How to Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blade

Sharpening your lawn mower’s blade is a great way to increase the efficiency of your mower, while also reducing its overall wear and tear. To help you get the hang of sharpening your mower’s blades, we’ve written up the helpful guide below.

Safety

To ensure your safety be sure to have a durable pair of work gloves and some protective goggles on while you remove and sharpen your lawn mower’s blade. We also recommend removing your model’s spark plug to ensure your mower doesn't start up unexpectedly and holding the blades in place with a piece of wood or even a clamp. Afterward, use a market, chalk, or even paint to mark the underside of your mower’s blade.

Removal

To remove your lawn mower’s blade, locate the lug nut that holds the blade to the drive shaft and remove it with your wrench. Your blade should come off immediately and you’ll want to clean it with a soft cloth, removing any rust or debris with a cleaning oil and stiff wire brush.

Sharpening

If your blade is bent, cracked, or missing pieces, do not sharpen it, and have it replaced as soon as possible. If your blade seems to be in solid condition you can use a metal file, blade sharpener machine, bench grinder, or angle grinder to sharpen it. Do not make your lawn mower’s blade sharper than a butter knife, otherwise it will become duller faster and may even break while in use. Once your blade has been sharpened, reattach it to the drive shaft using the lugnut and your wrench. Afterward, start your mower to ensure it's working properly.

Need to replace your lawn mower blade? Stop by Desert Greens Equipment to find all of the parts, components, and equipment you need to keep your model in top condition. We have two convenient locations in Albuquerque and Belen, New Mexico, and look forward to serving those nearby in Santa Fe, and Rio Ranchero, New Mexico.