Lawn Mowers

[Story]

You can use an electric drill instead of a handcrank.
http://www.reelmowers.info/

And video, too
http://www.ehow.com/video_4418694_sharpening-reels-push-mower.html

 

[Viggen]

Mine is an old Scotts labeled Silent.
I love it. I got it second-hand for $8. I think we paid more to buy a new grass-catcher than we did on the mower. lol
Does anybody know anything about sharpening reel push-mowers?

• Does it need to be done?
• How often?
• Any ideas where to get it done?

Thanks a bunch!

Joie

These are the sharpening instructions I worked off of - some pic's included.
http://www.reelmowers.info/

 

[High Pockets]

Today I highlighted a vintage reel mower that I restored.

A Mast Foos reel mower. Anybody else have an old mower?

the whole story on my blog today

Wow,....a chill just went down my spine!

THAT is the exact same mower we had till I was in high school!
I thought my dad had painted it that way, I'd bet my paycheck it was the same yellow and green!

 

[PoohBang]

the yellow was obvious but the green was only little specks here and there that had some how hung on throughout time. I used that as my basis on what got what color...

That makes me happy that I got the colors correct! Thanks!

 

[High Pockets]

I'll see if I can dig up one of our old Kodak slides that might have that mower in the background.

 

[Gil]

Antique Reel Mowers

I really like your Mast Foos reel mower. It's a beauty, and what a great name! I've been using an antique reel mower made by the American Lawnmower Co. for a couple of years now. I love the lathe-turned wooden handle and the cast iron wheels. I've also got a newer four-wheeled version that cuts a wider path. It's so freeing not to have to go out and buy a huge can of gas. Our yard is just over a quarter of an acre, and I used to have to refill the power mower halfway through the job.

Our little Cairne Terrier, MacKenzie loves the reel mower because he can stay outside safely while I cut the grass. He used to fly into a rage and attack the old power mower as soon as I started it up, so he had to stay in the house the whole time. American Lawnmower is the biggest reel-mower manufacturer as far as I know. In fact, a lot of other brand names were actually made by American Mower, which is good because you can still get parts from them. I bought the grass catcher basket to pick up the front lawn clippings to compost. In the backyard, I just let them mulch into the ground. The whole process is much healthier for the grass as the cut is cleaner, and the clippings fertilize the yard.

I like the comments I get as I cut the front yard, and best of all, I can actually carry on a coversation with someone while I mow since there's no abonoxious, roaring, smelly engine, to contend with.

 

[vitanola]

I'm kind of fascinated by reel mowers, but have given up on trying to use them.
In my experience, they don't deal well with wide-bladed grass, and they don't cut at a high level, few allow a cut higher than 1.5". I like my grass about 3 inches deep. I have a couple of Sears reel mowers, one I made adapters to raise the rear end higher. The other has adjustments on the front wheels and the rear roller. Still, even lubricated and adjusted, they don't work well on the grass in my yard.
Have even tried gasoline powered reel mowers, still don't give as clean cut as my rotary Toro.
My conclusion is that the reel mower is just the best idea available before there were gasoline engines, but when sufficiently powerful small gas engines DID become available, the rotary took over, and with good reason.

In the days of the reel mower, the common suburban grass variety was creeping bentgrass. This grass like to be kept short (3/4"-1" at the most) Creeping bent is still used on golf course greens, and is still trimmed with reel mowers. The appearance of a good creeping bent lawn is like green velvet.

With the introduction of the rotary mower, a machine which is not at all effective at consistently cutting grass short, other cultivars rose in popularity, notably Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass, (or various crosses thereof). These cultivars much prefer to be trimmed long, and so are better maintained with a rotary mower.

After the last of my tornado damage is repaired, I will be replanting my creeping bent lawn. IN the spring I hope to post pictures showing how a suburban lawn is SUPPOSED to look!