Reel Mowers

by **Daculling** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 19:13:34

I was going to post this in Open Discussion but seeing that I will be the source of energy I thought it could work here as I have to be the most efficient fuel user around :oops:

My lawn mower is beyond repair. Carb problems first now electrical. I'm sick of working on it every couple months. I've read other forums on reel mowers but I know the people here are on average more intellegent and experienced. I'm only mowing about a 1/4 and I don't mind hard work. Is a reel mower right for me and should I spend extra for a nice one or are the cheap ones just as good.

by **killJOY** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 19:21:35

I used a reel mower for a while. They work fine...IF you mow once a week--religiously. They DO NOT work in tall grass.

As I live on a farm, I have a helluva lot more to do than mow the lawn, so mine tends to be high. I've contemplated giving up mowing and just hireing a few sheep to do the job.

My reel mower has sat in the barn for close to ten years now.

by **RonMN** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 19:33:32

I just used a "real" mower 2 weeks ago...they work great IF the lawn is not too tall...once it get's too tall you're screwed!

I would suggest to compliment it with a scythe (if you're definately going to get a real lawnmower).

For gas powered mowers...i suggest you go as cheap as possible. Things like cars, i believe, it's best to pay more for quality...but mowers, you're just throwing money away.

My $125 mower lasted longer than my $325 mower...and it's lighter!

by **OldSprocket** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 19:41:05

I have a heavy cast (iron? steel?) reel mower. (The blades are certainly steel.) But I no longer have grass.

killJOY is right, frequent mowing makes it easiest.

The mower works OK on taller grass if you go over it a few times from different directions. I may be easy to please as far as lawn looks go.

For the first mowing after a longish trip, I'd go over the yard with a weed whip first then use the mower. A weed whip is a foot-long flat blade attached at an angle to a yard-long wooden handle: L

I gave away a working Toro mower when I got the reel mower at a yard sale. I never missed the noise even though the reel mower was more demanding in a couple of ways.

by **DriveElectric** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 19:42:05

I bought an electric lawn mower about two months ago. Works great and it is not nearly as loud as the gas mowers. And can be powered by your solar panels!!!

by **OldSprocket** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 19:47:20

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RonMN', 'I') would suggest to compliment it with a scythe (if you're definately going to get a real lawnmower).

by **Daculling** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 20:02:41

what about mowing angles, like 45 degree hills and the resultant corners? I don't have many but... And can you get under bushes ok?

How often do you have to sharpen the blades. I heard this was a problem.

by MD » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 20:03:52

Buy the best reel mower you can find, if you choose to go that way.
A quality reel mower can be a pleasurable workout and last a lifetime. A poor quality reel mower is drudgery at best. The result will be poor, it won't last very long, and it takes much more effort to operate, especially after it begins to wear a bit.

by MD » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 20:08:06

As for angles, you can mow walls with the thing if you are strong enough!
You do have to be careful running under bushes, you will likely get jams.
Sharpening isn't really an issue as long as you watch your clipper bar setting. A quality mower will have finer adjustments..

by **smallpoxgirl** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 20:10:22

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OldSprocket', ' ')A weed whip is a foot-long flat blade attached at an angle to a yard-long wooden handle: L

by **ubercrap** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 23:04:07

I've heard that the good ones work pretty well. I have used a cheap one to mow a yard at a rental house. I even used it to mow overgrown, tall grass. Let me tell you, that was the most grueling thing I have ever done next to helping my dad cut down a "no-fines" (supposedly about 10 times as hard as "regular"concrete) concrete wall with a gas-powered concrete saw. Anyway, the mower would jamb about every 4 feet, and I can't even remember how long it took because by the time I was done, it had been so long I couldn't remember when I had started. Right now, I have about a 1.25 acre lawn that I mow with a 2-stroke push mower I got for free. It takes about 5 hours I reckon.

by **PhilBiker** » Wed 08 Jun 2005, 09:08:53

I use a reel mower on a 1/5 acre lawn, I used to use it on my townhouse lawn. It's great, I'd never buy a gas powered mower and I wouldn't use an electric unless I had solar panels (in which case it would be one of my first purchases

). You must mow every week, or you'll end up mowing the whole lawn twice in order to cut it all. Sharpening the blades is easy peasy and I do it about twice a year.

Highly recommended. I was mowing a few weeks ago while my neighbor was playing with his daughter in his back yard, if I had a gas powered mower he would have had to go in. It's a bit of a workout, but no problem. I've had mine for about 7 years now.

It's a big pain if you let the grass grow long and seed. Those long sprouts don't get cut by the lawnmower unless you rip 'em lower.

The scissor cutting action is supposedly better for the grass. Mine is a Deluxe Light 18" model from American Lawnmowers look 'em up! Made in USA!

I love using Phil Power to mow my lawn instead of (direct or indirect) fossil fuels.

by **Devil** » Wed 08 Jun 2005, 10:09:09

http://www.qualcast.co.uk/rightmower/

This is a UK maker of mowers that has a very wide range of hand, electric and petrol of all types.

Another is http://www.atco.co.uk/ and these two companies supply most of the fine mowers used for golf greens, cricket pitches, bowling greens etc.

by **Bubbling_Crude** » Wed 08 Jun 2005, 15:25:30

We recently 'retired' our 6.5 hp Craftsman in favor of a battery-electric model: Neuton. I think units like this neatly fill the gap between reel and gas mowers. Very quiet, no messing with gas, oil*, sparkplugs, or air filters. A thirty minute mow costs about a dime of electricity (at our low hydropower rate).

Of course, the best solution would be no lawn. Xeriscape is more practical and much less water intensive than grass.

*Yes, I know the unit has a plastic housing, wheels, etc...

by **RG73** » Thu 09 Jun 2005, 12:46:40

The question that comes to mind here is why on Earth anyone wants grass to begin with? It requires tons of irrigation--which uses energy, not to mention pisses away valuable water. It's boring looking. It can require fertilizer. And it is labor intensive. If you want labor intensive you could just have a real garden, which would actually give you something back besides allergies. You could plant something that isn't boring looking if you're going for aesthetics. And if you don't want to be bothered with labor and/or don't want to waste resources, you could just xeriscape--which has the benefit of looking better than grass and not wasting water and resources for no good reason.

We're nearing peak oil and people are worried about their lawns? Nice.

by **jaws** » Thu 09 Jun 2005, 16:13:31

I suggest the Brazillian solution to lawn mowing.

Sheep.

by MD » Thu 09 Jun 2005, 16:33:10

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RG73', 'W')e're nearing peak oil and people are worried about their lawns? Nice.

by **bobcousins** » Thu 09 Jun 2005, 18:33:58

Big up de Peak Oil massive. Keep it reel!

Booya! Respec!

by **PhilBiker** » Thu 09 Jun 2005, 22:38:18

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RG73', 'W')e're nearing peak oil and people are worried about their lawns? Nice.

by **Granny-May** » Thu 09 Jun 2005, 23:27:05

We have two reel mowers and one gas powered. The oldest is the reel model that I salvaged from a chicken coop in SE Mass. It is built like a tank, yet my 9-year old (ADHD) nephew was able to mow spirals in thigh-high grass with it. Newer model reel mower is lighter weight and can only be used effectively on grass that is under control (mowed consistantly).

We broke down and bought the gas model when we moved to a home with a large lawn adjacent to a small stream. Keeping the grass low seems to help with mosquito control. Alas, all of this lawn does not belong to us and has been given to the town as conservation land to help the developer get his way with a subdivision. No more mowing of the vast outback.

The part of our property that is appropriate for gardening has been forked over and i'm still in the process of conditioning the soil. ( that old sod is hard to break up). The only area left to mow is between garden beds, so I think the gas jobber can be put out in the yard sale and we'll resurrect the ancient reel mower.

I really enjoy using the human powered mower rather than the gasser. It makes a gentle whirring sound and I can still hear the birds singing while I work. Allows an opportunity for quiet contemplation and a decent workout.

ps- I need one of those grass whips too, as they were called when I was a kid.

Charlotte

Reel Mowers

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