FAQs

A cylinder grinder (also known as a cassette grinding machine or reel mower grinder) is used to sharpen the cutting cylinder on a mower. It works by rotating the cylinder against a grinding wheel to restore a precise cutting edge, ensuring clean and consistent turf cutting performance.

There is 4 different approaches to grinding which include:

• Spin grinding
• Spin and relief grinding
• Full relief grinding
• Duel relief grinding

The two most used aproaches are Spin grinding and spin and relief grinding. Spin grinding sharpens the cutting edge, while relief grinding removes material behind the blade. Relief grinding reduces friction, heat, and wear, improving efficiency and extending the life of the cutting unit.

Relief ground cylinders will last considerably longer than those spun ground. When you grind a relief on a unit you are removing metal from the back of the blade therefore the diameter of the cylinder is not effected. The cylinder diameter is only affected when you spin the cutting land onto it. An already established unit which has been spun ground only, has to be ground at least 3 times more often, which equates to them wearing out 3 times more quickly.

Relief Grinding Benefits:

• Longer blade life for both reels and bedknives. Bedknives are known to last 2-4 times longer.
• Less friction between reel and bedknives results in lower overall fuel costs.
• Lower power requirement, an essential for eletric machines.
• Engines, gears, transmissions and all other moving parts have a longer service life.
• Adjustments from reels to bedknives or vice-versa are required less often due to less wear.
• With dry summers and lack of juice in the grass to lubricate the cutting action, bedknives wear fast. Relief grinding is the cure to this and other associated problem (i.e. 'striping' or 'tram-lining').
• The cleaner cutting action means that mowing can be carried out in very wet conditions without tearing, ribbing or skidding, which are problems that occur with 'tightly' set mowing machines.
• Less wear means less backlapping

A cylinder grinder (also referred to as a reel or cassette mower grinder) ensures a sharp, even cutting edge, delivering a clean scissor-like cut. This improves turf health, supports cleaner grass presentation and is essential for achieving high-quality finishes on golf greens and sports turf. Additionally, as the grass is cleanly sheared rather than torn, the turf is less susceptible to disease.

A bottom blade grinder (or bedknife grinder) ensures the bedknife is perfectly flat and sharp. This is critical for maintaining the correct contact between the cylinder and bedknife, which directly impacts cutting performance and turf quality.

How often you should grind a mower cylinder (also referred to as a reel or cassette) depends on usage and the type of turf maintenance programme being operated. The environment, playing surface requirements, top dressing programme and type of grinding performed all affect blade lifespan and how often it needs to be ground. Regular spin and relief grinding is recommended for maintaining optimal performance and to prevent excessive wear. Additionally, mower cylinders/cassettes can be sharpened and back in operation in under an hour, reducing equipment downtime.

Common signs your mower cylinder (also referred to as a reel or cassette) needs grinding include:

• Poor or uneven cut quality
• Tearing rather than cutting grass
• Increased noise or vibration
• Difficulty achieving correct cylinder-to-bedknife (or bottom-blade) contact

Yes - In most professional turf maintenance environments, grinding provides more accurate restoration of cutting geometry than backlapping. Precision grinding restores cylinder geometry to manufacture specification with accuracy, while backlapping is primarily a maintenance process that does not correct blade form or wear patterns. It is also worth noting that backlapping is only effective on relief ground cylinders.

If you're looking at how to extend cutting unit lifespan, it depends on the type of turf maintenance programme being operated. The environment, surface requirements, top dressing programme and type of grinding performed all affects blade lifespan. A full relief grind will generally last longer than a spin grind or a spin and relief grind but most manufacuturers prefer a spin and relief programme. Your mower's Operator Manual should outline the exact blade and sharpening requirements for optimal performance. Ensuring these are followed will reduce wear, maintain proper geometry, and prevent costly damage to cylinders.

While a cylinder grinder requires an initial investment, it delivers strong long-term cost savings. Maintaining sharp cylinders may reduce power demand and unnecessary wear by improving cutting efficiency. This helps extend the lifespan of cylinders and bedknives while maintaining consistent cut quality. For high-use environments, in-house grinding can reduce outsourcing costs, minimise downtime and improve equipment availability over time. Particularly in high-use settings such as golf courses and sports turf facilities, where frequent sharpening is essential.
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Professional turf grinder machines are used across:

• Golf Courses
• Football, Cricket, Hockey & Rugby pitches
• Ornamental Lawns & Educational settings
• Local Authority & Groundcare Contractors
• Groundscare manufactures & dealers

Hunter Grinder machines are widely used across the sports turf and groundscare industry, and are particularly useful as part of a comprehensive golf course turf maintenance programme. They are designed to deliver fast, accurate, and repeatable sharpening for professional environments, ensuring mower and blade longevity and consistent turf quality.

Hunter Grinders are engineered for precision, durability, and ease of use. Models such as the Jupiter ATI and Amazon are designed to meet the demands of professional commercial mower grinder requirements and are the only brand in the UK to utilise a cast iron bed. Hunter Grinders also provide long-term technical support for the lifetime of a machine including training, servicingand tournament support throughout the operational life of the machine.

This can be down to an incorrect adjustment. It is recommended that the set up be reviewed and checked against your operator manual and manufacturer specifications.

Until the stone no longer reaches the blade. Once this happens the grindstone will need to be replaced. You can order replacement grindstones in our spares shop where there are two options available depending on your blade and sharpening requirements.

If grinding has become uneven you should check the set-up of your grinder, mower mount and grindstone against your operator manual and manufacturer specifications. If you are still unsure the Hunter Grinder team may be able to advise.
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Yes, both the Amazon and the Jupiter ATI grinders have a liquid coolant system, minimising airborne dust and preventing heat distortion.

All Hunter Grinder machines are fully CE compliant with health and safety regulations for noise, vibration and dust.
The safety features of the Amazon include:

• Fully enclosed in a roll-back canopy with clear viewing window.
• Emergency stop button
  The safety features for the Jupiter ATI include:
• Fully enclosed guard & safety screen
• Liquid coolant to prevent heat distortion and minimise airborne dust
• Two emergency stop buttons

Yes. Each machine comes with full installation and [operator training]https://huntergrinders.com/training) to ensure safe and efficient operation.

Yes – all wearing parts such as grinding wheels, dressing sticks, finger guides, star wheels and soluble coolant are readily available from our Parts Shop.

Every new Hunter Grinder includes a two-year manufacturer warranty, subject to a completed warranty registration. All Hunter Grinder machines have been manufactured to the highest quality standards and are guaranteed for professional use against faulty parts or manufacture.

To speak to our team on any technical support query for Hunter Grinders please call +44 (0)1332 824 777 or email [spares@howardsongroup.com](spares@howardsongroup.com)