perfect but close enough. PS - 60 grit flap disc works better than a standard grinding disc
Having a hard time with the mounting bolts and dome lock nuts when removing the blades. Very hard to take the nuts off. Even very hard to install the lock nuts. I replaced the bolts and nuts. The nuts damaged the threads on the bolt. Something is wrong.
I usually drop the whole stump jumper to change blades.
@@PineyGroveHomestead I may have to try that next time. But I would still have to deal with those lock nuts. 1/2” impact driver struggles on and off. Even a 3/4” air driver had a hard time. Something is wrong. The original JD threads were buggered. I replaced them with jobber and the same thing happened. They are on but Im not looking forward to taking them off
@@parkland4530 I've changed a lot of those blade bolts and the hardest thing was removing the cotter pin. Sounds like yours were severely cross threaded or just rusted badly....maybe some torch heat next time?? Most people aren't going to wear out a set of blade in a lifetime though!
@ It would almost seem so but on close inspection the thread damage is where the nut locking threads came in contact. But maybe so. I had it done at a shop the second time and they had the same problem. They hate dome type locking nuts. Stump jumper next time. Thanks.
I cut my lawn with a bush hog for over ten years before I got a finish mower and I always sharpened. I use the same unit to clear out paths in the woods and my theory has always been, if the tractor can push it over the bush hog should be able to chew it up. Sharp blades make that happen. I've never had to change blades and touched the edge up every week during mowing season while I used it as a mower
I've heard that you should get a blacksmith to sharpen the blades as sharpening them risks getting them out of balance. Not sure but would really like to have the blades on the 6' mower that we use sharpened as it is used primarily for pasture grass.
This tool is great for sharpening mower blades: ruclips.net/video/O5GFz32dq2A/видео.html
Dang ! As much stuff as I hit I don't think mine could ever be "balanced" . Don't seem to be a problem so far.
Yea , if you're money grows on trees go ahead a pay a blacksmith. This is one of the most simple things to do in maintenance. Mowing the lawn is harder than sharpening the blades with an angle grinder and flap disc for crying out loud.
As they wear down take them off and do like I do and weld more surface back on and they'll stay sharper longer as the weld I'm using is a bit harder than the original material
I wish I had a welder....and knew how to weld!!!
@PineyGroveHomestead I understand not everyone has that option so you just do what you need to do keep up the good work
AMEN BROTHER!
An expert is someone who is more than 60 miles away ... I use a rotary mower lots... it is actually mounted on a excavator but same concept, I mow everything, grass, cat tails, phragmities, tires, plastic toys, brush, shopping carts, every thing up to and exceeding 8" trees.... I try to keep it under 4"... I always have sharp blades, razor sharp. Reasons are simple, sharp cuts faster. And very importantly, sharp blades don't throw material. I run a flatter angle, probably closer to 60 degrees, I am able to get some lift even, not that it really matters. I use 3-M cubatron sanding disks on a 6" grinder, used to run flap wheels but they have a tendency to bevel the edge, the disk runs flat. What I love about the 3-M is it leaves filings similar to a file... no heat temper issues. As far as balance... I weight the blades to the gram prior to installing. Rest of the time, sharpen takes place installed, I count the strokes and use the same pressure. When the blades are ready for a flip, I re weigh, it is common to find them still within a few grams...
The only advantage I can think for dull blades is to shatter the remaining trunk so it's not sharp to puncture tractor tires. Here is the brush hog in action: ruclips.net/video/2LtKLLMwSRE/видео.html
they dont come squared off when new. so obviously some sharpening is in order to keep brushing more aggressive.
When you have a tool that is cordless they need to be used for only short burst so a grinder is continuous so it really is best to use a corded grinder how lever having a cordless is nice just to touch it up. Always use Jack stands under the box blade please
Wouldn't the answer to this question be in how the blades come new from the factory on a new brush hog?
You mean sharp?
@@PineyGroveHomestead yes I mean are they sharp or do they have a blunt end? If you sharpen it you could just be re-profiling the blade. So they come sharp from the factory? Would love to see a new blade straight from the factory.
Saves hp. Cleaner cut. Easier cut means easier on gear box and driveline. No reason not to sharpen. U build them up if they have chunks out of them.
Agree! Thanks for watching.
Once in a while, take blades off and grind until they balance as equal.
Out of balance destroys rotating equipment .
A real pain to get em off though.
Agree that they should be balanced but I just never do it. I sharpen them until I can't anymore than replace them.
Sharp blades are much easier on your gearbox and on your tractor PTO. I always keep my blades sharp on my finishing mowers and on my rough cut mowers.
It's a very good practice!
When the mower blade is not sharpened you are adding a huge strain on the motor as well as the gear box only to have a mow that looks like hell. The sharper the better. If they get dull then they will only be what they already were before the sharpening so why not. I super sharp blade also prevents clumping. I can make it look like a finish mower with a sharp bush hog blade
The drawback is sharp brush stumps to poke holes in tractor tires but I've never had that happen!
@@PineyGroveHomestead No, we are not talking bush hog work but mowing. Bush hog brush just do with a dull blade. It will be just fine
When the mower bushing is not sharpened you are adding a huge strain on the motor as well as the gear box only to have a mower that looks like hell. The sharper the better. If they get dull then they will only be what they already were before the sharpening so why not. I super sharp blade also prevents clumping. I can make it look like a finish mower with a sharp bush hog blade
That DeWalt grinder doesn't seem to be that powerful. My blades are like baseball bats! Blunt as can be! Thanks for the info.
You can only push so hard under there!
WTH are you planting Bahai though
Grows good here....makes good hay.
The only reason to sharpen your blades is using your bush hog as a finish mower. If that's what you want to do , go for it. I never understand why so many people want to convince everyone else to do it how THEY do.
Thanks for watching.
How do they come when you buy them …….. sharpened or dull? Duh!!
Right, but I bet there are more "hogs" that have never been sharpened than those that have!
Just sharpen the blades partner. I don't need a masters degree in grass.
Nobody is going to watch a grinder going back and forth for 8 minutes!
Don’t sharpen your axes either it’s not made for cutting grass. 😂
I call it a bush hog.
A lot of people do...Bush Hog is the brand name of the first company to make a rotary cutter, so the name stuck.
Was my girlfriends nickname in college.
It’s bush hog blades not brush hog duh
They are called lots of things. Thanks for watching.
bush hog is a registered trademark
Brush hog is a genaric term for rotary mowers. Bush Hog is a brand name. Calling just any rotory mower a Bush Hog is like calling all snowmobiles a Skidoo.
It's a rotory mower. I believe in Australia it's called a slasher 😮