The reel mower has been around for about 150 years. The United States granted Amariah Hills with the patent in 1868 though he wouldn't be the first to commercialize the design. The mower was "human powered" and relied on the force of pushing the mower across the grass to turn the blades through a series of gears that increased the speed of the blades relative to the drive wheels. In 1914, the engine would be added to give the world the first gas powered reel mower. Lawns all across the United States would be maintained with reel mowers until the decline starts with the invention of the rotary mower in 1929. Now, property owners are realizing the benefits of going back to the reel and the mowers are seeing a comeback. Let's take a look at some of the differences between the two
Cutting Height
Rotary mowers cannot cut as low as reel mowers without scalping or damaging the turf. Warm season grasses which dominate the Dallas area such as common bermuda should be maintained around 1" and hybrid varieties anywhere from 1/2" to 1". This is almost impossible with a rotary mower. Up until the invention of the rotary mower, grass was normally maintained at 1.5", now it's not uncommon for homeowners to mow bermuda up to 3" which is not recommended for a well manicured look. Using a reel mower at lower cutting heights requires a smooth level surface to keep the cut even and reduce the chance of scalping. You should always consider leveling your lawn before beginning with a reel mower. No matter what mower you're using, never remove more than 1/3 of the height or damage will result to the blades and you can invite desease into the yard.
Quality of Cut
Rotary mowers swing a blade at very fast speeds to cut the turf, which can result in damage to the turf, especially if your blades are not sharp. Rotary mowers mimic a pair of scissors with turf being cut when the reel cuts against the bed knife. This gives a smooth, clean cut that can improve the overall health of the lawn.
Maintenance
All gas powered mowers are going to require similar maintenance on the engines such as air filter replacements, oil changes, spark plug replacements, etc. The difference between reel and rotary is the blade sharpening. For homeowners using reel mowers under normal conditions, the blade will need to be backlapped or sharpened annually. You can backlap the mower yourself, though some prefer having this work done by a professional. Reel grinding requires special tools and is much more difficult than sharpening a rotary mower blade which you do yourself with a bench grinder. The reel mower will also require you to make adjustments between the bed knife and the reel cylinder to ensure a quality cut.
Price
If you're considering a push reel mower for a small property, price will be a big advantage as these mowers are relative cheap. Gas rotary mowers come in second, usually costing somwhere around $500 for a homeowner version. Gas powered reel mowers can be quite expensive, having price tags higher than $2,000 depending on make and model. Greens mowers that can achieve even lower cuts cost more than homeowner varieties.
In conclusion, the reel mower will give you a better, lower cut but at a higher cost and is more maintenance intensive. Homeowners looking for a well manicured and healthy lawn need to consider going back to the reel mower. We maintain our personal lawns with reel mowers at STC and always get compliments on the lawns and sometimes strange looks from those driving by while mowing. It's certainly a conversation starter.
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