Ten observations on a full season of push reel lawn mowing

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by Ryland

My girlfriend's reel mower was rather dull and I realized that mine could use a sharpening as well so after failing at finding anyone in town that sharpens them I ordered a $15 sharpening kit, it has a small tub of lapping gel for the blades, a crank to turn the balds, instructions and a small cheap paint brush for the lapping gel.
Valve lapping compound is said to work too, but the stuff I have is rather thin and the gel is nice as it stays in place and instead of using the crank I hooked up my 1/2" chuck drill, the blades on the one mower were so bad that they had a large space in the a few spots while rubbing hard on other spots, a few minutes and a 2nd application of the lapping gel and it's smooth and cutting all the way across.

My new Fiskers is working great. I did a paper cutting test when I got it.
(Per the manual). The moving blades do not touch the fixed blade,
but pass very close to it. Cuts like shape scissors.

My question is, how is the gel used? Just paint it on the cutting edges and
then tighten up the cutting gap for light contact, when turned?

Thanks,
Rich