Recommended Reel Mowers to Buy
So are you convinced that you should be using a reel mower too? I hope so!
I live in Dallas, and have a St. Augustine grass lawn, one of the most challenging grass types for reel mowers. Right now I’m using a Mascot reel mower, which I am very happy with. The Mascot is a very heavy mower, which makes it hard to pick up. But it’s actually much easier to push through a thick, tough grass like St Augustine. It does not require a huge amount of effort to mow with. My wife is able to mow with it with no problems when I’m out of town. I’m going to try the Fiskars mower soon to see how it does, as my St Augustine grass starts to thicken up as the weather warms. I’ll be sure to update when I do.
So which push reel lawnmower should you buy?
The truth is that there’s not a single “best” reel mower that excels for every situation. Different mowers have different strengths and weaknesses.
You have to consider your type of grass (or area of the country), and the features that are important to you, and choose based on that.
I’ve narrowed things down to the four models that cover all of the various lawn scenarios, and that are also the four best reel mowers in general, in my opinion.
I sell reel mowers for a living because I work for Clean Air Gardening. I’ve been doing this since 1998, so I’ve dealt with thousands and thousands of people, and gotten their feedback. We have a 60 day money back guarantee, so we have to take the mowers back if someone doesn’t like them. That gives me an incentive to sell something that is actually going to work, so that it doesn’t get returned.
So here are the mowers for sale that you can shop for online or in local stores that I recommend, with a short explanation of why you might consider each model.
Brill Razorcut 38
The Brill Razorcut 38 is an excellent German-made push reel mower.
It weighs only 17 pounds, but is ultra durable, and features a silent cut design. This mower works well on a large variety of grasses – however, it is not recommended for thicker grasses such as Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. With thicker grasses like those three, the light weight tends turns from a huge advantage into a big disadvantage. Overall, this is an phenomenal reel mower. Its superior construction and design make it an ideal choice. I wish I could use this on my own lawn, but I have St Augustine and cannot.
If you are in the northern half of the country, the Brill Razorcut 38 (or the similar-but-smaller Razorcut 33) is likely to be your best choice for a reel mower.
Mascot 18 Inch 6 Bladed Reel Lawnmower
The Mascot 18 inch 6 Bladed Reel Mower is a tough, sturdy push reel mower. It’s heavier than most push mowers (it weighs in around 42 pounds), yet it is still easy to use. The added weight to this real mower actually has a positive effect, as it allows you to easily push through thick grasses such as Zoysia, St. Augustine, and Bermuda. The Mascot mower has a silent cut design, which means the reel blade barely makes contact with the cutter bar. Its cutting range is adjustable, from half an inch, all the way up to two and three quarter inches.
So if you’re in Florida or Texas or the gulf coast area and you have St Augustine, Bermuda or Zoysia grass, this is a mower should you consider. If you’re in the northern half of the country, the extra weight of the mower might not provide much of an advantage for you.
This reel mower is built to last, and built to keep your lawn looking sharp. If you are familiar with the old Agri Fab reel mowers from years ago, I am pretty sure this mower is a duplicate of that design.
There’s also a cool backstory about this mower. It is made in China, but an Amish company owns the design. They import them into Pennsylvania, where an American inspects and sharpens each one and adjusts it before the mower ships out to any customer.
Scotts Classic Reel Mower
The Scotts Classic Reel Mower has a large 20 inch cutting width. It’s a workhorse of a push reel mower. The cutting width of this mower, combined with extra back wheels for maneuverability, a cutting height ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches, and a reasonable weight of 30 pounds help make this mower a wonderful value for the money. It can knock out a wide variety of grasses, and is a good choice if you like to keep your grass on the tall side. It doesn’t have the build quality or elegance of a German made mower, but it gets the job done. It has been a best seller for more than a decade.
I used this mower on my own Bermuda lawn, and then a St Augustine lawn for several years until I recently switched to a Mascot reel mower. The Scotts Classic reel mower is a good mower for the money, in my opinion. It isn’t quite as easy to push through Bermuda or St Augustine as the Mascot (because it is a medium weight mower, probably), but it’s still reasonable. This is a good all around mower for someone who wants a wider cut, and the ability to cut higher, and it works all over the US.
Fiskars Momentum Reel Lawn Mower
The Fiskars Momentum Reel Lawn Mower is a brand new design, introduced in 2010. Unlike other push reel mowers, it throws the grass forward, instead of backward. It’s a pretty strange looking beast, and it’s a very heavy 53 pounds. Like the Mascot though, that makes it hard to pick up and carry, but not necessarily hard to push through the grass when you cut.
This mower ranges in cutting heights from 1″ to 4″ – the tallest cut of any reel mower out on the market. I can’t imagine anyone keeping their grass 4 inches tall, but I suppose you could if you wanted to. The Fiskars lawnmower features an 18 inch cutting width. A nice feature about this mower is also the chain and gearing feature, which is related to the way that the mower throws the grass in front of the mower instead of behind it. Fiskars says that this chain system delivers twice the energy of a normal reel mower. I’ll be testing this mower on my own thick St Augustine lawn soon, and will report back on how it does compared to the Mascot. Overall, the Fiskars Momentum looks like a durable, long lasting mower that will provide your lawn with a premium cut. The build quality is very nice on this mower.
Have a reel mower that you love? Leave a comment and tell me why you recommend it.
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
Could you please include a comparison of prices?
I have never used a reel mower before, and I live in the country in south Texas and I am trying to clear out my fence line is a reel mower recommended for this type of work.. It has tall weeds and grass and some small mesquite.
@Lisa J
No, a reel mower would not work at all for that situation. You shouldn’t even try it.
You’d be better off with something more ag related like one of those DR Trimmers that they advertise everywhere.
I was disappointed with the Fiskars. I bought one and did the adjustment check they recommended. It didn’t cut paper as it should so I tried to adjust it. The adjustment bolds were in so tight that I wrecked them with my wrench (the size they recommended. ) Exchanged that for another one. Exact same problem. Now I’m looking at Brill or something. Just learned Husqvarna also is coming out with a no-contact. Know anything about that?
@Jeremy
Sorry to hear that the Fiskars didn’t work out for you. In the meantime I have used one on my St Augustine lawn several times, and I have been pleased with it. It doesn’t cut as easily as the Mascot through thick St Augustine, but it’s easy enough that it’s usable.
I kind of like the way the Fiskars mower throws the grass forward, although it can bog down when you have a really long row to cut as the grass clippings start to build up.
The whole cutting paper adjustment is a mystery to me. I’ve never been able to make any reel mower cut paper, ever. If the mower cuts the grass well, then that’s good enough for me.
I’ve found where I work that anyone who tries to adjust their mower to cut paper inevitably returns it. If you were a customer, I would probably not recommend that you use a reel mower and would suggest a standard electric mower instead. Generally, we’ve found that if someone is unhappy with one model of reel mower, they will not be happy with any others either. There are exceptions to this, but it is rare.
The Brill will have the same issue if you try to adjust it to cut paper, even though they also mention the paper thing in their owner’s manual. The best way to adjust the Brill (if it needs it) is to tighten the blades on both sides until you hear clicking, and then back off just a hair at a time until there is no more clicking. At that point, you’ll be perfectly adjusted, as close as you can get without the blades hitting the cutter bar.
i’m in the market for a new reel mower. i bought a brill razorcut 38 last year and i’ve killed it. that being said, i abused the hell out of it. i used it to cut down 12″ weeds [which was a hell of a chore, and this is NOT the right tool for that job]. i ran into rocks, sticks, roots, mud, you name it. i might as well have been trying to mow the appalachian trail. my girlfriend’s dog decided it was fun to bark at it and bite the wheels while i was mowing. i let him as it was a great way to exercise the two of us and get a chore done at the same time. actually, other than knocking off the hub caps [which never stayed on again], he didn’t actually do any damage that i can see.
that being said, i do feel that the brill was somewhat cheap. i’m all about german engineering, but plastic just doesn’t hold up to the abusive conditions i put my mower through. it is a lawn mower after all.
so i’ve begun my research into reel mowers again, and this time i’ve got durability in mind. i had it pretty much narrowed down to the mascot 18 [or 21], but then the momentum hit the market. unfortunately with it being so new, no one can tell me anything about it except all the fiskars marketing terms like “30% reduced push force”. every site has the same info and almost no reviews.
i’m specifically interested in what you think about it compared to the mascot. you mentioned briefly above, but can you go into more detail? [you mentioned in your initial post that you planned on a proper review of it. i know, i'm just being impatient - sorry.]
@zee
Having used both the Mascot 18 and the Fiskars Momentum on my yard, and hearing about how hard you are on a mower, I think I would probably recommend the Mascot over the Fiskars. The Fiskars is a heavy mower that has plenty of heft to it. But it has a chain driven reel, and I wonder how it would hold up under the kind of abuse you describe. The Mascot is based on a design that’s been around for decades, and there are antique mowers still going strong with that same design. So I’d lean toward the Mascot.
That said, I wouldn’t expect any reel mower to magically last forever under the circumstances you just described. It’s a mower, not a bullet proof miracle device! It would still be possible for you to break any mower when you use it like that.
I’ve used a reel mower (Great States) for quite some time and have really enjoyed it. Recently, I bought a used Agri-Fab reel mower (predecessor to the Mascot) for the great price of $40. It’s a 21-inch, 6-bladed model. I live in Indiana and have a mixture of bluegrass, rye, fescue, and weeds in my yard. A few days after I mow, I notice that some blades of grass regardless of thickness) have several brown horizontal stripes on them. This makes me suspect that the reel and blade aren’t quite cutting like they should. Since this is a silent cut mower, I admit I’m afraid to make an adjustment for fear of ruining the alignment and never being able to get it right. Do you have any tips on adjusting the blade on these Agri-Fab/Mascot mowers? My Great States always seemed to do a better job cutting. Thanks!
I’ve been happy with both the Great States 18 inch reel mower (which I gave to my brother when he moved) and the new one I upgraded to: the Yardworks 20-inch reel mower. The Yardworks is a lot like the Scott’s Classic, but with a better handle design (in my opinion). It’s easy to adjust the height, comes with a bag (which I never use personally), and has great maneuverability due to it having rear wheels. I think it’s a great mower!
@John, Thanks for your insight, we appreciate your comments.
@Steve,
Since this is a silent cut mower you need to precisely space the reel and the cutting bar. Since this space is extremely small we suggest you use a piece of paper to know the correct amount of space. You will need an adjustable wrench and a piece of paper.
Much like setting the space on a spark plug, you need to set the space on the reel and cutting bar. Use the piece of paper to create that space by tightening the nut that adjusts the reel. Slid the paper across the cutting bar and when it touches the reel and stops you know you need to open it up a little so the paper will barely slid through. This will take a little time and patience but should only need adjusting once or twice a year.
I am suffering from information overload. I have a small backyard and small front yard that is almost straight uphill and a 2ft plateau. I want to purchase a real mower. Was going to buy a fiskar from lowes but they have stopped carrying them, perhaps due to problems mentioned on this site. I do travel and so my grass may get tall between mowing and the last “ace hardware” real mower jammed continuously on sticks and choked on the tall grass.
Which real mover should I purchase? I loved my real mower when it worked, loved the exercise and the quiet. I don’t need it to last forever, just give a good cut. I am able to sharpen myself if needed but have to admit the fiskar 5 year no need to sharpen blade was compelling. I would rather purchase local (Milwaukee) rather than online but will do online if needed. So, which mower do I purchase?
@paula,
You mentioned that you travel so you lawn grows tall on occasion. This is not conducive to reel mowers. In other words reel mowers work best when the lawn is mowed regularly and leaves and twigs are raked prior to mowing.
I suggest you consider an electric mower. If you are certain you want a reel mower, try the mascot mower, it’s a heavier mower and more likely to cut through the tall grass. However if the lawn gets to high, like 7 to 8 inches no reel mower will cut it well.
Also, keep in mind; you are the power to any reel mower so when the grass grows tall you have to push through it just like you would have to push through it with a gas powered mower, except with a reel mower you are pushing both the mower and the blades. Here is a link to the mascot mower.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mascot-reel-mower.html
I hope this helps.
My wife and I are moving into our first house in Omaha, Nebraska. One of your standard midwest split-level that has some elevation variation on the lot. About two-thirds of the lot is flat, then it slopes down to the lowest elevation at the edge of the lot. What suggestions do you have for using a reel mower on a yard with a hill, and which model/brand do you think would work best for that application?
Thanks.
@Brian,
Congratulations on your first home, that’s always exciting. I suggest the widest reel mower you can find. The width will both decrease the number of passes needed to cover your whole lawn and the wider wheel base will help on the slop. The negative will be the weight, however when you consider a standard gas mower still ways more then the heavier reel mowers you will still be ahead of the game. Take a look at these two options.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mascot-21-reel-mower.html
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/scotclasreel.html
This may sound silly, but is there a big difference in the amount of effort it takes to push an electric mower vs reel mower? I currently have a Neuton mower and I’m considering the Mascot 21 for my bermuda lawn. They weigh about the same. I see descriptions of the Mascot that say things like this “This heavy duty reel mower is especially popular with people who are taller than average, fairly strong, accustomed to working with heavy duty tools and have a large yard” (does not describe me),but if I can push a 48lb Neuton, I should be able to push a 42-45 lb Mascot right? Thanks!
@Anne
In general, with a reel mower, *you* are the engine of the mower, so there’s a little bit of extra effort involved in making the blades turn when you push a reel mower.
However, my wife is petite, and is able to use our Mascot 18 inch mower without problems in our St. Augustine lawn, which is also a hard to cut grass like Bermuda.
So I’d say that it’s probably going to be a little bit more effort than the Neuton, but it should be within reason for you.
What’s wrong with your Neuton that you want to switch to a reel mower? I’ve tried out a neighbor’s Neuton, and thought it was pretty good.
@lars,
I really like my Neuton, but I am investigating reel mowers for a couple of reasons. My Neuton only has a 14″ cutting width and I’m trying to decide between getting the larger 19″ Neuton or reel mower. Although my yard looks level, it is uneven and I frequently see crop circles and if I raise the blade too much, it’s really too high for Bermuda. It looks like reel mower would be better for that. Lastly, rumor has it you can use reel mower with dew on ground and I would love to be able to mow early in morning. Neuton doesn’t do that well with dew. Is that rumor true or are reel mowers not great with dew either? I know dry grass is preferred but I prefer to avoid mowing in 100 degree heat too. Thanks for your help.
I have been looking for a reel mower for years. Bermuda grass down here in Florida.
Little afraid to try it and have it not work than have to ship it back.
@Coined, Reel mowers in general are not much harder to push than a standard rotary gas mower. However if the grass is not kept and grows tall a reel mower will be tough to push through it just like it is harder to push a gas mower through tall grass. The Fiskars Momentum reel mower is a great mower to try.
I have always been intrigued with reel mowers due to the way they cut grass. When I was a kid I used my grandparents gas-powered professional reel mower and made a lot of money mowing lawns. I lived in California in an area where people where just sick about how their lawns looked so you had to do a good job with a good mower. As I got older and had my own yard I always wanted that type of cut again however, gas powered reel mowers of any quality are very expensive. I now have a very small grass area to mow and think a push reel should cut as nice as a gas-powered reel. Will a push reel do as well of a job as a gas-powered reel mower?
But my question is mostly about money.
How can I justify to myself paying $269 for a mascot push reel when I can get a gas-powered mower (non-reel) for barely more than that? It’s basically a handle, a blade, and two wheels. Why are they so expensive?
If I am going to pay that much is there a professional grade model and does it come with a basket to catch the clippings?
@Bill W, Yes, a push reel mower will cut grass as well and often better than a gas powered mower. Often a reel mower is the choice of those who prefer a better cut. As for the cost, like gas mowers, the prices range depending on the reel mower style and features.
A great choice might be the new Fiskars Momentum reel mower: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/fiskars-momentum-reel-mower.html The mascot is a great mower as well. There are less expensive models, like the scotts classic package which comes with a grass catcher and sharpening kit; http://www.cleanairgardening.com/scotclasreel1.html
Living in middle Tennessee where most of the grass is fescue and the ground (at least mine) is uneven.
Q1: Gathering from previous recommendations, you’d suggest the Mascot. Is that correct?
Q2: If a hillside is to be mowed, is it better to use a weedeater or can the Mascot be safely used in spite of its weight?
Thanks!
@Jen, The Mascot is a great mower, it would work well for you. As for the hillside, not knowing the grade of the slope you may need to use a weed trimmer. Try mowing with the Mascot and test if you feel stable while pushing on the side of the hill.
Hi,
I am from Nova Scotia, Canada and currently own a lawn care company looking to make the transition to using reel mowers. We deal with upright grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue. Is it true that Mascot produces mowers that would be appropriate for such upright grasses?
@Wes Booth, The Mascot or the Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower will work well for that grass type.
Hi,
I’ve just moved into a rental with a small yard, and will be responsible for my own lawn care. I’m set on getting a reel mower, but am still unsure of which kind to get. I live in Minnesota, and am not sure what kind of grass is already growing (it looks quite fine and is kind of sporadic). I just layed down a mix of bluegrass, fescu, and rye grass (hoping it will grow…I’m new to this whole ‘yard’ situation). What would be the best mower for me?
My husband is looking at buying a reel mower, but we have crabgrass. He was looking at purchasing the Scotts, but reviews have said that it doesn’t do a good job with weeds or crabgrass, simply pushing taller stalks over and not cutting them. Is this pretty accurate? Is there a reel mower that would be better suited?
Which is best for fescue in NC mountains
@Cassie, Most if not all push reel mowers do not do well with weeds, especially crab grass, look into an electric mower, it will do well with weeds. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/toro-electric-mower.html
@Beth, The Brill Razorcut 38 is popular in your area, it should do well. Some Ace stores carry them. Or try this link http://www.cleanairgardening.com/brill-razorcut-38-reel-mower.html
We live in the Texas Hill Country, on a 1/2 acre lot with much of it left shrubby, rocky, or landscaped. I’m looking into getting a reel mower to use on the smoother, grassy areas. Not sure what type of grass there is but it is more native/wild grass than planted lawn. My spouse currently used an electric weed-whacker as we don’t have any lawn mower but that is a pain and takes a lot of time.
Any recommendations? I’m assuming one of the heavier models would be best, if anything will work.
Someone in town nearby is selling a Sunlawn reel mower. Anyone know about this brand?
@Marie, Assuming the grass area is mainly grass and not weeds most any reel mower will work. If you have a lot of weeds it may cause a problem unless you keep up with the mowing. Weeds tend to grow taller and faster than grass and when you go to mow the tall weeds are not cut due to their height.
The Sunlawn (made in china) is a generic version of the Brill Razorcut (made in Europe). Either will work well as long as the grass type is not Bermuda or St Augustine. If so then I suggest the Fiskars mower. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/fiskars-momentum-reel-mower.html
I am considering starting a lawn care business but then recently took into consideration the cost of gasoline and realized that now is probably a good time to start a such a business with a gas free mower / tractor with the assumption that the manufacturing industry has also been preparing for the future and therefore is now making riding reel and electric mowers for people like myself in such a circumstance. Can anybody tell me about such an item as a gas free lawn mower which will work well in such a business?
Steve:
I live in a Chicago suburb. My 5,000 sq. ft. lawn is a mixture of rye, fescue, and bluegrass. I’ve used an 18″ Craftsman Quiet Cut reel mower for the last 8 yrs. I keep it sharp and adjusted but still have to make 3 or more passes to get a good cut, maybe because the ground was graded unevenly to drain rainwater… I keep my grass at 2.5″ – 3″ high. I’m wondering if a 7 blade reel mower, or any other, would give me a good cut with one pass and if there are any you’d recommend.
Also, reel mowers don’t provide any suction to lift matted grass. Is there any reel mower that has something like a mechanical brush to raise the grass just before it is cut?
Thks
We are strongly considering a reel mower for our lawn this year. We do not have a nice smooth lawn; there are gophers, moles, cows that get out (We live on a farm) etc. Our lawn is predominately bluegrass with weeds and whatnot thrown in. Suggestions?
Sorry to be “Debbie downer” but I have owned about 3 reel mowers- just purchased a Fiskar Momentum, and the bottom line in my opinion is this: Reel mowers are environmentally great, healthy to use – (excersise) nostalgic, etc. BUT, they don’t cut the grass nearly as well as a motorized mower! I’m talking in both the efficiency of cutting the grass, and the way your lawn will look when finished. I often have to go over an area 4 or 5 times to try to cut all the grass that it missed on the first 3 swipes. Reel mowers push down the grass rather than lift up the grass and cut it, like power mowers do. I don’t know why they can’t invent a reel mower that “really” works. When you are done with the lawn, it does not look nearly as well manicured as a power mowed cut. Not even close. Every time I have talked to someone on the phone who is selling real mowers, they tell me how it will produce a “nicer looking lawn” than a power (rotary) mower. They are liars!!! I even tried taking my reel mowers to other lawns thinking it was just my lawn, but got the same results. I desparately want a real mower to make the lawn look as good as power mowers but they dont. Unfortunately, reel mowers in my opinion, are like the difference between me cutting my own hair or going to an experienced hair cutter – no comparrison. So the bottom line is they cut the grass; are great for small lawns but if you want that beautiful freshly mowed look, you won’t get that from a reel mower. I welcome suggestions, comments etc. Please – prove me wrong.. but be truthful!
note: I live in Pittsburgh, PA . thank you.
Steve,
I bought a home that features a Bermuda grass lawn and this is my first ever experience with Bermuda. My rotary mower has been awful when cutting my Bermuda when I hit anything close to uneven dips in the lawn resulting in some scalping. I have made the decision to switch to a reel mower to get a better cut and avoid the scalping. My question is…without spending $200 and up, is there a nice reel mower on the market in the $80 to $120 price rangethat will give me a great cut for my Bermuda lawn in Central North Carolina? Thanks for your time.
@Rob
American Lawnmower makes a 7 bladed reel mower that is a lower price point, but that’s about all there is in that range that works on Bermuda that I am aware of.
https://www.reelin.com/ProductLine.aspx
Does anyone have any information or experience with the McLane manual reel mowers such as the 17-PH-10 blade or 17-PH-7 blade mowers? I used a Task Force I bought from Lowes last year and enjoyed it with a couple of exceptions. The wheel to blade was friction on a rubber piece, which would slip and the blade to knife seemed to get out of adjustment quickly. I am planning on purchasing another higher quality and saw the McLane but very little information.
I recently decided to abandon my gas powered mower for a nostalgic reel mower. One of the first things I found was that today’s mower is nothing like I remember. My memory is of a rusty contraption that always needed adjustment. Now we have the Fiskars, an excellent example of new and exciting engineering. This mower is absolutely the quietest mower on the market, could not believe I was actually mowing the lawn. Unfortunately, it was not as efficient as it was quiet, took me multiple passes to mow what is basically a mix of fescues. I live in north VA and my lawn is moderately healthy with a few small bare patches found in the shade.
I found the Fiskars very easy to push, once you got it going, it is heavy compared to many of the other reel mowers on the market. But, having to go over the same area two and three times was not my idea of a quality mower, especially at $200+.
After doing my own tests with four different brands, “mowing the lawn”, I found the Brill to be the best at cutting the grass and leaving it in excellent condition. My only complaint with the Brill is the cutting height. While I agree that the recommended height for a power mower is based on the fact that it tears the grass, it gets downright hot in July and August and I would like to mow the lawn at over 45 millimeters during this time. The Brill does not allow for a greater height, so for now I have resorted to adding duct tape to the wheels in an effort to add cutting height.
I would like to know if anyone has engineered a better solution and if so, please send pics and step by step instructions.
Keeping it green in VA….
I have a Great States 16″ reel mower that I’ve had for at least 10 years. I bought it when I was renting a small house. It hasn’t seen much use since. I bent the shaft on my cheap Lowe’s gas mower and didn’t have the money to replace it at present, so I got out my reel mower for this week’s mowing. I was very pleased with the cut, but I have a 1/4 acre lawn. Would a reel mower with a larger cut make the job any easier? I was thinking of the Scott’s classic, but I wonder if my yard is too big for a reel mower.
@Steve, If you present mower is in fairly good condition there will not be a whole lot of difference except for the wider cutting path would make for a few less passes.
My present mower is in great shape. In fact, I just pulled the wheels off and cleaned and lubed everything. I also used the information on this site to adjust the blades. I think it is actually cutting better now than when I bought it new. I may still buy a larger reel mower, but I’ll keep this one. It can’t hurt to have a backup.
I’m considering buying the Fiskars or Mascot 6 (actually the Whisper Cut made by Power Draulics). Two questions, is the Mascot 6 (or Whisper Cut) easier to push and better at cutting since it has 6 blades (compared to the Fiskars)? Second, do you recommend the Whisper Cut model (compared to the Mascot)? Thanks!
@Tom, As far as I know the two models sell equally well, both are well built reel mowers. No, the 6 blades on the reel does not necessarly make it easier to mow with compared to the Fiskars. I think its a toss up, but would lean more toward the Fiskars mower.
I am a single woman and just have about 300 sq ft of grass so I purchased a scotts 20″ mower. I just put it together and I cannot push the darn thing the front wheels won’t roll it goes backwords but the blade won’t roll. Any suggestions.
@Bonnie See this page. http://www.reelmowerguide.com/scotts-classic-push-reel-mower-information/ Read the section called “Adjusting the Blades on the Scotts Classic Mower.” I think the issue is that someone adjusted the blades so tight that they can’t turn. You should be able to fix it with a large flathead screwdriver and about 10 minutes of time messing with it.
Any experience with the Ellison brand? I’ve read a positive review of the Ellison Evolution, but would like to get more than one opinion. Thanks.
@Trudy, The Ellison Evolution reel mower is fairly new and we have just got our hands on one. reelmowers.org will be testing it the few week and will give our thoughts ASAP.
I’m eager to hear what you think of the Ellison Evolution too, especially how it works on St. Augustine.
@Mike and @Trudy
I tried an Ellison Evolution reel mower on my St. Augustine lawn last weekend.
I was able to mow the St. Augustine, but I had to move the cutting height all the up to the setting just under the maximum 4 inches. When I tried to cut lower, the mower would jam and couldn’t push through. I’d say that it’s about 85 percent as good as the Scotts Classic on St. Augustine, which itself is about 80 percent as good as the Fiskars or the Mascot reel mowers.
I think the Ellison would do well on northern grasses, but I’d give it about a C plus on St. Augustine, Zoysia or Bermuda. It would get the job done, but it might be tough work. But many reel mowers won’t cut those grasses at all, so that doesn’t mean that the mower isn’t any good. The Brill, for example, just doesn’t work on those grasses at all really.
The grasscatcher system was well designed and easy to attach and detach from the mower. The height adjustment is a single lever that is easy to move up and down to set the cutting height.
It has a very long warranty period of 4 years. The design is similar to the Scotts Classic, but it seems like it has a better build quality than the current Scotts Classic.
I’ll try to get a page up about it in the next week or two.
Thanks Lars, for the great feedback. The Fiskars or Mascot are the better choice for me, I’d say.
Thanks, Lars. I just have northern grasses to deal with, so it sounds like the Ellison could be an option for me.
We’ve just taken delivery of and assembled our Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower. Only problem is it only wheels backwards not forwards! Any thoughts? If it wasn’t 8.40pm on a friday evening (customer service not contactable till Monday) I wouldn’t be bothering you! It’s just so frustrating as I wanted to cut the lawn tomorrow before it gets too long!
PLEASE IGNOR PREVIOUS QUESTION! My husband has just had a go at pushing it and it works fine! I was just being too gentle as I didn’t want to break the mower!
Just wanted to comment on the Fiskars Momentum Mower and provide a word of warning to potential buyers. Let me start by saying that I LOVE the mower in many ways, and have had it for about a year. It’s probably perfect for someone with a small yard. I mow approx. an acre of grass here on my property in Central Fla. What I’d like to point out is that, much to my disappointment, this mower didn’t hold up well for me. The chain system is their Achilles Heel in my opinion. My chain started locking up in the sprockets, then actually coming off a few months ago. I figured sand from my yard had gotten in the sprockets and simply worn the teeth down. Fiskars has GREAT customer service, and they promptly sent me out a new chain and 2 new sprockets for free. I installed them and it was fine for a few mows, then just the other day the chain popped off AGAIN. I know it’s not from sand this time. All I can figure is that other parts must have worn down and loosened. This mower just doesn’t handle tough yards like mine. I’ve suggested to them to put some kind of tension roller (like on a bike derailleur) to keep the chain taught. Until they address that issue, I’m getting ready to buy a more durable trouble-free mower. Hope this might save someone the aggravation I’ve been dealing with.
@Ron
Thanks for your feedback. I have not heard of that issue from anyone else. I’ve been using that mower on my own small St. Augustine lawn for about a year, and have not had any trouble with mine. You might consider the Mascot, which can’t cut as high, but is a pretty rugged mower. It is a design that has been around for years and years, and I think it might be from the same exact tooling as the old Agri Fab reel mowers, although I have no way of verifying if that is true.
I own three reel mowers, the Scott’s Classic, Brill accu 38 (battery Reel mower) and the Mclane 17 inch 5 blade manual push mower. I Like all three and yet each has its pro and con’s. My lawn is approximately 120 by 125 foot corner lot, eliminating house, driveways etc. I have a little over 5,000 sg ft of lawn(northern Ohio). The first thing I should say is that I mow every three days or so, so my reel mowers are not cutting heavy grass. The lawn has a fresh manicured look all the time.
The Scott’s Classic is very easy to use, very easy height adjustment from 1 to 3″ and overall would be my choice if I had to use only one. It’s draw back is it needs more attention to adjustment of the cutting bed/blade spacing and sharpening due to its contact cutting design.
The Brill battery reel mower is a pure joy to use and the best things about it are its light weight, around 25lbs with battery installed. The fact that when the battery dies (appr 30 to 40 minutes of cut time) you can still mow just like any reel mower. The battery causes the blades to spin at a much higher rate then just pushing which causes more cuts per foot and therefore a finer finish. It is a silent cut mower and has never been sharpened or adjusted . The cons are the maximum cutting height is about 1.8″ so I use this mower in the spring and late fall . I like to allow my lawn to reach a 3″ plus height in the summer and then cut to a height between 2 1/2 to 3″. This helps shade the ground and allows the root system to grow deeper, requiring less watering, The brill is retired for the summer. Replacement batteries are expensive and hard to find. The manufacturer states the battery will recharge about 1,000 times before needing replacing.
The Mclane is a front throw reel mower that has the capability to cut to 2 1/2 inches. It is extremely well built chain drive silent cut machine. Mine has never been sharpened but does need adjustment but rarely. Because the wheels are inside of the cutting surface it can edge a little better than the other two I own. The clippings basket attaches to the front of the machine and does a great job of collecting the grass should one have a need . I like the grass to be left on the lawn for fertilizer. (because I mow often I have no problems with thatch or unsightly dead grass on top of the lawn) It has the greatest number of height adjustments from about 1/2 ” to 2 1/2″ making it a great mower for low cut grasses such as bent grass. Its cons are it is very heavy and not as maneuverable as the other two are and even though it has the greatest spread of height adjustment it can require removing and reseting the wheels, a time consuming process..
I also own a rotary cordless Black and Decker Self propelled mower SPCM1936 when the lawn gets away from me or for bagging fall leaves, but I prefer the reel mowers scissor like cut vs the rotary cut.
I thought this might help your readers in making a decision as to what to purchase. I believe that a reel mower is the way to go but you have to be willing to mow more often and at times in different directions at the same time (double cut). I also think that 5,000 sg ft of grass is about the maximum one would want to attempt with a reel mower.
@Raymond
Thanks for the comprehensive and knowledgeable comment and advice!
I just moved to North Florida and decided to buy a reel mower, mainly for environmental reasons. I always used a push mower before rather than a self-propelled (it’s great exercise), so I figured I would be able to handle it.
I got the Scott’s 20-inch reel mower, and wow–it has exceeded my expectations! It’s actually easier to handle than my old push mower because it’s lighter. It’s more maneuverable, too, and I love the soft whirring and the smell of cut grass, rather than the loud engine and gas fumes! I’ve got a St. Augustine lawn, and it’s working just fine on it. Love, love, love it!
Just found your site and I am looking to replace my Honda power power. I also have a power reel mower I think 25 inch trimmer with honda engine. I like the trimmer, but the maintenance cost is very high. If you did the recommended maintenance, it is about $500 per year which was mid year back lap and begin of year sharpening. The dealer moved and is now about 60 miles.
I have El Toro zoysia which cuts fine with a standard mower, however the honda gets to be a little week during after a few months of the grass greening and thickening. I like to mow it short as possible and look good. The honda will bog down and then catch the grass and leave marks.
I used to mow every 2 or 3 days with the power reel mower as I liked the look and did not mind the excersise of walking around the yard. The yard is about 25,000 sq feet. I was told this might be a bit for a push reel, but sounds like these work pretty well.
Lars mentioned the Mascot and would seem the best choice for me. Is there any quality, performance difference going with the 21 over the 18″
Thank you
@David, The difference is going to be two fold, the weight, since the 21″ mascot mower is wider it will be heavier but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The weight allows the mower to get down into the dense grass allowing it to cut it instead of floating on it like a few lighter mowers might do. The wider cutting path means you’re cutting a larger patch of grass and if it’s really dense that makes for more grass you have to push through. The 18″ mascot might be a better choice for extra dense grass since the patch you are cutting is a little less wide.