Facts About Lawn Mower Blades
Mower blades vary in length, thickness, material and cutting surface. However, all mower blades must be kept balanced and sharp. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Types
-
There are two types of lawn mower blades. Reel mower blades, which cut vertically in a scissor-like fashion, and rotary mower blades, which cut horizontally, drawing the grass upwards then lopping it off.
Standard blades
-
Standard blades are found in rotary mowers, whether they are riding mowers or walk-behind types. A rotary mower could have one, two or three blades mounted beneath its deck. The blades spin at 3,600 revolutions per minute.
-
Mulching blades
-
Well maintained grass Mulching blades are also found in rotary mowers. However, they differ from standard blades in not only how they look, but how they function. Grass is mulched up to three times by the blades before being released back into the ground.
Materials
-
Mower blades are typically constructed of tool steel, mild steel or carbon steel. The life of a blade varies according to the type of steel used.
Sharpening
-
Sharpness matters Any mower blade works poorly when it is dull. In addition, a dull blade wears down faster. Keep the blades sharp for maximum life, and for a healthier lawn.
Balance
-
Balance is key All lawn mower blades are balanced when new. This means there is an equal amount of metal on either end of the blade. Keeping blades balanced reduces wear on both the blades, and the mower.
-
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rene Ehrhardt Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Brenda Clarke Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Raphael Goetter
