How to Sharpen a Reel Mower at Home
Yes, you can sharpen reel mower blades yourself. The usual home method is backlapping: you coat the blades with lapping compound and spin the reel backward so the cylinder and the fixed bottom blade wear each other to a fresh edge. A file can touch up a nicked bottom blade, but heavy damage needs a professional grinder.
EGO Power+ LM2134SP-2Best overall
Greenworks MO60L427Widest cutting path
LawnMaster LMRM2001Only true reel mowerCan you sharpen a reel mower at home?
A reel mower cuts like a pair of scissors. A spinning cylinder of blades passes very close to a fixed bottom blade, called the bedknife, and shears each grass blade between them. Because both parts do the cutting, they have to be sharpened and set together.
That is why home sharpening works well for routine dulling. Over a season, the two edges wear and the cut turns ragged. Grass tips look frayed or brown a day after mowing. Backlapping restores the matching edges without removing the reel. Deep nicks, bent blades or a warped bedknife are a different story, and those usually need shop grinding or replacement parts.
What you need before you start
Gather everything first so you are not hunting for tools with a blade-coated mower tipped on its side. Most of this is inexpensive hardware you may already own.
- Reel mower lapping compound, sold as a grit paste in a can or brush-top bottle
- A stiff paintbrush or acid brush to apply it
- Heavy work gloves and safety glasses
- A flat-blade screwdriver and a basic wrench set for adjusting the bedknife
- A sheet of ordinary printer paper for testing the cut
- A single-cut mill file, if you plan to touch up the bedknife
- Rags, water and a bucket for cleanup
- A hand crank adapter or a drill adapter, if your mower or kit supports one
How to sharpen with backlapping
Backlapping is the method most kits are built around. The steps below fit a typical manual push reel. Your owner's manual may list model-specific adjustments, so check it before you start.
- Work on a flat, dry surface. If you must tip the mower, drain fuel first on a powered model, and disconnect the spark plug or battery so the reel cannot start.
- Clean off dried grass and dirt from the reel and bedknife. Grit left behind will scratch the metal and skew the result.
- Loosen the bedknife adjustment so the reel spins freely with light contact only. You want the blades to just kiss the bedknife, not clamp down on it.
- Brush lapping compound along the full length of each reel blade and the bedknife edge. Use a thin, even coat.
- Turn the reel backward. On many manual mowers you can do this by pushing the mower in reverse on a stand or by using the kit's crank. Keep a steady, moderate speed.
- Turn for several minutes, then stop and check. Reapply compound as it thins out or gets pushed aside.
- Wipe off the compound and look at the blade edges. You should see a clean, bright, uniform surface where the metal has worn flat.
- Wash all the compound off with water and dry the mower. Leftover grit will keep wearing parts.
Safety notes you should not skip
Reel blades stay sharp even when they look dull, and they can cut skin easily. Wear gloves and safety glasses, because compound and metal dust can fly. Keep fingers out of the gap between the reel and the bedknife at all times, even when you are only turning the reel by hand.
Lapping compound is abrasive. Keep it off skin and out of your eyes, and wash your hands afterward. If you use a drill to spin the reel, use a low speed and a firm grip, and never reach in while the drill is connected. On any engine or battery model, remove the spark plug wire or the battery before you work.
Using a file on the bedknife
A file is a good fix for small nicks on the bedknife, the fixed blade. Clamp or steady the mower so it cannot roll. Run a single-cut mill file along the bedknife's top edge in one direction, matching the existing angle. Take light strokes and stop as soon as the nick disappears.
Filing the reel blades themselves is rarely worth it. The curved, spiral shape has to stay consistent along every blade, and uneven filing makes the reel cut unevenly. If one blade is badly damaged, filing will not fix it. After any filing, backlap briefly so the two edges seat against each other again.
Which method fits your mower
Use this quick comparison to match the job to the method.
| Method | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Backlapping with compound | Routine dulling and ragged cuts | Cannot repair chips or bent blades |
| Light filing of the bedknife | Small nicks on the fixed blade | Needs a steady hand and a matching angle |
| Professional grinding | Deep damage, uneven wear, a reel that no longer meets the bedknife | Takes more time and effort to arrange |
| Replacing parts or the mower | Bent reels, worn-out bedknives, damaged frames | Worth it only if the repair outweighs the value |
Test the edge and set the adjustment
Re-tighten the bedknife until it makes light contact with the reel. Then slide a piece of printer paper between them and turn the reel forward. A good setting cuts the paper cleanly across the whole width. If it tears or folds, adjust the bedknife a little and test again, working along the full length.
Do not over-tighten. Too much pressure causes friction, makes the mower hard to push and wears the edges quickly. Light contact is enough for a clean cut.
Keep the edge longer, or know when to replace
Good mowing habits slow dulling. Mow short grass, because reel mowers work best at low heights. Our guide on the best reel mower notes that the LawnMaster LMRM2001 lists a cutting range of 1.3 to 2.6 inches across 9 positions, which suits a regular schedule of short, frequent cuts. Pick up sticks and small stones before you mow, and avoid sand and bare soil where grit dulls steel quickly.
Wipe the blades after each use and store the mower dry. If you are shopping around because your current reel is beyond repair, our reel mower comparison lists true reels separately from cordless rotary mowers, since only the LawnMaster there is a motorless push reel. It is a 5-blade, 20 inch model with steel blades and a weight of 30.2 lb, according to its published specifications.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I sharpen a reel mower?
There is no fixed schedule. Backlap when the cut turns ragged, when grass tips look torn, or when paper no longer cuts cleanly against the bedknife. Heavy use or sandy soil means you will need to do it more often.
Can I use a regular sharpening stone on the reel blades?
It is not recommended. Reel blades are curved and must match the bedknife, so hand sharpening with a stone usually leaves an uneven edge. Backlapping keeps both edges matched.
What happens if I skip adjusting the bedknife after lapping?
The reel may not touch the bedknife evenly. That leaves uncut strips of grass, or too much friction that makes the mower hard to push. Always retest with paper.
Do I need to sharpen a new reel mower?
Usually not right away. Check the owner's manual for any setup steps, and test the cut with paper. If it cuts cleanly, wait until the edge actually dulls.