How to Choose the Right Mower Blade
Posted July 30, 2014 by T A 10 CommentsHigh-lift, mulching, 2-in-1, 3-in-1 . . . Which one do I choose?
Lifting Blades (Standard, 2-in-1)
Uses: Bag or Side Discharge
Lifting blades, also known as the standard or 2-in-1 type of mower blades, are designed with a slight curve along the edges. This curve creates the lifting air flow, which pulls the grass up to be cut by the blade.
Lifting blades are ideal for bagging or side discharging purposes to quickly and efficiently move the grass clippings out from the deck. Do not use a lifting blade with a mulching kit.
Types:
- High Lift
- Medium Lift
- Low Lift
Typically, the greater the lift, the greater the horsepower that’s required. Use a high lift blade when mowing through taller dense grass.
Mulching Blades
Uses: Mulching
Mulching blades, also known as 3-in-1 blades, are designed with a greater curved surface, and often have several or longer cutting surfaces along the edges. This allows the grass to recirculate beneath the deck to be cut several times. The resulting smaller grass clippings are ideal for mulch, as they will decompose faster into the soil.
Use mulching blades when you don’t want to bag or side discharge your clippings. If you’ve equipped your mower with a mulching kit, ensure you’re using mulching blades.
Types:
- Standard Mulching Blades
- Gator Mulching Blades (G3, G5, G6)
Gator blades are designed with angled teeth on each end of the blade. The teeth are angled toward the center of the blade, which guide the grass to the cutting edge over and over again.
Mower Blade Selection
Select a replacement mower blade based on how you prefer to cut your grass. Do you like to bag, side discharge, or mulch?
Lifting Blades: Bagging and Side Discharge
Mulching Blades: Mulching
Also, refer to your owner’s manual for replacement blade recommendations and blade removal safety.
Shop for Mower Blades »
10 Comments
Keith keogh
on July 31, 2014 at 2:15 pmI have new Craftsman 22″ model #917.370921 and the original blade #33256 which does not mulch that well.
Would another mulching blade work better and if yes which one?
It is amazing how much crud collects under the deck.
Thanks
Keith
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
Stephen
on July 31, 2014 at 8:42 pmWhat about blades for ride on mowers. The blades shown in this blog are not the same as those fitted to a disc on the underside of a ride on mower, such as a Cox.
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
Chris Skon
on August 1, 2014 at 10:10 pmMower blades for riders pretty much follow the same guide lines. The disks that you are refering to are called “blade adaptors” and are there to attach the blade to the spindle shaft bottom. On a regular mower, most blades attache to a blade adaptor that is bolted directly to the bottom of the crankshaft of the motor. On a rider, the motor is attached to the blades by either a belt or a driveshaft. Consult your owners manual for recommended blade type or number and then ask a dealer at a local repair shop for recommendations on a blade type to fit your preference of mowing, be it side disharge, bagging, or mulching.
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
trert
on December 25, 2014 at 6:54 amThis is an Americal web site so Cox being an Australian designed & manufactured brand unlike most others which are rebranded USA mowers will be totally unknown to the authors.
There are no mulching swing back blades for your Cox.
The best you can do is to fit a pair of high lift ( bagging blades ) with a pair of no flute ( slashing ) blades and a mulching plate to block off the discharge chute.
I have done this for several customers but the down side is you will have to mow a lot slower because as the blog says, mulching robs a lot of power. So while you will gain from not having windrows or having to rake & bag you will loose the most desireable feature of these great machines , the incrediable speed from such a small motor.
You will also have to mow a lot more as the “mulched grass” has to be able to fall back between the remaining grass in order to “vanish” so you really should only be mowing the top 1/4 off your lawn which will need to be at least 2″ high. Too much cut grass will smother your lawn and may even lead to massive weed invasions if you are cutting too close with mulching set up.
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
Dave
on June 8, 2015 at 11:27 amWould it be okay to use Gator (mulching) blades on a Gravely ZTR (52″ mowing deck) but side discharge the clippings rather keeping a mulching plate attached to the discharge chute? Not sure if this is one of those “proverbial dumb questions” or not. Thanks.
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
joe
on June 8, 2015 at 12:02 pmI use gator mulching blades with my 54″ Bobcat ZT with side discharge, not the mulching plate. The grass gets chewed up real fine and disappears into the lawn. You have to mow a little slower and you might have to go over it again to make the clippings totally disappear, but the gator blades are far superior to regular lift blades, IMO.
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
Dave
on June 9, 2015 at 11:50 amI have a Snapper Deck with a 4.5 horse Honda engine on it. I bought a mulch cover for the deck to replace my Hi-Vac bag, because I read how great mulching, the grass you already cut, was for free fertilizer. I had a standard Snapper blade on my mower, and it left long blades of grass on my lawn. When I realized that I didn’t have the correct blade for mulching, I consulted my owners manual and discovered that the Snapper Ninja blade was the correct application to use with the mulching cover for my deck. After purchasing and installing the Ninja blade my mower mulches beautifully. It does make a mess of the underside of the deck, but for all that free fertilizer, a little extra time cleaning up is worth it; and my lawn thanks me by looking amazing! I don’t even bother using the bag to get rid of the fall leaves anymore, I just mulch everything up, during fall clean up, and the cut up leaves leave a nice layer on the ground for winter/early spring fertilizer. Go mulching blades!
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
Aaron
on October 4, 2016 at 10:30 pmI,m looking fur a blade that will not blow dust clouds, have sand and red clay, anyone know,
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
Lawrence Wilson
on November 23, 2017 at 11:06 amwhat type of blade will give me the lowest grass cut with my Husqvarna lawn mower? I presently have on the OEM mulching blade
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115
Landon
on January 8, 2018 at 11:26 pmAaron, look for a Lo-Lift blade, that should build the least vacuum pulling up the least dirt and simply provide a clean cut.
Notice: Undefined index: max-depth in D:\Sites\blog.jackssmallengines.com\wp-content\themes\Jacks\functions.php on line 115