From: dmiller@theory.lcs.mit.edu (Dick and Jill Miller)
Subject: Re: To reel or not to reel
Organization: Laboratory for Computer Science, MIT
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 15:21:02 GMT

> duanej@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Duane Jacobson) asks:
> 
> I'm thinking about buying a reel-type lawn mower, no motor ... the old push
> it yourself kind.  I've got 5000-6000 sq. ft. of lawn to mow.  Answers to
> the following questions, as well any other comments, will be appreciated.
> If I get a reel mower, I want to get a good one.  There was (a new) one I saw
> advertised recently for $70, which sounded pretty cheap to me.


I'll answer some of the questions.

> Questions:
> 
> 1. Which companies make the best mowers?  And what should I expect to pay
>    for a good mower?

I got mine at a garage sale, so I can't answer this.
> 
> 2. How much longer should I expect to take to mow my lawn, compared to
>    a 21" rotary-blade push mower (50% longer, twice as long, etc)?

Think about 50% longer.  The reel mower is usually a bit narrower and you 
may have to go back and hit some tough stemmed things (like dandelion 
flower-stems) from another angle to get them cut off.  I have been using a 
reel mower now for three years (after having it in the shed for 10 years 
before that).  The major thing to remember is that reel mowers work really 
poorly if you let the grass get too long because they will push the grass 
down instead of sucking it up like the rotary mower does.  On the other 
hand letting the cuttings stay on the grass has improved my lawn 
tremendously!  I have an electric rotary mower and have kept it to use once 
or twice in the fall to suck up the oak leaves (we are next to an oak 
woods).  Sucking up the leaves is a lot easier that raking and I don't have 
a leaf-blower, plus it chops the leaves and they compost much faster that 
way or make great mulch.

> 3. How often should I expect to get the blades sharpened (and how much 
>    will it cost)?  Could I sharpen the blades myself?  Is there any other 
>    maintenance involved other than keeping the mower clean and lubricated?

It cost me about $30 to get the mower sharpened and adjusted a couple of 
years ago.  It should go in again this fall.  I have a very small yard so 
it doesn't get dull very fast.  You could probably do touch-ups on the 
blades yourself and then have a good professional job every so often.  One 
of the adjustments determines how close the blades are to the cutting bar.  
I have to adjust this fairly often with a wrench.  I'm not sure if it 
unsets by itself, or if my neighbor unsets it (we are sharing the mower, 
that's how small our yards are).

> 4. Am I crazy to believe that I will want to cut 6000 sq ft of lawn with
>    this mower each week?!

Maybe you could borrow or rent a mower and try it out.  Be careful though, 
some reel mowers are MUCH nicer or conversely some are much more of a bear 
to use.  We had three to choose among and settled on one which was far 
superior to the other two.
>
> Duane Jacobson
>
>
--Jill Miller
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