Seeking recommendations on battery powered lawnmower suitable for 1/16 acre
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Seeking recommendations on battery powered lawnmower suitable for 1/16 acre
My plot is 1/16 of an acre, unable to resuscitate my gas powered lawnmower and that’s fine since I’m tired of getting gas, changing plugs, filters etc. The harbor freight mower that is not self-propelled, by the time you add in the charger and the battery is a $400 deal, anything less expensive that will work?
#2
Group Moderator
A battery powered mower is possibly going to be the most expensive type you can buy so get ready for sticker shock. And just like every battery powered tool you'll have to be prepared for when the batteries die. At that point hopefully batteries will still be available but plan on spending at least $100 and I've seen some costing over $200.
I have a corded Black & Decker electric mower that is 11 years old and will probably keep going for another decade or more. It's only used in one small area of highly manicured grass so the power cord isn't an issue. I start mowing closer to the outlet and work away so the cord is always behind me and not in the way of the mower.
I have a corded Black & Decker electric mower that is 11 years old and will probably keep going for another decade or more. It's only used in one small area of highly manicured grass so the power cord isn't an issue. I start mowing closer to the outlet and work away so the cord is always behind me and not in the way of the mower.
Norm201
voted this post useful.
#3
Member
Eh, 1/16 of an acre works out to be about 52' x 52' which is doable for an $80 big-box-store reel mower.
Total walking distance of ~2,000 feet, which takes about 10 minutes walking, double that since you're pushing a reel mower, and it's about a 20 minute workout.
Total walking distance of ~2,000 feet, which takes about 10 minutes walking, double that since you're pushing a reel mower, and it's about a 20 minute workout.
cwbuff
voted this post useful.
#4
#5
Member
POST SCRIPT-
I've found that some of the best additions to any lawn mowing job are
1) a pair of wired in-the-ear speakers aka earbuds
2) a pair of over-the ear hearing protectors
Download a podcast or music album to THAT phone-or MP3 player-sitting-in-a-drawer (one you won't fret about if a low hanging tree branch catches it and you run over it with the lawn mower (ask me how I know))
For most android phones, you can also download an APP that lets you activate the FM radio chip, listen to radio or local ballgame. OR go with 'soundwire" which lets you stream desktop audio to old android phones over WiFi without using cellular data or bluetooth (which means your old no-long-on-a-cell-phone-plan phones become free music streaming nodes)
With any of these, you can listen to a simple audio feed for the 20 minutes it takes to mow the lawn.
I'd suggest any album by Miles Davis, Carlos Santana or Al DiMeola, but your preferences may vary, and PBS does have archived episodes of "Car Talk"
I've found that some of the best additions to any lawn mowing job are
1) a pair of wired in-the-ear speakers aka earbuds
2) a pair of over-the ear hearing protectors
Download a podcast or music album to THAT phone-or MP3 player-sitting-in-a-drawer (one you won't fret about if a low hanging tree branch catches it and you run over it with the lawn mower (ask me how I know))
For most android phones, you can also download an APP that lets you activate the FM radio chip, listen to radio or local ballgame. OR go with 'soundwire" which lets you stream desktop audio to old android phones over WiFi without using cellular data or bluetooth (which means your old no-long-on-a-cell-phone-plan phones become free music streaming nodes)
With any of these, you can listen to a simple audio feed for the 20 minutes it takes to mow the lawn.
I'd suggest any album by Miles Davis, Carlos Santana or Al DiMeola, but your preferences may vary, and PBS does have archived episodes of "Car Talk"
#6
Group Moderator
Oh yea! I find that the Rock Bar station on Sirius XM is best for my mowing mood.
Another good thing I've done is use pieces of string or zip ties to attach my bluetooth hearing protection headset inside a large Vietnamese conical hat. Now I have tunes and serious sun protection. The big ones provide more protection than most western style sun hats and the conical shape sheds rain better than any other and is more resistant to wind.
Another good thing I've done is use pieces of string or zip ties to attach my bluetooth hearing protection headset inside a large Vietnamese conical hat. Now I have tunes and serious sun protection. The big ones provide more protection than most western style sun hats and the conical shape sheds rain better than any other and is more resistant to wind.
#7
Member
For a plot your size go with a reel mower. Inexpensive, easy to maintain and the grass will love you for it.
#8
Group Moderator
I would borrow someone's reel mower and give it a try. They are harder to push than a normal mower but do produce a much better cut. It's what is used on many golf courses.
#9
A reel to reel mower is the proper choice for you. BUT...brand and quality will make all the difference as you wanting one or not! DO NOT borrow or buy a cheap one. You want high quality, go with a FISKER brand. They are the best.
My daughter mowed a whole acre plus with one of those. She said it was easy. I did not believe her until I tried her Fisker brand. She was right.
My daughter mowed a whole acre plus with one of those. She said it was easy. I did not believe her until I tried her Fisker brand. She was right.
#10
Member
Thread Starter
I must've miscalculated my plot size but it takes me 30 minutes as it is with a gas mower and a reel mower is going to be longer. I found a Ryobi battery mower for $300 (charger and battery included) which was $100 less and more of a name brand than the Harbor Freight Atlas brand where the battery is less likely to be available. If this works as intended then I won't feel bad spending the $
#11
Member
Thread Starter
now I'm thinking since I haven't opened the box yet maybe I should return it and stop being a p--sy and use a reel mower
#12
If you can't be bothered with maintenance of a gas powered unit why not try an electric. Sure the cord may be bit of a pain but once you get a routine and a route planed out it's not bad at all. And even if you cut the cord, you can always fix it. Everybody cuts the cord sooner or later.
#13
Member
Thread Starter
I recalculated my plot and it's closer to 1/8 of an acre. I looked into the Fiskars reel mower, and while it's quite nice, at that price I might as well keep the battery mower.
#14
You get what you pay for. Besides the battery power unit will require additional cost of energy and battery replacement. Sharpening of the FISKER can be done by yourself and never a need to add another $ to it. And think of the additional exercise you get by pushing that mower, and yet it's easy to do. Just say'n
#15
Member
Thread Starter
those are valid points but I still think the price is too high compared to getting a battery mower for a little more
#16
Member
If you have the space, get both a battery mower and a push reel mower. Use the battery one when grass gets a bit too long, use the reel during the dry part of the season when the grass is short and easy to tackle.