I am thinking of getting one of those old-fashioned reel lawn mowers.... anyone on here ever use one? How much harder was it to work than a normal push mower, and how often did you have to sharpen the blades?
I am thinking of getting one of those old-fashioned reel lawn mowers.... anyone on here ever use one? How much harder was it to work than a normal push mower, and how often did you have to sharpen the blades?
Not much harder than a push mower, but then again my yard is only like an 8' by 8' patch of grass. The blades seemed to dull awfully quick, then it was miserable and ineffective. I didn't bother sharpening, I just bought a regular push mower. IMO, the old-fashioned type mowers aren't really cheap enough to justify the extra effort needed to keep it functioning.
Mike Cofrin – who brought an indoor inline-skating program to the Minneapolis Metrodome and co-created the Metrodome Inline Marathon and the St. Paul Inline Marathon – invented a pivoting handle resembling a mountain-bike handlebar that makes lawn mowers more maneuverable. Cofrin marketed the gadget as a fitness mower that could turn your chores into a workout.
In September, Cofrin's idea, the Zero Turn Radius Push Mower (www.mowerciser.com), won second place among more than 650 entries in the Minnesota Cup, a statewide contest to find the best new business concept.
I think they make the old fashioned kind that are self sharpening actually...
Might not be cheap, but it is a workout, and harkens back o the day...
Sharpen mine every other year - $10.
I have one from the 1890's that uses iron -- works best.
My other uses hardened steel; cost me, I think, $75 or so... Get 'em free at your local "swap shop" or dump...
I was gifted an old reel mower last summer that "wouldn't cut". After a few tries at adjusting the knife bed, it works reasonably well and isn't that hard to push. There's more resistance to pushing of course, but it weighs very little compared to a gas rotary mower. I wouldn't want to cut a large lot with it, but it's fine for our smallish yard.
As a couple caveats. It's harder to get close to a wall or foundation than a rotary mower, so there may be more trimming to do. You may have to adjust the knife bed a few times per season, but this isn't rocket science. If you let the grass get too tall, it can become much more difficult to cut. On the upside, you will never run out of gas, you will get a bit more exercise, and you will never tick off the neighbors when you mow during odd hours.