Comments on: Episode #14 - Getting that Mower Going! http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/85/episode-14-getting-that-mower-going Working together on that Honey Do list! Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:15:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: The Handyguys http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/85/episode-14-getting-that-mower-going#comment-63 The Handyguys Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:48:37 +0000 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/85/episode-14-getting-that-mower-going#comment-63 We received this related question via the contact form an thought we would post it here... "Inspired by your latest podcast, can you give me some pointers on sharpening the blades of my reel mower on my own, or is this something I will definitely lose a finger doing? This is something I've been meaning to do, but haven't even had the time to think about how yet. ~Kit S. (DiyDiva)" Kit - Sharpening a reel mower will depend on its vintage. reel mowers cut like scissors do. An antique reel mower will need to be sharpened like any other blade. They are hard to do though because an equal amount of grinding needs to be done across the entire length of the blade and then the mower needs to be properly adjusted to mate up the fixed part of the 'scissors'. A more modern reel mower is best sharpened with a kit from the manufacturer. American Mower makes most of the modern reel mowers. Here is one example of a kit. http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B00004R9UM The way this works is by cranking the reels backwards after applying a grinding paste. This action sharpens the blades. If your reel mower does not have a kit or a simple way to do it I would recommend finding a sharpening service to do it for you. We received this related question via the contact form an thought we would post it here…
“Inspired by your latest podcast, can you give me some pointers on sharpening the blades of my reel mower on my own, or is this something I will definitely lose a finger doing? This is something I’ve been meaning to do, but haven’t even had the time to think about how yet.

~Kit S.
(DiyDiva)”

Kit - Sharpening a reel mower will depend on its vintage. reel mowers cut like scissors do. An antique reel mower will need to be sharpened like any other blade. They are hard to do though because an equal amount of grinding needs to be done across the entire length of the blade and then the mower needs to be properly adjusted to mate up the fixed part of the ’scissors’. A more modern reel mower is best sharpened with a kit from the manufacturer. American Mower makes most of the modern reel mowers. Here is one example of a kit.
http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B00004R9UM
The way this works is by cranking the reels backwards after applying a grinding paste. This action sharpens the blades.

If your reel mower does not have a kit or a simple way to do it I would recommend finding a sharpening service to do it for you.

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