Every operation deserves to produce the highest-quality rolls, but it’s impossible to stay at the top of your game with dull sod harvester blades! The first contact your machine has with a fresh crop is the cutter, so make sure to start every roll the right way with the right blades. Here are 3 essential tips from Magnum’s experts that every farmer should know to make confident cuts.
1. Sharpening vs. Replacing
To cut costs, farmers may opt to sharpen their blades over replacing them. This is a great way to get the most out of your blades, but improper sharpening can spell disaster for your crop. All of the Clean Cut (red) and Hard Faced (green), Strip Cut, and Quick Hitch blades need to be sharpened to factory specs to ensure the highest-quality yield. Too thin of an edge can reduce blade longevity, and too thick of an edge can create ragged edges throughout your roll. While sharpening blades may preserve your budget, we recommend regular replacements to make quality cuts and minimize maintenance.
2. Soil Affects Harvests
While so many things are going through your head in the middle of harvesting season, the composition of your soil may not be one of them. Trust us, every ounce of soil running through your machine directly affects your sod harvester blades! Rocky or clay-rich soil can cause blades to wear out quicker as they cut through tougher conditions. The deeper you cut into soil, the harder your blades have to work! To keep your sod harvester running smoothly, we recommend paying close attention to how your soil affects cutting capacity.
3. Don’t Harvest With Dull Blades
Nothing about sod harvesting should ever be dull, including your blades. Even if you think you can make one more pass on dull blades to save some time or money, don’t do it! Along with creating ragged edges on your rolls, your machine has to work harder to cut with dull sod harvester blades. This causes unnecessary wear on other components as well. To stay efficient in the field, we recommend keeping a few blades on hand for quick replacements. Check out some other parts you should keep on your shelf with our related read!
Make the Cut With Magnum
Even the most reliable machines in our industry need regular maintenance to make every harvest count. That’s why Magnum makes ordering parts just as easy as getting professional guidance for replacing conveyor belts to prep for every season. Talk with our team to properly outfit your operation or get pricing online!
