Anyone use reel lawnmowers?

[PricklyPete]

I use one. A model made by Fiskar that got some design awards in 2010. It works really well, but a few caveats:

1) it definitely is more effort than even a push mower.

2) it does not work well with fast growing weeds that are at a much higher height than your grass.

3) you really have to cut more often. If the grass gets too tall, it will just push the grass down instead of cutting.

As long as you keep your grass weeded and cut often, the lawn will look great.

 

[desura]

I'd get a corded electric lawn mower. Get quite a bit of extension cord to go with it. You don't have to worry about batteries with them. (There is no waiting for a charge, ever)

I had a thread about a week or two ago on a similar topic in the garage forum.

Leaning that way too. Wonder how much a used gas mower would go for, enough to finance it?

Wonder what the savings would be, also.

 

[UnklSnappy]

Used to cut grass with a Jacobson F10 and greens mower when I was growing up. Reel mowers are the only way to go if your a perfect lawn kind of person. They cut grass while rotary mowers tear it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The concept of them is actually pretty neat, always wondered why standard powered push mowers don't use that same technology. Bet it's more efficient too.

I kind of regret getting a gas mower instead of electric though, gas mowers put out so much pollution. Apparently even more than a car.

 

[BoberFett]

how is using a gas mower annoying?

I hate gas mowers. Messy, smelly, noisy. Reel mowers are elegant, but you do have to mow more often. They don't cut tall grass well.

I toyed with the idea of a reel mower, but now I'm in a townhouse so I don't have to mow at all, which is even better.

 

[TridenT]

The concept of them is actually pretty neat, always wondered why standard powered push mowers don't use that same technology. Bet it's more efficient too.

I kind of regret getting a gas mower instead of electric though, gas mowers put out so much pollution. Apparently even more than a car.

Way more than a car. Way more...

 

[BrokenVisage]

Reel Big Lawnmowers

 

[Red Squirrel]

I hate gas mowers. Messy, smelly, noisy. Reel mowers are elegant, but you do have to mow more often. They don't cut tall grass well.

I toyed with the idea of a reel mower, but now I'm in a townhouse so I don't have to mow at all, which is even better.

The smell is the best part about using gas operated equipment!

The best smell though is a boat motor especially the first time starting it during the season. It has a very particular smell to it, and it's what completes a nice summer day at camp.

It almost makes the pollution worth it. :biggrin: Such a smell just can't be replicated by something electric or manual. Perhaps in the future they'll have filters for the air cooling system for electric motors, and these filters will have that smell embedded into them.

 

[desura]

So I was in the hardware store looking around and saw this:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_317736-1078...=1&currentURL=?Ntt=reel+lawn+mower&facetInfo=

featured in popular mechanics, also.

I'm pretty sure that the designs have advanced over time, just like how something as simple as a bicycle have refined some over time as well.