Push mowers

[Matt Timion]

Does anyone else here use a push mower? I know that it would take forever for a conventional gas mower to run out of gas, but we switched to a push mower a few months ago to be free of gas reliance. Not only that, but the push power is much more quiet, which means you can mow during the early morning without a problem.

We've been talking of zero-scaping our front lawn next year so that would eliminate all need for a mower in the front yard.

Does anyone else use a push mower, or are we alone on this one?

[SVOboy]

I use a push mower, but I dunno what you mean about zero gas reliance, cuz my push mower is gas.

[Matt Timion]

Sorry. "Push mower" implies that pushing is all that is needed to move it. They are also called "reel mowers"

http://www.composters.com/gr/brillluxus.jpg

[kickflipjr]

http://www.composters.com/gr/gs_1414-16.jpg

he means the old fashion ones.


I use les then 2 gallons a year mowing my lawn. It isn't that much.

[kickflipjr]

looks like we had the same idea
lol

[SVOboy]

Oh, one of those. I've suggested it to my mom, but she's never been too hot on the idea.

[Matt Timion]

As Flipkickjr points out, the amount of gas required to run a gas mower is next to nothing. even if gasoline was $20/gallon you could still justify spending $40 per year in gas for your lawn mower.

Moving to a reel mower is all about a statement IMHO. It takes longer to mow with it, and might now always get the best results unless you are dilligent, but we're not using any gas or oil to do it. We're trying to set up our household to be as self-reliant as possible.

For a while I considered getting a battery mower that charges using solar panels. now THAT would be cool.

[SVOboy]

Why the hell not get one of the robot solar mowers? They just sit in a cradle and charge and mow every two days.

[Matt Timion]

I've never seen a solar one of those. All of the ones I have seen plugged into the outlet. It is a cool design though, except for the fact that you have to run wire alongside your yard so it knows where to stop. It's also bad b/c we have two dogs with giant poop. we've found it better to pick up the crap before mowing the lawn to avoid spraying the stuff everywhere.

Besides, reel mowers are SEXY!

[SVOboy]

Haha, that they are.

The wire is in the ground, so what the hell, and some of them learn it so they don't need a wire, but whatev, I see the point about dogs enough to shut up about it.

[Byrde]

The only time I push <b>my</b> mower is when it runs out of gas. :) I routinely cut approximately 2 acres each time. I don't think I wanna push a mower around for too long!

Mebbe someone would like to come show me how it's done with their mower :)

[Matt Timion]

The only time I push <b>my</b> mower is when it runs out of gas. :) I routinely cut approximately 2 acres each time. I don't think I wanna push a mower around for too long!

Mebbe someone would like to come show me how it's done with their mower :)

You have figured out where reel mowers are bad. For people like me (my house sits on a .2 acre lot) the push mower is great. The basic rule of thumb is if your lot is bigger than .25 acres you're probably better off with a gas or electric mower.

I was actually considering buying an battery powered electric mower (I think Black and Decker makes one, or is it Craftsman?). Some people have just hooked those up to an outlet that gets it's power from solar panels. That's a lot of work, but if energy independance is your goal it makes sense.

[westcoastbroke]

Our solution is to let mother nature choose the landscape. If you don't fertilize, then you don't need to water, and if you do neither, then it grows very slowly. We mow once a year, just before the "grass" (local weeds, really) goes dormant.

[MetroMPG]

you need to get a riding mower.

http://www.cybersalt.org/cl_images/z9/b/bikemower.jpg

[SVOboy]

you need to get a riding mower.
http://www.cybersalt.org/cl_images/z9/b/bikemower.jpg


You are one crazy fellow. I would've put bigger wheels on the front to keep from sinking though, and just had them offset up.

[rh77]

Overall, gas-powered lawn mowers account for a HUGE amount of emissions in North America. No Catalytic converter or other emissions equipment x 1000's of users per day in the warmer months and you get a considerable amount of pollution. It sounds crazy, but it's a fact.

RH77

[white90crxhf]

i bought a honda lawnmower, man that thing sips gas. i might use 1 gallon a year, if that. yard size is .29 acres. if honda will make a motor less lawnmower i'd buy it :)

[Ryland]

we have a sweet Toro 14" electric lawn mower, it's really nice for things like around the garden, and around trees, and other smaller areas, I don't think I would want to mow the whole lawn with it, but it's pretty light weight, has a lead acid battery about the size of the one in my honda (only a deep cycle) and a simple on/off switch, the only draw backs of it is, it hates having a dull blade, so hitting rocks and sticks is bad, and grass that is taller then a foot lugs it down a bit.
I tried cutting back on the size of the mowed lawn, but apparently grass clipings make great garden mulch, so the lawn got alot bigger.