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All you need to know about buying & using a push reel mower!
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PUSH MOWERS How They Work How To Use How To Buy Unique Benefits Proper Care Safety Rules Give a Hoot - Don't Pollute  This site is brought to you by www.PlanetNatural.com |
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Push Mowers Hit the Grass Again By Jim McCausland, Sunset Magazine 
They're lighter and quieter than power mowers."There's a thing about the lawn mower I can't even tell you, but to me it's the most beautiful sound in the world, the freshest sound of the season, the sound of summer, and I'd miss it fearfully if it wasn't there." So said Grandpa in Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. The thwack-thwack-thwack that was music to Grandpa's ears is being heard again as push-type mowers regain turf. Push mowers make sense for small lawns. You can buy a first-rate, American-made model for $100 to $200, and mow a l/4-acre lawn in about an hour. Reel mowers (which have four to seven blades in a cylinder shape) cut more cleanly and stay sharp longer than rotary power mowers. Most are also considerably lighter than both power mowers and old-time reel mowers and therefore easier to push. On the downside, compared with rotary mowers, push mowers can't be adjusted to cut as high (a problem in taller grass), don't cut wet grass as well, and have more blades to sharpen. They don't cut grass into as many short pieces as mulching power mowers. But on balance, they're still good choices for small lawns. When you shop, you'll find great differences among push mowers. Weight. Most reel mowers weigh considerably less than 40 pounds, so you can hang them up, out of the way, on a garage wall. Some of them weigh as little as 16 pounds. Reel width. Standard reels are 14, 16, 18, and 20 inches. The wider the reel, the faster the job gets done, but the harder the mower is to push. Blades. Low-end push mowers come with four blades, standard models with five, and top-of-the-line mowers with six or seven. Generally, more blades give a more even cut. (If you want to mow bent grass to putting-green perfection, for example, buy a seven-blade mower.) Use fewer blades for rougher, more uneven turf. One manufacturer, American Lawn Mower, sells a sharpening kit with a compound that enables you to use the mower to sharpen itself. Accessories. If you prefer not to leave grass clippings on your lawn, you can buy a detachable grass catcher for $20 to $50. Many garden centers and hardware stores stock at least one model of push reel mower. A wider selection is offered by mail-order suppliers. |
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PushMowers101 is a division of Sparky Boy Enterprises Copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. |
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