Author Topic: New lawn mower  (Read 3342 times)

Optimus Primal

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New lawn mower
« on: August 03, 2016, 04:02:12 PM »
I started mowing my lawn with a spiffy Fiskars reel mower.  So I no longer pay a guy to mow my lawn, I get exercise doing it, and because it is a reel mower there is no noise so I can mow at 4am if I want to and listen to podcasts while doing it... that's a trifecta.  Also no need to get gasoline and the thing folds up pretty small in the shed.  I should note that while it was pricey for a reel mower it is cheaper than any gas mower and will pay for itself in 5 weeks just on the money I avoid paying to others.

« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 05:00:50 PM by lazarus_long »

heywheresgina

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2016, 10:36:11 AM »
My wife and I just relocated to a lower cost of living city, where we have a yard for the first time in our adult lives. We also opted for a reel mower, and we found a never-used, still-in-the-box Scott 20" on eBay for $55. It arrives tomorrow, and I can't wait to use it for all the reasons you described.

RWD

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2016, 10:54:43 AM »
I've also been using a reel mower for our small yard. Seems to work fine.

neo von retorch

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2016, 11:01:53 AM »
Ooh this inspired me. So my wife and I bought a house. Her dad lent us a push mower, but he's been hinting that he's ready to get it back. We got a ridiculous luxury fancy-pants Craftsman LT1000 riding mower that gets my front yard done in about 10 minutes, and the meadow in another 30. But it's not great for edge work. I didn't really want a whole gas push mower for those tidbit, but this reminded me that a reel mower would be perfect. I found a nice Scotts for $30ish on CL nearby... fingers crossed!

retiringearly

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2016, 11:15:06 AM »
I am guessing that reel mowers have improved a lot since I was a kid.  We had a lot of lawn and the reel mower probably weighed more than I did at the time.  God, I hated mowing the lawn back then.

I would probably buy the Fiskars if I had a lawn today.

acroy

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2016, 11:15:29 AM »
Fiskars are badass. What a nice tool, yeah?
I had one for about 3mo but my Tiff Bermuda is too dense. It's like trying to mow a carpet.

ketchup

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2016, 11:37:00 AM »
My reel mower's handle just fell apart the other day. :(  It's still usable with proper application of duct tape, but is not ideal and does need to be replaced.  GF is campaigning pretty hard for a gas mower, might meet her halfway with an electric...

OmahaSteph

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2016, 12:28:04 PM »
I'm all about getting a reel mower for our smallish yard when we move next week, but the BF is insisting on a gas one. He's buying, so I guess he'll do what he wants. He can buy the gas, too. (Maybe I'll get a reel one to have for back-up when he "forgets" to buy gas.)

Optimus Primal

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2016, 03:29:36 PM »
I am guessing that reel mowers have improved a lot since I was a kid.  We had a lot of lawn and the reel mower probably weighed more than I did at the time.  God, I hated mowing the lawn back then.

I would probably buy the Fiskars if I had a lawn today.

Yeah, this Fiskars one claims it takes 60% less pushing power or something like that versus the old school reel mowers.  I had a gas mower a few years ago that broke and pushing the fiskars is about the same as pushing the gas mower... but without the fumes, noise, hayfever, gas spills, etc.  I'm very impressed with it so far.

Optimus Primal

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2016, 03:31:54 PM »
I'm all about getting a reel mower for our smallish yard when we move next week, but the BF is insisting on a gas one. He's buying, so I guess he'll do what he wants. He can buy the gas, too. (Maybe I'll get a reel one to have for back-up when he "forgets" to buy gas.)

Yeah I bought a gas mower four years ago and it sucked to have to deal with the gas and the noise and the allergies from all the stuff it kicked up.  Then it up and broke after two years.  So I think this fiskars mower is better in almost every conceivable way... cheaper, less smelly, less maintenance

Northwestie

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2016, 03:34:16 PM »
I did try the reel thing but went to an electric because the Douglas fir cones would just jam it up.  If you can those reels are pretty cool

Optimus Primal

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Re: New lawn mower
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2016, 04:01:01 PM »
I did try the reel thing but went to an electric because the Douglas fir cones would just jam it up.  If you can those reels are pretty cool

Agree--there are definitely situations where it won't work, like the guy with the bermuda grass or if you have a lot of big sticks or something like this in the grass.  From a size perspective,mMy lawn is "normal size"... it's not a giant yard and it's not small.  I don't know the square footage.  But for my "normal size" lawn with new england varieties of grass and not a lot of junk in the way it works pretty great.  If you have a lawn so big you need a riding mower a reel probably isn't for you.