I've gone to a 60 grit flap wheel for this reason.Gator. If you can get a gueine oregon g5 gator it is best.
Hint, you have to sharpen without blueing the metal, they are heat treated.
Rod
It really depends on what kind of terrain you mow and how many hours you put on the mower. My grandpa mows a 5+ acre field every week with a large commercial mower. The terrain isn't always great, lots of debris and sticks. All the cheap blades looked horrible after one season, to the point where they had to be replaced. The Gators last 2-3 seasons before he destroys them, so the cost difference is worth it.I buy what is in stock at my local Tractor supply or RK. I don't get hung up on brands for a mower blade.
I never had a problem. I mow three acres weekly, I sharpen twice a year. Sticks have never hurt my blades.Only stones have damaged my blades.If I had a mowing business, yes I would go with OEM. That's just common sense.It really depends on what kind of terrain you mow and how many hours you put on the mower. My grandpa mows a 5+ acre field every week with a large commercial mower. The terrain isn't always great, lots of debris and sticks. All the cheap blades looked horrible after one season, to the point where they had to be replaced. The Gators last 2-3 seasons before he destroys them, so the cost difference is worth it.
The commercial mowing companies I service mowers for all use OEM or Gator blades only.
Was it leaving strips of uncut grass? My uncle brought a riding mower to me with the original (15+ year old) blades on it. They had no "lift wings" left as they had worn down, and the blade tips were severely worn, creating more distance between the blades under the deck leaving strips of uncut grass.Huh. I've never bought a new lawnmower blade. Even my 20 year old rider had the original blades when it got retired because of a bad transmission.
But for everyone else, please continue. Interesting thread.
Was it leaving strips of uncut grass? My uncle brought a riding mower to me with the original (15+ year old) blades on it. They had no "lift wings" left as they had worn down, and the blade tips were severely worn, creating more distance between the blades under the deck leaving strips of uncut grass.
Nice those old Honda riders were quality machines. Having a good lawn with no rocks and not much sand helps tremendously.No, it was cutting just fine. I will say that the steel in the blades was very hard. A file wouldn't touch it.
It was a Genuine Honda OHV rider - and we don't have any rocks to cut.
But now that you mention strips of uncut grass - I've seen that from friends that replaced their riding mower blades.... mostly because the replacements were a fuzz shorter than the originals.