Anybody cut with a Reel Mower?? (lawn, grass, vines, lawn mower)

[oldhousegirl]

Hello everyone!!

I am seriously considering buying a reel motor online - maybe today!! Just wanted to get opinions. I have Bermuda grass here in the South. I have done a bit of research and know that only certain push mowers will work.

I am not liking the $60 per cut cost to have a service mow the yard and I really don't like the idea and expense of a sit down lawn mower, having to spend 3k for the mower and another 2k for "the house" to put it in. Yuk . I have about 7000 sq feet to cut.

Please tell me your likes/dislikes and any tips I should know. Thanks! BTW, I will likely be doing all of the cutting by myself. My husband is going to have a cow when I bring up this great new idea and he DOES NOT do yard work.

[harry chickpea]

70 x 100 feet (7,000 square feet) is not a big area. No way would I get a rider for that postage stamp. I used reel mowers as a kid. The big issue was NEVER cutting over a stone or stick. IIRC, the blades were more or less self-sharpening otherwise. An electric mower would also fit your situation.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

70 x 100 feet (7,000 square feet) is not a big area

If it's all lawn, that is a big area for a reel mower in my opinion. Say you have an 18 in reel like mine, 70/1.5 = ~47. So you're be pushing a mower 100 feet 47 times. Walking just under a mile while pushing a mower. I'd go with a gas or electric mower, ideally a self propelled one.

[harry chickpea]

A mile isn't that long a distance to walk unless you have bad knees or hips. Average walking speed is about three miles per hour. A twenty minute walk is more likely to make you healthy than kill you. I cut about 100,000 square feet around here, (not including bush hogging) and just the trim I have to do with a rotary mower takes much longer than that.

[Butterfly4u]

Oldhousegirl,
I am a southern woman, I will give you my opinion.
Hubby bought me a 14 inch reel mower, I have a bigger area than you, well, it
feels bigger anyway, I do just the back yard portion for my dogs.
It's great exercise, you will loose weight.
It cuts nice and low if you want, which helps with weeds.
No noise, you don't have to worry about mowing early in the morning,
which is when you HAVE to use it in the heat of the summer.
THe grass grows real fast during the hottest time of the year.
UGH! Let me tell you, spray yourself down with the hose!
Some days I am cursing that stupid mower! The sweat will sting
your eyes, so get a nice head band.
I wish I could use an electric one, but no money for now.
I use it cause if I didn't the grass would get so high I couldn't
even sit out there.
Good Luck, and if you can afford it, get an electric mower.

[oldhousegirl]

Thanks for the responses. Its not really the money issue on anything other than a riding mower, I wanted something smooth and easy to operate. I like the idea of quiet. I liken this to my switch from a vacuum to a sweeper - waaay easier, less hassle, heaviness. As far as the electric, apparently with my Bermuda grass, they aren't any really good options; the charge wouldn't last long enough,blah, blah, blah (I'm getting this from a couple of websites I checked out this morning).

As far as exercise - I'm healthy, young and fit. I don't anticipate too much sweat. And, per the websites I have 30 days to return if I end up not liking it. The price is sooo reasonable, I'm already anticipating how much money we'll save this season.

[Blinx]

I used a reel mower for a season when I had my row house. I bought it at a garage sale. But I waited just a bit too long the next spring to make my first cut -- BIG mistake! It was the toughest thing to get through. I bought an electric mower and used that for 15 years. VERY quiet and easy to use, and no trouble at all to start (I always had trouble starting gas mowers). The downside were the long cords -- constantly moving them out of the way, coiling them up to put them away.

If I had to by a mower today, I'd get a rechargeable battery operated electric mower. Zero maintenance required.

[oldhousegirl]

Thanks. I have been looking at the electric mowers but I have Bermuda grass, and more than a little of it which would be way too much for an electric mower to cut.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by oldhousegirl

Hello everyone!!

I am seriously considering buying a reel motor online - maybe today!! Just wanted to get opinions. I have Bermuda grass here in the South. I have done a bit of research and know that only certain push mowers will work.

I am not liking the $60 per cut cost to have a service mow the yard and I really don't like the idea and expense of a sit down lawn mower, having to spend 3k for the mower and another 2k for "the house" to put it in. Yuk . I have about 7000 sq feet to cut.

Please tell me your likes/dislikes and any tips I should know. Thanks! BTW, I will likely be doing all of the cutting by myself. My husband is going to have a cow when I bring up this great new idea and he DOES NOT do yard work.

If you buy one, go to a place that will sharpen the blades. The ones you buy do not have sharp blades and it makes a huge HUGE difference after you sharpen them. Once you get them sharpened professionally, you can buy a file and keep them sharp, but when they do it the first time they have to use a grinding wheel.

20yrsinBranson

[slowrollem]

We just bought a new electric mower from Lowe's that has two lithium batteries and the charge holds for over an hour. Also, it came with dual cutting blades which helps with the Bermuda. It only uses the charge from one battery while mowing. Unless, you hit taller grass or a very dense area, then it automatically kicks into the second battery for extra power.

It's so much lighter and quieter than our old gas mower.

The handle even folds up and you can store it on its side for conserving space. I never thought I'd own one of these but with the push of a button it starts right up and I don't have to deal with gas/oil! Gotta love that!

For what it's worth, I have about 10,000sq ft of grass.

Shop Greenworks 40-Volt 20-in Cordless Electric Push Lawn Mower at Lowes.com