Mike M
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- Name: Mike M
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Reel Mowers
I have been mowing my lawn with reel mowers for about 20 years now. A big shady lawn in Indiana and a blazing hot and humid bermuda lawn in Mississippi. My favorite is a vintage (1960s?) sears mower, built like a tank. Also have a more modern, light-weight 7-blade mower designed for thicker bermuda grass. That one worked well for the first 5 or 6 years but is beginning to wear out.
I bought a german electric motor (Li-ion battery) assisted mower - lasted only a year or so.
Reel mowers are "appropriate technology" manageable, understandable and fixable by normal humans.
Keys are
- Keep the lawnmower adjusted properly -- blades just touching the cutter bar, (it's a delicate but satisfying operation - like getting the hubs adjusted just right on a bicycle wheel). In theory you can cut a piece of newpaper -- in practice grass cuts easier. You can also buy lapping compound and resharpen blades - necessary once a year at most.
- Mow frequently -- start in the spring before it really needs it. If the lawn gets away you can power through but it maybe easier to borrow or rent a conventional mower.
- Keep the lawnmower adjusted properly -- blades just touching the cutter bar, (it's a delicate but satisfying operation - like getting the hubs adjusted just right on a bicycle wheel). In theory you can cut a piece of newpaper -- in practice grass cuts easier. You can also buy lapping compound and resharpen blades - necessary once a year at most.