Reel mowers (Full Version)

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PrincessDonna -> Reel mowers (4/12/2008 6:54:13 PM)

Do you have one? Do you like it or hate it? Do you have your children use it, and how old were they when they started? What kind do you have (link would be great if you have one!)?

We looked at a couple at Lowe's today and they had a simple one for $90. I'm thinking with gas prices, this is a definite plus. Also, I have 8 and 7 year old boys who I'm hoping can help with it, as will I as my hugely pregnant body cooperates. I wouldn't let them run a regular mower yet, but I think at least the 8 year old could do a reel mower safely. It would also take a bit of my husband's work load from him, which I would love to do.



betterisoneday -> RE: Reel mowers (4/12/2008 8:24:25 PM)

I'm going to Lowe's!!! [:D]

Don't have one but I've always wanted one, and my sons would definitely be using it. They love stuff like that.



PrincessDonna -> RE: Reel mowers (4/12/2008 8:42:49 PM)

Amazon.com also has one HERE, with free shipping and a wider mower.

How old are your boys?



zoebob -> RE: Reel mowers (4/12/2008 9:24:16 PM)

We bought one when we moved here. However, we have some kind of wierd grass that it won't cut: not the whole yard but something scattered through. We've only let DD1 try it but the other's probably could



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Reel mowers (4/13/2008 8:42:38 AM)

we have used/had one in the past...hubby refuses to get one again so we don't now.

pro's....
*no gas or electricity being used
*not loud so you can use it at nap time or late at night
*the new ones (compared to the older ones my grandpa used when he was little) are easy to push and don't require much effort
*younger kids (yes, even 7 and 8yo) can safely use it...if they are supervised well and taught the safety of them...and if they can keep their fingers out of them.
*it can be easily and safely used around younger kids playing in the same yard.
*it doesn't burn the grass like some high powered mowers can with delicate types of grass
*most now days have safety features that stop the blades from revolving the second you stop pushing...so that's good when you are around kids

cons...
*it doesn't work on grass that is too long
*it only works if you can get it revolving, so if there isn't much room to "rev" it up then it won't work well
*some types of grass (or rather weeds that grow in along with some grasses) can clog it up easily
*it doesn't cut as fast as a regular gas/power mower
*I found that you had to cut the grass more often with it because you can't let it get too long or it won't work...for you though it might be fine...I am sure your grass doesn't grow as fast as ours did because we were further south and had much longer seasons of grass then you do up there



PrincessDonna -> RE: Reel mowers (4/13/2008 12:59:59 PM)

Thanks, Sarah! It sounds like it should work for us then.[:D]



betterisoneday -> RE: Reel mowers (4/13/2008 1:41:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna

Amazon.com also has one HERE, with free shipping and a wider mower.

How old are your boys?

Ooh, that one looks nice. They're 5 and 4 so it would be a few years yet. I'll have to go look at grass types where we'll be living then.



Auben -> RE: Reel mowers (4/14/2008 11:34:59 PM)

I like ours. We originally got it because I didn't feel comfortable mowing with toddlers streaking across the lawn and I didn't feel safe leaving them indoors (ie the lawn never got mowed).

My oldest could mow with it last year (when he was 8). Its not as light as the new new ones but its not as heavy as the old ones either.

Its true that you can't really mow long grass (long being more than 6-8 inches). We live in the north so I don't have to mow more than every few weeks. You do have to pick up sticks. They slow you down by sticking in the blades. You really want to get those blades spinning. The smoother and faster the spin the better the cut. The better the cut the less likely you'll have to go over the same area again (which can happen if you start and stop too much in a certain spot).

I like it. The grass falls down and feeds the roots. No bagging or dragging. It's pretty quiet. It's a nice light workout.



mrwrench -> RE: Reel mowers (5/13/2008 11:16:10 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: betterisoneday

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna

Amazon.com also has one HERE, with free shipping and a wider mower.

How old are your boys?

Ooh, that one looks nice. They're 5 and 4 so it would be a few years yet. I'll have to go look at grass types where we'll be living then.

yeah it is nice but to me you have to cut more often with one of those, maybe it is just me but of course I have always used motor mowers.



Auben -> RE: Reel mowers (5/13/2008 12:55:15 PM)

It depends on how fast your grass grows. I haven't seen an appreciable difference but with child labor you may get a few sections where they don't get the blades turning fast enough so the cut isn't very good and that will show faster than an evenly cut lawn.



spiritchsr1 -> RE: Reel mowers (5/14/2008 9:51:10 PM)

Years ago when I was a kid my dad used a reel mower to cut the grass with a grass catcher on the back of it. When I was old enough to cut grass I ended up using that thing. The handle kept falling off. , the small black roller on the back of the lawn mower kept falling out also and even the tires kept falling off. That mower was a real trip to cut grass with. If the grass became to big it became terrible to cut with the push mower.

I was so happy when my Mom decided to get a gas lawn mower. I'll never go back to a reel mower.

Spiritchsr1



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