Quote:
Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Any recs on these? (Seriously). Gas, electric start, mulching, motor drive.
Brands? What to look for?
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Note: 5000 sq ft property, house takes up maybe a third, landscaping and driveway takes another third.
Reel push mower. Purchased at Home Depot c. 2002 when I bought the house, about $100 total purchase price.
Upside: Felt much better about my carbon footprint. Didn't have to pull any cords to start motor or pouring and/or mixing gasoline/oil. Noise was minimal.
Downside: Pain in the fucking ass if I didn't cut the lawn every week, because the grass would get too high, and I'd have to push pretty damned hard. Also, I wasn't exactly the most even lawn cutter in the world, and it was pretty noticable.
The
Black and Decker 18" electric mower (it was a good $50 cheaper at the time) replaced the reel push mower. Purchased via Amazon.com on July 24, 2004 (Amazon has a nifty "you bought this product" feature if you hit a page you've already done business on) when the push mower handle broke from me pushing too hard.
Upside: Didn't have to pull any cords to start motor or pouring and/or mixing gasoline/oil. Noise was more than push mower, but not that bad. Much quicker process.
Down side: I had to replace the power cord once when I accidently ran over it with the mower. Pain in the ass if I didn't cut the lawn every three weeks in the summer, because the grass would get too high, and it'd accumulate under the lawnmower.
Alfredo Jaimes (and co) replaced the electric mower c. June 2007. $25/every two weeks in the summer, about once a month in the winter.
Upside: Didn't have to pull any cords to start motor or pouring and/or mixing gasoline/oil. Yard is professionally mowed, edged, and raked. Leaf blowers are used on sidewalk, porch and driveway. Same guys do next door yard and about 10 other yards on the street, so they all look good at the same time. Yard looks awesome most of the year.
Down side: A little noisier when they're there. They once forgot to secure the back gate, and my mom's dog got out of the yard.
All in all, I tend to be someone that hates to outsource something that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself, but I happily pay Alfredo (who told me he's voting Obama when he saw the signs in my yard, so I guess I'm not actively thwarting immigration laws as much as I thought I was) $25 if it means I don't have to mow the grass. Gives me time to do the yard work that I actually like instead. And the grass looks a hell of a lot better if someone other than me cuts it.
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