New Lawnmower Suggestions

[Buff]

I'm possibly in the market for a new lawnmower. I've got an old Craftsman that has bit the dust. Well, it is likely possible to repair, but I think it will cost an awful lot to get fixed.

I'm wondering what people are recommending these days. I haven't gone into a store to look at models yet, but I've done some browsing online. It has been 8 years since I worked in the seasonal department at Canadian Tire and I've forgotten a few things about lawn mowers.

Growing up my dad had an electric mower. I can't complain about electric mowers but they certainly didn't cut the grass very well when it was wet. I finally convinced my dad to get a gas mower then I moved out. I then inherited his mower and I found out why he always had an electric. Electrics are easier to maintain. The gas mower was definitely nicer to use because it could cut wet grass if you needed to, and gas mowers were better for mulching.

I am considering an electric mower due to less maintenance, but are electric mowers good enough these days to do wet grass, or mulching? I know you shouldn't cut wet grass but a couple times each year you get out to cut the grass when you have a chance and sometimes you don't get to wait between rain fall for the grass to dry.

As for gas powered mowers, I'm not looking for something too terribly high powered, but something that does a decent job of mulching and is pretty easy to start.

What do you folks use? I'm not sold on the idea of a reel mower, but here is your chance to try to sway me but it'll be a tough sell.

[Jedi Ninja]

Electrics are OK if you have a small, regular shaped lawn with good access to an outlet. If there are any obstacles in the way, dealing with the cord can be a huge pain. There's also the rechargable option. My neighbour has one of those rechargables and it is only able to do his smallish yard so long as the grass is not too long. I've got a gas mulching mower and love it versus the electric I was using before. The only maintenance I do at the beginning of the season is flushing out the old fuel and cleaning the plug. (And checking the oil, but so far it hasn't needed any.)

[Buff]

I've got small yard. I think I'm leaning towards an electric mower but need convincing. I employed the same kind of maintenance to the gas mower that my dad did... fill it up with gas and oil when needed. I'm certain the electric will work well for me, but now that I've used a gas mower I'm having a hard time deciding to go back.

[MoneyGuy]

I've used nothing but a battery powered mower for the last 20 years now and love it. It gives all the benefits of electric but no cord. There is no gas and oil to fiddle with. There are two appliances we won't do without- my battery mower and my wife's BOB. Just kidding about BOB. I highly recommend the battery powered mower. They're a little more expensive but you save all that gas, oil and inconvenience. I have a huge yard and the charge usually let's me cut the whole thing.

[Jedi Ninja]

MoneyGuy, got a specific brand recommendation? I'm guessing there is quite a bit more variability in performance among rechargables then other categories of lawnmower.

Anyway, regardless of what type of equipment one goes with, the most important thing to remember is to cut your lawn at a 45o angle... at least if you want to avoid an ugly confrontation with the president of your Resident's Association.

[killer_carlson]

I have a rechargable that I got at Home Depot for about $350.00. It is super heavy compared to other mowers and for each charge I get about a cut and a half (including both front and back). I have a big lawn though.

The one criticism I have though is that the handles are too short and you have to bend over and really lean on it to push it. It isn't self propelled so with the short handles, it can work your back pretty good.

if the handles were longer, i'd have no problems with it. In fact, i went and bought a rechargable weed eater after my experience with this lawnmower. Same brand.

I forget the brand name, but they are orange and I bought them at Home Depot.

[photon]

I have a Black & Decker rechargeable and it works very well. Mine's not self propelled either, but I have a small yard. It's orange.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...k=P_PartNumber

I think that's the one.

If you have a big lawn there's 20" and 21" ones on there too, but brands I don't recognize.

[TurnedTheCorner]

They've been offering trade-in allowances on old mowers for rechargeables in years past, has anyone seen an offer like that this season?

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I have a rechargable that I got at Home Depot for about $350.00. It is super heavy compared to other mowers and for each charge I get about a cut and a half (including both front and back). I have a big lawn though.

The one criticism I have though is that the handles are too short and you have to bend over and really lean on it to push it. It isn't self propelled so with the short handles, it can work your back pretty good.

if the handles were longer, i'd have no problems with it. In fact, i went and bought a rechargable weed eater after my experience with this lawnmower. Same brand.

I forget the brand name, but they are orange and I bought them at Home Depot.

Black and Decker or Husqvarna most likely.

I'm all about the green though. Get a John Deere.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Jedi Ninja

MoneyGuy, got a specific brand recommendation? I'm guessing there is quite a bit more variability in performance among rechargables then other categories of lawnmower.

Black and Decker. When I make a major purchase, I generally go to one of the consumer mags and find their recommendations. Lawn mower isn't a huge expenditure but still it's best to choose wisely. Make sure the battery is charged through the winter.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by fotze

Don't get a reel mower, I got one and its an absolute bitch to use and I have very little lawn to cut.

Hippy

My neighbour has one. Its great watching him struggle and take two hours to do 30 mins worth of work.

[You Need a Thneed]

Get one of these.
Or, if your are even lazier, one of these.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

[keratosis]

I have a reel mower, takes me no time to cut the grass.
One of the reasons the wife and I had kids.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by photon

I have a Black & Decker rechargeable and it works very well. Mine's not self propelled either, but I have a small yard. It's orange.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...k=P_PartNumber

I think that's the one.

If you have a big lawn there's 20" and 21" ones on there too, but brands I don't recognize.

I just ordered this one with Airmiles (Poor delivery guy) and got my fist mow in this weekend. I like the fact that it's relatively quiet and i can listen to my iPod. I have a corner lot in Copperfield so it's a decent sized yard for a new neighborhood and the charge lasted the whole time.

[Buff]

What I really want to know is, how does mulching with an electric do in comparison to a gas mower?

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Hippy

My neighbour has one. Its great watching him struggle and take two hours to do 30 mins worth of work.

Your neighbour must be terribly out of shape
I have a reel mower and would never go back. I have a mid-sized yard, and I would say it takes me the same or less time than with a regular mower. Does a great job mulching and leaves the grass looking great. Very easy to get at those hard to reach areas. For the times the grass is longer or a damp, sure it takes a bit more time, but I wouldn't say it was anything significant. If your grass is longer, just run over it a couple of times. Consider it a little exercise! If your grass is not long, you can cruise right along.
For the lack of headaches, no storage issues and the look of the lawn, I will never go back to gas or electric.
I have the one from Gardena, got it 5 years ago and it still cuts like the first day I used it.