Does anyone have a reel mower?

**bumplett** · 10-12-2007, 11:31 PM

I've been looking and thinking and thinking and looking - but I can't decide - nor can I find anyone locally that has one that I could borrow to play with -

anyone here have one? How do you like it? Pros are obvious - but are there any cons??

**Missy** · 10-12-2007, 11:37 PM

like the kind you push and the blades spin?

if so, we do. i like it. it gets stuck in some of the weeds we get out here, but i don't have ANY of the problems with rocks like dh has when he uses the gas mower.

**bumplett** · 10-12-2007, 11:39 PM

Yep, that's it - or better known as a "leave it to beaver mower"

**latierra84** · 10-12-2007, 11:47 PM

i know that they sell them at home depot for anywhere from $80 to $120, at least in my area. i dont have one myself but when i was thinking about buying one i read several reviews/forums and most people love theirs, they just need to keep up with their mowing in the summer because the longer/taller the grasses gets, the harder it is to mow thru it. the only reason i ended up going with a gas mower was because dh said he'd do the mowing if we got one of those.

**bumplett** · 10-12-2007, 11:50 PM

I guess I should also add that I have bermuda grass - which can be really thick in the summer - so I don't know how well it would cut -

**frugalfarmwife** · 10-13-2007, 07:13 AM

As long as you keep up with the mowing your fine, it can REALLY bog down if the grass is taller.

Word to the wise, do NOT buy one new! Look for estate sales, barn sales, auctions and you'll be able to pick one up for a buck or two! We have two of them around here.

kj

**monkeywrangler71** · 10-13-2007, 11:56 AM

We have one, bought new about 3 years ago (sorry, I don't have the patience for estate sales). I don't know how big your lawn is, but it does take a bit more effort that a gas mower. Our lawn is tiny, so it doesn't really matter (and it's all burnt and dead by July anyway so it only gets mown about 4 times a year), but if you have a large property it will be quite a workout.

Ours squeaks and makes a loud whirring/rattling noise, which I'm sure is not nearly as loud as a power mower, but it certainly isn't quiet. I usually spray WD40 at it every time it comes out.

We have these long tough grass/weeds that it won't cut at all - no trouble getting through the flat grass blades, but these are round stems that have little tree shaped seedy tops (can you tell how much I know about grass?). If the regular grass is long you have to run over it twice to get it down.

**joyofsix** · 10-13-2007, 01:34 PM

I second the advice to look for used. Mine cost $5. As for the hard pushing, I have convinced my 13yo ds it is body building, lol.

**banana** · 10-13-2007, 03:10 PM

I bought one a few years ago and ended up returning it. It is a lot more work that a gas powered walking mower.

**annymoll** · 10-13-2007, 07:58 PM

I have one, but seldom use it. We have a large area to mow, and we use a lawn service. Our g-kids love it, and they help mow with it around the terrace till they poop out!LOL

**PB&J** · 10-13-2007, 08:42 PM

We used to have one, but we had to get a real mower. Unfortunately, I got rid of it a few years ago because we had lawn service when we were renting. I wish I had kept it, now that we are homeowners. We have a regular mower, but have considered getting another reel mower. I bought our original one from Harbor Freight. I don't think they sell them anymore, though.

I liked it a lot, though. It is better for your grass, it cuts it rather than pulverizing it like other mowers.

Of course, you have the environmental aspects, too. NO pollution! I think that is great.

**pip** · 10-13-2007, 09:39 PM

I got one years ago from Fleet Farm. I liked it, but we have a good sized yard and it would take me at least a couple of days to finish mowing. That and having to chase around three babies at the same time! My husband made fun of me using it, so I guess I just stopped. I think they are good, though. Quiet and clean. If our yard was smaller, I'd use it.