IN THE WORKSHOP
From page 32
the lightest.
For slasher blades and heavier
mower blades a small,
accurate kitchen scale will be
inadequate, while a bathroom
scale will be too inaccurate to
achieve the desired result.
In such a case one must make
an old-fashioned balancing
scale.
Place a length of threaded rod
or steel fence dropper, or very
sturdy straight wire on a blade
held firm in a vertical position,
For heavier blades, such as those
from a slasher, you will need to
fashion a balancing scale
single unit you can ensure
both sides are in balance by
suspending it through its
centre hole off a nail or length
of sturdy wire held horizonfor example in a vice, so that and the lighter blade.
tally in a vice.
approximately half of the rod Remove the blades and the
is on either side of the blade. rod and mark off this distance The side that dips downward
is the heavier.
If there is a small nick in the
on the side of the heavier
Because of the large diameter
blade it will prevent the rod
blade.
of the centre hole and the
from rolling up and down the Dress the heavier blade and
blade. Move the rod to the
repeat the hanging process. As fact that a blade may hang a
left or right till it balances
the heavier blade loses weight bit off-centre, and thus give
absolutely horizontally, and
through the dressing process, you an inaccurate indication
of weight, it is advisable to
using a pencil or a koki pen
its position on the balancing
repeat the exercise a couple
mark the exact spot on the
rod will gradually move
of times, turning the blade
rod where it lies on the blade. outwards until it finally
over each time, to gain an
Hang two of the sharpened
reaches the exact same
“average” idea of the amount
blades off the each end of the distance from centre point
of dressing needed.
rod approximately equidistant that the lighter blade has at
from the centre. One side
the other end, while the rod is
will likely dip downward.
perfectly horizontal. At that
Move the blade on the
stage you are assured that the
downward side a little
two blades weigh the same.
towards the centre and check If your mower has four such
again. Continue until the rod blades you will need to
hangs horizontally.
establish the weight of the
Now mark where the lighter
lightest one first and dress the
blade is hanging on the rod
other three in turn till they
and carefully measure the
match it.
distance between the centre
If your mower blade is a
34
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