Products

changsunha

Tips For Choosing A Lawn Mower. Read Before You Purchase The Lawn Mower.


Submitted By: Tangopang
How does one decide which lawn mower to purchase that will meet their needs? First determine how much grass you have that requires cutting, and then, how much work you want to do. You can do the first part by measuring the total square yardage of your lawn; and the second part, you probably already know the answer to. If cutting grass is an option that includes your exercise for the day that gives you one group of choices, but if your preference is making the job easy, that gives you another set of options.

If you live in an area where the lawns aren’t much bigger than the proverbial postage stamp, you could use a reel mower. These come in a variety of sizes and are usually available as small push mowers. They work by the blades of the reel mower turning and cutting the grass; however, if you do not trim the yard often, this method can become problematic, as the blades will get caught on longer grass – and will be slowed down by grass piles. Keep your lawn cut regularly and this type will be just fine.

If your lawn is average sized, an electric lawn mower is an option. Not only do these mowers cut well, and come either with a long cord or a rechargeable lawn mower battery. They are also good for the environment since they don’t pollute as they cut – unlike most gas mowers, which create a plume of exhaust.

Perhaps you live somewhere that you have a couple of acres. If this is the case for you, then a riding lawn mower may be the answer. These enable you to cut a larger area without as much physical effort. You simply need to be able to drive it. It will do the rest. This is definitely a good option if you live in a place with a hot climate, as cutting your yard with a labor-intensive mower can result in heat exhaustion.

There’s a method of cutting that’s even simpler: use a robot lawn mower. Although these tend to use more gas than does the average mower, they have the benefit that you won’t have to do anything but relax while the machine cuts the grass. Consumer reports claim it can cut the grass in a tennis court sized area in about two hours, which is considerably faster than a push mower.

What if you need something to work on your hobby farm? If you’re growing an acre of hay for the couple of animals you keep, then a sickle mower is the answer, even though these mowers are sometimes portrayed as outdated or only available as antiques. These machines are still used to cut hay. They are available in different sizes so there will be no problem finding one right for you. The other need on a small farm can be trying to keep the growth of brush under control. This is done with a brush mower. You’ll be impressed as it tears through the overgrown brush that you want to be rid of.

Consumer reports will show the lawn mower rating of the machine you’re eyeing. Just remember to put aside something for mower repair and maintenance. That’s the cost of doing the mowing yourself. If you don't bother to hold money for this purpose, you may find yourself out of luck – and with an out-of-control lawn – in a matter of weeks. If you can't afford to hold money for mower repairs, you may want to consider hiring a landscaping business to do this for you. If you shop around, you may be able to find one that is relatively affordable.
changsunha

The Innovative Push Reel Lawn Mowers

George Kilbride

Push reel lawn mowers are generally used to cut off home turf. But do you know that this also stands for a higher purpose? It is a given fact that people use this equipment for gardening to retain clean and well-maintained surroundings. But apart from this, it is also considered environmental friendly machinery due to its natural cleaning process without any components of pollutants and definitely does not spatter harmful elements like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. This serves as the basis why people switch on to using this type of machine weigh against other engines in the market that instigate detrimental effects to the ozone layer and to people’s health.

Push reel lawn mowers are specifically designed in providing clean cut grass with corkscrew blades of more than five curved and twisted cutting edge. As you push the reels, all the grass that will be swept by the machine will be finely cut and tear. The blades on the right angle serve as the sharp edge thereby making it more effectual for the mower to cut all the grass in the backyard or to other small plots of land. This equipment also comes in several designs and styles, and as it is also revolutionized and modernized as years pass by. This is not machine operated so you will have to move it with all your muscle strength. This might be a lot difficult to deal with as most people would often go by the use of electric ones rather than manuals but looking at the brighter side, this gardening tool will help provide cardiovascular exercise that will be beneficial for your health. Now wouldn’t you think this is more of an innovation and great discovery than a complex task and than those operated machine lawn mowers?

For those people who have been used to old and traditional lawn mowers with definitely of much greater weight weigh against other mowers, the new and advanced push reel lawn mowers is an entire opposite of the old version. This new improved machine is indeed much lighter in weight and is definitely easier to push and set in motion with other adjustable kits. If you want to cut tall grass then you can simply adjust the lawn with its cutting heights feature, if you want to generate a much sharper edge then you can simply fine-tune the sharpening area. All these features can be modified without having to purchase further gardening equipments. When you try to compare this mower to gas powered mower engine then you would be surprised by just how much the push reel mower creates no noise at all. If you use a gas powered lawn mower, the noise become too apparent and you would find it difficult to handle.

One thing that push reel lawn mowers find difficult to do is to cut brushwood and branches. The twigs get easily stuck at the cutting and sharp edges of the mower and find it hard to function well. This is also not applicable as a leaf shedder so anyone who would have to use this function might have to look for a machine that will allow having this kind of function.

changsunha

Early Push Reel Lawn Mower Technology


By Steven Blades Platinum Quality Author


Ever since man has had grass on the front lawn, man has looked for ways to keep it trim and neat. In the early days, landowners would till the grass with scythes. Later on, many landowners realized that relying on nature was far easier than spending hours outside trying to cut grass, so they would allow their livestock to go out and graze. Over time, this grazing would give the yard a trimmed, even look that homeowners have been trying to emulate ever since.

The first lawn mower was invented in 1827, although it is debatable as to who was the man who originally conceived the idea. Some say it was an English engineer named Edwin Beard Budding, while others claim it to be another Englishman, an inventor named Richard Meleady. However, while the lawn mower was patented in 1930, they did not begin to go into widespread production until sometime in the 1860s. The longest-lasting design for the lawnmower is the push mower. While push mowers of today almost exclusively run on gas or electricity, push mowers of the 1860s were far simpler devices that are still used to this day.

The basic push mower design was a simple one: a wooden push handle attached to a long wooden stick. At the other end of the stick were two rods that connected to the wheels. As the mower was pushed and the wheels rotated, the blades would rotate as well. Early mowers had upwards of six rotating blades that would cut the grass at an even height. The drawback to these mowers, which is still a problem today, is that the blades would dull rather quickly and require frequent maintenance to sharpen. Another drawback was that you would still have to exert lots of energy to push the mower across your whole lawn. However, as technology evolved, so too would the lawn mower.
changsunha

Going Green With Push Reel Lawn Mowers


By Susan Bywater


With the national average price of gasoline at over $4 per gallon, it's no wonder people are trying to come up with ways to save money on gas. One of the major trends in the U.S.A. right now is switching from gas lawn mowers to good old fashioned push reel lawn mowers. Manual mowers offer plenty of advantages over gas mowers, especially in regards to their effects on the environment. These mowers have come a long way from your grandpa's push reel mower.

Newer push reel mowers are lighter than they used to be, and easier to push. They also can include features like easy to adjust cutting heights, grass catchers and sharpening kits. Unlike gas mowers, they don't guzzle the money from your wallet with high gas prices, and are generally cheaper than gas mowers in the first place. They also don't make noise like gas mowers, which will have your neighbors thanking you if you like to mow early in the morning or right in the middle of their family barbeques on Sunday afternoons. Unlike most electric mowers, they don't require any kind of cords, which saves you the hassle of remembering to plug them in.

Gas mowers cause air pollution. They spit out a multitude of things like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. These kinds of pollutants affect the ozone, and can be harmful to our health. This alone is a great reason to switch to a push reel mower, as it becomes more and more important for people to use environmentally friendly products and practices.

In addition to the environmental advantages to reel mowers, there are also advantages for your lawn. Gas mowers cut grass with a jagged edge, while reel mowers have a clean cut. Jagged edges mean that your lawn will be more susceptible to disease and moisture loss. You will have a healthier lawn with a push reel motor, and may even become the envy of the neighborhood.

Although today's push reel mowers are much easier to use than in he past, an added benefit is that you may have to work just a little harder than if you use a self propelled mower, which gets your heart rate up (and yes, that does count towards your workout time).

So, whatever your motivation is for looking into push reel lawn mowers, there are definite advantages to them. Who knows? You might just find that while you are helping the environment, you're also helping your lawn (and yourself) be healthier.
changsunha

5 Very Green Benefits You Will Obtain When You Mow Your Lawn With a Scotts Push Reel Mower

By John L. Freeman


Whether you enjoy getting a green thumb in the garden or consider that mowing your lawn is worse than doing a load of dirty dishes, this may be down to the type of lawn mower you own.

Push reel lawn mowers were some of the first lawn mowers ever invented and they perhaps had a negative image because they were hard to push and did not really do the best of jobs.

In an age of machines where almost everything is automated, would it surprise you to learn that human powered mowers are selling as well as ever? Consider the Scotts Push Reel Mower for example.

Some of the obvious and perhaps not so obvious advantages include;

1. The environment benefits. Your push reel mower will not emit any greenhouse gases and you won't have a face full of fumes every time you mow the lawn. In fact you will probably be able to smell flowers and fresh air, things which would have alluded you if you owned a gasoline powered machine. We all know that gasoline powered lawn mowers are notorious for breaking down too.
2. Your finances benefit. No more trips down to the gas station to fill up your lawn mower. Most push reel mowers are cheaper to purchase initially than their mechanical counterparts anyway, so the savings will just keep adding up.
3. You benefit. Think of how much exercise you will get after you have been using your mower for a few months. There is a tremendous self satisfaction in the thought that you are helping yourself while helping the environment.
4. Your lawn benefits. Ordinary rotary blades slash at the grass at different angles which can damage your lawn and may it look unsightly. Remember, it is a living thing and needs to be cared for as such. The difference with push reel mowers is that they chop the grass finely like scissors and leave a fine coating of mulch in your wake.
5. Your neighbors benefit. Considering that a Scotts push reel doesn't make any noise, you could theoretically use it at any time of day or night if you wanted to and not wake the neighbors. Don't like sleeping in on a Sunday morning? No problem, you could head out at the crack of dawn and no one would even know you were out there.

Overall the advantages of owning a Scotts Push Reel Mower far exceed the disadvantages of owning one, of which there aren't many to be honest. The only constraints may be that manual mowers take a bit more time to complete the task, but it is by no means excessive. Mowing the lawn is something you should enjoy doing by taking your time.

One such example of a Scotts Push Reel Mower is the Scotts 2000 20 20 Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower.

Click on the above link to find out more about this superb piece of environmentally friendly machinery and discover exactly what sized yard it is designed for. The size of your yard may play a big role in your final decision. Either way, this green lawn mower puts a lot of other motorized lawn mowers for sale to shame.
changsunha

How to Sharpen Push Mower Blades

By eHow Contributing Writer
One of the beauties of a push lawn mower is that it sharpens itself to some extent: As you push the mower, the revolving blades scrape over the cutter bar, and the action tends to make both blades keener, not duller. Every year or two, though, a sharpening job is in order. You could take the machine to a pro, or use this backlapping technique.

Step 1

Prop up the lawn mower so you can turn the reel by twirling the wheels.

Step 2

Check the blades for nicks and burrs. If you find any, remove them by holding a file flat against the blade and pushing away from the edge.

Step 3

Examine the cutting bar. It should just meet the blades along their entire length. (To make sure it's in the right spot, grasp a wheel and turn it forward; you should hear a whispery sound as the blades pass the bar.)

Step 4

If the bar is out of alignment, adjust it using the screws on the ends of the bar. (There are two at each end; when you look at them, it will be obvious which one will move the bar closer to the blades.)

Step 5

Using your fingers or a soft paintbrush, cover the blades with a thin, even coat of automotive valve-grinding compound (available at auto-parts stores).

Step 6

Grasp a wheel and turn it slowly backward so that the grinding compound is squeezed between the blades and the cutting bar, thereby sharpening both cutting edges as they pass each other. Be sure that each blade touches the bar as you rotate the wheel.

Step 7

Make about a dozen turns, applying more grinding compound when necessary.

Step 8

Examine the blade edges. If they look sharp, wash off all the valve compound with soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

Step 9

Test for sharpness. Insert a sheet of newspaper between the blades and the cutting bar, and rotate the reel forward. (You may need to try a few times to get the paper in the right position.) When the blades cut the paper as easily and as cleanly as a sharp pair of scissors would, you're ready to roll.

Tips & Warnings
  • After each use, hose the mower clean and wipe it dry. Then wipe all the metal parts with a thin film of WD-40 or mineral oil.
  • If you've got a new push mower, check your owner's manual for any specific sharpening guidelines.
  • Sharpen blades only by hand. The heat generated by a power grinder or an electric drill with a grinding wheel attached can destroy the temper of the metal.
changsunha

Manual Push Reel Lawn Mowers

How to Choose the Best of Scotts versus Brill versus Gilmour


Mar 15, 2009 Yuen Kit Mun

Simple, classic, mechanical push mowers are

* Emission-free and environmentally friendly.
* Low maintenance.
* Safer than gas mowers.
* Pleasant to use: quiet, smokeless and smell-free.

Standard Lawn Mowers

Pushing the mower causes the wheels to spin the barrel of curved blades (the reel), which move across the bottom cutting bar (bed knife). This slices grass just like a pair of scissors. Like scissors, the revolving blades are forced against the cutting bar by the tension in the mechanism. This prevents thin blades of grass from slipping through.

This does make noise and the friction dulls the blade after about a year. Sharpening kits are available for some brands (gritty grinding cream is spread on the blades and the reel is spun backwards).

Popular brands include Scotts and American Lawn Mower Company.
Self-Sharpening Push Mowers

Self-sharpening mowers (such as those made by Gilmour) cut grass in the same way as standard mowers. There is an additional mechanism to sharpen the blades as the reel is turning.

The disadvantage of such mowers is that they can be noisier. Some people find the noise unremarkable. Others find it unbearable even with the blades freshly oiled. "Try before buy" is the best way to avoid disappointment.
No-Contact Push Mowers

Mowers from brands such as Brill and Sunlawn have reel blades that do not touch the cutting bar. Their precise construction allows a constant gap of about 0.05 millimeters to be maintained. The gap is small enough that grass cannot slip through unmolested.

This results in

* Quieter operation.
* Longer life for the blades. Claims of over 5 years between sharpenings are not uncommon.
* Less effort pushing the mower.

The gap should be checked every year with a gap gauge: a strip of metal as thick as the required gap (normally provided with the mower).

Because the blades stay sharp for years, contactless mowers are sometimes mis-labeled as self-sharpening mowers.
Major Mower Features

Reel mowers are specified by the length of the reel. A 20 inch mower will mow a strip 20 inches wide. Most mowers range from 14 to 20 inches. The wider models are good for larger lawns but

* may require more effort to push
* will be harder to maneuver in tight spots

Mowers have an adjustable cutting-height setting to vary the height of the cut grass. Most can go as low as 1/2 to 1 inch and as high as 2 inches. Some can be raised up to 3 inches. The higher the setting, the fewer problems there will be from fallen sticks jamming the mower.

Grass catchers are useful to collect grass for compost. Unfortunately this is a big problem area for reel mowers. Complaints of grass catchers

* not catching grass
* detaching from the mower

are common. A mower with a matching grass catcher is best, but no guarantee that it will work well. Some mower brands do not have matching catchers and rely on third party manufacturers.
Disadvantages of Push Mowers

Push mowers are not suitable for some situations

* Large lawns.
* Some varieties of thick grass.
* Lawns with many fallen branches and pine cones (need to be raked or will jam the mower).
* Lawns with many weeds, dandelions.

Troubleshooting Tips

Problems with reel mowers can often be resolved by

* Sharpening the blades.
* Adjusting the alignment of the blades and the cutting bar.
* Adjusting the cutting height of the mower.

Gas versus Push Mowers

Push mowers aren't just practical and green. They're also fun. Their relatively safe operation means that children and pets don't need to be locked in the house when mowing.

Quiet mowing means being able to

* mow at any time without disturbing neighbors
* listen to music or the birds, while mowing

Homeowners should also consider electric lawn mowers.