American Lawn Mower Co. SK-2 Reel Lawn Mower Hand Sharpener for Great States, American Lawn Mower, Scotts, and Earthwise Reels

What It Is

The SK-2 is a hand-operated sharpener designed to restore the cutting edge on reel mower blades. It applies a lapping compound between the reel and bed knife while you spin the reel backward, honing both surfaces to a clean, precise edge. It’s intended for home-use reel mowers from Great States, American Lawn Mower, Scotts, and Earthwise, not for commercial or heavy-duty reel mowers.

Fitment & Compatibility

Before buying, confirm your mower’s reel diameter and bed knife type. The SK-2 works with standard 7- to 10-inch reel diameters and flat or slightly curved bed knives. It fits most Great States, American Lawn Mower, Scotts, and Earthwise push reel mowers (e.g., models 505, 506, 515, 516, 515-14, 515-16, 515-18, 615, 616, 912, and similar). It does not fit reel mowers with a fixed, non-adjustable bed knife or mowers with a sealed bearing reel assembly. Measure your reel length and bed knife width—the sharpener’s abrasive stone is about 2 inches wide and requires clearance to slide between the reel and bed knife. If your mower has a removable bed knife, you can sharpen it separately; the SK-2 is for in-frame sharpening only.

Key Things to Know

• Quality: The included abrasive stone is adequate for light to moderate use. For heavily dull or nicked blades, you may need a separate sharpening stone or professional service first.
• Installation difficulty: Very easy—no tools required. Apply the compound to the stone, place it between the reel and bed knife, and spin the reel backward 20–30 strokes. Clean and repeat as needed.
• Common gotchas: Don’t spin the reel forward—it will dull the edge. Use only the supplied lapping compound; other abrasives can damage the blades. Over-sharpening can remove too much metal, shortening the bed knife’s life. Always adjust the bed knife gap (paper-thin) before sharpening.
• Maintenance: Clean the stone after each use with a stiff brush and store dry. The compound dries out over time; keep the tube capped tightly.

Should You Buy It

Buy the SK-2 if you own a compatible push reel mower and want a cheap, no-mess way to maintain a sharp cut without removing the blade. It’s ideal for seasonal touch-ups on a well-adjusted mower but won’t fix severely damaged or misaligned blades.