what blade tip speed

LandN

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Threads
30
Messages
420
It seems that a lawnmower with a blade tip speed of 18,500 has the best cutting performance....so who sets 'that' number..the government?,the mower industry?.......is there a 'minimum' blade tip speed?.... has anyone compared the cutting performance performance of two near identical mowers with say a.. ...500(or so) tip speed difference to compare the cutting difference? just wondering here cause i'm 'still' researching the mower i want to get this spring and it is just short of the magic 18,500,actually it is 18,400fpm this mower has a price tag of 1,200.00 bucks so i want to cross my "T's and dot my "I's" i have to be 100% sure on this mower.thanks :biggrin:
 

twall

Lawn Addict
Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Threads
78
Messages
1,628
It's similar to the hp vs. torque discussion :wink:

The number you found is what a manufacturer found to get the best 'lift' (which also translates into 'blow' out the chute) based on how they designed their blades.

I'd think it's different for each manufacturer, depending on how they designed their blades.

As far as who sets the number, I guess Newton does....:laughing:
 

LandN

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Threads
30
Messages
420
i havent seen under the mower to see what type/kind of blade it has. i'm still checking out the top side yet:laughing: i hope i has a high lift blade on it or be able to buy one for it.
 

twall

Lawn Addict
Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Threads
78
Messages
1,628
Not to confuse you......

But, as critical as the blade is to cut - the deck design is equally as critical. Just putting new blades on won't for sure get you a "high lift" deck.

Most high lift decks have one common feature: a continuous lip that even extends under the chute, and a rolled under (as opposed to rolled out) lip. This sealed shroud causes a vaccum effect. That is what gives the potential for high-lift (or hi-vac, as we snapper fans call it). JD, on some models, also offers (and has offered) a true high-lift option.

Blades alone, although they can help a bit, won't give you the golf-course look you may be after.

That requires hi-vac.
 

twall

Lawn Addict
Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Threads
78
Messages
1,628
...... this mower has a price tag of 1,200.00 bucks so i want to cross my "T's and dot my "I's" i have to be 100% sure on this mower.......


A measly 1200? :laughing: A snapper hi-vac rear engine rider without even an electric start will run you over 2g........

And JD??? Don't walk in unless you're pre-approved for a loan. :wink:
 

KennyV

Lawn Pro
Joined
May 5, 2010
Threads
26
Messages
5,447
Blade tip speed makes a difference, especially as the blades get dull...

You can see the difference with any mower just slow down the engine RPM ... you will eventually cross the threshold of acceptable cut to not so acceptable ...

18,500 ft per min is 210 MPH and is a very good speed to cleanly clip grass ... even with a duller blade... :smile:KennyV
 

JDgreen

Lawn Addict
Joined
May 14, 2010
Threads
248
Messages
2,887
It seems that a lawnmower with a blade tip speed of 18,500 has the best cutting performance....so who sets 'that' number..the government?,the mower industry?.......is there a 'minimum' blade tip speed?.... has anyone compared the cutting performance performance of two near identical mowers with say a.. ...500(or so) tip speed difference to compare the cutting difference? just wondering here cause i'm 'still' researching the mower i want to get this spring and it is just short of the magic 18,500,actually it is 18,400fpm this mower has a price tag of 1,200.00 bucks so i want to cross my "T's and dot my "I's" i have to be 100% sure on this mower.thanks :biggrin:

Interesting and thought provoking thread...just checked the manual for my 60 inch 7-Iron deck, it states blade tip speed is 15948 fpm 2100 rpm, I usually mow at 2200 rpm which probably ups the fpm to 16,000. Can you tell us where you obtained the 18,500 figure, thanks.
 

KennyV

Lawn Pro
Joined
May 5, 2010
Threads
26
Messages
5,447
I have seen the 18,500 blade tip speed as a suggested speed for blades up to 20 inch... as the blade gets longer than that the turbulence increases and causes additional problems... My largest deck runs a slightly lower BTS ... the 84 inch Land Pride running 3 blades 29 inches each, spin at 17,210 ft per min.
My 72 inch CTL with 3, a little over 24 inch blades, runs right at 19,000 fpm... In fine bladed grass I slow it down a bit for the 'perfect cut'.

So the 'Ideal' blade tip speed would appear to vary from grass to grass and blade length and deck design...

A 20 inch blade spun at 3,600 RPM is going to have right at 18,800 FPM... (that is going to be the average lawn mower)... Keep the blades sharp you could shed some RPM and still have a good cut... :smile:KennyV
 

JDgreen

Lawn Addict
Joined
May 14, 2010
Threads
248
Messages
2,887
I have seen the 18,500 blade tip speed as a suggested speed for blades up to 20 inch... as the blade gets longer than that the turbulence increases and causes additional problems... My largest deck runs a slightly lower BTS ... the 84 inch Land Pride running 3 blades 29 inches each, spin at 17,210 ft per min.
My 72 inch CTL with 3, a little over 24 inch blades, runs right at 19,000 fpm... In fine bladed grass I slow it down a bit for the 'perfect cut'.

So the 'Ideal' blade tip speed would appear to vary from grass to grass and blade length and deck design...

A 20 inch blade spun at 3,600 RPM is going to have right at 18,800 FPM... (that is going to be the average lawn mower)... Keep the blades sharp you could shed some RPM and still have a good cut... :smile:KennyV

Good post, Kenny...:thumbsup: I do wonder though if any maker has ever sold a mower with a built in blade sharpener...I have an '89 vintage Craftsman chain saw with a built in sharpener...

Yeah, I am making this in jest, we will never have a built in sharpener on our mowers, would bve nice to have though.
 

ILENGINE

Lawn Pro
Joined
May 6, 2010
Threads
39
Messages
9,855
The blade tip speed maximum is set by ansi standards at 19000. Lawnmowers blades are designed to withstand up to that speed and if exceeded the vibration harmonics can cause cracks to form leading to blade failure. So the longer a blade is the slower it has to turn.
 
Top