Misc Hard Edge Mower Blades?

[Elza]

I have a gas powered edger. I had the blade hard-edged at a local shop and it works great. Cuts great and wears forever.

I thought about having the mower blades hard-edged as well. The edger digs dirt, rocks, and whatever else and the hard-edge holds up very well. I would think that cutting just grass the blades would hold up for a VERY long time. I can't think of any reason not to do it but I would like the input of others. There might well be a reason not to do it that I don't see.

 

[Millwright]

Balancing might be an issue?

Greater diameter, harder to balance?

 

[Shroom]

I have a gas powered edger. I had the blade hard-edged at a local shop and it works great. Cuts great and wears forever.

I thought about having the mower blades hard-edged as well. The edger digs dirt, rocks, and whatever else and the hard-edge holds up very well. I would think that cutting just grass the blades would hold up for a VERY long time. I can't think of any reason not to do it but I would like the input of others. There might well be a reason not to do it that I don't see.

What exactly do you mean by hard edging?

 

[Elza]

Balancing might be an issue?

Greater diameter, harder to balance?

I wouldn't think so. Any time I sharpen them I have to grind on the back edge to balance them. Should be the same with the hard edge on the front.

 

[Elza]

What exactly do you mean by hard edging?

It's basically a welding process. A bead is welded along the edge of a tool. The welding material used is harder than a whores heart. It is used extensively on earth working tools such as the teeth on backhoes, buckets etc to provide a long wearing edge.

 

[Cedar Lake]

What exactly do you mean by hard edging?

Stultz Manganese hard surfacing electrodes are used this purpose.
Gives a hard edge for excavator, backhoe buckets, etc., for abrasion and impact.
A lawn mower blade is probably a Grade 1040/1045 steel which is a medium carbon steel.
I would find an experienced welding shop (15-30 years old) and
tell them what you want down, and how much will it cost you for welding with a E8018 or E9018 low-hydrogen electrode. (80 KSI steel and 90 KSI steels)
I did 4 blades with both electrodes 25 years ago. Outlasted 3 mowers, now on mower #4.
I worked at a bridge building fabrication plant, always liked a challenge.
Hope this helps.

Balancing might be an issue?

Greater diameter, harder to balance?

I used a mower blade bubble balancer to balance the blades. When grinding the blades, I would count the passes with the grinder on both ends of the blade as to equal out the material being removed. For the finish balance, I would dial it in by grinding 2 passes, check balance, repeat until balanced.

 

[Millwright]

I keep a roll of hardface wire in the MIG cart.

Need to do backhoe teeth, lotsa rock here.

 

[duchess47]

Does the hard edge give you a clean cut vs tearing grass? If grass is not mowed with a sharp blade the tops tear and brown. I might add I don’t really understand what you’re talking about but do know it takes sharp clean blades for a lawn to look good.

 

[Elza]

Does the hard edge give you a clean cut vs tearing grass? If grass is not mowed with a sharp blade the tops tear and brown. I might add I don’t really understand what you’re talking about but do know it takes sharp clean blades for a lawn to look good.

Shouldn't be any different. The hard edge is ground to an sharp edge just like the plain steel blades. It's just a hard surface that doesn't wear quickly like the plain steel does. The shop that did the edger blades ground a very nice edge on them.

 

[duchess47]

Shouldn't be any different. The hard edge is ground to a sharp edge just like the plain steel blades. It's just a hard surface that doesn't wear quickly like the plain steel does. The shop that did the edger blades ground a very nice edge on them.

Thank you. I was totally lost.

 

[BornFree]

If you hit something with a normal blade the blade surface will just bend. If it was harderned then would peices break off and turn into shrapnel?

 

[Elza]

If you hit something with a normal blade the blade surface will just bend. If it was harderned then would peices break off and turn into shrapnel?

This was my concern. But having hit rocks and the concrete walk with the edger blade I would think not. It actually took a chunk out of the edge of the sidewalk with no damage to the blade.

 

[tech]

If you're just laying a hardened bead you'll still have the softer malleable steel backing it...which will absorb most of the shock of impacts.

 

[Elza]

If you're just laying a hardened bead you'll still have the softer malleable steel backing it...which will absorb most of the shock of impacts.

That appears to be the case with the edger blade. A few good hits and so far no damage.

 

[Millwright]

Wowwww

Haven't priced hardfacing wire in awhile, running $10-20/lb.

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