OOOHHHH! I'd like that one Stitchy!
OK, I've been piloting the Fiskar reel mower over all parts of the lawn [disclaimer: my "lawn" is not all grass, but contains vast patches of weeds, crabgrass, small shrubs, unidentified green leafy stuff, etc. - we have lots of trees on our lot and the shade promotes the growth of some rather interesting stuff - but my rule is "if it's green and not poisonous, it can stay - so there are lots of different sizes & textures to cut]:
1. The Fiskar can cut anything that has a flat blade on it - regardless of its height or blade width - I even sailed through the small shrubs with it.
2. Since the blades do not strike a stationary metal plate, it is very quiet while moving. The nice side effect from this is, if you can't see your wheel marks and wonder if you've missed a section of grass, if you've already cut it - you'll hear the blades spinning above the surface of the grass - and know it's already done.
3. It can cut very wispy, feathery stuff - that the old push mower either pushed down or clogged up with.
4. It cuts the grass totally level and flat - very impressive looking after you're done.
5. It can cut weeds growing under bushes.
6. The only things it can't cut [that I've found so far] are tall thin cylindrical stems - like the central stalk in crabgrass. Those you still have to pull by hand or use a string trimmer on. But it will cut those tough leaves. It will cut stems if they are slightly "woody" in texture.
7. It assembled very easily - all you have to do is put the handle together and bolt it to the mower body.
WARNING: The nuts & bolts are metric - so if you don't have a metric socket set you'll need to hand tighten the nuts with a pair of pliers - which I did - not hard at all - a total of 6 nuts to tighten.
8. It is heavy - I guesstimate ~20 pounds at least, but they did put a handy carrying handle on the mower body which allows you to pick it up and move it quite easily. It is a solidly made machine with very few plastic parts.
9. It is hard to turn - it has a 17" wheel span so you have to either plan wide turns while moving or stop and pivot it. It corners around trees & poles fairly closely.
10. The razor sharp blades are under a protective metal cowl - DO NOT touch them with your bare hands - even when they are not moving.
So, I am quite pleased with the quality & performance so far. They retail for $199, but Amazon does put them on their Deal of the Day for $150 - with free shipping & no sales tax.
Still trying to think of a name for it .....
[Otto the Avenger? All fall before it!]
