How Often

[mcmav101]

I would like to get some feedback on how often everyone changes blades or resharpens. Do you do it after cutting for 8 hours or 1 week or just when you see they are not cutting the same way they used to. Just wondering.

[AllieLawn]

With me it kinna all of the above. Ill change them once a day in some cases, and then some times twice a day. But most of the time its once. Then they are sharpened when they are in the off part of their little blade rotation lives.

Chris

[mcmav101]

well thanks for the input we are sharpening about once a week, just wanting to know how often others were. Keep em coming.

[MN_FISH]

Being the question of when to sharpen your blades is being answered. I would like to know how you sharpen them? Do you balance them after sharpening? I plan on using one of my belt sanders with the table setup to the same angle as the new blades. I'll be using ceramic belts. How many times can I sharpen them if they aren't bent or damaged to bad from rocks & other unforeseen obstacles?
How many spare blades do you have with you on the job for each mower?
Sorry for all the questions but all the answers should follow in the one thread pertaining to the mower blades?

[mcmav101]

Yeah I would like to know all of those questions to.

[AllieLawn]

Isnt there a bad boy balancer the you can buy? I generally carry one extra blade for every blade I have.

Chris

[AllieLawn]

Cool thanks Ill take a look.
I found a real cool computerized one once. It was real hard to shim correctly and a little time consuming with what little time you had. And it always seemed like you were having to look over your shoulder. I never got a chance to use it though. The Discount Tire guys got over the loud speaker and told me my truck was ready.

Chris

[1Chavez]

Blades are sharpened every day using a dedicated blade grinder. Balancing is nothing more than a nail in the wall that the blade is spun on. I carry one extra set since both mowers use the same blades (2 walker 48" ghs). If I have another deck that I'll be using (54"SD or 74"SD) I'll bring 2 extra blades because they are the same. Most blades will have a mark that should not be sharpened beyond. What I usually do is sharpen enough blades for the week, spray with wd and put in the blade drawer in the shop (each set is color coded). One drawer for sharp, one for not, and when it gets low (or there is a time when someone is standing around) they get sharpened.
-Rich

[Maddog]

I do basically the same thing as Rich. The Blades get change everyday. I usually have enough sharpened for the week. I use a wall mounted balancer and sharpen them with an angle grinder right now but will be getting a dedicated sharpener this year (to many baldes to sharpen now). I don't carry blades with me but I should (so far I have been lucky).

Around here, with all the sand, the back of the blade wears out befor the blade gets to the width were it shouldn't be sharpened any more.

I also have a shelf where the sharpen blades are kept, a shelf for new blades and ones for those that need to be sharpened.

[Bikehigh]

This may sound stupid

but how do you change the blades on a commercial WB when out in the field? IOW, how do you get to them, just tip the mower back as far as it will go, and prop it up?

[1Chavez]

Not sure how I'd do a WB out in the field except by propping it up. I haven't used a WB for quite some time except as a backup (52 Scag 17kawi velked). The ease of blade change with a Walker tilt deck is another reason I am such a big fan.
-Rich

[Phillip Baker]

Blades

I sharpen and change blades every three days. I sharpen on a bench grinder, I use a table "bell balancer" which I purchased from my dealer for around $15.00, it's the same one he use's. I have three extra sets for each mower that i rotate through. After they are sharpened I spray them with black spray paint from Wal-mart, (.99 a can) and place an extra set per mower in my truck tool box and another set goes in my crews truck behind the seat. We carry a simple floor jack that I use to hold the walk behind and my ZTR I simply drive up the ramp on my trailor hanging the tire and mower deck off the side, I change that side then i move the mower over to the opposite side and then change those. I carry a "pancake Compressor" on the trailor and an impact wrench to change blades with. We can change everything in a matter of minutes at any time or place without ever having to return back to my yard. After the blades reach thier limit or have gotten to thin we disguard them and purchase more.

[Maddog]

I also use the ramp of the trailer to do deck work when out on the job. It works well.