Reel or Electric mower ?!?!

Miz Mary · #1 02/29/12, 02:24 PM

Looking to buy a new mower .... have a few yards to mow ( a cord for the electric isnt a problem ) I have NO expierience with an electric mower , but all the Reel mowers I buy, the blades never work right in cutting !! Here's a NEW type of Reel Im looking at :

http://www.lowes.com/pd_317736-1078-...7C1&facetInfo=

OR an electric ????

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Deck...roduct+Reviews

Can you give me any insite/opinions ?!!

Sawmill Jim · #2 02/29/12, 02:27 PM

What is wrong with a regular gas ran lawn mower

viggie · #3 02/29/12, 02:27 PM

I have that electric, and there's nothing at all wrong with it. I really like how easy it is to adjust the height and love that it's maintenance free. But the cord can be a bit of a pain to manage while you are working. I actually wish I'd gone with a reel, I've heard lots of good things about the new ones.

mnn2501 · #4 02/29/12, 03:49 PM

Having used a 1940's era reel mower (in the 60's as a teen) and a 2000's era reel mower there is no comparison.
The 1940's were built tough and well made, designed to be used for years, resharpened as needed and used for more years.
The new one's are disposable.

Too bad my Dad sold our old reel mower after he bought a gas one, I'd sure love to have it.

Buy a gas mower.

indypartridge · #5 03/01/12, 04:48 AM

It's been a long time since I've used a reel lawn mower, and I agree with WIHH - I wouldn't want to use one on anything but a relatively small, very flat yard.

That said, there are American-made reel lawn mowers available (built here in Indiana):
https://www.reelin.com/AboutUs.aspx

foxtrapper · #6 03/01/12, 05:35 AM

A reel type mower produces beautiful cuts. Truly a work of art. And, they require an artisan to set them up correctly. The local hardware store can't do the job right. Finding a person who knows how to properly sharpen and adjust a reel mower mighty hard.

A reel mower demands you go out and pick up every stick in the yard. *Every* stick. Otherwise you jam the reel and can damage the blades. The pre-cleaning of the yard prior to mowing is time consuming.

Exercise benefits of a reel mower are great! Especially if you've got a hill. Nothing like shoving something around that doesn't want to roll.

Reel mowers require good speed in order to work well. If you've got corners and such that require fiddling, you can't mow them with a manual reel type mower.

But what a beautiful cut they produce, when it all comes together and you can use one.

Electrics are nice and quiet. Personally, I like quiet. Battery ones are cordless, which is nice, but they've little power and weigh a ton. Usefull for tiny lots, but not much more.

Corded electrics go further, but you really need to plan well for that cord. Otherwise, you're trying to flip it in the air and go over or under it, which invariably results in you mowing it. Now that can be exciting, but it does cause mowing problems.

True, water and electricity aren't a good idea. But in general, I just don't mow in the rain.

GAChickenGirl · #7 03/01/12, 05:39 AM

We have an electric (cordless) and wouldn't trade it for anything. Sure, if you are trying to mow a pasture with it, not a good idea. We have 1 1/2 acres and it does fine on one charge all the way through.

Tried a reel mower, but the ground isn't as level as I would like and I just couldn't get it to cut the way I wanted (user error I am sure).

If you are looking at cutting small yards, go with the electric, ours has been going strong for 5 years, and next year Hubby will replace the batteries (two 12 volt ones).

chewie · #8 03/01/12, 09:44 AM

I bought a new reel mower and it just doesn't work very good. I am trying to get the size of lawn down to a tiny patch, and am hoping it will work for that. I hate the noise of the gas push mower, hubs was ready to rush out and buy a rider? (I guess I didn't see the money tree he must've planted?!)

I pay plenty for critter feed here. then to turn around and pay some more to mow just seems way odd to me--so my yard is going to feed me or critters, in other words, be useful! a small green patch 'fringe' around the edge of the house is plenty. I don't have enough land,time and money to throw it away mowing a pristine space for looks.

my dad insists on a HUGE lawn. spends HOURS tending it, and unless its dry, don't touch it!! and lord help us all if a horse goes across it . now, I am all for keeping my place nice, but he's got all this land in lawn then cusses about the work. huh???? so I guess I went the other way!

haypoint · #9 03/01/12, 09:56 AM

A while back, I supervised a crew of prisoners with push reel typs mowers. Didn't look too hard to me. LOL. hey were ot every few days and the lawn was level. We did have a time finding a brand that stood up to so much use. Lots of upkeep.
Perhaps instead of those choices, you could just plant daylillies and forget mowing anything?

foxtrapper · #10 03/01/12, 10:18 AM

GaChickenGirl,

You've got to tell us what type you've got. Those are fantastic results you claim. Not disputing, just wanting to know what you've got.

jd4020 · #11 03/01/12, 11:09 AM

Actually, I would love to fence just around the house and garden and let sheep, cows, horses and goats keep the rest of it mowed. But dh is not on board with that sooooo.....
I love the reel mowers. I have three. All old ones, 2 were free & 1 cost me a dollar.

When my children were old enough to want to help Daddy mow the yard, these are what I gave them so they could mow around their swing set, sandpile play area. They felt important, saved dh about an hours worth of time and gas from the riding mower. (that home had a huge yard that took about 4 hours to mow & trim) And I felt good knowing they were not going to get seriously injured by power blades, they were working off a lot of energy and they slept good at night.
I still use one around the house; we have a large yard that usually takes about 3 hours to mow, but since we aren't real concerned about mowing it a lot (2-3x's a month and not mowing if there's not been any rain) I can keep the areas by the house better maintained and get some needed exercise.
Not sure I would feel comfortable dealing with a power cord to deal with whilst mowing or trimming, however, I loved my re-chargable electric weed trimmer until my dh gave me a gas powered one. power is nice. On the other hand, I also love, love, love! my scythe blade and can do a pretty good job with it as well.

I hope you find what fits your needs.
God bless,
jd