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Unlike other items you might use for cutting that rely on opposing blades to create a localised “shear,” i.e. scissors or hair clippers, lawn mowers utilise an open-ended system that swings a bar blade at high speed to create a cutting force.
However, without tension, the simple motion of swinging a bar blade at your grass is not enough. For instance, have you ever attempted to cut through a piece of string without holding both ends? Instead of a clean cut, you may tear the string at best. So, for a lawn mower blade to cut effectively, resistance must be applied at both ends of the grass.
While the ground acts as the anchor for your lawn, an external force is needed to lift the grass as the mower passes over it. This is why conventional mower blades are designed with a lifted tab on the non-cutting edge of the blade. This tab generates a lifting force as the blade rotates, pulling the grass upwards, like a vacuum, and enables the inertia of the swinging blade to slice cleanly through the grass.
So, it all comes down to the design of your lawn mower blade as to how effective the cutting power of your mower will be.
Types of lawn mower blades
Several types of lawn mower blades are available on the market, each with a specific purpose and function. When comparing lawn mower blades, it’s essential to consider what type of finish you want on your lawn, as this will significantly impact the type of lawn mower blade you should use.
When selecting lawn mower blades, you should also factor in the model of your lawn mower. Depending on the specifications, you may be restricted to using a particular type of blade to ensure that the configuration of holes and measurements correspond with the parameters of your mower.
However, you will find that most models of lawn mower offer several compatible blade designs that produce a variety of different ‘lift’ and mulching options. The main types of lawn mower blades are as follows.
Standard or medium-lift blade
Also known as straight blades, this type is most commonly found on lawn mowers that rotate horizontally and discharge grass cuttings sideways. Despite being called ‘straight’, these blades still feature the lifted tab on the non-cutting side of the blade to create the necessary suction on your lawn.
The level of lift using a standard blade is relatively low. However, they are highly effective in cutting dense grass and across both dry and damp ground.
Low-lift blade
Low-lift blades are ideal for your lawn if your property is subject to loose, sandy soil. Designed to produce minimal suction, these blades create just enough airflow to draw the grass upwards without dragging dust and dirt along with it.
Low-lift blades are also handy if you are cutting short or rigid grass.
High-lift blade
The high-lift blade features an exaggerated lift tab on the non-cutting edge of the blade, producing high-velocity airflow. This enables maximum vertical suction, pulling your grass taut and allowing the blade to slice through easily.
This type of blade is excellent for mowers that use a grass catcher as the high level of suction means more of your clippings end up in the catcher rather than being discharged back onto your lawn.
High-lift blades are ideal for cutting tall, compact grass.
Mulching blade
Designed with a distinct curved surface, mulching blades function in three different ways:
- The blade lifts the grass upwards and cuts it.
- The clippings are pulled inside the mower’s deck and finely chopped.
- The innermost curve of the blade produces air pressure that pushes the clippings back down to the ground.
By ejecting the finely chopped grass clippings back onto your lawn, nutrients can be absorbed back into the soil. As long as you are mowing routinely, it helps improve the health of your lawn.
Gator blade
Boasting similar functionality to the mulching blade, gator blades are also known as the 3-in-1 blade or all-purpose blade. It’s due to the unique blend of low-lift, high-lift, and mulching techniques designed to produce maximum suction while cutting grass clippings more finely.
The serrated teeth of the gator blade enable a more comprehensive cut and work effectively on tall grass. You can even rely on a gator blade to shred leaves as you mow. Especially useful in autumn!
Helping deliver nutrients back into your soil, these blades are a good, solid all-rounder that will handle even overgrown grass.
Razor-like robotic lawn mower safety blades
There are few things more effective at cutting than a razor-sharp blade. From the fine hairs on your face to the delicate grass blades of your lawn, scalpel edge precision is required to produce a smooth, sheer finish.
When it comes to lawn mower blades, producing a clean, razor-like cut is essential for a healthy lawn. A conventional bar blade has difficulty here. Whilst there are many advantages that bar blades can offer, including strength, durability, power, and flexibility, emulating the razor-like precision of a safety blade on a robotic mower is not possible.
Robotic lawn mower safety blades are designed to finely cut grass using small razors attached to a rotating disc. The force generated by the spinning disc pushes the razors outward to mow your lawn. The ‘safety’ aspect of these blades relates to the reaction to items thicker than a fine blade of grass. Whenever the safety blades come into contact with a solid object, the blades retract, avoiding the obstacle and reducing the risk of injury or damage to the machine.
However, there are some significant drawbacks to robotic mower safety blades that should be discussed. Where they excel at creating a fine cut (their cutting prowess is second-to-none), safety blades lack endurance, meaning the blades dull quickly and need to be replaced more often to retain their integrity. Safety blades on robot mowers also struggle to manage thicker, denser grass which can be highly inconvenient and may result in a patchy, uneven lawn.
Thankfully, one company has revolutionised robotic mower safety blade technology and solved this issue for good – Ambrogio.
Mini bar mower blades
Ambrogio robot lawn mowers have reimagined and reconfigured lawn mower blade design to take advantage of the cutting power of razor-like robotic mower safety blades and combine it with the durability and strength of a conventional blade or bar blade.
Most significantly, the Ambrogio robot mowers feature a star-shaped, fixed blade with four razor-sharp edges that can reach speeds of up to 4,000 RPM.
This ‘mini bar mower blade’ provides a precision cut while having the weight and robustness to manage most types of grass, compellingly shutting down any debate about the effectiveness of razor blades in robotic lawn mowers. With Ambrogio, you can experience the best of both worlds – a perfect cut with a long-lasting blade.
The mini bar blade requires little maintenance aside from a quick clean to remove any remaining grass clippings or debris after each mowing session, along with a visual assessment to detect any damage or dullness.
Replacing lawn mower blades
When it comes time to replace your blades, the process involved will vary greatly depending on your lawn mower- conventional or robotic.
Your mower should come with a user manual that will outline what type of blades are required for your model and instructions on how to install the blades. However, here’s a very basic guide to replacing the blades on both types of mower.
Conventional mower
While replacing the blade on your conventional mower is possible, it can be quite technical and involve a semblance of danger and a good amount of grime. That being said, here are some very elementary steps to change your lawn mower blade:
- Tilt the mower to expose the blade. It’s best to do this when there is no fuel in the mower.
- For extra safety, it’s recommended to unplug the spark plug to avoid any accidents.
- Remove the blade using the appropriate tool, i.e. a socket wrench, while noting the blade’s position and orientation.
- Clean off the blade deck and the surrounding area.
- Mount the new blade in the exact positioning of the old blade and replace the washers and nuts. Make sure not to overtighten the nut.
Robotic mower
In addition to the numerous benefits of robotic mowers, replacing your lawn mower blade is exceptionally easy and requires little technical skill. Again, different brands may have different instructions depending on the model of your robot lawn mower, but above all else, you need to ensure you are using the blade recommended by the manufacturer.
Using the superior Ambrogio robot lawn mower as an example, the following provides some general tips on how to replace your robot lawn mower blade:
- Turn the power off to your mower and flip it over onto a soft surface.
- Loosen the screws holding the blade in place.
- Clean off the blade deck and the area around where the blade sits.
- Insert the new blade and replace the screws.
- Make sure the blade is able to rotate freely.
When it comes to replacing your lawn mower blade or installing your robotic lawn mower, Ambrogio has made the once arduous task of cutting your lawn a simple and enjoyable experience, allowing you to take back your free time and spend it on more rewarding pursuits.
For more information about robot mowing technology, please contact our sales team, or complete the form below to book a demo.