Whenever we are using a lawn mower, very little thought goes into the kind of blade we are using. This often comes to mind when we intend to replace the blades. The thing about blades is that they greatly determine the efficiency of a mower.
There are blades that are only meant for cutting soft grass. Others can be able to cut into tougher grass types and make even the most unkempt grass lawns look like carpets.
What most people may not know is that it is possible to have a mower that is fast and powerful but is fitted with weak blades that make it under perform. It beats purpose to have a mower that can deliver power that is enough to clear debris and obstacles but install a blade that cannot cut through tough grass.
Mulching blades are most of the time powerful. They work by cutting the grass and then proceeding to clip it further into smaller pieces that fall back into the ground. The small pieces ideally decay faster and release nutrients into the ground. These nutrients are then used as manure for the planted grass.
There are various Copperhead mulching blades that can be used for various machines. Here, we are going to review the Rotary 12963 PK3 Copperhead Mulching Blade. The article will review its main features and its pros and cons.
Let’s jump in!
The Rotary 12963 PK3 Copperhead Mulching Blade Product Review
This blade is used in lawn mowers for the maintenance of big lawns of grass. It is a mulching blade that clips the grass into small pieces. This prompts the grass to decay faster and to release nutrients for the benefit of the growing grass. Being a mulching blade, it cannot be used alone. With an 18.5 inches length, it can be used in mowers with wide cutting decks of up to 54 inches. It is a powerful blade that can deal with lots of debris and obstacles.
What to expect from the Rotary 12963 PK3 Mulching Blade
This product is a metallic blade that is made using carbon steel that makes it hard and durable. It is 18.5 inches long and can be used in big and powerful mowers. It has a width of 3 inches and a thickness of 0.204 inches. It comes in a set of 3 pieces that can be used at one go, or as a pair depending on the size of the mowing deck.
This blade has a shiny black coat that keeps it from degrading fast. It is also an ideal feature that makes the blade easy to clean. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the teeth it bears. They make it an excellent mulching tool.
Key Features of the Rotary 12963 PK3 Mulching Blade
Length
This rotary blade has a length of 18.5 inches. Being a mulching blade, it is unlikely that it can be used alone. This means that it can fit into a mower that has a 36 or 42 inch mowing deck.
However, it is made for heavy duty mowing in large lawns that have a lot of debris such as roots and clumps of soil. This makes it an ideal fit for riding lawn mowers that have a cutting deck that measures 54 inches.
Build
Since this blade is meant for performance in expansive lawns that have obstacles such as roots and large twigs from trees, it is meant to be strong and durable. For this reason, it is made using carbon steel that is heat treated to make it quite rigid and strong.
Both cutting edges are serrated. These serrations are also known as teeth. They are excellent for cutting and mulching the grass. You will be surprised at the kind of quality they deliver. These teeth also add air into the grass and improve its quality.
The blades are also quite sharp which allows them to make clean and precise cuts that prevent the grass from getting diseased or infested by insects.
Compatibility
These blades are ideally meant to fit into quite a number of mowing machines. It is compatible with all John Deere models that have a 42 inch cutting deck, some Troy-Bilt mowers and the MTD RZT series. When used as a triple unit, it can fit into a 54 inch width mowing deck.
It has a center hole that has a star pattern. It is relatively easy to install, but the machine into which it is being put also dictates this aspect.
Shiny Black Coat
The blade is covered in a black coat that keeps it from damage. It keeps the blade intact and also helps when cleaning it. The black coat is smooth, and in case you work in an area with lot of soil and debris, it gets easy to clean. Sometimes a wipe down will suffice, especially when the mowed area does not have soil and twigs.
Pros
- This blade is quite powerful
- It has teeth that are great for mulching
- It stays sharp for a long time
- It is compatible with many mowing machines
- It is easy to clean
Cons
- It is more expensive than regular mowing blades
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Would I recommend this blade?
I most definitely would. If you have an expansive lawn that measures anything between 1 acre and 5 acres, this is the blade for you. It can handle lots of cutting and mowing without going dull fast. Seeing that it is a powerful tool, it has not problem cutting through obstacles such as twigs and roots, along with large clumps of soil.
It is also a compatible tool with many machines, making it easy to replace. This blade will leave your lawn beautiful and healthy as a result of its superior cutting and mulching abilities.