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This was a really good article. I have one of the manual reel mowers listed. I love it. Not only does it give a better cut, it uses no gas and doesn't have all
by jqm 12y ago
This was a really good article.
I have one of the manual reel mowers listed. I love it. Not only does it give a better cut, it uses no gas and doesn't have all the associated hassles (pull start etc) of a gas mower. It's only slightly more effort to use than a gas mower too. And it cost like $100 as opposed to 3-$400. I predict it lasts much longer as well.
- anishkothari 12y agoThat's great that you use a manual mower, we've always had a gas mower because we have a fairly large lawn. I wonder how a manual or electric mower would do on a large lawn, especially going uphill?
- jqm 12y agoMy lawn isn't terribly big, maybe around 110 square meters and it's flat. The reel mower works fantastic and I use a battery powered string trimmer for the edges. I don't know how it would do on hills, probably fine if they weren't very steep. I worked on a golf course when I was a kid and they used high dollar gas powered reel mowers on the putting greens and rotary mowers on the rest. Reel mowers do really give a nice cleaner cut... particularly if the blade on your gas mower is a bit dull. They don't rip the top of the grass leaves like a rotary mower. For $100 it might be worth experimenting. You may really enjoy using it. I know I do and wouldn't go back to a rotary mower. There is something fun about the way the reel slices the grass. Something like a paper cutter.
- jvoorhis 12y agoI recently replaced my dead Toro with a Fiskars reel mower. It really does a great job, but if your lawn hasn't been mowed in a while, you may need to make some extra passes for your first cut.
- jqm 12y agoThat's true. You have to stay on top of the length with a reel mower which means regularity. You can't plow through really long grass like you would with a gas rotary mower. Fortunately I really enjoy it and look forward to mowing. It's a break from sitting in front of a screen and is kind of like a long walk with a little arm activity too.
- bluthru 12y agoAnother benefit: built-in physical activity.
- VLM 12y agoReel aka manual mowers are not silent but close enough that audiobooks are no problem. Gas mowers and audiobooks don't mix as well. Electrics are kind of in between and depend on the quality of your headphones and if your climate will tolerate over the ear style headphones. My mom only mowed the lawnmower power cord in half a couple times, you get good at avoiding it after awhile. It is a topic of great argument if you'll get bit by more mosquitos using the manual or powered mower. Not to ruin the love fest but my experience is manual mowers don't tolerate rocks and kids toys.
- rickymetz2 12y agoWhen I cut grass professionally I would wear my headphones and then put muff style hearing protection over my ears. This combo allowed me to listen to podcasts while running a large gas powered zero degree mower.
- jqm 12y agoTrue, one can't run over rocks (or sticks or toys or anything but grass and leaves really) with a manual reel mower. But, then again, they don't chuck rocks through your neighbors car window either. Power rotary mowers are a bit dangerous sometimes.
- diminoten 12y agoDo you have to sharpen the blades? I've used a dull reel mower before, and it was not so great, even in a small lawn.
- jqm 12y agoA local shop sharpens the mower. But I guess you can do it yourself... (this is actually interesting). http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/06/28/how-to-sharpen-a-reel-mower/ http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/06/28/how-to-sharpen-a-re...
- swayvil 12y agoHow big is your lawn? Is it hilly or flat? Any ditches? Do you have troubles when the grass gets long? Is using the mower a workout? I am thinking about getting a reel.