If you are like me  you prefer sharp mower blades. I like to sharpen them with each mow. So I cycle three sets for my ferres 48" zero turn
But it's still a massive $#$&@&$#*% PITA~!!!!!!!!!
I got these great grinder disks from PFERD,  They are fabulous  I got them in 2019 for my large and 4.5" grinders. I've done a lot of shrarpening and mill scale removal and the  disks I installed back then are still on my grionders.
Unlike flap disks if used  correctly (Read Do not lean on them) they last forever and cut steel like butter.
Anyway I got a triton gizmo vice thing to do my grinding out side instead of the dusty shop.
BUT STILL  it was a pita. Set the grinder down  struggle to get the blade out of the vice flip it clamp it and bend over for the grinder.

Yah, I know modern problems; they built the pyramids with copper chisels and rocks lashed to sticks.
 
 Anyway I repurposed a hunk of a pallet to this and it's fast and easy. I did all three sets in like 15 minutes plus balancing
https://the-axlotal-tank.smugmug.com/Tools-I-made-or-Purchased/i-8L58xRX/A

Do you balance them after each sharpening?

I change my blades on the zero turn three times a season. I have ended up with six sets of blades since I bought the mower in 2003 and sharpen the set I just removed and it goes on the bottom of the stack. My blades have a 5/8" hole and I use two bearing with a 5/8" axle and balance them with a hand spin of a blade or spin them up with the electric motor.. I don't know why I mess with the balancing act for I guess I take off about the same amount of metal on each end cause they were okay every time I took the time to check them.

Boy, am I on the outside of this conversation. My mower blades may not be sharpened for 5 years....less only if i think of it. I did have a balance tool for them at one time, I think I might have used it once or twice. So mostly when I do sharpen them iI don't worry about the balance....and the mower still doesn't seem to exhibit any vibration.

Edited June 24, 20223 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

30 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Mine mower blades may not be sharpened for 5 years

I'm not allowed to mow. Mimi's decision. 

I have  sharpen at least once a year. When Mimi mows, anything and everything in her path gets "mowed". When the mower starts running rough, I know she has knocked off the air filter and it's time to replace the carb.

On 6/23/2022 at 8:29 PM, lew said:

Do you balance

yup

Didn't even know I was suppose to balance! I just remove the blade and put a file to and reinstall, good to go. We talking about a regular lawn mower here?

Yes 

My lawn mower blade is dull. Someone suggested that you should sharpen your mower blade around every 25 hours of use. Is this true?
 

Because I usually prefer to sharpen the blade twice each season. I know replacing or sharpening or mower blades won't only stop grass leaves from being ripped and bruised but can also decrease our fuel consumption by up to 25%.
 

Do I get any effective results if I start sharping it around every 25 hours of use?

8 minutes ago, Mary Crawford said:

Do I get any effective results if I start sharping it around every 25 hours of use?

A lot depends on where/what you mow. Sticks, small gravel, how often you mow, etc. will all dull the blade. Best advice- sharpen when they get dull.

Mary, take a swag at how many hours your mower is in use. If you mow once a week, and it takes an hour, mowing from April through Sept. that only 24 hours or so a year. Of course, you may mow a lot more than that but I was quite surprised how little my mower runs in a year. Bear in mind, I mow probably less than most folks....just my way of doing things.

What Fred said.  Once a year seems enough for me and the blades still look pretty good when I remove them then..

11 hours ago, Mary Crawford said:

My lawn mower blade is dull. Someone suggested that you should sharpen your mower blade around every 25 hours of use. Is this true?
 

Because I usually prefer to sharpen the blade twice each season. I know replacing or sharpening or mower blades won't only stop grass leaves from being ripped and bruised but can also decrease our fuel consumption by up to 25%.
 

Do I get any effective results if I start sharping it around every 25 hours of use?

 

 

Produces a better cut, I do mine every 3 months.  As I use my mower year-round and catch with a bag this has worked well.  To make this an easy process I have 2 sets of blades.  This way I can sharpen one in my spare time.

I haven't sharpened my blades yet.

Quote

Bad Boy Mowers use Blount Fusion Blades on all their mowers. The Fusion blades wear 40% less than your standard blades. Electro-fusion technology is used to apply a Tungsten Carbide coating to increase durability. The Tungsten Carbide coating is heat treated for a tougher blade and a Blade that stays sharper longer. You will no longer have to sharpen your blades after every mow. The Fusion blades were designed with the customer in mind. Not having to sharpen your Blades every mow keeps you on your mower longer, and helps  you finish the job quicker.

Took me 18 months to get 10 hours on the mower... now I need to change the oil.

 

JT

25 hrs of mowing time is a lot of mowing time. I mow about 1/2 acre with my 42" John Deere tractor. Takes about 2 hrs  so that would amount to 12 1/2 mowings. I probably mow 10 -11 times in a summer, so once a season seems enough. That's what I do.

19 hours ago, Gunny said:

 

 

Produces a better cut, I do mine every 3 months.  As I use my mower year-round and catch with a bag this has worked well.  To make this an easy process I have 2 sets of blades.  This way I can sharpen one in my spare time.

Spare time? You’re only # 2 to Steve Newman on projects here.

Let's see now, between the two places I mow about 4 1/2 acres with the (Hot-Rodded*) JD Z225 Zero-Turn.  

(* Replaced 18.5 HP single cylinder engine with 22 HP V-Twin.)

Also replaced high lift mulching blades with standard straight cut blades which are less expensive, and easier to sharpen. 

Then there's the walk behind self propelled for those areas the zero-turn can't/won't go. 

Zero-Turn has 5900 hrs., engine 3000 hrs. . 

 

If I sharpened the blades every 25 hrs. I'd get behind on the mowing, which reminds me I'm behind on the mowing. 

 

I have 9 acres but it's deep in the forest so the areas I mow grow very slowly. I don't think I mow 6 times a year and with the Zero Turn it's really fast.

 

JT

How do you guys lift your ZTs for blade removal? 

15 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

How do you guys lift your ZTs for blade removal? 

I simply lift the front of the zero-turn and slide a metal milk crate under the front beam.

I then reach under the deck with a long 15/16" box end wrench for removing/replacing the blades.

Tried using car ramps once, but they just get in the way.