Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades With A Budget-Friendly Solution From Home Depot

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For a lawn that makes your neighbors green with envy, a clean-cutting mower is a must. Blunt lawn mower blades don't just make your grass look untidy; the torn ends can provide easy access for a number of fungal diseases like leaf spot, which can make yards look spotty, yellow-brown, and sad. If you want to get a better understanding of the habits that will keep your lawn lush and well-manicured, regular blade sharpening is the first rule you should know. There are a number of ways to do this, but it's tough to beat the combination of low cost and precision offered by the Arnold Blade Sharpening and Balancing Kit. It's currently available at Home Depot for just $10.56.

Unlike some tools that can only handle certain types of blades, the Arnold kit is universal and can be used on anything from small walk-behind mowers to large zero-turn models. The shaft fits easily into the chuck of a corded or cordless drill so the effort required to refresh your blades is kept to a minimum. The inclusion of the balancer makes the kit an even better value for money. It's an important step people often forget after sharpening lawn mower blades, but it's essential to prevent excess vibrations that are not only unpleasant but will also spoil the cut quality and could shorten the life of your machine.

Before you do anything related to lawn mower maintenance, always disconnect the power source (the battery or spark plug). If you have a gas mower, make sure the carburetor is at the top when you tip it over so fuel isn't spilled. Although it might be possible to use the Arnold sharpener with the blades still on the lawn mower, experts still recommend removing them. The Arnold sharpening stone and nylon guide are angled to produce the optimum bevel for the blades, and having them off the machine will allow you to maintain that angle without struggling to avoid parts of the mower deck. 

Often, budget-friendly tools for sharpening mower blades rely on the user's skill to maintain the proper angle. The Arnold blade sharpener makes it easy to get it right. Full instructions are provided on the back of the packaging, but the process is relatively simple. After removing them, hold the blades in a vise or securely clamp them to a bench. The nylon guide piece will help you follow the back of the blade edge while the grinding wheel sharpens the front. This tool is designed to minimize vibration and should run along the blades easily, although you should always a firm grip on the drill and proceed carefully. 

This product has earned four stars on Home Depot's website. Buyers from other sites have noted that's it's a decent alternative to a bulky bench grinder and the balancer works well too. However, the grinder is best suited for classic, straight lawn mower blades, not other styles like mulching blades or gator blades. Next time you notice the warning signs that your lawn mower blades need sharpening, it's a solution that is certainly worth considering.