Can anyone recommend good quality mower blades? My last set was Oregon Gator Mulcher blades, which lasted 2 1/2 seasons. I sharpened them between each season, and had to sharpen again a couple weeks ago, but they're back to cutting terribly again. I use a recycling deck on my mower if that makes a difference.

I use OEM Toro blades.

Are you balancing your blade after sharpening? I use a less expensive plastic version of this.

I use both Oregon G5 and G6 gator blades and love them. Turn grass clippings to small pieces and leaves to dust. I sharpen my blades about every 10-12 hours using a Makita grinder with a flap disc. I like my blades sharper than a credit card edge, not as sharp as a knife edge but close.

I buy blades at Tractor Supply usually once a season ( or after hitting a rock -
have most of those sorted now)
Haven't had any issues.

quote:

Originally posted by barndg00:
Can anyone recommend good quality mower blades? My last set was Oregon Gator Mulcher blades, which lasted 2 1/2 seasons. I sharpened them between each season, and had to sharpen again a couple weeks ago, but they're back to cutting terribly again. I use a recycling deck on my mower if that makes a difference.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
I use OEM Toro blades.

Are you balancing your blade after sharpening? I use a less expensive plastic version of this.

Same here and I have the dealer sharpen them. I've got some blades that are several years old and still work.

A $35 Sears grinder and mine are as good as new. Use to start every season.

You won't find better than Gator in my experience. Sharpening them properly is key to making them last. Even grass will wear a blade. Just as with any edge, the correct bevel is key. That said - you say you got 2 1/2 years out of a set. Either you're not mowing a whole lot or you're looking for unobtanium blades, which nobody makes yet.

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
I use both Oregon G5 and G6 gator blades and love them. Turn grass clippings to small pieces and leaves to dust. I sharpen my blades about every 10-12 hours using a Makita grinder with a flap disc. I like my blades sharper than a credit card edge, not as sharp as a knife edge but close.

That's how you keep them cutting nice. More frequent sharpenings. You don't wait until your pocket knife won't cut butter, you shouldn't do that with mower blades either.

Oregon is very good & widespread. I like the regular hi-lift blades vs the gator on my mower - gets the grass out of the deck better (but trade off is larger clippings).
I usually keep 2 sets, sharpen the removed whenever I swap. I let the last pair go 3 years & they weren't cutting as well, even though sharp. for $50 a set (amazon is 15-16 per blade), I'll probably start buying a new set every year.

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:
Oregon is very good & widespread. I like the regular hi-lift blades vs the gator on my mower - gets the grass out of the deck better ...

I mow professionally and this is also my opinion. I run Toro mowers but the OEM Toro blades seem to dull quickly. The Oregon blades hold sharpness at least twice as long. The toothed blades (gator) don't have enough of a lift for a quality cut, in my opinion.

I also have a plastic balancer. I have a metal one as well but it doesn't work properly as the pieces hang up on each other and it often reads a false balance.

My blade sharpener has a jig that holds the blade at a 30° angle.

^^^+1 on Oregon blades, and the method above for sharpening. Not too sharp, but no rock dents. A little sharper than a butter knife blade. Get them on-line (usually) for the best price.

Not sure what brand to get but why not just buy a spare or two and have them already sharpened.
Just change them out when they dull.
Blades are cheap just keep a spare.

Looks like I should get Oregon blades again, but I don't think I'll do the Gators. I didn't balance them when I sharpened them before, so perhaps that's a problem. I'll get a balancer. For sharpening, do you use a grinder or one of the pull sharpeners?

quote:

Originally posted by barndg00:
Looks like I should get Oregon blades again, but I don't think I'll do the Gators. I didn't balance them when I sharpened them before, so perhaps that's a problem. I'll get a balancer. For sharpening, do you use a grinder or one of the pull sharpeners?

Bench top grinder or hand held. Those ones you pull across the blade will take about 6 months to get an edge on a hard steel blade.

Here is the grinder I use. https://www.powerequipmentware...-grind-blade-grinder but I need to sharpen at least 6 blades per week.

I just use a large nail in the vice to make sure they're balanced. My last ones stayed balanced until the 8th or 9th sharpening - I could feel just a bit more vibration. I used them beyond their life, as I said above.