Yet another first seen has come through here

[SmilinSam 4,157]

never seen this before the deck I got a coupel of weeks ago. Took the blades off the other day and thought at first they were like new. Wrong. Previous owner had worn them out. Then built not only the cutting edge back up with overlapping welds, but built up the pitched part at the back that creates the lift as well. Not on just one, but all three blades. Then they ground them smooth and reshaped them. I figure $5 in welding rods, another $20 in electricity , and $50 in time....all for a $40 set of blades. I cant imagine them not being warped in one way or another from all the welding done on them.8 The things a junker sees...sm00

[Kent 436]

I've seen people build up the cutting edge with welds -- the weld is much harder than the steel, and will hold an edge much better, especially for mild steel. Never seen them build up the "wings" on the back though...

[Scott Salmons 7]

I work at Haynes Stellite and people there use alloy hardfacing on the cutting edge. It really is not a good idea, if you hit a rock the edges can shatter.

[TimJr 206]

That is scary! Worst thing is that the cheapskate who welded up the blades is very likely not going to be the one who gets hurt when those things shatter from having their hardness altered by welding on them. Kids, neighbors, people just driving by are the ones who end up injured. Kind of goes along with stone guards being removed and discharge chutes taken off. Tim

[MPH 12]

That's more creative then the hacked off one I found on that deck I rebuilt last winter . Some people are truely amazing.

[JimDk 1]

I bought a B-112 with a 48" deck at an auction. I took it home and tried to mow with it. It did not do a very good job, so I pulled the deck and found that someone had welded 1" pieces to the ends of all the blades from a 42". It did not take me long to throw them in the scrap box.

[Simplicity314 0]

quote:

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Originally posted by SmilinSam
never seen this before the deck I got a coupel of weeks ago. Took the blades off the other day and thought at first they were like new. Wrong. Previous owner had worn them out. Then built not only the cutting edge back up with overlapping welds, but built up the pitched part at the back that creates the lift as well. Not on just one, but all three blades. Then they ground them smooth and reshaped them. I figure $5 in welding rods, another $20 in electricity , and $50 in time....all for a $40 set of blades. I cant imagine them not being warped in one way or another from all the welding done on them.8 The things a junker sees...sm00

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And add the cost of new bearings on there. Blade can't be balanced doing a shade tree welding job, so it'll only be a matter of time before it goes.