Get Your Lawnmower Cutting Like New With These Sharpening Tips!

Whether it's rotary or cylinder, keeping lawnmower blades sharp helps both the cut and the appearance of the grass that's left. This video shows how to sharpen both types.
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[@jimpoulsen9604]

Finally!! A common sense video about blade sharpening! There are too many videos out there that show how to sharpen as if you're going to shave with them. Just put an edge on them and get back to work! Great job!

[@Dan_Callaghan-MHH]

Thank you Stuart. Me and my 15 year old son watched your video and gave the rotary mower a good sharpening. She’s running like new!

[@ajuk6391]

topic for your next video Stuart............tidying up outside that workshop door. There's no excuse with all your cleared storage in the extended garden. 🤣🤣

[@geoffreycoan]

Thanks Stuart, gave my lawnmower a shock by sharpening the blade for the first time ever this morning ! Took me longer to get the blade off the mower than it did to sharpen it with a flappy angle grinder disk. Ended up using a screwdriver to wedge the blade in position that gave enough leverage to loosen the blade. If you can put a reminder video up in another couple of years I’ll do it again 😂

[@FrankWoodPhotography]

Sadly I don’t think I’ll ever own the lawn that deserves a cylindrical mower but I found the whole process fascinating!

[@smoggydrones5664]

Another great video from KZbin’s no 1 DIY channel. People just forget to sharpen their mower blade so timely reminder. Loved the drone shot too. Drones are a great tool as well as great fun. Looking forward to next one.

[@andyc972]

Thanks for taking the time to cover both types of mower and keeping it simple and accessible Stuart, the results speak for themselves ! I reality most of us only deal with things when they go wrong, not ideal of course but we don't all live a perfectly ordered life !

[@olewurtz7625]

Brilliant! I don’t have a cylinder mower, but enjoyed watching the process. 👍

[@c.a.g.1977]

Great, now I want a lawn and a mower just to try this method. Thanks Stuart! BTW: thank you for the update on the fertilised part of your lawn, that is a massive difference!

[@mickeyfilmer5551]

This has to be one of the most useful videos currently on KZbin. I Knew about the first, rotary blade as I have only ever had this type, But the second one is just priceless. I would never have thought of doing that. Great stuff Stuart, My Sundays aren't complete until I've watched your vid, and then Mustie1 reviving old engines.

[@peterlatimer3955]

Just done my push mower with the grinding paste. 🎉 Wow it's awesome great tip thanks 🎉

[@websurfer1585]

I did this yesterday to my cordless rotary, using flap disc, and it transformed the mowing, easier cutting and far better collection into the box.

[@stephencave187]

Cracking job. Never knew about "back lapping" 👍🏻

[@ruthwashbrook4759]

Brilliant, straightforward video as usual- timely for most of us no doubt as well. Thanks

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Great job Stuart, Grinding paste on your cylinder mower blade good idea, as always full of good tips and ideas. As always a great video

[@daviddoyle5480]

As always, some great tips for us all regardless of the type mower you may have, always a pleasure to view your videos.

[@garybiggs6559]

That's useful and a great solution, I am waiting delivery of the same cylinder mower so I will definitely back lap for mine

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

Very satisfying to watch and also reminds me I’ve had my new mower for just over 2 years so best get to it thanks for posting

[@martinhunt6004]

I sharpen my blades twice a year on my Bench Grinder using a sandpaper disc also. I also do not take off much material. Keep your blade in good condition and it will last many years. I also find it to be good practice to walk my lawn prior to cutting so I can remove any stones that have come up. As for the Lawnmower decks, I clean mine after each cut and use the cheapest car wax on an old clean rag to stop them rusting.

[@brianwood5220]

Brilliant job with the blades. But, what a difference that compost has made to the lawn. It's worth every penny spent. Thanks for sharing, Stewart.

[@mikepanchaud1]

But he didn't say which half had the compost...😂

[@karinljungars]

Just a question: why remove the grass clippings (which is effectively compost) only to add compost later? Not trying to be funny, just would love to understand.

[@Lottiemay.]

He’s brilliant, I could do with him around my home. ❤

[@philipford3921]

Nice Video. Gonna do my rotary now. I did the compost thing and lawn looks great. Thanks.

[@SahaKrishna]

Great video, thinking of doing the same since last couple of days, now got the condifence

[@Idea_Innovators]

I'm really impressed with the way he works. So many useful lessons here. Good job !

[@RiBenjafield]

The Stihl demo will help me a lot as this is like our Bosch and I was just thinking the other day that the blade probably needs sharpening. Also, I have an angle grinder I don’t use so will give me a chance to practise. Thanks Stuart! Always helpful videos from you. Looked like fun sharpening your cylinder mower blade. 😀 Didn’t you have a Hayter mower at one point?

[@videostarish]

Nice Stuart..! What a difference in the grass..👍 Also:- Would the bottom plate/blade not need sharpening too..🤔👍

[@rondo122]

that's a good tip, didn't know this paste existed!

[@barbarawiddowson635]

I filed my rotary mower blades (old school I know).More forgiving than using discs.Seems to have done a good job.The difference the compost has made in the lawn is quite amazing.Thank you Stuart.

[@johnthresher259]

Spot on Stuart! Highly informative as always. I've got a file which I use for my Spear and Jackson cordless mower but I will be buying a flap wheel or two for my angle grinder. Thanks and keep 'em coming!

[@radharcanna]

Very useful tips here. That second technique is marvellous.

[@pedromimoso8804]

Well, the compost really works! And rhe grinding too!

[@michaelcrowe3278]

Will do my best to follow the instructions. Thank you so much!

[@gregmize01]

That final shot says it all.

[@garulusglandarius6126]

Excellent as always Stuart 👍👍

[@alexhearn8943]

Great video thanks

[@awantamta]

Great advice

[@fenners1290]

Super as always!

[@DJSYKOBass]

Sharpened mine yesterday and cleaned out the cowling.

[@marccadec6978]

Good to someone doing this with finesse

[@stanwilson8089]

Excellent vids,I never miss a one.

[@AndyTaylorLloyd]

Nice lines!

[@chrisjinks5414]

what about the ride-on mower, awesome video thank you and happy Sunday

[@StevenMurray-mt7om]

Nice job 👍

[@davidpearn2484]

Try some epsom salts to green the lawn and make it lush, brilliant video 👏.

[@TheHitman180]

I'm incredibly sad, I give mine a quick go over every weekend 😛🤣 but it is my bread n butter so needs to cut well on every clients lawn

[@markellwood4132]

Your own workshop. Hideaway with your tools. What a lucky man.

[@roger4880]

Great 👍. I use a Dremel for the rotary blade works well.

[@davidrobert2007]

I use a dremel multi tool with the little sanding drum to avoid heating up the blade

[@sackville_bagginsess]

Hi Stuart can you pop that blade/Stanley knife scraper into your Amazon store please

[@theplumber4934]

Hello Stuart, another great video and such a difference on the lawn with compost. Do you have a video on chisel / knife sharpening? I seem to struggle with getting a good edge even with a honing guide.

[@vjary8142]

Top tip, clean your mower after every use, makes it more effective at cutting and means you don't have to clean up a build up of dried grass.

[@martinholt2844]

Many years ago I had an aluminium plate that clipped on the bottom plate and you could stick an emery sheet to it to grind the blades. It was a good idea, but it wasn’t sturdy enough hence the result was not what it should have been. This seems a much better solution with the grinding paste! 👍

[@gan314159]

I'd not wear gloves while sharpening a cylinder blade.... Tbf I've not sharpened mine yet though so I'll shut up and get on with that! Lovely result on the lawn

[@IgnatiusZaaijman]

Great video as always Stuart, thanks! You also have one of those ride-on lawnmowers for the paddock, can you maybe do a similar video or a general review of it? And the lawn certainly looks much better with compost, wow, a big difference!

[@pjones1977]

On the cylinder blade maybe try double sided tape and stick some emery cloth to the bottom plate, this way the plate doesn't get ground as it would with the grease.

[@alansteele3757]

I’ve seen another youtube video, where the gent used a small block off wood, when removing the blade & putting it back on, it holds the blade in a lock position.

[@alanmartin1949]

Useful tips 👍 P.S. Time to trim that hedge! 😉

[@WaxPaper]

Disconnect the sparkplug before you get under the mower, just in case. Also, check the manual to see which side it should be flipped sideways onto. I think that can be important if there's still gas in the tank.

[@TeamFoxhoundUK]

For complete testing I'd swap the areas that were composted next year :)

[@susanlambert8164]

What timing Stuart excellent video. Up graded to a petrol rotary mower and used it at the weekend i noticed the grass look torn rather than straight cut so definitely think the blade needs sharpening after watching your video think I'll beable to do it myself only how do you get the blade off without tipping it on one side was told when i bought it "second hand" not to. Any advise would be appreciated. Lawn looks amazing and definitely a big difference were compost was used. Thanks for sharing.

[@stumetzable]

Great job back lapping. You've inspired me to to buy a second hand cylinder mower for my front garden. Did you rotate the blades the opposite way to normal cutting when back lapping? Cheers Stu 🤓

[@GreenJimll]

I stick a wooden block next the blade when removing it, and usually use a socket with a long bar to keep my hands well out of the danger area.

[@robertboughton11]

Hi Proper DIY

[@ClaireRousseau]

Perfect timing, I definitely need to sharpen my rotary mower blades. Do you think I could use a multitool to do the sharpening? I don't have an angle grinder...

[@jayseabie215]

Not really, you need something that spins and not oscillates. Try a Dremel instead.

[@ClaireRousseau]

@@jayseabie215 I was thinking that might be the case....

[@danwooller6101]

You can't make me sharpen my mower blades, Stuart la la la la la la la la la

[@ilyabochkov]

Hi Steve, nice video, especially with the compost results!)) a question: After back-lapping, obviously in winter will you still send this cylinder for the proper resharpening?

[@stevewoodw]

Nice video. I was trying to think of an easier way to cement between slabs that was not difficult and relatively quick - postcrete does set without any water being added provided it can absorb from around where it's been placed. If you are a bit more of a concrete expert than many, I wondered if you'd trial this to see if it's a viable solution. If you did it on a dry day with light showers forecast later, it should be able to absorb water from the ground beneath it provided it's porus. If you're slabs are laid on concrete, it won't work unless you add water. You're slabs look clean - if you swept postcrete between them on a dry day and sponge off any excess it would save time messing around with brick acid afterwards. There may be one or two viewers who give it a go.

[@troyboy4345]

Another reason not to cut on the lower height settings (It can distort the bottom plate, preventing the shear action), I stick emery cloth to the bottom plate instead of using lapping paste, nice job pal.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

I can’t believe you didn’t re sharpen the rotary blade in 2 years! I have Triton Briggs & Stratton petrol rotary remove the blade and hone up after a few uses.

[@SimoneChiaretta]

I have a fairly new blade (used 3-4 max) that leaves those white bits on top of the grass too. I expect new blades to be sharpened from the start. Or should I sharpen them before use?

[@rvdb1981]

Great last shot. Question: how about sharpening the back blade?

[@warrenstanford7240]

Known as the bread knife.

[@johnfitzpatrick433]

Hi Stuart, where did you get your knife/scraper? It looks really handy to have

[@metaldog88]

Hey Stuart, any tips on removing the blade when the nut has seized? I've tried many things (spanners, pliers and grips) but the bolt is millimetres away from stripping the head. I don't want to get another mower as there is nothing wrong with the machine itself.

[@Ocean-blue]

You need to cross out the word wrench and write the word spanner on that set of tools 😜

[@darrenmackenzie1892]

What kind of disc did you use?? Cheers

[@CriticalMick]

I paused the video to have a look as I wanted to know as well. It's an 80 grit flap disc. They only cost about 4 or 5 quid from Screwfix or Toolstation.

[@georgebrennan5631]

How do you know the blades are not reshaping the bottom plate rather than sharpening the blades?

[@ooojamaflip]

15:50 Looks like a project is brewing on the right hand side.

[@mournfulmaurice2009]

Makes you wonder: Why use a cylindrical mower? Much more difficult to maintain, much more expensive, much more prone to bad cutting. So my question would be: What effective advantage do cylindrical mowers have?

[@colingoode3702]

Stripes mainly. And a wider cut. I've never had a lawn big enough to warrant having a cylinder or any sort of petrol mower.

[@jimroberts3009]

They give a much better, finer and more even cut so are the best mower to use on grass where sports are played. E.g. Cricket, Tennis, Bowls or even Croquet. And of course all the old, small hand pushed mowers were all cylinders.

[@mournfulmaurice2009]

Stripes, ok, get that. Hadnt seen the video to the end when I posted this. Makes sense. Cheers.

[@geoff544]

I suppose you don't really know whether you are grinding the spiral blades to match the bottom plate or vice versa - or both.

[@Nuts-Bolts]

A file is the right tool for sharpening mild steel blades. Grinding wheels can glaze and ‘load up’ if used for soft steels. These rotary blades need to be made of soft steels for the simple reason that hard steels become more brittle the harder they are made. So a knife quality hard blade could chip or even shatter upon hitting the first stone. The sudden imbalance would also present a safety issue to the operator and/or anyone standing near by.

[@steved8038]

so by your thinking steel fabricators have been doing it wrong all these years ? Using a grinding wheel for trimming and dressing mildsteel fabrications.

[@warrenstanford7240]

@@steved8038He is trying to say to avoid damaging the temper of the mild steel cutting edge don’t use high speed grinding just a bastard file will do the trick. 🤔

[@Nuts-Bolts]

@@steved8038 Didn’t mean (nor state) Stu was was doing it 'wrong'. That’s why I gave an explanation but not comprehensive enough it now seems. It is just that if someone is used to sharpening cutting tools on say a bench grinder, it is almost certain to have a fine grit, soft grade (soft bond) abrasive wheel. Professionals such as steel fabricators, will no doubt have found by trial, error, cost and time, which abrasive discs suit them best. Being pedantic, a file imho would be a better option in one’s own garden shed as one is less likely to run into clogging up the wheel (and may not have a diamond dresser at hand to clean it up again) and being slower, less likely to end up with an out of balance blade. Even, slightly out of balance, it will reduce the life of the mower’s bearings.

[@peterclarke3300]

You should not really do that with a cylinder mower because, you are grinding the cylinder to the bottom blade and when, you get the cylinder properly grounded,it will take twice as along to grind it straight it was the bottom blade being bent which was the problem and the rotary blade was more or less the right way 👍

[@davidturner8689]

Cylinder needs to be ground along with the bottom blade.

[@ahmedrizwankhan]

This video is super helpful but Word of caution regarding the rotary mowers, you can't just tighten the blades back to whatever strength. There is a specific torque (each mower has the recommended torque so you will need a torque wrench for the job) that you tighten the blades to otherwise you will burn the motor out if tighten too much. Trust me, this is from experience because I burned the motors on one of my lawn mowers by over tightening it.

[@GW._.]

That reel sounds terrible definitely needs sending out for a reground

[@jayseabie215]

Hmm, buy a bench vice for about £30 and a flap grinder disc for another £5, or just buy a new rotary blade for £30?

[@201081hero]

Convenience vs. long term cost effective solution. Would you buy new kitchen knives every time your old ones became blunt or would you buy something to sharpen them with?

[@robsolway3827]

That paste is awful for lawnmowers.... Try a water based grinding paste .. Much easier to clean off!

[@sh3riff]

Just buy a new blade! They're not expensive!