Anyone use reel lawnmowers?

[DrPizza]

I used to have to mow the lawn when I was a kid. From the age of about 8 or 9, until my early teens (we finally got a gas mower), I used a reel mower. Yard was approximately 100 ft by 40 ft, plus sides of the house.

If a 10 year old can do it, it's not too much work - but it IS more work than a self-propelled push mower.

Reel mowers probably do the best job out of all the mowers, provided they're maintained well. (Sharpened regularly.)

 

[Murloc]

I've never seen one outside of cartoons.

 

[Wyndru]

I've never seen one outside of cartoons.

They have pretty nice ones these days, some even bag for you:

 

[gorcorps]

Heck, I personally prefer to let my grass grow long and soak up pollution rather than constantly cutting it.

Then a reel mower is definitely not for you

 

[SunnyD]

http://bensoutlet.com/products/mtd-lawn-mower

 

[PsiStar]

I have had a reel mower ~5 years and mow a yard 40 x 120 in less than 1/2 hour. It is perfect for a lot this size. It has a set screw adjustment on the cutting bar that makes very clean cuts when adjusted correctly. It is also self sharpening which seems to work fairly well. Cut height is also adjustable and I have it set very high. Frequent mowing is important, but so it is for any lawn to look good.

I also have a Ryobi 40V trimmer.

I grew up on a farm in the middle of no where and was the stuckee for starting all small gas engines. I have an "allergy" for small gas engines as a result.

 

[ManBearPig]

deleted

 

[xj0hnx]

Had one and got rid if it for an electric mower. Worked great if the grass was already short but with me as lazy as I am with the grass, I had to make several passes to get it cut. No thanks.

<3 Electric mower

 

[silverpig]

Reel mowers are great and are better for your grass than rotary mowers.

One tip about adjusting them: Back the reel all the way off the bedknife so you can spin the reel freely without any noise of the reel hitting the bedknife. Then slowly tighten the reel back down on the bedknife until you *just* start to hear contact, and I mean just barely. That is how you should mow.

Most people tighten the reel down way too hard and this makes your reel and bedknife dull quickly, and causes you to have to expend more energy.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I own this Fiskars

The chain drive really helps. I had a old school one before that, and the improvement it offers over just pushing is most appreciated.

 

[MajorMullet]

I've used a reel mower for 5 years. This year for whatever reason I had a TON of junk grass come up in my yard. The reel mower would just run over it and the stuff would pop back up. It was literally impossible to mow my yard with it.

So I went and bought a corded electric. Wow, that thing is awesome - I can't believe what I've been missing all these years. I thought the "cord dance" would annoy me but it isn't really that bad. After using it a couple of times I've found a route that I can take to minimize the annoyance of the cord.

I don't want to deal with gas, oil, filters, etc. so this is a great compromise.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I've used a reel mower for 5 years. This year for whatever reason I had a TON of junk grass come up in my yard. The reel mower would just run over it and the stuff would pop back up. It was literally impossible to mow my yard with it.

So I went and bought a corded electric. Wow, that thing is awesome - I can't believe what I've been missing all these years. I thought the "cord dance" would annoy me but it isn't really that bad. After using it a couple of times I've found a route that I can take to minimize the annoyance of the cord.

I don't want to deal with gas, oil, filters, etc. so this is a great compromise.

The Fiskars I have deals with that issue. You can adjust the cut height in seconds. Then because of the chain drive you can give it a good push and the blades will still spin quickly while you hold it in place over the problem spot.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I used one from 2004-2007 when I lived in my old townhouse. It was one I had gotten from my mom. She had one when she lived in a trailer, the lawn by the trailer was big enough that I actually bought her a real lawn mower and took her little one for my 20x20 townhouse back yard. (also, I wanted her to have a self driving mower so that she could mow on her own easily when I was not there.)

Anyhow, the "reel" lawnmower sucked. I used a weed wacker to trim the grass by the fence, and by the AC, and that was half my yard, so I just used a weed wacker to cut the whole lawn.

 

[piasabird]

Just hire someone to cut my grass.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I bought one for this year for my small yard. The grass catcher is for shit, and it definitely forces you to pre-groom the lawn for things that might get caught up in the reel, like little pieces of mulch or something.

Still, it was cheap, small and light compared to a decent gas mower, and it cuts well. It like it.

 

[desura]

So, any recommendations?

I'm guessing that the larger ones are...better? Like, you want a larger wheel size so you have more...leverage, I guess, for propelling the cutting blades.

 

[Mixolydian]

So, any recommendations?

Yes, get a REAL lawn mower!

 

[lxskllr]

So, any recommendations?

I'm guessing that the larger ones are...better? Like, you want a larger wheel size so you have more...leverage, I guess, for propelling the cutting blades.

I like my 20" Scott. It seems to get mixed reviews, especially complaints about a broken handle, but I've never had a problem. I've probably mowed over 100ac with it so far.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I've used a reel mower for 5 years. This year for whatever reason I had a TON of junk grass come up in my yard. The reel mower would just run over it and the stuff would pop back up. It was literally impossible to mow my yard with it.

So I went and bought a corded electric. Wow, that thing is awesome - I can't believe what I've been missing all these years. I thought the "cord dance" would annoy me but it isn't really that bad. After using it a couple of times I've found a route that I can take to minimize the annoyance of the cord.

I don't want to deal with gas, oil, filters, etc. so this is a great compromise.

As someone who has a reel mower for 5 years, I have a similar experience. It's hard to have an even lawn due to the reel mower not cutting grass well if the grass blades aren't standing straight up. You're forced to mow over areas multiple times.

Also, the grass catcher I have(compost the clippings), I'm forced to clear the reel area where it connects to the grass catcher after a single pass or the grass piles up in that one area.

If I could do it over again, I would go with a corded electric mower if you're mowing a small area.

 

[desura]

Yes, get a REAL lawn mower!

I should probably take the $100 or so and put it towards an xbox 360.

 

[TridenT]

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.

 

[mmntech]

Reel mowers, sweat it out for the planet. Screw that. I've got a few neighbours that have them and they're out all afternoon. They don't work very well unless the blades are kept razor sharp.

I have a self propelled gas mower and a battery trimmer. Used to have an electric but we have a lot of trees and shrubs for the cord to get stuck on. Corded electric is still the best bet IMO. Plenty of torque if the grass is wet.

 

[lxskllr]

Reel mowers, sweat it out for the planet. Screw that. I've got a few neighbours that have them and they're out all afternoon.

Yup. That time could be spent at the gym.

 

[NetWareHead]

Reel mowers, sweat it out for the planet. Screw that. I've got a few neighbours that have them and they're out all afternoon. They don't work very well unless the blades are kept razor sharp.

I have a self propelled gas mower and a battery trimmer. Used to have an electric but we have a lot of trees and shrubs for the cord to get stuck on. Corded electric is still the best bet IMO. Plenty of torque if the grass is wet.

I compromise. I use my gas powered mower but dont engage the self propel feature. I figure I burn some extra calories this way manually pushing it around.

 

[waggy]

I used to have a rideing reel mower. got it from a private golf course that was having a auction.

it was great!