Rating: - As advertised and more!
I replaced a gas mower that was taking me some 100+ pulls to start and then would flutter back and forth - so I was ready for anything else. With the American Lawn Mower Company 18-Inch Reel Mower #1815-18, here is what I have now (comparing to both gas and electric mowers I have used):
- mower that cuts cleaner
- mower that cuts high, thick, St Augustine grass
- mower that weighs less
- mower that stores in 1/4 the space
- mower that essentially runs quiet (little noise, but nothing compared to gas)
- mower that does provide exercise (not any more than a normal push mower with a grass catcher attachment)
- mower that is very maneuverable
- mower with $0 in oil or gas or spark plugs or filters or etc.
- mower that does not spew forth fumes
- mower that mulches
It does have some drawbacks - it will get caught on twigs and such (but they are easy to pull out by rotating the blade backwards with your foot) and it won't mow by pulling (you can only mow going forward).
Rating: - Nice Mower
I had a Sears Craftsman reel mower that I was given 10 years ago, it had seen heavy service as it was used commercially. Four years ago it broke down and after fabricating the worn out part a couple times I decided to do on-line research and purchase a new reel mower. The reviews for the 1815-16 and 1815-18 where good and I saw it was manufactured in the USA so I bought the 18.
Upon receiving the mower I was VERY DISSAPPOINTED to see it was now manufactured in "China" of all places. The manufacturers website states: "American Lawn Mower Company, the largest producer of push reel mowers operating in the United States, is a family-owned business with manufacturing facilities in Shelbyville, In. and administrative offices in Muncie, In." This is misleading to say the least, it should say "manufacturing facilities in China".
That being said, the mower is easy to push and will cut taller grass than the Craftsman did. Also the grass on the street side on my house was seeded and was so thick the Craftsman would bog down in it, the 1815-18 will go right throuh it and cut it smootly. It is lighter by a couple of pounds than the Craftsman.
The only thing I have found defective is the plastic wingnuts on the handle assembly and the rear roller hight adjustment work loose occasionally which I intend to replace them with self locking nuts.
Rating: - Excellent for the price
This mower is easy to handle and is as carbon-neutral as you can get! It arrived quickly and was ready to use in 5 minutes.
Rating: - Buy a sickle instead
Don't believe the good reviews. This is one of the most poorly made contraptions out there; I might as well have bought snake oil. The construction of the handle is incredibly flimsy, which causes the blades to bind up because you can't apply equal even pressure. After two months, I've already lost nuts and bolts from it in the yard and foam grip is coming off in multiple places. Oh, and while the "blade" assembly is 18" wide, the final two inches on both sides don't really seem to cut anything.
Your lawn will look horrible. This "lawnmower" hardly cuts anything. I often loose track of what I cut because there's just so much grass left after pushing through a row. Even when cutting twice with crisscrossing patterns my lawn looks like it was mowed by a lazy teenager. This mower
will not cut the seed stalks from grass, so you'll have to get a weedwhacker for that. Oh, and keep that weedwhacker or edger out because any grass near pavement will just be pushed flat rather than cut; that will also become a near weekly job. Of course since the mower can't cut anything close to the sides of a building (we're talking 5 inches uncut when the outer wheel is rubbing against the wall) you'll need that weedwhacker out all the time anyway.
Don't believe those people that say this mower is better for your grass than a gas powered one. Gas powered motors, they say, just "rip" or "tear" grass but reel mowers actually "cut" it. That's simply propaganda. If you examine the grass tips of either properly working mower you'll see no difference except that reel mowers tend to cut the grass straighter (ie perpendicular) while gas mowers have a bit of an angle to the cut. And reel mowers bend the grass back to cut it against the blade anywyay, so all mowever bend grass.
This product shouldn't be bought for more than $20-$30 bucks, and then only as a novelty. Sure, it's quiet and easy to push, but so is a tricycle without a kid on it. Save your money until they develop good battery power mowers.
Rating: - Awesome mower!
I recently bought this mower and I absolutely love it! It mows great and leaves my lawn looking wonderful. It pushes as easy as my old gas mower and is easier to back up and get around beds and trees. The only negative thing is that due to the wheels and cutter,it does not mow as close but I just trim with a hand trimmer. I would recommend everyone to try this! Even my dad who used the old time reel mowers was so impressed with it! You can visit with neighbors and hear the birds singing while you mow! It is great and it takes me less time to mow since you don't have to take time to start your mower and add $4.20 a gallon gas every time you mow!
- As advertised and more!
- Nice Mower
- Buy a sickle instead