Published: July 06, 2008 01:26 am            

KEEPING IT REEL: Residents find alternative to power mowers

Going “reel” took 69-year-old Frank DeSimone, of Jeffersonville, about 35 years.

He had used the push mower as a kid, but once he got older he got a power mower, which required a mixture of gas and oil.

“I was getting tired of going to the gas station and now gas is $4 a gallon,” he said. “I’m so glad I got it now!”

For Courtney Paris, 26, of New Albany, the move just kind of fell into her hands.

“[My husband and I] had been talking about getting a reel mower,” said Paris, who had previously used a gas mower. “The gas was wasteful for what it actually did and we know it’s bad for the environment. We knew [switching] was the right thing to do, we were just waiting for the opportunity to make the right move.”

So, when the gas tank on her power mower fell off earlier this season, she took that as a sign and went out and bought a reel mower.

DeSimone and Paris aren’t alone. Indiana based American Lawn Mower Company, whose Web site says it is the largest producer of push reel mowers operating in the United States, is seeing a 20-25 percent increase in business with certain models seeing a 60-70 percent increase over last year, according to company officials.

George Whalin, president and CEO of Retail Management Consultants, said he thinks a variety of factors play into that growing trend. He said the inexpensive price of the reel mower, the high price of gas and the fact that pushing a reel mower provides exercise are all reasons why people are making the change.

DeSimone said he enjoys the exercise he gets from using the mower. He said the change was also good, since his wife wouldn’t use the power version, but is willing to cut the yard with the reel mower.

Paris said the sound of her previous mower used to scare her young children. She said her reel version is not only more kid friendly, but easier to get out to cut a little at a time, instead of having to do it all at once.

Both say it takes getting used to. They say it’s harder to push in areas with tall grass and sometimes requires more than one pass to get everything cut.

“Its difficult. I’m not going to lie. It’s a challenge,” Paris said. “It’s much more time consuming.”

Kris Kiser, vice president of public affairs for the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, says that’s where power comes in. Kiser said power mowers handle hills, taller and wet grass better than reel mowers. He also said power versions save time.

“Time is money,” he said, referring to the time saved cutting large lots. “Also, a lot of folks may not be physically able to push a reel mower. A power or riding mower gives them the opportunity to get out and get fresh air.”

However, he isn’t against the vintage model.

“We respect reel mowers and their use,” he said. “It’s a consumer choice. We recommend whatever is best for the individual consumer.”

Both Paris and DeSimone are happy with their choices. They live in the city limits; therefore, they don’t have large yards to cut. They said the agility of the reel mower is a big bonus compared to its powered counterparts when dealing with the curves of their property.

“I get exercise and mow the yard at the same time,” Paris said. “It’s a win, win situation.”

DeSimone says this is an investment, which will pay off even more in the future.

“I have the added joy of knowing when gas goes to $10 a gallon, I know I won’t be wasting it on my mower,” he said.





THE REEL DEAL

About reel mowers:

QUESTION: What is the difference between a seven-blade reel mower and a five-blade reel mower. Are they used for different grasses or for different purposes?

ANSWER: The five-blade mowers are used for upright grasses. The seven-blade mowers are used for common Bermuda, zoysia, centipede and other common bent grasses. If your lawn is extremely thick, a five blade mower will be easier to push.

Q: How often do reel mowers need sharpening?

A: That depends on many factors: Size of lawn, frequency of use, exposure to moisture, condition of lawn.

Some mowers need sharpened once a year and others can go 7-9 years.

You can help maintain the sharp edge by keeping both the reel and the bedknife blades clean, dry and well-coated with WD-40, silicone spray or other lubricant.

Q: How does one sharpen a reel mower?

A: Reel mowers are sharpened by “backlapping” - first you apply a sharpening compound to the blades, then you crank the reel backwards using a crank handle that comes with the kit. The compound rubs between the reel blades and the fixed blade at the bottom, sharpening both.

Q: How hard are reel mowers to push?

A: All of our mowers are easy to push when used properly, which means you have chosen the appropriate mower for your lawn and you mow frequently, so that only one third of the blade of grass is being mowed at a time.

Reel mowers cut like a pair of scissors so they can only cut what gets caught between the blades. If the grass gets too tall, it will be pushed to the ground and hacked up in an uneven fashion. In order to recover from over-grown grass, it is usually possible to go over it twice, then mow again in a couple of days. Sometimes a rotary mower or weed whacker may be used to bring the grass down to a better cutting height.

— Information courtesy of

www.reelmowersetc.com





PROS & CONS

What people interviewed had to say:

Reel

• Cheaper, can be under $100 • Environmentally friendly

• Low maintenance

• Easy for turns, can be hard to push, especially if grass is tall, on a hill and/or wet.

• Can also be challenging with a large lot.

Power

• More expensive, can be hundreds

• Gas/oil ones cause pollution, battery/electric ones are more environmentally friendly

• Gas/oil needs to be refueled, battery recharged

• Hard to turn, easier to push, handles tall grass, hills and wet grass more easily.

• Handles large lots easily, such as with the riding mower.



REEL HISTORY

Edwin Budding made the reel mower possible in the early 19th century. The engineer created the mower with a series of blades arranged around a cylinder with a push handle, which resembles the reel mowers available today.

In 1870, Elwood McGuire of Richmond, Indiana, designed a machine that basically brought push mowing to the masses. It was lighter, easier to push and had fewer moving parts than the old versions. By 1885, America was building 50,000 lawnmowers a year and shipping them to every country on the globe.

In the United States, the first gasoline powered mowers were manufactured in 1919 by Col. Edwin George. However, due to the depression, it’s popularity didn’t take off until years later.

— Information courtesy

www.american-lawns.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.