Do New Lawnmower Blades Need to Be Sharpened?

When it comes to maintaining your lawn mower, one of the key aspects is ensuring that the blades are sharp. Sharp blades are essential for clean cuts that benefit the health of your grass. However, the question often arises: Do new lawnmower blades need to be sharpened? In order to address this, it is crucial to understand the importance of blade sharpness and the process of sharpening.

Why Sharp Blades Are Important

Sharp blades not only offer a cleaner cut but also contribute to the overall health of your grass. Dull blades can cause jagged cuts, leading to brown tips and potential damage to the grass. When grass is torn rather than cleanly cut, it is more susceptible to diseases and pests. Therefore, it is important to regularly maintain your blade sharpness.

The Sharpness of New Blades

Generally, new lawnmower blades do not come sharp. The reason for this is that they are not subjected to the same wear and tear as their used counterparts. While some users might choose to rely on the blade sharpness of a new mower, it is often advisable to have the blades sharpened for optimal performance.

One common mistake is not sharpening a new blade before use. Despite the initial sharpness, the blades can quickly become dull due to the presence of sand or gravel in the yard, which can dull the edge faster than expected. This is especially true for riding mowers where the blade makes contact with various surfaces.

Sharpening New Blades

Sharpening new blades serves a dual purpose: it ensures clean, efficient cuts and provides an opportunity to personalize the blade’s edge to your preferences. Some users, like the author, prefer to sharpen new blades to gain a better understanding of the type of edge that comes with the blade and to tailor it to their desired cutting style.

For example, there are mulching blades with upsweep notches designed to enhance air flow and provide additional cutting edges. By sharpening these notches, the blades can work more effectively, resulting in better mulching and overall lawn quality.

Blade Balance and Vibrations

Another factor to consider is the balance of the blade. While not all new blades will require sharpening, it is a good idea to check for proper balance, especially if you have a balance-checking device. Some new lawnmowers, as experienced by the author, can have blades that vibrate excessively upon engagement. Ensuring that the blade is balanced can help alleviate this issue and improve mower performance.

Personal Experience and Expert Advice

The author's experience with different lawn care companies highlights the importance of blade sharpness. Working for various companies, he observed that some mower blades needed sharpening even after about 40 hours of use, while others were sharpened more frequently. The author also mentioned a case where a riding mower blade was accidentally installed backwards, which resulted in poor bagging but no noticeable difference in cutting quality.

It is worth noting that while a sharp blade always cuts better, the edge of a new blade can quickly round off due to debris in the yard. This is a reminder that new blades should be sharpened to ensure optimal performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is generally recommended to sharpen new lawnmower blades to ensure clean, efficient cuts that support the health of your grass. The process not only ensures that the blade performs as intended but also allows for customization based on specific lawn care needs.

Keywords: lawnmower blades, sharpening, lawn maintenance