Professional mower blade grinder. How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade – Follow These Simple Steps

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade – Follow These Simple Steps

We can’t count the number of times we’ve been asked by neighbors or colleagues about the best way or how to sharpen a lawn mower blade. Sharpening a lawnmower blade doesn’t require a ton of skill. While years of practice make you better, anyone can learn the basic principles needed to complete the job using any of several tools. We set up this handy lawn mower sharpening guide to work with several different methods. Check out our introduction and then look over the tools you might have on hand to get that lawnmower blade sharpening job done.

Why Sharpening Your Lawn Mower Blades Makes a Difference

I’ve known friends who have never sharpened their lawn mower blade…ever. Apparently, if the mower does something to chew the grass down to 2.5-inches or so, that’s all they require. And it may be natural to think that a blade spinning at just under 200 mph wouldn’t need to be terribly sharp in order to cut grass. You’d be right. However, a sharp lawn mower blade slices through the grass. With a clean cut, your grass stays green and you avoid that unhealthy brown or burnt look that plagues so many lawns—even when they get plenty of water.

Check out the photo below and see if you might start to get the picture:

For professionals and people who want their lawns nice, healthy, and as green as possible, knowing how to sharpen a lawn mower blade makes the difference. This goes double for grasses like Fescue which tend to grow very straight and require frequent cutting.

In the professional landscaping world, some professionals sharpen their zero-turn lawn mower blades every other day. When your business is nice-looking lawns, you need to do everything in your power to ensure you keep them healthy.

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade With an Angle Grinder

As we mentioned earlier, you can sharpen a lawnmower blade using any number of tools. One of the easiest (and quickest) involves using an angle grinder. Of the people I’m aware of who already know how to sharpen a lawn mower blade, most use an angle grinder. The reason this works is that lawn mower blades don’t need to be razor-sharp. They do, however, need a clean cutting edge—preferably at the proper angle. This clean edge lets the blade slice, instead of chop, through the grass at high speed. It’s the difference between cutting carrots with a knife and a piece of 1/8-inch steel swung wildly through the air

Step 1: Position the Mower on Its Side

The first step may seem obvious but we’ve been around for a while…and we’ve seen some crazy stuff. In case it isn’t already clear, don’t sharpen the blade on the mower. For one, it doesn’t give you enough room to maneuver the grinder. Second—the majority of the work needs to take place on the top side of the blade. Third, it’s dangerous since there’s no good way to keep the blade from spinning around on you.

To remove a lawnmower blade, first, get the mower into a safe position. For a gas mower, remove the spark plug wire to ensure the motor cannot fire. Then turn the mower onto its side (carburetor/air filter side facing upwards) to expose the blade. Turning it this way helps keep the engine from flooding and oil from leaking.

Step 2: Remove the Blade from the Lawn Mower

Use a 1/2-inch impact wrench if you have one. While this may have been an obscure tool for a consumer to have just a few years ago, manufacturers are bringing cordless impact wrenches more and more into the mainstream. So grab a grinder if you have one. If you don’t, use the longest ratchet you have with the appropriate socket. If it’s still not budging, use a piece of 2×4 or similar material and tap the ratchet handle with a hammer via the wood (so you don’t damage the tool). Be careful as the ratchet can easily slip off the center bolt.

Step 3: Secure the Blade in a Vise and Sharpen

Secure the blade in a vise with the sharp portion of the blade positioned accessibly towards you. Using a small angle grinder, sharpen the lawn mower blades using a smooth, steady motion along the length of the sharpened portion of the steel. You want to match the existing angle of the blade, not create your own angle. This ensures the blade continues to maintain its proper lift and functionality.

Remember, the goal of lawnmower blade sharpening…is to sharpen the blade, not recut a new edge from a block of flat steel. Work with the metal! Try to remove the same amount of metal from each side of the blade so you maintain the balance of the blade. See our section below on balancing the lawn mower blade before you finish.

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade With a Bench Grinder

Knowing how to use a bench grinder to sharpen lawn mower blades helps you in a number of ways. For one, a bench grinder makes it easier to maintain the sharpening angle on the blade. You no longer need to rely on your hands to steady the grinder. Instead, a bench grinder gives you a place to rest the blade against and set up your angle. Let’s assume you already followed the steps above to remove the blade from the mower.

Step 1: Set Your Table Angle to Match the Existing Blade Angle

A bench grinder reverses the process of sharpening. Rather than move the grinder across the blade, you move the blade back and forth across the grinder wheel. Most bench grinders feature a table that tilts. Using this you can really get consistent results using this method. Set the angle of the table before you turn on the grinder and begin sharpening.

Step 2: Start the Bench Grinder and Slide the Blade across the Table

Be sure not to over-sharpen the lawn mower blade when using a bench grinder. You only have so much steel to work with before you have to get a new blade. You also don’t need to do much more than put that edge back on. Use quick passes back and forth when sharpening. This helps keep you from heating up the steel and eliminating the hardening process. This helps you keep that blade edge sharp for longer periods of time.

How to Balance a Lawn Mower Blade

Regardless of how you sharpen a lawn mower blade, you want to finish by balancing the blade. When you remove metal from each side of the blade, you affect the blade’s balance. Just like your car—which needs all four wheels properly balanced—lawnmower blades must also be balanced. If not, it can cause excessive vibration and reduce cutting efficiency.

Step 1: Create a Balance Point

Hammer a 16D or similar nail into a stud in your shed or shop and hang the blade from its center point. In theory, you could simply hold out a nail and do this step by hand if needed. Some blades are harder than others to balance due to the nature of the center hole. The easiest to balance use round holes.

Step 2: Mark the Heavy Side

If it stays balanced, you’re all done. If not, mark the blade on the heavy side with a Sharpie marker. I typically mark the actual sharpened edge so I have something to remove.

Step 3: Continue Sharpening and Re-measure

Next, grind away some more metal off that side. Be sure to maintain the same cutting angle. Just do a little bit and then re-check your blade balance.

Regardless of which grinder method you use, balance the blade each time you sharpen it before mounting it back on the lawn mower.

Other Tools and Methods to Sharpen Lawnmower Blades

Save yourself a lot of headaches and don’t use a file to sharpen lawn mower blades. You don’t need to have that level of accuracy, and it’s just slower and more work than you need for this process. Regardless of what anyone says, you won’t get a nicer-looking lawn or longer blade life from manually sharpening the blade with a file. Use one of the grinding methods above and git ‘er done!

For commercial users who do a lot of lawn mower blade sharpening, several companies make tools that can help speed up the process…potentially. We tried a tool from Noracore called the Easy Mower Blade Sharpener (EMBSX). It uses a die grinder, mirrors, and a camera connected to your smartphone to let you sharpen blades on a zero-turn mower without removing them. While it has some potential, it also had difficulty getting to that center blade on 3-blade ZTs. It’s clearly an innovative tool. In fact, it won a 2019 Pro Tool Innovation Award. In the end, you’ll need to determine whether it might be easier just to jack up the mower and pull the blades.

Other systems include jigs for quickly setting and maintaining angles on even complex mower blades. These help you maintain that proper edge—which can vary between 30 and 45-degrees depending on the blade. If you do a lot of sharpening, find a system that optimizes your time to save you the most money.

Some Considerations

Regardless of how you choose to sharpen a lawn mower blade, be sure you wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Protect your eyes, hands, and ears whenever working with grinders. Grinding mower blades takes very little effort. It’s a great entry-level task that almost anyone can tackle.

Let us know what you think in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below. Do you have a preferred method for sharpening lawn mower blades? Which method works most consistently in your experience? We’d love to hear from you.

Clint DeBoer

When he’s not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.

Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years. Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film video editing, color correction, and digital video MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified. After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades. Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.

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How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade

You might think lawn mower blade sharpening requires tons of skill. While years of practice will hone your technique, the basic principles to sharpen a blade are rather simple. Our DIY instructions show you how to sharpen a lawn mower blade quickly so you can save money and keep your lawn looking great.

Why Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade at All?

You may think a blade spinning at over 180 mph or more wouldn’t need to be terribly sharp to cut grass. You’d be right. However, a nice sharp blade will slice through grass and allow it to grow in a more healthy manner.

Why does this matter? Because “shredded” grass tips will quickly turn brown, leaving your lawn looking ragged and burnt. The following image helps illustrate this:

For professionals, and people who—quite frankly—just like a nice lawn, having sharp lawnmower blades truly matters for a professional look. This goes triple for species like Fescue which grow more or less straight out of the ground and require frequent cutting.

We know professionals who sharpen their zero turn mower blades every other day.

How to Decide Which Way to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade

Many ways exist to sharpen a lawnmower blade. Some of the easiest (and quickest) involve using a grinder. The blades don’t actually need to achieve razor sharpness—they just need to have a decisive cutting edge. It’s this edge that slices through, rather than chops, the grass at high speed.

Of course, grinders come in many sizes and forms. Angle grinders, bench grinders…you name it. If you have one of these tools already, then you may have everything you need to sharpen your lawn mower blades. If not, one of our other solutions might work out—so keep reading.

Aside from the use of a grinder, you can also grab a manual file and get to work. Dedicated blade sharpening systems exist that ensure the right angle and consistency when sharpening these heavy blades.

Regardless of which method you choose to sharpen your mower’s blades, we’ll start with the most common and work our way down.

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade Using an Angle Grinder

Using a small angle grinder to sharpen lawn mower blades lets you accomplish the task with minimal time investment or cost. You can pick up an angle grinder for very little money, and the process involves matching the angle of the existing blade edge and simply honing it.

Steps to sharpen a lawn mower blade with an angle grinder:

• Remove the lawn mower blade and place it in a vice
• Attach an abrasive wheel to the angle grinder
• Run the angle grinder back and forth along the blade, maintaining the existing angle of the blade
• Balance the blade to assure you removed equal material from both ends (see below)

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade Using a Bench Grinder

Similar to the process above, using a bench grinder to sharpen lawnmower blades works just as easily. A bench grinder reverses the process. Instead of moving the grinder over the blade—you move the blade across the grinder wheel. Since many bench grinders include an adjustable table, you can often get fantastic and consistent results using this method.

Try not to over-sharpen the blade. Doing so only results in a too-fragile edge that dulls more easily and weakens the blade. You also want to use quick passes to sharpen the blade. Be careful not to heat the steel too much. If you do, you may inadvertently weaken the hardening process that holds the blade’s edge.

Steps to sharpen a lawn mower blade with a bench grinder:

• Remove the lawn mower blade
• Set the angle of the grinder tool rest so that the blade angle matches up to the wheel
• Turn on the bench grinder
• Run the blade left and right along the grinder wheel, keeping the blade flat to the tool rest
• Balance the blade to assure you removed equal material from both ends (see below)

Use a Drill and Sharpening Wheel to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade

Another way to sharpen a lawn mower blade involves the use of a cordless drill and a special bit. You can find these in any number of shapes and sizes. These bits match the natural angle of the lawnmower blade.

Steps to sharpen a lawn mower blade with a drill accessory:

• Place the lawn mower blade in a vice
• Insert the bit into the drill
• Set the drill to High Speed
• Run the accessory along the sharpened portions of the blade to refresh the edge

One advantage of these types of sharpeners is that you can leave the blade on the mower. Depending on the type of blade and mower, you may get better results by removing the blade first. Still, it does provide a truly quick way to maintain your blade sharpness.

Balancing the Mower Blade

These methods are rather forgiving, however, you should take care to not miss an important step: periodically balancing the blade. After taking off some metal on either side of the blade and achieving a nice edge, you need to ensure the blade still balances evenly.

To do this, hammer a 16D or similar nail into a wall in your shed or shop and hang the blade from its center point. If it stays balanced, you’re all done. if not, mark the heavy side with a Sharpie marker and take some additional metal off that side by continuing to sharpen it. Most of the time, you can keep a blade balanced by staying aware of how many passes you make with a grinder. Still, periodically check the blade balance to ensure you haven’t drifted too far on one side or the other.

Regardless of which grinder method you use, balance the blade periodically to ensure it stays even.

Other Methods to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blades

We don’t typically recommend the use of a file when sharpening your lawnmower blades. The process is slow and manual, and the results won’t get you a nicer lawn or a longer blade life. Instead, pick one of the grinder methods above and get to work. If, however, you enjoy using a hand file—by all means, go for it.

If you happen to sharpen mower blades regularly—enough to warrant a faster process—several commercial models do exist to save you time. A newly-created tool from Noracore called the Easy Mower Blade Sharpener (EMBSX) has particular promise. In fact, this tool won a 2019 Pro Tool Innovation Award.

This pneumatic tool drives a die grinder with both a mirror and a camera interface that lets you sharpen the blades on zero-turn mowers without removing them. It takes some finesse and skill to use, so it’s not for everyone. You also need to watch that you don’t sharpen one side more than another or you risk unbalancing the blades.

Some Considerations

No matter which method you choose to sharpen a lawnmower blade, please be careful to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect your eyes, hands, and ears. Grinding mower blades takes little effort and we find it a great entry-level task almost anyone can handle. Still, taking proper safety precautions guards against accidents.

Let us know what you think in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below. Do you have a preferred method for sharpening lawnmower blades? Which method works most consistently in your experience? We’d love to hear from you.

Clint DeBoer

When he’s not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.

Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.

Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film video editing, color correction, and digital video MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.

After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.

Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.

Mow Like a Pro: How to Sharpen Mower Blades

Sharpening your mower’s blades twice each season helps maintain your lawn’s health and appearance. Having a sharp blade cuts grass blades cleanly, allowing them to recover quickly. It can also help reduce your mowing time. Read on and learn about how to sharpen mower blades like a lawn professional.

Blades with Normal Wear and Tear

During its lifetime, a mower blade hits rocks, branches, and thatch on your lawn that cause nicks, dings, and curls. Dull mower blades rip the grass blades instead of cutting them cleanly. Ripped grasses are more vulnerable to lawn disease infections. If your blade is in fairly good condition, sharpening it can be a fairly easy task. To sharpen, clamp your blade in a vise and run a metal file along its cutting edge. Ensure that you are following angle of the factory bevel. Always remember to disconnect the spark-plug wire before removing the blade or performing other kinds of mower maintenance. Sharpen the blade every two weeks to maintain your blade.

Badly Damaged Blades

Blades that are more damaged require different care. They should either be replaced or sharpened on a bench grinder. Take the blade to the professionals at a service shop. There, they will inform you as to whether it’s time to spring for a new blade or they will sharpen it for you with a grinder. If you have your own personal grinder, however, you can sharpen the blade yourself.

To sharpen your own blade with a grinder, smooth out nicks by running the blade back and forth against the spinning wheel vertically. Doing this gives you a straight edge. It will be blunt, so next, support the blade on the rest plate. Then hold the blade at the angle of the existing bevel. Grind the blade’s length until its edge is sharp.

Balancing Act

Always be sure that the blade is balanced, as an off-kilter blade can damage your mower. You can purchase a plastic balancer at most local lawn-care centers for an affordable price. To use, start by resting the blade on the balancer. If one side dips down, it means the steel needs to be ground on that end—not from the cutting edge—in order to lighten it. After you have balanced the blade, it’s safe to bolt it back onto the mower. Now you’re ready to mow!

Questions? Call the professionals at Cardinal Lawns for advice or assistance with your yard.

The Best Mower Blade Sharpener To Buy in 2022 For A Great Lawn

This is our review of the best lawn mower blade sharpeners in 2023.

• The Top Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener Comparison
• The Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpeners for Homeowners – Reviewed

• Best Overall Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener: All American Sharpener Model 5005
• Best Budget Lawnmower Blade Sharpener: AccuSharp Garden Tool Sharpener
• Best Sharpener For Manual Lawn Mower Blades: Smith’s 50603 Lawn Mower Blade Shop Essentials Sharpener
• Most Versatile Mower Blade Sharpener: SHARPAL 103N All-in-1 Knife Garden Tool Multi-Sharpener
• Best Electric Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener: Grizzly Lawn Gear Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener
• Best Professional Solution: Oregon 88-023 Professional 1/2 HP Lawnmower Blade Grinder
• Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener for Drills: Bosmere R305 Multi-Sharp Mower Sharpener
• Best Lawn Mower Sharpener Attachment Kit: Dremel A679-02 Sharpening Attachment Kit

• What to Look for in a Lawnmower Blade Sharpener

• Speed
• Power Type
• Usage
• Guide Material and Durability
• Compatibility
• Ease of Use
• Versatility
• Safety
• Price
• Warranty

• What are lawn mower blade sharpeners and what do they do?
• How do you use a blade sharpener?
• When should I sharpen my blades?
• How often should I sharpen my lawnmower blades?

Dull lawn mower blades can rip the grass, leaving jagged edges that weaken the plant and encourage fungal growth. The grass may also appear brown, yellow, and rugged. A dull blade will hurt your lawn.

For this reason, sharpening your lawn mower blades is essential. Lawn Mower blade sharpeners are very useful for this task. As a gardening enthusiast, I researched and worked with different sharpeners to find their efficiency until I came to the best lawn mower blade sharpener.

My overall best choice is the All American Sharpener. This sharpener features a pivoting head so you can sharpen both sections of the mulching blade. You can also sharpen straight standard and high-lift lawn mower blades.

If you have both right and left-hand blades, you don’t need separate sharpeners as it can handle them both. Additionally, its sharpening angles are adjustable, allowing you to sharpen different lawn mower blades to crisp edges.

Our best professional mower sharpener delivers the right speed and force for sharpening 6″ blades for professional landscapers. The Oregon 88-023 also comes with a reverse switch and height adjustment features.

If you’re on a budget, don’t worry. Our best budget mower blade sharpener is made from hard, rust-resistant material for durability and is affordable.

While the All American Sharpener is the best overall lawn mower blade sharpener, it is a little pricey for some and might not be the best for people on a budget. Additionally, it isn’t ideal if you’re looking for a drill attachment or a versatile sharpener.

However, we’ve created a guide for best sharpeners in specific situations and discussed them in detail below.

The Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpeners for Homeowners – Reviewed

Best Overall Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener: All American Sharpener Model 5005

The All American Sharpener is our best choice for lawn mower sharpeners. It has a unique design of a vice head to hold the mower blade and an articulating arm that attaches the grinder. The arm also ensures the sharpening angle is proper every time.

It can sharpen mulching, standard, and high-lift blades. It features a pivoting head for sharpening both mulching blade’s sections at a proper angle. With this sharpener, you’ll be able to sharpen straight standard blades to perfection in a matter of minutes.

You can also adjust sharpening angles between 15° and 45°. Additionally, the blade can sharpen both right and left-hand blades.

The All American Sharpener 5005 comes with four pins. They screw into the threaded port and allow you to connect a 4½” angle grinder.

With this sharpener, you can sharpen multiple blades efficiently. Previously ground and used blades can come back to an almost new condition after using this sharpener.

And when you want to use it, you can easily mount it on any worktop – bolted or clamped. If you’re going to use it while you are out and about, you only need to attach the mounting bracket to a trailer or truck. It is completely portable as it comes with a cordless grinder.

However, it is expensive compared to some other less-featured sharpeners. But, if you have left and right-hand blades or mulching, high-lift, and standard blades, and you love perfection, this lawn mower blade is the best option for sharpening lawn mower blades.

Best Budget Lawnmower Blade Sharpener: AccuSharp Garden Tool Sharpener

If you are on a budget but still looking for a quality blade sharpener, the AccuSharp Garden Tool Sharpener might be what you’re looking for.

It is designed to sharpen all single-edged garden tools such as lawnmower blades, pruning shears, shovels, hoes, and limb loppers.

Made from diamond-honed tungsten carbide, it is hard, durable, and can handle almost any gardening blade you throw at it.

Its long-lasting construction is rust-resistant, and you can clean it easily with soap and water or in the dishwasher.

The sharpener features an ergonomic handle that can fit in either hand for both right and left-handed users. Additionally, it has a full-length guard to protect your fingers when sharpening.

The AccuSharp Sharpener will sharpen and restore your blades at an affordable price. It is an ideal choice for people looking for a decent lawn mower blade sharpener with a limited budget.

Best Sharpener For Manual Lawn Mower Blades: Smith’s 50603 Lawn Mower Blade Shop Essentials Sharpener

If you’re looking for an excellent residential lawn mower blade sharpener — not professional — you will appreciate Smith’s 50603 Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener.

This easy-to-use sharpener has a hard and long-lasting carbide blade. It will put a sharp and smooth edge on your blade in a few minutes and last for a long time.

It features a durable plastic head and an oversized handle so you can fit your hands with gloves. The large finger guard makes the sharpening process safe and secure.

The mower blade sharpener comes with a wire-bristle cleaning brush and storage on the product handle. After using it, you can easily clean and store it.

You’ll also be glad to know that the coarse, premium carbide blade is replaceable. This makes it cost-effective. Instead of buying another mower sharpener, replace the blade, and you’ll be good to go.

Are you looking for a birthday or Father’s day gift? This sharpener will make an excellent gift for the gardener in your life. It’s an excellent choice for homeowners enthusiastic about keeping their lawn neat without much hassle.

Most Versatile Mower Blade Sharpener: SHARPAL 103N All-in-1 Knife Garden Tool Multi-Sharpener

The SHARPAL 103N All-in-1 is the most versatile sharpener on this list. Apart from lawn mower blades, you can sharpen single and double-beveled blades like scissors, pruners, hedge shears, machetes, loopers, hatchets, among others.

It has five sharpening parts to accommodate blades of different angles, single or double bevel, shape, etc.

They include a tungsten carbide bar with a unique design, one ceramic bar, and three different slots with preset sharpening angles. These sharpening parts give the best sharpening performance to all the different blade types.

The sharpener is made from a durable abrasive sharpening material. They pass a 10,000 times field test and never wear out.

It has an oversized handle, so you can use it with gloves. The rubber-coated handle and base provide a comfortable grip and prevent slipping. Additionally, the large guard protects your hand and fingers from the blades.

This tool comes with a 3-year warranty. It’s perfect for people with lots of yard tools and prefers one sharpener for most if not all of them.

Best Electric Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener: Grizzly Lawn Gear Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener

While manual blade sharpeners are affordable, they require a lot of effort to sharpen. Electric ones sharpen your mower blade quickly and easily without requiring a lot of labor.

The Grizzly Lawn Gear lawn Mower Blade Sharpening tool is an electric mower blade sharpener with a drill attachment kit. It includes a free blade balancer and natural latex garden gloves to protect your hands against bruises.

Each drill attachment has a durable corundum stone that can sharpen blades of any size. The stone is 0.70″ thick, making it long-lasting.

The attachment can fit any hand or power drill, ensuring a crisp, sharp blade edge. You can also use it on your power mower blade. It’s not as powerful as a bench grinder, but will still do a fine job.

Made from premium nylon material, the precision sharpening guide can withstand repetitive force against the blade, thus preventing shattering.

The blade balancer makes sure the blades are balanced for even sharpening. For mower and tractor blades, the balancer fits all styles of blade holes.

You also get a lifetime warranty and money-back guarantee so you can shop risk-free. This electric blade sharpener is for people looking to upgrade from manual to electric or who want to sharpen faster with less effort.

Best Professional Solution: Oregon 88-023 Professional 1/2 HP Lawnmower Blade Grinder

For homeowners looking for a professional mower blade sharpener, you’ll love the Oregon 88-023 ½ HP blade grinder. It’s a ½ HP, standard duty, 750 RPM spinning speed motor blade grinder that can sharpen up to 6″ cutting edge.

Apart from an ON/OFF safety switch, it comes with a reversing switch for grinding right and left-hand blades.

It also includes an adjustable light for sharpening when it’s dark. Additionally, you can adjust the height easily and fast using the easy-to-turn rotary adjusting knobs and handle.

The grinder also features a grit collector to prevent the mess from spreading all over the working area. However, the grit collector is sold separately.

This sharpener is one of the most powerful electric grinders. It can be a perfect choice if you’re looking for a powerful sharpener for your 6″ mowing blades.

Also, if your yard usually grows hard weeds and grass that easily blunt your blades, you might need a more powerful sharpener to give your blades a crisp cutting edge. This is the tool for you.

Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener for Drills: Bosmere R305 Multi-Sharp Mower Sharpener

The Bosmere R305 mower sharpener is a drill attachment that fits any power drill and will sharpen your mower blades in minutes.

It features a reversible aluminum grinding wheel that offers you about ten resharpenings for your mower blade. The sharpener will also reshape your rotary mower blades in minutes.

It will also re-edge and reshape hoes, spades, and lawn edgers for more versatility, thus making it easier to use.

This mower sharpener can fit any domestic power grill and sharpen your blades. Sharp blades are safer to use, give a clean-cut, and leave your grass healthy.

It is for people looking for a cheap, easy-to-use drill attachment for their power drill. However, if you’re looking for one with premium features and lasts a lifetime, this is not your ideal choice.

Best Lawn Mower Sharpener Attachment Kit: Dremel A679-02 Sharpening Attachment Kit

The Dremel A679-02 sharpening kit helps keep your favorite gardening tools like mower blades and chainsaws sharp and ready for the next DIY project.

The kit includes a lawn mower sharpening attachment, a gardening tool sharpening attachment, a chainsaw sharpening attachment, two spacers, sharpening and grinding stones (453,454, 455,932), wrench, and gauge.

The three main attachments help sharpen even the dullest of mower blades and chains and provide optimum sharpening angles.

This sharpener is compatible with Dremel Rotary tool models 8100, 4300, 7760, 8220 (for use with collet and collet nut), and the 100, 200, 3000, and 4000 series.

These attachments are easy to install. You only need to screw them on your Dremel rotary tool. The kit comes with a 1-year warranty, and in case of anything, the manufacturer offers customer support through email, chat, or phone.

This sharpening attachment kit is ideal for someone looking for a mower blade and chainsaw sharpener. It can also sharpen other garden tools.

Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener Buying Guide

What to Look for in a Lawnmower Blade Sharpener

When buying a lawnmower blade sharpening tool, you need to consider these factors:

Speed

How fast will the grinder you’re considering sharpen your mower blades? How much time are you willing to invest to sharpen mower blades?

If it’s a manual one, it’ll most likely take more time to achieve your desired edge — anywhere from around thirty minutes to several hours.

On the other hand, electric grinders take less time, with others as less than a few minutes. Some are quicker than others. The speed depends on the RPM speed and the horsepower of the grinder.

However, the fastest is not always the best. Go for a sharpener whose speed is relative to the blade. Excessive speed can damage the blade by overheating, and you also risk injuring yourself.

Power Type

Do you prefer a manual or an electric sharpener for your mower blade?

Manual sharpeners are affordable but require a lot of effort. Electric ones are fast and do not require much labor. However, they are more expensive than manual sharpeners.

Usage

Your choice of sharpener can depend on your usage. Sharpeners range from hand-held blade sharpeners to heavy-duty angle grinding wheels and powerful motor grinders.

If you only need to bring back one compact mower blade, you don’t need a professional, industrial-style grinder. Also, if you’re a professional landscaper sharpening blades for commercial use, a cheap hand-held sharpener won’t cut it. You might also want to look for a professional solution that will allow you to sharpen multiple lawn mower blades.

Before purchasing, ensure you know how you’ll be using the tool and how often.

Guide Material and Durability

Blade sharpeners feature a guide that controls the angle of sharpening. This guide ensures the blade remains at the correct angle and does not shift while you sharpen the blade.

Most guides are made from plastic. However, if low-quality plastic is used, it can overheat, melt, and even produce smoke. Using too much force when sharpening can also melt the plastic.

Ensure the guide plastic is durable and cannot break or melt easily. You can also check online reviews of the brand you intend to buy.

Mulching blades can be a problem for some guides – if you have a mulching blade, make sure to check if your dull lawnmower blade can work in the guide you are buying.

Compatibility

While some sharpeners are grindstones and traditional blade files that can sharpen any blade type, others have compatibility issues. Pick the wrong one for your needs and you won’t have a sharp blade.

Some require fitting to power drills that generate the force needed. However, some drills are not compatible with some attachments.

If you buy a drill attachment sharpener, make sure it’s compatible with the drill you already got. Otherwise, it won’t work, and you’ll have wasted your money.

Ease of Use

You don’t want a sharpener that’ll make you curse all day because using it is rocket science. Worse still, it might damage your blades and potentially injure you.

While some sharpeners may look simple, they might be hard to use and may cause damage. For this reason, go for a sharpener that you’re comfortable using. If you don’t, you’ll rarely sharpen lawn mower blades.

Most sharpeners that attach to drill are easy to use. But, if you’ve got a different type, ensure you’re physically capable of handling it.

Also, is the sharpener made for right-handed people, left-handed, or both? Ensure you confirm before purchasing.

Versatility

While they are mostly labeled as lawn mower blade sharpeners, most are versatile and can sharpen different blades.

For gardening enthusiasts with a load of different blades, buying a sharpener for each blade type can be costly. It would be an excellent investment if you got one that can sharpen other blades.

However, you should be careful as the sharpener might be great at sharpening one blade but destroy the other.

For instance, a heavy-duty commercial sharpener might do an exceptional job with mower blades and other large ones, but it’ll destroy your thinner blades.

Also, some sharpeners can sharpen standard blades, mulched, high-lift, among others. Keep your sharpening needs in mind and decide whether the tool you’re considering is versatile enough and won’t damage your blades.

Safety

Blade sharpening can be a hobby for some people, but it’s also dangerous and prone to accidents if you’re not careful.

Does the sharpener you’re interested in have safety features? It should protect you from cuts, friction, and even sparks.

At the very least, a handheld sharpener should have finger guards. Your fingers are the most exposed and could suffer cuts and bruises. The best finger guards should be oversized so you can use them while wearing gloves.

For motor grinders, there can be sparks and metal filings. You will need eye protection which you will probably buy separately.

It is also recommended to use safety gloves every time and non-flammable clothing or a protective apron.

Price

Different sharpeners have different depending on the features they offer. A heavy-duty grinder will cost more than a handheld sharpener.

You should consider your budget and needs when buying a sharpener. If your budget is limited, you can opt to go for a cheaper sharpener then upgrade later.

Just ensure the sharpener you’re are buying is worth the price.

Warranty

Most manufacturers offer a warranty on their sharpening tools. The warranties, however, differ from tool to tool, depending on the manufacturer.

The warranty will give you peace of mind in case anything goes wrong. Still, some brands may not offer any warranty.

Additionally, consider the return policy of the sharpener. If there’s any fault, can you return it, or you’ll be stuck with a non-functional tool and lose your money?

Go for a sharpener with a warranty you’re comfortable with as well as a favorable return policy. Other brands offer risk-free shopping where you can get a refund if the tool doesn’t function as stated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What are lawn mower blade sharpeners and what do they do?

Lawn mower blade sharpeners are devices that are used to sharpen the blades of a lawn mower. The blades of a lawn mower can become dull over time, making it difficult for the mower to cut through grass. A sharpener will help to keep the blades in good condition and improve the performance of the mower. There are two types of sharpeners: manual and electronic. Manual sharpeners require the user to grind the blades against a grinding wheel or stone. Electronic sharpeners use a rotating abrasive wheel powered by a motor to sharpen the blades. Both types of sharpeners can be used to keep lawn mower blades in good condition.

How do you use a blade sharpener?

A mower blade sharpener is a tool that is used to sharpen the blades on a lawn mower. There are several different types of mower blade sharpeners available on the market, but they all work in essentially the same way. To use a mower blade sharpener, you will need to remove the mower blade from the lawn mower. Once the mower blade is removed, you will need to position the blade sharpener against the cutting edge of the blade. Next, you will need to apply pressure to the blade sharpener and move it across the cutting edge of the blade in a back-and-forth motion. Repeat this process until the entire cutting edge of the blade has been sharpened. Finally, reattach the mower blade to the lawn mower and test it out to make sure that it is properly sharpened.

When should I sharpen my blades?

Over time, mower blades will become dull and will need to be sharpened. There are a few things to look for to know when it is time to sharpen the blades. First, check the mower blade for nicks or chips. If there are any, then it is time to sharpen the blades. Second, if the mower is leaving grass clumps on the lawn, it is a potential sign that the blades need to be sharpened. It is possible you are cutting your grass at the wrong time as well. Lastly, if it takes longer than usual to mow the lawn, that may be an indication that the mower blades are dull and in need of sharpening.

There are a few different ways to sharpen lawn mower blades. One is to use a mower blade sharpener. This is a handheld tool that can be used to manually sharpen the mower blades. Another option is to take the mower blades to a professional who can use a power grinder to sharpen them. Regardless of which method you choose, it is important to keep the mower blades sharpened in order to have a healthy lawn.

How often should I sharpen my lawnmower blades?

lawn mower blade sharpeners are a great way to keep your lawn looking neat and tidy. But how often should you use them? The general rule of thumb is to sharpen your blades every six weeks or so. However, this will vary depending on how often you use your lawn mower and the type of grass you have. If you have a busy lawn with a lot of traffic, you may need to sharpen your blades more often. Conversely, if you have a lawn with slower-growing grass, you can probably get away with sharpening your blades less frequently. You should also keep an eye out for signs that your blades need to be sharpened, such as uneven cuts or damaged grass. By following these guidelines, you can keep your lawn looking its best all season long.

Our Verdict

A lawn mower sharpener should not only sharpen the blade but also make your work easier and efficient. Sharpeners come with different features to help you achieve your goal.

While all sharpeners in this guide are the best in their respective categories, the All American Sharpener Model 5005 is the best overall. Apart from sharpening straight standard, high-lift, and mulching mower blades, it can sharpen both right and left-hand blades.

That, plus other features like adjustable blade angles, mounting bracket, and cordless grinder for portability, and how easy it is to use the sharpener, makes it an overall excellent sharpener.

While it’s pricey, I think it’s worth every dollar. Don’t let grass overgrow in your yard because of blunt mower blades.

Click on the affiliate links above to proceed with purchasing the overall best sharpener or any other that fits your preferences and budget.

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Top 5 Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener Tools in 2023

A lawnmower blade sharpening tool is one of the most important instruments for organizing your yard, though it doesn’t matter if you want to throw a party or just want to keep the place tidy. It is very important to use a blade sharpener for your lawnmower, particularly during the watering season.

The mower blades have to be sharp in order to clean up without leaving bits and pieces of the lawn unmowed. The lawn should be trimmed in a powerful and clean way by the mower blades.

An added advantage to a sharpened blade is, if it is done correctly, it will not harm the buds. A skilled and sharpened blade may require the time to cut the bud. A well-sharpened mower can even get to the lawn borders easily without any difficulty. So If you have got an old blade, or the blade is dull, the best method to redeem it would be to sharpen it with a mower blade sharpener.

Here we have listed five of the best mower blade sharpening tools which you can buy to replenish your dull blades.

Best 5 Lawn Mower Blade Sharpening Tools

MAG-9000 Professional Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener by Magna-Matic

A lawnmower has to be frequently sharpened to maintain the tenacity of your lawns. The best among all the tools for this endeavor is the MAG-9000 Professional Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener by Magna-Matic. This tool has been in the market for quite a while now and has garnered a high reputation for itself. The sharpening blades of this lawnmower blade sharpener are exceptionally skilled and guarantee you a professional cut. Also, it comes all assembled in the package, so that just as you receive it, you can start using it.

The span and plan of this sharpener make it effortless to use and makes sharpening, a fast procedure. The most inviting feature of MAG-9000 is that it can sharpen the blades of your lawnmower in a matter of just 15 minutes. Additionally, it can sharpen a blade of almost any dimension, so that you do not have to worry about purchasing another lawnmower blade sharpener even if you change your mower.

This simple to use sharpener inculcates a high-speed voltage performance which guarantees you in assisting in saving energy bills. Also because of its exceptional layout, this dependable sharpener takes care of both direct and horizontal blades easily. It is also very easy to carry around.

Professional 1/2 HP Lawnmower Blade Grinder by Oregon

The next best alternative to sharpening unique sorts of lawn mower blades is the Professional ½ HP by Oregon. This blade grinder is the ideal grinder and has lots of autocratic advantages when it comes to sharpening mower blades. Oregon can easily extend the lifespan of your lawnmower with the assistance of its amazing and strong capabilities.

The flexible lightweight hand handles of this version of Oregon make it very user-friendly. Security is also exponentially improved because of the light on its head as it helps you see even in the dark or in foggy weather. The blade balancer uses reverse engineering technology for the sharpening of the blades. It is beneficial if you want to sharpen both rights and left-handed blades.

This sharpener also uses a simple to-turn rotary that may easily correct the handles along with the knobs and assist you in making alterations in the elevations. It is very convenient to take out the blades after waxing with this sharpener. Also, it is easy to switch between the on and off security switches and because it is so lightweight, it is easily movable.

LLC Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener by MB Machine

This yard blade sharpener by MB machine is one of the most sophisticated lawn mower sharpeners out there. It can be readily collected, and it allows to remove even mulch off of regular blades. It is highly mobile and easy to carry around.

It also allows the user to manually mount it, making the sharpener easy to set up. And because it has a universal adapter snare, it can easily fit in with the majority of grinders that are available in the market. The sharpener also happens to include an adjustable head which helps in including the variability of angles for numerous blades.

Because it is so easy to use, it is widely popular as well.

Smith’s 50603 Mower Blade Sharpener

Smith’s 50603 mower blade sharpener is a handheld instrument for sharpening blades to keep your mower at its very best state and helps to increase its durability. This tool is very handy and quite easy to use. It uses a carbide blade, which is preset and helps you smoothen and sharpen the borders of your blade, effortlessly in a short duration. It has a durable plastic headset because of which is quite easy to hold and work with. The head is supplied with a huge finger guard which will aid you to have secure and safe sharpening in every case.

The sharpener is also highly unlikely to capture dust and grime even after coming in contact with it. Also, it is rust-proof. It also includes a wire bristled cleaning brush to clean it after use. Because of its precision, it happens to be one of the safest and most sought-after tools for sharpening the blades of a lawnmower.

Work Sharp Knife Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition

If you are looking for a sharpener that does the work of both an amateur and professional sharpener, you should definitely go for Knife and Tools Sharpener by Work Sharp. This instrument can sharpen basically all sorts of blades and knives with precision and at the same time. The procedure to work with it is quite straightforward.

The sharpener comes with premium straps which increases the versatility of the tool and makes it flexible. With its own diamond straps, an individual can also sharpen or fix ceramic straps. As there are an array of straps including fine and coarse, this sharpener can accomplish various tasks at once.

The granular belt in it can be used to sharpen damaged blades while the moderate belt can be used to sharpen blunt zipper knives. Whereas the slim belt is perfect for sharpening and strengthening and giving a fast touch up to the blades. Lastly, the accuracy it shows is worth mentioning.

Frequently Answered Questions

How to choose the best lawn mower blade sharpener?

To choose the best, you should look for what is in your budget and what you want out of it. If you need something sophisticated and more versatile or just a simple blade sharpening tool.

How often should I sharpen the blades of my lawnmower?

You should sharpen your blades every 20-24 hours of their use time. But it also depends on the region where you live. If your lawn has wet grass for most times of the year then you might have to sharpen it more frequently as wet grass tends to blunt down your blade.

Where can I find a sharpener for my lawnmower blade?

You can find the choice of your lawnmower blade sharpener in your local tool shop. If not, you might find it online in stores like Amazon that sell all types of products.