Home Forum Contract & Flyer Templates Blog Software Videos Podcast Calculators / Estimators Store Mower Review Design It Yourself Lawn Business School

Go Back   GopherHaul Landscaping & Lawn Care Business Marketing Forum > Lawn Care, Landscaping, and Property Management Forums > Lawn Maintenance / Lawn Renovation

Lawn Maintenance / Lawn Renovation
A great way to talk about all things lawn care related. Grass, turf, shrubs, trees, aeration, fertilization, reseeding, hydro-seeding, mowing, grub control, chemicals and pesticides. Ask questions, give answers. Grow!

Are your Blades Sharp?


Lawn Maintenance / Lawn Renovation

A great way to talk about all things lawn care related. Grass, turf, shrubs, trees, aeration, fertilization, reseeding, hydro-seeding, mowing, grub control, chemicals and pesticides. Ask questions, give answers. Grow!
Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 06-01-2010, 08:22 PM
CloseCuts CloseCuts is offline
Hoss
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Milford, DE
Posts: 147
Rep Power: 6
CloseCuts
Default Are your Blades Sharp?

I was wondering how often does everyone change there blades? And do you guys sharpen your own blades and if so what type of grinder do you use? I change my blades everyday and sometimes depending on how many lawns I have I might use 2 sets. I love to have a fresh and clean cut. I use a bench grinder but i'm trying to find a faster and easier way. I hope someone can help.


Thanks,
Cyle Hostedler
Reply With Quote

Stop guess-timating. Learn how to estimate and make money! $$$
Mow Time Estimator Lawn Care Price Estimator Mulch and Topsoil Calculator Snow Plow Estimate Calculator


  #2  
Old 06-01-2010, 08:35 PM
cleancutlawncare5382 cleancutlawncare5382 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Posts: 141
Rep Power: 4
cleancutlawncare5382 is on a distinguished road
Default

Lawn care business tips
I've been kinda wondering about this same subject. I know the blades are to be sharp, but how sharp? I've been using a bench belt sander and the results have been good. I wouldn't say you could shave the hair off your arm but close. After the belt sander - a file helps to knock the burr off.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-01-2010, 08:44 PM
JMADEWELL09's Avatar
JMADEWELL09 JMADEWELL09 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 54
Rep Power: 4
JMADEWELL09 is on a distinguished road
Default

I used to buy new blades all the time instead of sharpening them. One of my customers sharpens things for a living so he charges me 4 dollars per blade to sharpen and $6 for my chain saw chain. So now I have some extra blades so every week to 2 weeks I take off my blades when i change the oil and put on a sharpened one and take the other one to my customer to sharpen. We kinda barter He give me a bill for the sharpening and I take it off my invoice for taking care of his yard.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-01-2010, 08:44 PM
jklawncare's Avatar
jklawncare jklawncare is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 577
Rep Power: 4
jklawncare is on a distinguished road
Default

i use a blade sharpener that goes on a drill press

i have 3 sets of blades and i change them at the beginning of every day

i have the others pre sharpened so there ready to go

i did have to toss one however because there was a brick randomly completely in the soil except one little edge.

HOW DOES A BRICK GET THAT FAR IN THE GROUND?AND HOW DID IT GET THERE?

its not a brick house? and even if it were..how does it get this far out?god..i hate that thing..
__________________
Just Kut Lawn and Landscape
"Where Service is Always in Season"
Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-01-2010, 09:40 PM
CHEESE2009's Avatar
CHEESE2009 CHEESE2009 is offline
Dr. Scott - Ruler of the Underworld
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: I like to complain a lot.
Age: 72
Posts: 4,262
Rep Power: 9
CHEESE2009 is on a distinguished road
Default

Just do it when you notice the quality of the cut go down. I don't mean wait last minute, you'll notice way ahead of time before your business is at stake.

I give my equipment a good scrub down & send it in for sharpening. I have no time for sharpening... The truth is, my new dealer often does a little extra for me. I sent it in for repairs & it came back with brand new height adjusters & gear knobs. Wasn't in the bill :P
__________________
Keeper of Peace
Security Officer Cheese2009
Gopher Security Central (G.S.C)
4th Floor, office 112
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-02-2010, 03:44 AM
picframer's Avatar
picframer picframer is offline
Andy
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,885
Rep Power: 8
picframer will become famous soon enough
Default

All of ours are sharpened and balanced once a week, sometimes more often but that would be rare, I buy sharpening stones from Lee Valley that go on a drill, they ensure bang on results every time. I personally find the price of blades pretty cheap (we run Gator's) I put new one's on for the spring start, keep the old ones as a back up.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/p...322,54327&ap=1
Attached Images
File Type: jpg ag702s1.jpg (13.7 KB, 7 views)
__________________
Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Last edited by picframer; 06-02-2010 at 03:51 AM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Gator Blades VS. Mulching Blades Fresh Cut General Talk 21 03-22-2012 11:55 PM
Blades tiedeman Lawn Maintenance / Lawn Renovation 5 05-16-2010 10:57 PM
Why we use Gator Blades picframer General Talk 29 04-16-2010 07:11 PM
mower blades stew6371 Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell 2 04-12-2010 04:02 PM
Getting at blades to change them S.P.Martin Lawn Care General Business Discussions 5 02-20-2007 10:02 AM

» Recent Threads
  RatingTitle, Username, & Date Last Post Replies Views
Truck trimmer racks
SECTLANDSCAPING
06-16-2012 05:56 PM
Today 12:43 AM
by SECTLANDSCAPING
14 2,937
Bi-weekly question
schnide
05-15-2013 10:58 AM
Yesterday 11:44 PM
by schnide
11 370
New Toro Super Recycler...
Hedgemaster
03-20-2011 12:55 AM
Yesterday 11:20 PM
by Grass Doctor
134 25,417
It's FRIDAY!!!
CHEESE2009
05-17-2013 05:18 AM
Yesterday 10:23 PM
by Hedgemaster
3 162
Yesterday, I had a...
LawnBoy0311
04-25-2013 05:30 AM
Yesterday 08:45 PM
by SECTLANDSCAPING
10 784
When to mow, collect,...
cuttingedgeron
04-05-2013 01:06 PM
Yesterday 08:33 PM
by Hedgemaster
8 644
Missing small amount of...
xandrew245x
05-13-2013 04:30 PM
Yesterday 07:57 PM
by MBLC
17 529
Trimmer Line
Shark1611
05-16-2013 07:56 PM
Yesterday 06:31 PM
by stevef1201
7 237
crossroads
djm2013
03-17-2013 08:43 AM
Yesterday 06:27 PM
by djm2013
48 3,926
no-compete agreement
CDLAWNCARE
Yesterday 12:45 AM
Yesterday 02:44 PM
by SECTLANDSCAPING
3 107
The customer is ALWAYS...
cutnuplawnservice
Yesterday 08:28 AM
Yesterday 09:02 AM
by stevef1201
1 104
How I found TOO Many...
BLC7
01-11-2013 02:12 PM
Yesterday 08:55 AM
by lawnbiz101
62 4,549
trailer leaf vac.
t-10yrs2retire
05-17-2013 10:44 AM
Yesterday 07:46 AM
by willshome
2 144
Radio advertising
CDLAWNCARE
05-04-2013 06:26 PM
05-17-2013 10:05 PM
by A&J service's
5 577
New Beginner here...
LawnCareProfessional
05-14-2013 12:05 AM
05-17-2013 12:00 PM
by Steve
8 469
Flower bed cultivation...
Emar
05-15-2013 04:41 PM
05-17-2013 11:42 AM
by Steve
5 236
Code violations
Greg'slawnandlandscape
05-16-2013 12:11 PM
05-17-2013 11:39 AM
by Steve
8 274
Moss in grass in the...
tk4454
05-16-2013 11:19 PM
05-17-2013 11:36 AM
by Steve
2 147
problem #2..springs in...
t-10yrs2retire
05-11-2013 09:03 AM
05-17-2013 11:34 AM
by Steve
8 574
Installing grass seed
thom
05-05-2013 06:35 PM
05-17-2013 11:29 AM
by Steve
7 711
Hoping someone can help.
jasonw
05-10-2013 09:19 AM
05-17-2013 11:25 AM
by Steve
9 531
1st video.
Grass Doctor
05-15-2013 05:52 PM
05-17-2013 08:41 AM
by jasonw
7 274
Undercutters
jhamilton60@yahoo.com
05-15-2013 08:17 PM
05-17-2013 07:43 AM
by LawnBoy0311
12 338
help pricing sod job
Jayls
05-15-2013 01:03 PM
05-17-2013 07:06 AM
by Emar
5 296
Mulching
jeffcs
05-14-2013 02:17 PM
05-16-2013 05:09 PM
by brian'slawncare
6 374
Unreasonable Requests
brian'slawncare
05-06-2013 06:07 PM
05-16-2013 05:04 PM
by brian'slawncare
29 1,430
Things are looking...
Jayls
05-14-2013 09:28 AM
05-16-2013 11:43 AM
by Steve
7 379
Say Hello !!!
Steve
03-19-2007 11:18 AM
05-16-2013 11:22 AM
by Steve
1,112 186,031
White Riding Mower Help
osbornl1
05-09-2013 12:17 PM
05-16-2013 09:27 AM
by jasonw
4 533
At Last!
Matther777
05-02-2013 05:51 PM
05-15-2013 05:21 PM
by Grass Doctor
17 1,104
Brush Mower
SECTLANDSCAPING
05-13-2013 06:04 PM
05-15-2013 11:43 AM
by Steve
7 374
Court houses....
SouthallMowing
05-13-2013 11:42 PM
05-15-2013 08:19 AM
by willshome
7 371
Hello Everyone
hemiman
03-16-2013 06:45 PM
05-14-2013 09:36 PM
by hemiman
14 1,722
Need Advice
Tony317
05-13-2013 10:16 PM
05-14-2013 01:17 PM
by Steve
2 301
Starting up and using...
Southern83fire
05-12-2013 08:57 PM
05-14-2013 01:14 PM
by Steve
6 457
problem #1...I think I...
t-10yrs2retire
05-11-2013 08:52 AM
05-14-2013 12:58 PM
by Steve
7 547
Round Up in FL
JRB6250
05-13-2013 03:25 PM
05-14-2013 12:56 PM
by Steve
3 351
Seo
superyards
05-10-2013 10:19 AM
05-14-2013 12:50 PM
by Steve
7 534
Rubbing a Car
SNethercutt
04-28-2013 11:51 PM
05-14-2013 06:18 AM
by fullblast
14 1,090
Help! Need opinions
LawnBoy0311
05-10-2013 11:26 AM
05-14-2013 05:03 AM
by LawnBoy0311
16 752
A new way to quote?
LawnBoy0311
05-07-2013 06:12 PM
05-13-2013 11:10 PM
by SouthallMowing
21 1,100
Two for Two - Woo-Hoo!...
Hedgemaster
04-18-2011 09:37 PM
05-13-2013 09:59 PM
by Hedgemaster
186 36,285
Beginner question. Lawn...
WarriorLandscaping25
04-21-2013 07:38 PM
05-13-2013 02:16 PM
by Steve
10 1,283
Belt tapping against...
donslawns
05-12-2013 10:56 AM
05-13-2013 01:08 PM
by Steve
2 365
Help!
amfine1996
05-11-2013 02:42 PM
05-13-2013 11:51 AM
by Steve
1 387
$162.00
stevef1201
05-03-2013 10:58 AM
05-13-2013 11:43 AM
by Steve
13 1,005
feedback please
stevef1201
05-05-2013 08:04 PM
05-13-2013 07:27 AM
by jymie
9 764
How to deal with wet...
xandrew245x
05-11-2013 12:04 PM
05-12-2013 08:32 PM
by ratchetmaster2
10 622
Omg !!!!!!!!
Ducke
05-05-2013 07:40 PM
05-12-2013 08:02 PM
by Hedgemaster
6 827
Here is the new rig!
xandrew245x
05-06-2013 07:33 PM
05-12-2013 07:58 PM
by ratchetmaster2
10 943
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.1.0

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:55 AM.


(C) 2011 Riggs Publications - Terms of use & Privacy Policy

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:55 AM.

(C) 2011 Riggs Publications - Terms of use & Privacy Policy