Manual lawnmowers.

[StevieBee]

Recently had our lawn re-turfed and is due its first haircut.



Our current mower is a Ryobi thing which is utter pants.

Doing a little research suggests that a manual mower is the best option for something like this.

Anyone have any experience of these and if so, what would be the best one?

Currently eyeing one of these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/webb-30cm-hand-push-rol...

[Mr Creosote]

I had something very similar to this when I had a similarly sized lawn.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/einhell-gc-hm-300-30cm-...

It did the job very nicely. Super light, so easy to push, and gave a nice clean cut. So much easier than faffing with batteries, cords or petrol too.

[ATG]

I've used a couple. One was a million years old, made of metal, worked really well. One was modern, largely made of plastic and was completely useless. Gearing was all wrong. Tried to spin the blades too fast relative to the main wheels, so the main wheels skidded rather than turned and therefore the blades didn't spin at all. Absolutely hopeless. So asking for recommendations is very sensible, because there are definitely models to avoid. Sadly the one I used that worked well was owned by a woman who would be 130 years old by now, so difficult to find out who made it.

[Mr Creosote]

Something like this would be a lovely thing to own/use as well:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/117298130676

[DaveyBoyWonder]

ATG said:

I've used a couple. One was a million years old, made of metal, worked really well. One was modern, largely made of plastic and was completely useless. Gearing was all wrong. Tried to spin the blades too fast relative to the main wheels, so the main wheels skidded rather than turned and therefore the blades didn't spin at all. Absolutely hopeless. So asking for recommendations is very sensible, because there are definitely models to avoid. Sadly the one I used that worked well was owned by a woman who would be 130 years old by now, so difficult to find out who made it.

My experience too (although the one in the OP's link looks like what a hand mower "should" look like in my head). The one I bought went back to the shop - was so lightweight the wheels just skidded across the grass and as a result didn't turn the blades. Anyone who bought one must have taken them back as they simply didn't work.

We've for a crap corded flymo thing at the minute and I'd like a manual mower with a bit of weight to it to roll the lawn as it cuts etc so watching this with interest.

[StevieBee]

Mr Creosote said:

Something like this would be a lovely thing to own/use as well:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/117298130676

Us blokes are strange things! I'm looking at that with the same interest and zeal I might a classic car and have now ventured down a rabbit hold of restored classic lawnmowers!

[OutInTheShed]

With those overhanging bushes and the general small size, it's going to be awkward to do a nice job of a striped lawn, you'd be better going for a simple electric rotary and put your energy elsewhere IMHO.

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

OutInTheShed said:

With those overhanging bushes and the general small size, it's going to be awkward to do a nice job of a striped lawn, you'd be better going for a simple electric rotary and put your energy elsewhere IMHO.

Agree with this - how will you be able to turn the mower around in the flower beds to get stripes or some kind of pattern?

Looks an ideal lawn for a robot mower or a cheap electric flymo / mower.

[Gareth79]

The smallest flymo would be ideal. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8657266?clickPR=pl...

[.:ian:.]

Mr Creosote said:

Something like this would be a lovely thing to own/use as well:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/117298130676

I`ve got a Ransome keep-fit mower like that, but less shiny, its horrible to use, weighs a tonne.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

StevieBee said:

Us blokes are strange things! I'm looking at that with the same interest and zeal I might a classic car and have now ventured down a rabbit hold of restored classic lawnmowers!

Me too - its an hour away from me and yet I'm extremely tempted!