To Balance or not

[KYLawn]

Hey I was just wondering everyone's opinion on whether it is worth the time it takes to balance your blade with each sharpening?

[bruces]

Lawn care business tips

of course its worth the time ! having something rotating as fast as a blade ,while out of balance,is going to wear out your bearings in your spindle ,or if its a pushmower,wear out the engine .

[Ducke]

Originally Posted by bruces

of course its worth the time ! having something rotating as fast as a blade ,while out of balance,is going to wear out your bearings in your spindle ,or if its a pushmower,wear out the engine .

I agree
your just beating up your equipment if you don't b
and it only takes a minute to do.

[jymie]

If you don't mind replacing spindles all the time at $60-$100 bucks a pop, then it won't matter. This is something that you can control, so why wouldn't you?

[wandfsmall]

I say it depends, if your idea of balancing your blade is a nail on the wall and you use a star blade then do not bother you will be so far off that it does not make any difference. If you use a blade balancer then you will find it saves on spindles, is safer as the blade is less likely to break. It also saves on your body due to vibration of the mower while your on it.

Some Other tips would be sharpen your blade with something that you can get a correct angle, your blade will last longer when sharpened at 30 deg and it will be easier to balance. And keep the heat as low as possible so you do not take the tempering out of the blade.

[stevef1201]

Originally Posted by wandfsmall

Some Other tips would be sharpen your blade with something that you can get a correct angle, your blade will last longer when sharpened at 30 deg and it will be easier to balance. And keep the heat as low as possible so you do not take the tempering out of the blade.

I happen to have a whetstone sharener and sharpen blades twice a week, the whetstone makes it real easy to keeping the heat down. I also balance each time I sharpen. Each blades takes about 3 or 4 minutes, so it is no big deal. Now guys who only sharpen a few times a year and only balance when it noticable shaking the machine, well I feel sorry for you

[mark123]

wandfsmall, do you have an opinion on Magna Matic sharpening systems? I've been using a bench grinder, hand file and cheap plastic blade balancer for the past two years. I end up doing a barely adequate job and I usually end up having a local sharpening service do them when I'm too busy.

I think adding a Magnamatic may help me out but I'd like to know if you have some real-world experience with them.

[wandfsmall]

Originally Posted by mark123

wandfsmall, do you have an opinion on Magna Matic sharpening systems? I've been using a bench grinder, hand file and cheap plastic blade balancer for the past two years. I end up doing a barely adequate job and I usually end up having a local sharpening service do them when I'm too busy.

I think adding a Magnamatic may help me out but I'd like to know if you have some real-world experience with them.

I personally prefer the RBG grinders(maybe because that is what I have had for as long as I can remember), but the Magna-Matic balancers are the best I have ever used.

[wandfsmall]

Originally Posted by wandfsmall

I personally prefer the RBG grinders(maybe because that is what I have had for as long as I can remember), but the Magna-Matic balancers are the best I have ever used.

I just logged back online to try to answer this question better. Yes a magnamatic would help you they have a nice system, I just have a hard time getting rid of a unit that has been around for more then 15 years without a single problem when the other is not really any better.

Now as for the best system I would say a Burr King variable belt grinder with a magna-matic balancer and maybe a magnamatic brush cleaning system for a perfect balance. But that system would run around $6,000

[mark123]

Originally Posted by wandfsmall

I just logged back online to try to answer this question better. Yes a magnamatic would help you they have a nice system, I just have a hard time getting rid of a unit that has been around for more then 15 years without a single problem when the other is not really any better.

Now as for the best system I would say a Burr King variable belt grinder with a magna-matic balancer and maybe a magnamatic brush cleaning system for a perfect balance. But that system would run around $6,000

Thanks for the tips.