Lawn Mowers: Cordless and Electric Lawn Mowing Machines
(Page 3 of 5)
April/May 2005
By Scott Hollis
The Brill comes with a two-year warranty, and when used for small jobs, this quiet, battery-powered reel lawn mower performs well.
RELATED CONTENT
Polluting By the Numbers December/January 2001 At the beginning of the farm crisis in the late 1970...
Just a few years ago, there were only a couple cordless mowers to choose from. Now, there are about...
These tools are essential for any homestead. Here’s how to choose the right size and type for your ...
ECOLOGICAL LAWN CARE The Jones are going organic, so keep up with them. May/June 1990 LAWN CARE The...
Neuton mower
The 48-pound, cordless, rotary Neuton mower is powered with a 24-volt, 9-amp rechargeable battery that provides power for up to 60 minutes on a single charge, depending upon the length and thickness of your grass. The battery is removable, so you can take it inside and charge it overnight (using about 10 cents worth of electricity each charge) for a mow the following morning, or pop in a spare battery for extended mowing jobs. The Neuton costs about $350 for the basic mower; a mulch plate and additional blade, grass catcher, trimmer and extra battery are $140 more.
This mower has a quiet hum that is far more pleasing to the ears than the din of a conventional gas-powered machine. Bigger than the Brill but smaller than the Black & Decker, the Neuton has easily retractable handlebars and an almost seamless, hard, plastic shell.
It easily switches from a bagger to a mulch plate — just don’t allow your grass to grow too tall before using the mulching option or the Neuton may bog down. We thought the 14-inch mowing width was a little narrow, but it worked well overall if you don’t mind walking a few extra laps around the yard. Cutting height ranges from about 1½ to 3½ inches using one lever near the bottom of the mower.
The Neuton comes with an edger/trimmer attachment that connects to the front of the mower. We found it handy for detailing lawn edges, although it lacked the maneuverability of a traditional weed whip and seemed to deplete the battery more quickly than mowing alone.
The Neuton comes with a six-month free trial and a three-year warranty covering all parts, making it a great, low-maintenance option.
Black & Decker Model CMM1000
The Black & Decker battery-powered, rotary mower was the largest we tested, with a 19-inch cutting width. Its 76-pound weight definitely makes it harder to push around the yard than the other electric mowers we tested, but its sturdiness and power compare favorably to many gas-powered mowers. The Black & Decker costs about $420, which includes a rear grass catcher and a mulching plate.
Its 24-volt battery fully recharges in 16 hours. It is not removable, which means you can’t change out a spent battery for a fresh one. We found that a fully charged battery allowed for two separate mows of a small to medium-sized lawn (up to a third of an acre), but grass length will affect run time. While the mower slows a tad in long grass or thick, wet areas, the battery still provides plenty of punch when fully charged. Cutting performance slowly decreases as the battery loses its charge, but this is true for all battery-powered mowers.
Page:
<< Previous 1 |
2 | 3 |
4 |
5 |
Next >>
