Are you finding that your lawn mower delivers an inconsistent cut quality? Your lawn mower may benefit from using high-lift lawn mower blades, which create a strong airflow that lifts grass blades before they are cut. Modern lawn mowers, including Mowrator's own S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD, offer several unique high-lift blade options to ensure that your grass is cut evenly every time.
Before deciding on medium- or high-lift blades, it's beneficial to understand how they function and their potential impact on your lawn care. This article aims to provide insights into the workings of these blades and explore alternatives that may better suit your needs.
Key Takeaways
- High-lift lawn mower blades spin and create an upward flow of air that makes grass blades easier to cut and debris easier to transfer to your collection bag.
- While these blades excel in wet conditions and when tackling tall grass, they may not perform as well in dry, sandy, or dusty environments
- Before equipping your mower with high-lift blades, it's important to verify that your mower's battery or engine can provide sufficient power for optimal performance.
- Additionally, when replacing your lawn mower blades, make sure the new ones match the original in terms of length, width, and center hole size.
How do High Lift Lawn Mower Blades Work?
High-lift mower blades are uniquely engineered to create an upward airflow, which helps tall or wet grass stand upright for a more uniform cut. This is accomplished through a distinct angle at the blade edges, generating sufficient suction to lift the grass while also bagging and discharging clippings. The result is an excellent cut, even in damp conditions.
However, high-lift blades aren’t your only option when it comes to replacing mower blades. You can also find combination high-lift mulching blades, low-lift blades, medium-lift blades, and standard 2-in-1 blades that offer both discharging and bagging capabilities.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of High-Lift Blades?
Advantages
- Cut Quality: High-lift cutting blades create significant lift, ensuring that your lawn is cut evenly and smoothly.
- Versatile: These blades are particularly effective for mowing in wet conditions and are great for handling taller grass that may be tangled or leaning.
- Bagging Compatibility: The suction generated by high-lift blades not only aids in cutting but also efficiently transfers clippings from the mower deck to the collection bag.
- Aesthetic: In addition to their versatility, high-lift mower blades can help lift leaves and debris for easier collection, contributing to a tidier and more attractive garden.
Disadvantages
- Engine Power Usage: High-lift blades typically require more fuel or energy from the engine or battery, which can lead to increased wear and tear if the power source isn’t robust enough.
- More Noise: Lawn mowers are already fairly noisy, and high-lift mower blades add around 1.2 to 7.9 decibels to the overall sound level of your mower.
- Compatibility Issues: If your engine or battery isn't equipped to handle the extra power demands of high-lift blades, it may struggle, ultimately compromising cutting performance.
- Reduced Performance in Sand and Dust: Although high-lift blades perform well in wet environments, they can wear out quickly when used in sandy or dusty conditions.
What are the Different Types of High-Lift Blades?
There are three main types of high-lift blades: high-lift blades, extra high-lift mower blades, and OEM high-lift blades.
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Standard High-Lift Blades: These are the conventional high-lift blades featuring a slight upward curve, typically ranging from 1 to 1 and 3/16 inches.
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Extra High-Lift Blades: Extra high-lift blades provide enhanced lift compared to standard ones. They generally have an upward curve of at least 1 and 1/4 inches, resulting in increased suction for grass clippings and leaves.
- OEM High-Lift Blades: OEM high-lift blades are specifically designed for commercial lawn mowers. While their curvature is similar to that of standard high-lift blades, they possess unique characteristics that enable commercial lawn tractors to achieve precise cuts.
Some manufacturers may refer to their mower blades as super high-lift or ultra-high-lift blades, but these typically maintain the same curved angle as standard or extra high-lift blades. Before installing a set of high-lift mower blades on your mower deck, it's essential to verify whether your engine or battery can support the power requirements of these replacement blades.
High-Lift vs. Low-Lift Blades: What Should You Choose?
Choosing between high-lift and low-lift mower blades depends on your lawn mower's capabilities, the environment, and your specific needs. Generally, low- or medium-lift blades provide excellent performance in sandy or dusty areas of the USA. Additionally, standard blades tend to be more affordable than high-lift options, which can range from $22 to $45 or more.
If you reside in a particularly wet area or frequently water your lawn, high-lift blades are a better choice. Many premium or commercial lawn mowers also prefer high-lift blades to ensure a quality cut, even if it means replacing the blades more often.
Mowrator | Remote Control Lawn Mowers With High Lift Mower Blades
Mowrator offers one of the most unique lawn mowing solutions on the AU market — remote control lawn mowers. The S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD is our premier model with all the bells and whistles that a modern homeowner needs, including a 135-minute battery capacity and fully adjustable blade height. Outfit your very own remote control lawn mower with either a normal blade, high-lift blade, or high-lift mulching blade and enjoy premium lawn care at your fingertips.
Stand with the future of lawn care equipment and shop our range of remote control lawn mowers and accessories today.
FAQs on What are High-Lift Lawn Mower Blades?
What blade height should I cut my grass?
For optimal grass health, the blade height should be between 2 and 4 inches. Factors like grass type and season can influence this height. For cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, aim for 3 to 4 inches; warm-season grasses should be cut between 2 and 2.5 inches.
When in doubt, follow the rule of thirds: never cut grass more than one-third of its height at a time.
Are you supposed to sharpen lawn mower blades?
Yes, you are supposed to sharpen your lawn mower blades so they stay sharp and effective. It is advisable to sharpen them every 25 hours of use or twice per mowing season, whichever comes first. The best times for sharpening are at the beginning of spring and late summer.
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