Custom Lawn Mower Blades?

strategy9 said:
So.....

The wifee and I are considering buying a new riding mower next year.

We currently have 3, a pair of old Bolens; one doesn't have a cutting deck but rather has all the forward attachments for a snow blower and plow, the other cuts great, but is a jerky and uncomfortable ride.
The 3rd is a newer (but still "old") hydrostatic MTD with a 46" two blade deck... it rides like a champ, but the blades are funked up and cuts like crap
(Blades have been resharpened again and again to the point that now they leave an uncut trail between them).

Which brings me to this post, we've talked about selling the MTD this fall and getting a brand new riding mower to replace it, but I'm curious, would it be worth getting new Custom lawnmower blades, and extend the life of the MTD rather then buying a new mower?
And if so, what steel should I look for; 3v, s1, other? (I want to take chunks out of roots, rather then roots taking chunks out of my old blades)

I'm thinking if I can get new (sick) blades for my MTD, cheaper then an all new mower, it will still ride like a champ, but will also cut like a champ too, and much better/longer then standard lawnmower replacement blades.

In essence, extending the overall life of the MTD, still having the old Bolens as a backup, for when we tackle the yard in tandem, and then down the road we can sell the pair of Bolens with all the attachments, for more $ then we would get for just the single MTD, and look to buy a new mower with all the additional attachments, and a larger deck, and still have the larger deck MTD as a backup?

What are your thoughts?
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here is the deal:
no matter what,if you hit a rock or a big root,it is not the blade that will save the day,but chances are that your engine will become a la stick of dynamite
!
and the average engine cost? $500 and up
personally after moving to a "raw" acreage, mowing the lawn and ditch, we blew up 2 briggs amd one tecumseh engines just on roots the connecting rods just went out of the crank case.
my suggestion is getting an arbour that uses shear pins that take the hit and can be replaced with pins for almost pennies!
as for stumps, get them pulled out but the roots that ATV's rtip up in the ditch, easy:"stopped mowing the ditch"
 
Love the clear plexiglass comment too!

This thread started almost a year ago, but I'm also curious of the same thing and something else.
I've read this thread already on lawn mower blade steel -> https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/lawn-mower-blade-steel.657675/
This forum is loaded with ridiculously sharp folks(pun accidental, lol) on metals and forging. Very impressed.

Love this post from Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith, https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/lawn-mower-blade-steel.657675/#post-6996202


1. Curious to play with the design to improve the cut. Just curious and want to experiment.

I'm no metal expert, but thought about test blades in aluminum first because it's so soft and I can bend, cut, and shape more easily. What's your suggestion, independent of dissuading me from building custom blades.

This video got me thinking on various blade shapes. Just skip to 5:31 for the meat and less gab and story.


2. Has anybody experimented with carbon fiber blades and more specifically, carbon fiber lawn mower blades?

I'm aware of the complex nature of making anything in carbon fiber and also aware that it doesn't bend, but shatter.

Saw this video where somebody build a knife from carbon fiber. Painfully slow process.​
 
Honda is working on the "Mean Mower" with 190 hp. Uses carbon fiber blades. Supposed to go like 150mph. That could cut down on my mowing time!
 
Leedar, Check out the new HONDA mower .They're trying to get it up to 150 MPH ! they have carbon fiber/resin for a blade .
As far as steel blade , you don't want it brittle least it break when hitting a rock.
 
Rupestris said:
Only if they were Busse and Infi.
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you want the mower blade steel to roll? if made of 420j2 then one could let that grass get cut without rolling or chipping. except if using the mower in 30f or lower temps.:)

jokes aside I find the cheap carbon blades I use to be fine. I just touch up and sharpen them often. much easier than waiting all summer and having to reprofile and spend a lot of time at it. I also learned to have a couple extras blades so it makes cutting cleanly with a sharp blade much easier as well....but I have a push mower so blade swapping is an easy task.
 
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