Innovative Lawn Mower

[Double A]

Neuton Mower

[rwarn17588]

Or you can go old-school, like I do.

http://www.reelmowerguide.com/

No maintenance, except to sharpen the blades once a season (kits to do so cost about $15 and last for years).

No cost for gas or oil. A $3 can of WD40 to keep the blades from rusting will last for years.

You can mow during ozone-alert days.

It's good exercise.

The ones I've found cost $100 to $120 or so and will last for years.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Or you can go old-school, like I do.

http://www.reelmowerguide.com/

No maintenance, except to sharpen the blades once a season (kits to do so cost about $15 and last for years).

No cost for gas or oil. A $3 can of WD40 to keep the blades from rusting will last for years.

You can mow during ozone-alert days.

It's good exercise.

The ones I've found cost $100 to $120 or so and will last for years.

Reel mowers are great for people with pretty flat, hazzard free yards.  Reel mowers cut the grass like scissors, and don't rip and hack it off like a gas or electric powered, horizontal cutting mower.  They say a manual reel mower makes for a much healtheir lawn.

I just bought a new gas mower 1 year ago, but when it gives out, I will definately look at a reel mower.  My lot is not large, and the cheaper initial cost, no maintenance factor makes an old-fashioned reel mower just the ticket for me.

Everything old is new again...

[Ed W]

My football-obsessed son expressed some interest in a reel mower when I told him it was more of an upper-body workout and it cost less than a tackling dummy.  It's a more effective argument than an environmental one.

But I have to wonder about the Neuton mower.  The figures for gas and oil seem inflated - or at least they are by my standards - and the environmental impact is postponed rather than eliminated.  Most batteries contain hazardous materials that can be recycled if the owner disposes of them properly.  Do Neuton dealers offer a better deal if the old battery is exchanged?

Also, I dimly recall some differences between torque vs rpm when comparing gasoline and electric motors, but I can't recall the details.

[inteller]

electric mowers are the best.  just pull a lever and they start...no more choke adjustment and cranking a reel.

people are always like "oh but what about the cord?"  cord management is easy to figure out if you have two brain cells to rub together.

[pmcalk]

We had a push mower several years ago, when we had a smaller lawn.  I really liked it, and it wasn't very difficult to push.  The only draw back--there was always a few blades of grass or weeds that, no matter how many times you went over it, it just wouldn't cut.  I would eventually get out the scissors to finish off spots.

Now that we have a bigger lawn (and busier lives), I don't think a push mower is practical.  I am interested in the electric mower, though.  DoubleA, any suggestions on where to purchase that mower?

[swake]

I was thinking recently about the need for a rechargeable electric mower recently, I had a corded electric when I had a smaller yard and loved it, but it's not practical now with my much larger and more treed yard.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

We had a push mower several years ago, when we had a smaller lawn.  I really liked it, and it wasn't very difficult to push.  The only draw back--there was always a few blades of grass or weeds that, no matter how many times you went over it, it just wouldn't cut.  I would eventually get out the scissors to finish off spots.

Now that we have a bigger lawn (and busier lives), I don't think a push mower is practical.  I am interested in the electric mower, though.  DoubleA, any suggestions on where to purchase that mower?

I dunno. I happened to see a commercial for the neuton mower while watching the Hex marathon on BBC America today. I checked it out online and was quite impressed so I thought I'd share. Maybe the guys that are opening up the green building supply store downtown might be convinced to carry it.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

We had a push mower several years ago, when we had a smaller lawn.  I really liked it, and it wasn't very difficult to push.  The only draw back--there was always a few blades of grass or weeds that, no matter how many times you went over it, it just wouldn't cut.  I would eventually get out the scissors to finish off spots.

Now that we have a bigger lawn (and busier lives), I don't think a push mower is practical.  I am interested in the electric mower, though.  DoubleA, any suggestions on where to purchase that mower?

Smith's Lawn and Garden?...If I remember correctly.

They are cool looking.. The wife wants one since she saw another lady making short work of her front lawn.

The website sells them cheaper. But if you want to test drive ..It's here in Town.

[pmcalk]

Thanks!  I found a Smith's Farm & Garden at 41st--same place?

[cannon_fodder]

Record rain for the month + a few warm sunny days + and me out of town last weekend =  REALLY long grass in my backyard.

Neither an electric nor a reel mower would have had the power to deal with the still wet grass in my backyard yesterday.  The reel would have required running starts to get 3' cuts and then backup... the electric the ever interesting down-from-the-top technique.  

However, my Craftsman 5.6 did it just fine with about 2 cups of gasoline.  If all I had was my little front lawn, a reel mower would be fine.  If I could get into my swamp of a backyard before it became a jungle in the spring, electric might work.  Alas, I pretty much need gas.

[Conan71]

Fortunately, P.O.'s of my present house saw fit to:

Pour concrete terracing from the house level to the curb level (about 4ft.) which saves time and keeps from having to mow at an odd angle.

Install an in-ground pool with generous concrete decking, loads of lanscaping, and no grass in the backyard.  

I'm on a 50' X 150' lot.  With my 6.5 HP Lawn Boy (I bought it when I lived on a 1/2 acre lot) I'm done in about 10 minutes without breaking much of a sweat.  I have horrble grass allergies.  I mulch so I don't have to bag and get all that stirred up worse than it does.

Whenever "Mean Greenie" dies, a reel mower would be a realistic alternative for me.  That may be awhile though since it only gets about four or five hours on it a year.

My previous experience with electric lawn mowers is that they are prone to problems with dust and grass particles finding their way into the motor windings, commutator, brushes, or into a bushing.  We had one when I was growing up.  A Craftsman, I believe.  I think it lasted for about five to seven years, then crapped out from getting junk into the areas described.

I'm sure the technology has improved, but I would think you have to have some sort of venting for the electric motor which could also let FOD in.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

Thanks!  I found a Smith's Farm & Garden at 41st--same place?

Si....[}:)]