I love mowing the lawn. The kids call it Mom’s workout. We have a push mower which is heavy, bulky and takes gas. I have always wanted a push reel mower, one that takes nothing but human power. I have been researching and pricing. They range from less than a hundred to a couple hundred. Unsure if this is one item that if you go cheap, you get what you pay for. Why a reel mower? Push reel mowers are better for your grass’ health. Push reel mowers make your lawn look nicer. Push reel mowers are quiet. Push reel mowers don’t emit pollution. Push reel mowers are hassle-free. Push reel mowers are cheaper. Push reel mowers exercise your body. Push reel mowers are safer than power mowers. Push reel mowers make mowing a pleasure. *will work endlessly if SHTF in MM34’s opinion Follow the link for full article on reel push mowers. Benefits Of Push Reel Mowers | The Art Of Manliness Reel mowers are a great workout- Push mowing for 1 hour can burn almost 400 calories for a 160 lbs man A Push Reel Mower guide: Frequently Asked Questions. Helps exercise arms, legs plus is cardio.
Been thinking about getting one of these, to deal with the grass and land being too wet to cut with a mower.
I used 'em when I was a kid, as the backup for every time the gas mower went down (which was often). They work like scissors so keep them sharp, keep them lubricated, and cut your lawn often. They do not like tall wet grass. They do not like wet grass at all, because the drive Wheels slip, and the reel stops turning. Small twigs and such can jam it up, and if the cutting bar is too loose, it fails to cut, too tight, just adds friction. They are nice for a trim, and it does look good, but high grass will have you swearing. They seem to last just about forever. The one I used came from my grandfather.
I remember using my grandfathers on his yard, as a young teen, and I thought it would be nostalgic to pick one up a few years back. I used it maybe a few times..... sold it at the next yard sale we had..... it was not nearly as fun as I had remembered.
I use one of these for manual removal of high grass, then a reel mower could be used to trim it up and look nice.
Right you are. You have that type and the type where both sides of the blade attach. Then for Blackthorns and stubborn saplings, use a Kaiser blade.
I have not used one on grain, but I don't know of any reason why not. Same type of swing, (like a golf club). I use mine to clear the edges of the road on my hunting property, more than anything else. A brush hook for anything up to 4-5" I diameter.
Might be a problem with that, but might work almost as well. A scythe is made to slice the stalks thru on a more or less horizontal swing, a sweeping sorta stroke. The pictured swing blade would normally be used with what might be called a golf swing which results in a chop rather than slice. There could be a way to alter the swing to make it work without losing the grain heads to shock loading.
@Ganado A former neighbor had one and it was terrible to push; so, I adjusted it. How to Adjust the Cutting Blades of a Reel Mower