Mower blades are the cutting components of

lawn mower A lawn mower (also known as a mower, grass cutter or lawnmower) is a device utilizing one or more revolving blades (or a reel) to cut a grass surface to an even height. The height of the cut grass may be fixed by the design of the mower, but g ...

s. They are usually made of sturdy metals as they must be able to withstand high-speed contact with a variety of objects in addition to grass. The materials used (as well as size, thickness, and design of the blades) vary by manufacturer.

History

The first known lawn mower sported a cylinder cutting gear made of

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. It was used to mow sporting grounds and wide-ranging gardens. As manufacturers changed the design and structure of mowers, the cutting mechanism also developed and evolved into several varieties, including cylinder/reel blades, deck blades,

mulching A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the area. A mu ...

blades, and lifting blades.

Types of mower blades

Reel or cylinder blades

Used in reel or cylinder mowers, cylinder blades are composed of three to seven

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blades welded in a horizontally rotating cylindrical reel, creating a scissor-like cutting action. Unlike other types of mower blades, reel/cylinder blades cannot be replaced; therefore, a broken blade requires replacement of the entire mower. For dull or rusty blades, cleaning and sharpening kits are available.

Deck blades

Also known as the standard or straight mower blade, this is the most commonly used blade on

rotary mower Rotary may refer to: General * Rotary motion Engineering and technology * Rotary dial, a rotating telephone dial * Rotary engine (disambiguation), multiple types of engines called "rotary" * Rotary latch * Rotary milking shed, a type of milkin ...

Mulching blades

A mulching blade, also known as an all-purpose blade, features a curved surface which allows it to work in three ways: lifting, mowing, and mulching. First, the blade pulls the grass up and cuts it. Then, clippings are sucked inside the deck and are chopped into tinier pieces. Finally, the blade’s innermost curve produces air pressure to blow the small clippings out, where they are used to feed the soil.

Lifting blades

The lifting blade features a slightly curved surface which creates a vertical upward

airflow Airflow, or air flow, is the movement of air. The primary cause of airflow is the existence of air. Air behaves in a fluid manner, meaning particles naturally flow from areas of higher pressure to those where the pressure is lower. Atmospheric ...

that lifts the grass up and is assumed to provide a cleaner result than the other types of blades.

Low-lift blade

Low

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; recommended for mowing terrain with sandy soil.

Medium-lift blade

Medium suction power; uses less horsepower than high-lift blades.

High-lift blade

Provides the greatest suction power among the three lifting blades, but also requires the most

horsepower Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are t ...

. This is the best blade for cutting tall, compact grass.

References

www.nettractortalk.com

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