Sharpen a Push Reel Mower

Easier than it looks -- basically reverse the rotation and lap with a grinding compound

Here is a video of the mower cutting grass once it is all sharp.

Video:

*Update 8/7/19*

I recently bought a Fiskar push reel mower and it is great:

https://amzn.to/31qjp1f

A push reel mower is like scissors, except one blade is fixed and the other blade is on a reel.  

The blades make a spiral so they are only cutting in one small spot at a time.

Here are the basic steps:

1. Make it so the blades rotate the wrong way
2. Put grinding compound on the blades, this makes the blades into there own sharpening stones
3. Push the mower around until it is easy, this is called lapping (maybe reverse lapping...)
4. Wash off the grinding compound
5. Make the blades so they go the right way again
6. Mow the lawn

Put the left gear on the right side and the right gear on the left side.

Now it will run backwards.

The blade that is fixed (not on the reel) can be positioned by adjusting two screws.

You want to make it so the fixed blade is touching the reel blades, so that it is hard to rotate the blades (but not impossible).

Putting valve grinding compound on the blades makes them into their own sharpening stones.  The blades will sharpen each other, eventually they will both be sharp and fit together perfectly.

They have this at auto parts stores and on amazon: Valve Grinding Compound

Pushing the mower backwards will now sharpen the blades.  Push the mower until it the reel is moving easily, then adjust the screws on the fixed blade so that it is is hard to push the mower.  Now push the mower until it is easy, again.  You want to repeat this until the blades are shiny all the way across.  

http://youtu.be/locDYNSIrKs Video:

As the blade gets sharper you can start to wash off the grit with water.  This makes the blade easier to turn.  You also want all the grinding compound to be gone by the time you are  done.

Put the gears back on the correct sides.  So that the mower will go forwards.