Quickly Give Your Lawn Mower Blades A Touch-Up With A Tool You Have In Your Garage

Keeping your lawn mower blades in good shape is important. This helps get clean cuts and keep your lawn looking healthy. However, maintaining the blades does not always mean you have to set up a grinder or take them to a professional. If your lawn mower blades are only slightly dull, they may just need a quick touch-up. There is a simple fix hiding in your garage: sandpaper. Sandpaper is basically an abrasive tool, just like a metal file or belt sander, and it can help make your lawn mower blades a little sharper.

There are different types of sandpaper designed for specific materials, so you need to make sure you pick sandpaper designed for use on metal. Also, opt for a medium-grit sandpaper. You should pick something between 80 and 120 grit, as this provides enough abrasion to clean up minor imperfections for routine touch-up without being too aggressive.

It is also worth noting that sandpaper only works if the cutting edge of your lawn mower blade is already in working condition. It is not a replacement for dedicated sharpening tools. If, however, your mower blade is extremely dull, it will need more than just a touch-up. Avoid sandpaper in this case and instead look for other tools that make it easy to safely sharpen your lawn mower blades.

Before you grab your sandpaper, make sure your lawn mower is completely turned off. If you have a gas mower, disconnect the spark plug; if you firmly believe an electric lawn mower is best for your yard and have invested in one, remove its battery. Then remove the blade according to the instruction manual. Do not attempt to sand the blade while it's still attached to the mower. Next, clean away any grass clippings, dirt, or other buildup with a brush or rag. Once the blade is clean, secure it in a bench vise with one cutting edge facing upward.

Start sanding the lawn mower blade, following the blade's existing cutting edge rather than trying to create a new one. Gently rub the sandpaper along the beveled edge, too. Work in small sections and do not apply more pressure than is necessary; let the sandpaper do the work. Then, once you have smoothed the first cutting edge, repeat the process on the other side, making sure to remove an equal amount of metal from both sides. Remember that lawn mower blades do not need to be razor-sharp to do their job. They just need to be as sharp as a butter knife to cut grass properly.

Once you are done touching up the blades with sandpaper, check their balance before fitting them back into the mower. Do not skip this step. It is one of those mistakes everyone makes when sharpening lawn mower blades, and it can damage your machine and reduce its lifespan. Lastly, do not keep using a single sheet or block of sandpaper indefinitely. Once the abrasive particles wear down, the sandpaper becomes less effective and needs to be replaced.