Backslapping

• Short of taking your reel mower to be professionally sharpened, the easiest way to sharpen the blades are to use a backslapping method. This entails applying a sharpening paste to the blades, then turning them backwards until they're sharp. Many stores that sell reel mowers also offer a sharpening kit that includes the sharpening paste and a turning handle for rotating the blades in reverse.
  
  

Disassembling the Mower

• Remove the right drive wheel and the drive gear located behind the wheel. Turn the mower on its side, resting on the left drive wheel. Attach the turning handle from the sharpening kit onto the drive shaft from which you removed the drive gear.
  
  

Grinding

• Using the brush from the grinding kit, apply a layer of grinding paste to the five spiral blades. Turn the handle so the blades spin in reverse for about ten minutes, until the edges of the five blades show an even metallic look. Remove the handle and reinstall the drive gear, followed by the drive wheel.
  
  

Cranking Alternative

• Turning the handle for about ten minutes can be a very tiring task. As an alternative, install a 16 or 17mm socket in a cordless drill and use it to rotate the blades. Try to keep the speed of the drill relatively slow to allow the backslapping blades to sharpen at about the same speed as you would turn with the handle.