Comments on: How to Sharpen Push Mower Blades

on 4/28/2008 Maybe I'm way off, and please correct me if this would'nt work, but wouldn't it work just as well and easier to use a knife sharpening utensil on the blades?
5 - 10 swipes per blade with a hand-held sharpener should do the trick.

on 4/28/2008 Maybe I'm way off, but why not just use a knife sharpener on the blades? 5 - 10 swipes across with the knife sharpener ought to do each blade, right?

on 4/4/2008 Docsavage's point is intriguing - so I did some more research. The blades are supposed to be spun backwards ("backlapping") for sharpening, but swapping the drive gears is unnecessary - just take off the wheel and the drive gear and use a power drill to spin the drive shaft backwards. http://www.reelmowers.info/

on 2/17/2008 Shouldn't you reverse the drive to the reel before grinding the blades (remove and swap the drive gears) otherwise the blades become more dull.

on 2/17/2008 Hmm, shouldn't you reverse the reel drive before starting the grinding process (remove and swap the drive gears). This is BACKlapping after all.

on 1/21/2007 Remember, you can avoid the need sharpen push reel mower blades by purchasing a mower with ever-sharp blades. There are several models out there now like this...Brill and Sunlawn and perhaps a few other German made mowers like the Gardenea.

on 8/31/2006 Place a length of cloth-backed black silicon carbide paper folded over cutting bar, hold ends in place with clips, rotate wheel to get a even square edged cutting blade 100% correct. I used 80 grit starting and 120 grit finishing.