Lawnmower?

[Travis Smith]

Hey OMG,

I guess I need a lawnmower.  Yaaaay.

Right now its between a cordless electric (newfangled gadget) and a reel lawnmower.  Like, the old kind that you push, from back in the dark ages.  No, I can't be convinced that a lawnmower with an engine is a good idea.

Can you please dissuade me from buying a reel lawnmower?  I'm concerned about what will happen when the blades dull and I have to sharpen a helical blade(s).  Then again, maybe its going to be awesome.  In any case, I have a neo-hippy wife to persuade!  Help!

Travis

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[Stephen Beck]

What kind of lawn mower did you have before? Did you have one that broke or did you just move into a place that you now have to mow?

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[Kevin Fusselman]

His goat died :)

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[Stephen Beck]

I used a reel mower for a couple weeks back in the day. It totally sucked. It gets insanely hard to cut if you are cutting more than an inch of grass, so if your lawn grows at any appreciable rate you have to cut every two or three days. It can't handle any debris what so ever so you have to police all sticks, litter, dog turds, etc before you mow. Speaking of dog turds, just getting the blades dirty is enough to not make it cut very good. It doesn't make a clean cut in one pass so you have to walk your yard twice to get a clean looking cut. The blades are difficult to sharpen and cost more than the price of the mower to have someone else do it. Unlike mowers with engines, they are quiet though, so that's a plus.

On Apr 5, 2017 10:15 PM, "Travis Smith" <trav...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[David Knaack]

None of that is a problem with a goat.

[Jason Amdor]

I have a reel mower you can borrow if you'd like.  I believe it is this model: http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/sunlawn-reel/ideal40.htm

I don't use mine really any more.  I enjoyed using it when I bought it, but then I moved to a different house and there was a big difference - trees.  Trees drop sticks, so many darn sticks, and if you run over one with the reel mower the reel (and the mower) immediately stop, and then there's that whole Newton's laws of motion going on.  Since I didn't want to rake first before I mowed, I kind of gave up on using the reel mower.

That said, if you have a relatively stick free lawn - it's a good aerobic workout, it does a good job of cutting the grass, and it's really quiet.  It's nice to listen to a podcast while you're mowing. It's nice to get done mowing the lawn and not be deaf for 10 minutes.  Also, it's nice not to have to buy gas for it.  One thing I would note is that you don't want to go through thick grass with the reel mower, it takes a long time because you have to go over it several times.  It means you might have to mow every 2-3 days to keep it going.

After the reel mower I switched to a corded electric, which I also enjoyed, except dealing with the cord, and then, and this is going to sound awful, I can't get the blade off to sharpen it, and so I bought a cheap, used gas mower to get me through.  You're also welcome to borrow that one, especially if you can sharpen the blade.

Jason

[Kevin Fusselman]

I dunno... I haven't priced goat sharpening lately...

On Wed, Apr 5, 2017, 22:40 David Knaack <david...@gmail.com> wrote:

None of that is a problem with a goat.

On Wed, Apr 5, 2017 at 10:40 PM, Stephen Beck <e152...@gmail.com> wrote:

I used a reel mower for a couple weeks back in the day. It totally sucked. It gets insanely hard to cut if you are cutting more than an inch of grass, so if your lawn grows at any appreciable rate you have to cut every two or three days. It can't handle any debris what so ever so you have to police all sticks, litter, dog turds, etc before you mow. Speaking of dog turds, just getting the blades dirty is enough to not make it cut very good. It doesn't make a clean cut in one pass so you have to walk your yard twice to get a clean looking cut. The blades are difficult to sharpen and cost more than the price of the mower to have someone else do it. Unlike mowers with engines, they are quiet though, so that's a plus.

On Apr 5, 2017 10:15 PM, "Travis Smith" <trav...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey OMG,

I guess I need a lawnmower.  Yaaaay.

Right now its between a cordless electric (newfangled gadget) and a reel lawnmower.  Like, the old kind that you push, from back in the dark ages.  No, I can't be convinced that a lawnmower with an engine is a good idea.

Can you please dissuade me from buying a reel lawnmower?  I'm concerned about what will happen when the blades dull and I have to sharpen a helical blade(s).  Then again, maybe its going to be awesome.  In any case, I have a neo-hippy wife to persuade!  Help!

Travis

GPG Key: BFEB 7E65 04EB 184B A150 2E2C CC11 933F EE27 D86E

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[Eric J. Kaplan]

I agree completely. Reel mowers are great if you have no sticks. 

Sent from Eric's iPhone

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[Eric J. Kaplan]

If I was buying a new mower, I would go cordless electric. Everyone I know with one swears by it. 

Sent from Eric's iPhone

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[Donald D. Cross]

Back when we were young and not as well funded,  my wife and I mowed our lawn with a reel mower that we picked up for not a lot at an auction.

It was in good shape, and the previous owner kept it sharp and well adjusted.  It wasn't as easy to push as a light mower would have been, but it was a surprisingly workable solution.

Four key points if you go that route:

1.  Keep it sharpened, correctly adjusted, and lubricated, and it will serve you well.
2.  Don't let the grass get too tall...
3.  Don't try to start mowing in uncut grass.  Build up a head of steam and get the reel spinning before you hit the uncut grass, then just maintain the momentum, and the reel will do the rest.
4.  Pick up foreign matter before you start mowing.  Even relatively small sticks are a 'reel' killjoy.

It's mildly exhilarating to watch the clippings fly up behind the mower, you don't have to worry about maiming yourself, your kids, your pets, or the neighbors, and the lawn looks awesome when you finish.

Unfortunatley, it was the dark ages.  That time before the internet, so there were no YouTube videos to guide me on correct procedures for sharpening and adjusting.  I made do with a file and a screwdriver, and it got us through a season (maybe two...).

Now, YouTube has pages of instructional video dedicated to the craft.

This being a maker group and all, I can't help but wonder out loud - How hard would it be to add an electric motor to the thing - cuz, a reel lawnmower/Segway would be something you could take to a Maker Faire...

[Mark Finley]

I'm using a Kobalt 40v lithium push mower and pretty pleased

Much lighter than the Neuton that it replaced (sealed lead-acid) although I really miss the trimmer attachment

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[Mike Timm]

I had a reel mower that was used twice. First time the grass was short and wasn't too terrible. The second I was out of town a couple weeks and it ended up in the trash because it was going to take a couple weeks to complete. If I hated myself, I'd get another reel mower.

My engine mower lasted about twelve years and one day just wouldn't start. I'm guessing the twelve year old oil and other things I should have maintained may have been the reason.

I have had an electric mower for a couple summers now and think it is great. I actually maintain the thing since there isn't anything to it - at least in my mind there isn't, but the manual may say different. One benefit I didn't think much of before getting it is how much quieter it is. It sounds like a big fan and never smells of oil and gas. Also, headphones can be at a reasonable level so I won't lose my hearing as early.

- Mike

[Rustin L Haase]

Back in the days of bellbottom trousers and the real Battlestar Galactica, my father thought I should be mowing the yard but didn't want to expose me to the dangers of a gas engine.  The yard, however, was a bit too large for reel mowers at least for a nine year old boy.  The solution was something similar to this.

https://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-25022-Corded-20-Inch-Mower/dp/B002ZVOLXE

Its electric but without the battery so you have to pull an electrical cord around everywhere you go on the yard.  ( I guess my father wasn't worried about me being exposed to the risk of running over the cord and getting electrocuted. :-) )  With a little planning, the electrical cord can be very manageable, to the point of it becoming a kid of art-form. 

This kind of solution is not for everyone but it works well for some and it doesn't need any of that stinky gasoline or leak oil. :-)

[David Knaack]

I'm a fan of corded electric, mine is 20 years old now and going strong. The brushes are just now getting down to where they need to be replaced. The best part is that all the safety equipment wore out and either fell off or was bypassed long ago, so now it works like something from 1950, you turn it on and live or die by your wits. Plus you occasionally get some wire-splicing practice and a nice new short heavy-duty extension cord (mostly when a new kid takes over mowing duty).

There's probably a reason I'm not in sales.

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[Patrick Pecoraro]

Have you considered using a scythe? It looks liike a great core work out.

On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 10:15:28 PM UTC-5, Travis Smith wrote:

[Dan Linder]

I'll second (or third?) the corded electric.  Used one as a kid all through the 80's and it worked great - and I didn't get electrocuted when I ran over and cut the cord with it. :)

And for the "neo-hippy wife", the additional benefit of this over the battery is that there's no additional chemicals to dispose of when the battery finally dies.

Dan

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[Nate]

I'm thinking the former owners at our house had an electric.  There is a power pole sticking up in the middle of our yard.  It worked out great when we borrowed my fathers when we first moved in.  He has 2 electrics so let us borrow the non cordless.  We have a gas one and riding one now.  The riding mower needs a little TLC, but we might be willing to discuss options if you are interested.

-Nate

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Thanks,

Nate 

nat...@gmail.com

@natodd

[andrew....@gmail.com]

With regard to the scythe mowing, obligatory Weird Al: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOfZLb33uCg

As a question for Travis -- how large a yard are you having to deal with? Are there a lot of trees or other obstacles you have to mow around? Because I definitely wouldn't want to deal with a reel mower for more than a quarter acre, or weaving it around a lot of trees.

And if you're on an acre or more, I'd definitely suggest a riding mower, or that the neo-hippy wife do the mowing with whatever is her preference if she seeks to veto that. :)

Andrew

[Kevin Fusselman]

What's the proper number of goats per acre? 😄

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[tavshed]

Controlled burn would be cool. 

- Mike

[hutche...@gmail.com]

Yard size does seem like an important consideration.  I’ve never used a reel mower, but I have to think the novelty would wear off really fast unless the yard is microscopic.

 

I’ve owned both corded and cordless electric mowers, though. The corded mower does the job just fine, but I wasn’t a huge fan. I had a particularly cheap one, which clogged up easily and started falling apart after just one year, but even if it had worked perfectly, I got tired of dragging the cord around fences and landscaping. I might have felt differently if I had a more open yard, but it always seemed like I spent more time cord-wrangling than actually mowing, and there were days I’d skip the back yard because it looked like it could wait another week and I didn’t want to mess with it.

 

Three years ago, I bought a brushless Ryobi 40v cordless, and it’s been the best mower I’ve ever owned. It’s actually more powerful, quieter, and lighter than the corded one had been. The battery lasts 30-60 minutes depending on how tall the grass is, and mine came with two. More than an endorsement of Ryobi, you should take this as an endorsement of brushless motors and swappable lithium batteries; I probably wouldn’t get a cordless mower without both features.

 

The cordless mower is definitely the more expensive option, both up-front and in recurring costs. Heck, depending on how long the batteries last before needing replaced, it’s possible (probable?) that the lifetime TCO will be even higher than a gas mower. A new battery costs twice as much as a DIY carburetor rebuild kit. I think it’s worth it, for how convenient and pleasant it is to use.

[Mike Timm]

Cordless electric is easy. I had a corded trimmer that I didn't use much because of dragging around the cord. Switched to a cordless trimmer and haven't regretted and use every time I mow now.

If you don't care for doing engine maintenance, cordless electric is the way to go.

- Mike

[Dan Collins]

For those with you with a cordless, how have the composite decks held up against sticks/rocks? Since I delegated mowing duties to the kids, I've been wary of making the leap to cordless and having a deck get cracked or have a hole punched in it.

Ryobi now has a cordless electric riding mower, they have them on display at home depot.

Corded electrics show up cheap at thrift stores and Goodwill, there was on at the Goodwill warehouse last night for $20.

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[Mark Finley]

My Kobalt 40V cordless is holding up well, sticks obviously take a toll on blade sharpness but not a problem for anything else. 

I think any rock bigger than a grape is going to be a more serious safety issue than a mower damage issue

I also have a vintage early model robomower that I used for a small yard.  I never renewed the battery pack after the second set of SLA batts went flat. 

I had the idea of modifying the robomower controller by substituting a ardu-pilot to guide the mower more in a planned route than the random zig-zag which worked reasonably well but obviously not efficiently. 

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[hutche...@gmail.com]

The better ones are pretty tough; I think mine might be glass-reinforced. The only time I’ve seen any damage is when I rammed it into the side of a tree hard enough that the deck flexed into the path of the spinning blade and got a  bit scuffed up inside. And that’s all it was, a scuff. No hole or crack or anything.

 

As with most power tools, stay away from glossy plastic, and they’re surprisingly strong.

 

From: Dan Collins
Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 9:31 AM
To: omaha-ma...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [OMG] Re: Lawnmower?

 

For those with you with a cordless, how have the composite decks held up against sticks/rocks? Since I delegated mowing duties to the kids, I've been wary of making the leap to cordless and having a deck get cracked or have a hole punched in it.

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[David Knaack]

It depends on the ground. Two regular goats per acre for poor land, up to 8 for rich, productive land.

A quarter acre plot with a house wouldn't be big enough for a regular goat without supplemental feeding.

Goats are pretty social of course, so you'll need two. Probably two Pygmy or Nigerian Dwarf would work.

And there's the cheese-making as a bonus.

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[Patrick Pecoraro]

Have you considered building your own from scratch? Or I know a guy here who bought an old user gas powered one and made it remote control. No kidding he sits in his kitchen and mows the yard.

[Rustin L Haase]

Sounds like a scene in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" :-)  Would be cool with live video.

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[Travis Smith]

Holy advice, Batman!

Based on what I've heard so far, we seriously considered going with the goat/scythe combination.

I'm was also a fan of the segway mower, but in the end we went with this:

https://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-25302-Cordless-Batteries-Included/dp/B00GX9WNP2?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00GX9WNP2

Not that I love the price, but it should work well based on what you've said.  Would have gone with the cord option, but the house has 2 large evergreens and the farthest point is over 100 ft away, so this seemed better.

Although I have made my choice...please continue if desired / critique my choice / calculate goat efficiencies.  This thread is awesome. :)

Travis

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[Kevin Fusselman]

Perhaps I'll compile a pro/con worksheet and post it...

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[Travis Smith]

This would make for a good blog post...

Travis

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[Rustin L Haase]

That's a good idea.  I like reading those.

BTW has anyone thought of setting up an organization/web site for people to share designs for make-your-own batteries using standard cells to mate up with proprietary devices.  You know, drills, saws, trimmers, lawnmowers...  It seems unreasonable to let go of perfectly good electric devices just because their batteries have been worn out and the manufacturer has moved on to other battery shapes and/or voltages.  It just seem like such a racket/waste.  I suppose there is room in Thingiverse for this kind of thing.

[tavshed]

That's what my kid is for - me watching mower from kitchen.

- Mike

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[David Knaack]

On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 4:10 PM, Travis Smith <trav...@gmail.com> wrote:

Based on what I've heard so far, we seriously considered going with the goat/scythe combination.

That's... not an option I had considered. Could work I guess.

Seems like it might be heavy, good workout though.

 

Would have gone with the cord option, but the house has 2 large evergreens and the farthest point is over 100 ft away, so this seemed better.

That's probably less of a problem than you might expect from the warnings about cord sizing. For several years I had a lawn with several trees where the farthest corner was about 120 feet that I did with corded electric with two 75 foot 14 gauge cords. The mower motor can draw heavy current when you bog it down in thick wet grass, but most of the time it loafs along at 3-500W.

That said, if you don't mind the cost and maintenance of batteries, cordless is a better choice for a big lawn. You'll probable spend less time working with the batteries than properly managing your cord.

 

[Travis Smith]

http://www.instructables.com/id/battery-adaptor-for-cordless-tool/

Its a good idea.

Travis

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[Jason Amdor]

Can't you just fly a quadcopter upside down?

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