[TheForge] Lawn Mower Blade

[Doug Ayen]

Thus Spake David E. Smucker (davesmucker at hotmail.com):
> I have had a Gravely for about 15 years now -- still has the original blade 
> on it.  I don't use it near as much as I use to but it had a least 10 years 
> of heavy use.  Blades are 5160, and heavy like a Bush Hog blade.  You can 
> forge out the cutting edge and then grind, no need to heat treat.  This is 
> done all of the time with Bush Hog blades.  After working on you blade you 
> should balance.  Only problem I have had on the Gravely is breaking some 
> teeth of the bevel gear set that drive the blade out of the main gear box. 
> I haven't replaced them yet but know I should so it is on my to do list. 
> Gravely keeps parts for units that go back many many years -- but of course 
> they are never cheap.  (All of this is based on the assumption that you 
> Gravely is of the type with the cutting deck out front of the gear box, 
> wheels and engine.  This is the original type of Gravely, they also make 
> other designs too.)
> 
> Dave Smucker

Speaking of which, what are bush hog blades? 5160? 

Thanks.

--doug
(got a piece I forged out from such a blade that's come out much better
than I'd hoped -- what was going to be the prototype/test piece might as
well be the final, if I can figure out a good heat-treatment for it.)