Which Manual Push Reel Mower is Right for You?

Most reel mowers sold in the US are manufactured by the companies listed below. If you don't see the reel mower you are considering on this chart, it is likely that it has had another brand name added to it. E-mail us and we can let you know which manufacturer has made the push reel mower model you are considering. We also have a chart comparing reel push mowers with reel electric mowers.

As a general rule, there are 2 types of reel mower blade technology. Brill , NaturCut, and Fiskars have the "Contact-free" reel blade design. This means the reel blades stay sharp and you will save money and time on sharpening services. Other reel mowers require blade sharpening. In fact, when you calculate how much money is saved by less sharpening of the blades, the Reel Mowers with non-contact cutting systems costs even less than an inexpensive mower.

Compare Manual Push Reel Mowers with this chart:

	Brill Razorcut 33	Brill Razorcut 38	Brill Luxus 38	Naturcut Classic	naturCut Ideal 40	Sunlawn lmm40	Fiskars Momentum	Scotts Classic 2000	American 16" Bent Reel	Silent Cut18 and 21
Retail List Price	Razorcut 33 - $199	Razorcut 38 - $209	Discontinued -2008	Classic Reel Mower - $205	Ideal 40 Reel Mower - $185	Discontinued	$249.99	$169	$125	$261-$314
Weight	15.2 pounds	17 pounds	16.1 pounds	22.3 pounds	19.7 pounds	19.3 pounds	43.5 pounds	30 pounds	27 pounds	38-45 pounds
Blades	Flame-hardened, steel, welded	Flame-hardened steel, welded	Flame-hardened, steel, welded	Flame-hardened steel, welded	5 Flame-hardened, precision ground, steel, welded	5 Flame-hardened, precision ground, steel, welded	5 Flame-hardened, precision ground, steel, welded	5 Tempered alloy steel, riveted	7 Tempered alloy steel, riveted	Flame-hardened steel, welded
Sharpening interval (avg.)	5-8 years	5-8 years	8 years	8-10 years	7-10 years	7-10 years	7-10 years	annual or biannual	annual or biannual	3-5 years
Blade Program	yearly 5 minute adjustment (blade adjustment gauge included)	yearly 5 minute adjustment (blade adjustment gauge included)	yearly 5 minute adjustment (blade adjustment gauge included)	yearly 5 minute adjustment (blade adjustment gauge included)	yearly 5 minute adjustment (blade adjustment gauge included)	yearly 5 minute adjustment (blade adjustment gauge included)	yearly adjustment	available sharpening kit	available sharpening kit	sharpening kit
Cutting System	Silent (non-contact)	Silent (non-contact)	Silent (non-contact)	Contact-free blade design	Contact-free blade design	Contact-free blade design	Contact-free blade design	Standard (contact)	Standard (contact)	Silent (non-contact)
Cutting Height Adjustment	Infinitely adjustalbe using hand knobs and side control gauge .7" to 1.8"	Infinitely adjustable using hand knobs and side control gauge .7" to 1.8"	Infinitely adjustalbe using hand knobs and side control gauge .5" to 1.8"	6 easily adjustable cutting heights 1.5" to 3.5"	6 easily adjustable cutting heights .6" - 2.75 "	.4" - 2.2" easily adjustable to any setting within the range	1" - 4" easily adjustable to 7 settings within the range	Quick-snap height adjustments, choose from 9 settings 1" - 3"	Adjustable 7-section Roller, .5" - 2.25"	.5"-2.25" or 1"-3"
Ball bearing reel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No, chain driven	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dry Powder coating process employed on metal components	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes			Yes
Handle	Hour glass with contoured foam grip	Hour glass with contoured foam grip	Hour glass with contoured foam grip	Rigid plastic contoured handle grip	Rigid plastic contoured handle grip	Rigid full-width handle with foam grip	Ergonomic Handle	Loop style handle with foam grip	Flared with foam grip	T-handle
Flower/shrub protection	7" metal cover	7" metal cover	7" metal cover	Cast metal cover	Cast metal cover	8" metal cover	None	2" shrub bar	2" shrub bar	none
Optional Grass Catcher	Durable, lightweight, mesh catcher	Durable, lightweight, mesh catcher	Durable, lightweight, mesh catcher	Durable, lightweight, mesh catcher	Durable, lightweight, mesh catcher	Durable, lightweight, mesh catcher	Not yet	canvas bagger	canvas bagger	canvas bagger
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Large Lawns
We recommend using the push reel mower for lawns of 10,000 square feet or less. Because of the effort required, we do not recommend using manual push reel mowers for large lawns unless you are very fit or mowing 10,000 sqare feet each day.

St. Augustine Lawns
Push reel mowers will do a fine job on new St. Augustine Grass which has been cut to 1 inch and does not have thatch.

Bermuda and Zoysia Lawns

The Silent Cut Reel Mowers and the American Bent 16" are made to cut Bermuda and Zoysia. The Silent Cut will last a long time if well maintained.