Dremel 675 Lawn Mower Sharpener Kit

Praise, at Least a Little, for Dremel's Lawnmower Sharpening Kit

If you have a family member who grew up in the Depression era, you've likely heard something like, "Use it up and wear it out. Make do, or do without." Now that we have a disposable society, about half of what we Americans buy ends up in a landfill within weeks. In reality, though. getting more use out of your purchases looks more like a good idea daily. Take lawnmower blades: they're simple pieces of steel that the local Wal-Mart says should be replaced every year, if not more often. That's not really true: you can sharpen them, after all. Even the most mechanically-impaired among us can remove a blade and clamp it down somewhere to attack the edges with a file. Or you could use a Dremel Lawn Mower Sharpener if you have a Dremel rotary tool.

I do own a Dremel rotary tool, and I have a Dremel 675 Lawn Mower Sharpener Kit, too. It's a two-part affair: there's an ABS guide that fits on the nose of a Dremel tool, with an included mini grinder fixed in the collet. The guide is molded so that blade touches the grinder only within its narrow slot, thereby limiting the cutting angle. You simply run the grinder along the blade until it's sharpened, making certain to keep the blade balanced.

You can also use this kit to sharpen other tools like shovels and hoes, and cutting tools such as hedge trimmers. You simply need to be careful to maintain the proper angle.

Using the Dremel Sharpener Kit It works... sort of. The grinder won't dress a really dull lawnmower blade very quickly, though can take care of one that;s been sharpened within the past few months. It doesn't smooth out rock nicks, either, and it might put in a nick or two of its own. Because the slot is very narrow, it's difficult to work around the bends found on mulching blades. I've heard it also has problems with thicker blades, too, but the one for my Craftsman push mower fits fine. I usually dress my shovels and hoes with a sharpening stone, so I just tried the kit on them once. It worked just fine but took more time to set up and operate than it does by hand.

It's a reasonably useful tool if you're someone who sharpens the blade regularly, and for about the cost of a new blade you'll be able to keep an old one through two or additional seasons. I wouldn't advise buying a Dremel tool just to get the lawnmower blade kit, though. It also goes through grinding stones quickly. It's a good idea to keep some spares around. And don't forget to wear eye protection - the grinder really throws sparks.

Summary PLUS: keeps lawnmower blades and other tools sharp MINUS: slow, some blades fit poorly WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: For those who sharpen their garden tools and mower blades regularly, the kit can keep things sharp. It's not so hot for really dull blades, though... Note:  Dremel also sells another sharpening kit, Stock Number 679, that also includes a couple of different size grinding stones and a steel "protractor" to help set the correct angle when sharpening tools.

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