Adding context pictures



And

 

Update

 

What kind of reel mower was pictured in that group of photos? I think I have the exact same one that was given to me by a customer. It had a tree growing through but not a bit of rust. It’s really heavy so it feels like one of higher quality. One I have is a Smith & hawken. If yours is the same do you know anything about the brand? Is it of higher quality, any idea of the cost new? I know it’s got one thick heavy grade bed knife. I cleaned this one up and and just now starting to use since I’m raising my cut height. It washboards too bad at 1/2”, 5/8”. It’s clearing up now at 3/4”

 

Your money to start may be better well spent on a good herbicide and pre-emergent program. But the Earthwise reel seems to get decent feedback.

Have a look here
Bermuda Bible: The New Testament | Lawn Care Forum (thelawnforum.com)

 

Tip.
All manual push reel mowers need a solid roller to get the best from it.

Because most will jump around over uneven and patchy lawn

 

I had an American reel mower and it was great for a manual reel mower. One of the reasons I got it was because you could adjust the reel down to 0.5in? I think. Which was great for scalping and then maintaining higher. Some of the other manual reel mowers did not have that low of a height adjustments. So just look at the specifications. As with most manual reel mowers it suffered from washboarding when the grass got think at an inch or less.

I have a silent mascot now, which is okay. Actually preferred the cut of the American reel, but it was gifted to me, so I still use it. The only advantage it has over the American is that it's much heavier so doesn't bounce around

 

@Puffoluffagus Can you talk a bit more about the Mascot? I’ve come to think of it as one of the grail reel mowers. I’m guessing your American was 5 blade vs the 6 on the Mascot? Is the Mascot easier to push through thick low grass for any other reason besides its weight?

I would also guess a heavier mower/beefier reel would have less wasbhoarding since it’s moving with less resistance.

 

Yes 5 blade vs the 6 blade.
I have tif419 and I've never had any issues with either of the mowers in terms of ease of pushing the through grass, even when it thickened up as long as I kept up with mowing it every 2-3 days during mid summer. The American was so lightweight though that as the season progressed you tended to "float" on the thick grass, which didn't make it hard to cut, but you were basically raising the height of the cut slowly over the season. The mascot is definitely hefty and sinks into grass better and maintains your height better.

Both and honestly any manual reel mower is going to have issues with washboarding as the season progresses. Because the revolutions of the reel are fixed with rotation of the wheel as opposed to an independent drive, the only ways to limit are with more blades or trying to double cut. The weight of the reel doesn't really help in that regard imo.

 

I have the earthwise and I’m halfway through my second season with it. It’s my first and only manual reel mower so grain of salt time. It’s been great. I have a 1200 sqft section around my pool with curves and a fence. I single cut for the most part, no cross cutting and no striping (Maybe some day). I cut 3-5 times a week at 1” on rye. The cut is really good. After a season and a half I’m just at the point now where I think I need to sharpen it. It does well at catching most of the blades on a single pass. Occasionally I have to go back for a tiny patch or a little strip. Since I’m cutting so frequently I don’t worry most of the time.

It is light. Great for maneuvering, but if your grass is really thick you’ll have to play with cut height setting vs actual cut height. I’m set at 1” on the mower but I bet the grass is 1.25-1.5 in spots where it’s super thick.

Adjusting the height is easy and also a pain depending on height. Plus/minus a quarter inch is easy. A half inch either way isn’t bad either. More than that though and you have to adjust the axle on the wheels. It will cut at 2” cleanly and easily. I did that last year when it was an early spring and my lawn greened up quickly but my landscapers weren’t cutting the main lawn yet.

I think I have the 16” and practically speaking you’re cutting 10” per pass so that you overlap a little. It doesn’t cut terribly close to the edge of the wheels so if you run the wheels along a flat wall you’ll have 2” way from the wall that doesn’t cut.

 

After more research I came across 3 different ‘Amish grade’ manual reel mowers, for lack of a better description. From what I have read, they are basically the best made manual walk behind reel mowers.

~$700

Clipper Push Reel Lawn Mowers

Our Best Seller! Manufactured in the USA! 10-Year Warranty! Absolutely the Cadillac of Reel Push Mowers. Made in the USA. Extra heavy-duty commercial-grade construction. Flat Rate Shipping $49.95 anywhere in the Continental USA! An easy-to-push reel mower with a solid handle, adjustable...

cottagecraftworks.com

~$470

Mascot Reel Push Mower 21 Inch

We are the exclusive online direct dealer for all Mascot Mowers. The Mascot 21” Reel Push Mower is an impressive beast of a lawn mower. The new owners have made several improvements from the earlier models including more spiral in the reel to kick out grass quicker and making the reels with...

cottagecraftworks.com

~$380

Silver Pro Push Reel Lawn Mowers

Silver Pro Reel Push Mower is only available 18" wide. The USA Clipper grass catcher is an additional option. Flat Rate Shipping $49.95 anywhere in the Continental USA! These are easy-to-push mowers built with a solid handle, “zinc-plated” steel roller brackets, and knobs. Reel mowers are...

cottagecraftworks.com

Haven’t been able to find these for sale used or really anywhere else online. Anyone have experience with Amish reel mowers?

 

I heard that the Silver Pro is probably going to be discontinued soon.

Oddball idea.. Consider a clone of these for under $150 on Amazon. The Encore ER-18. Might be a budget Mascot. Might be a.. Unwise use of $148.

 

I decided on the ‘Chevy’ of reel mowers. So, I ordered the Silver Pro.l and so far the process has been a little odd.

Order went in online around 1pm 5/22 for $472 with standard 9” wheels, no bag and shipping. I have 0 information, confirmations, emails or status updates for the order. Only information I have to suggest the order did go through is the charge showing on my credit card.

Looks like a great mower and will be worth the wait! Will keep you updated

 

Got a tracking number today at noon! Estimated delivery is Wednesday 5/29. Very reasonable feedback and timing, can’t wait to see it!

 

The best is probably this one:

Push Reel Mower Falkenstein

Delivery time: Due to high demand and many pre-orders, the next delivery will be possible from September 2025. Our small-batch production ensures that each device is manufactured with the utmost care. We therefore recommend placing your pre-order early. Falkenstein Reel Mower – Custom...

lawnpecker.com

 

Wow! If I had my lawn dialed in and worthy of that mower and money was no object, then that would probably be the absolute best manual reel mower out there.

Realistically though up to $2700+ and over 100lbs for less than 16” cutting width and that tight HOC adjustment ranges(0.6 - 1” or 0.4 - 0.6” or 0.2 - 0.6”) is way too difficult for me to justify. On the other hand, this engineering masterpiece would probably justify itself by making you more inclined to cut the same grass 3-5 times a week.

 

@TexasK Looks awesome. Tell us everything.

 

The silver pro showed up on time and I finally got around to taking pictures. I still need to cut once or twice with the hrx217 rotary before taking this out for the first time.

Overall first impressions really really happy and worth the price. It just feels like a quality tool, solid, heavy, sturdy. It’s about 50lbs and adjusted to cut paper right of the box. The Reel is 18” wide, 24” outside wheel to outside of wheel and the roller is maybe 15.25” wide. HOC adjustments are advertised as 0.5” - 2.25” with the 9” tires I got. Actual HOC adjustments I haven’t measured yet, but I suspect it can go down to maybe 3/8”.

 

Keep us posted on how she cuts!

 

Nice.

That has the same height setup as my Masport Push Reel. You will find that the lower height of cut. the harder it is to push.
There will be over lapping heights of cut settings on the mower. 5 F - 1 R = 4 F - 3 R
You will be changing the plastic rear roller for a metal roller. It will cut so much better.

Masport Reel Mower

 

Hudson star for “the best”.
They are certainly pricey, but some get lucky finding used ones.

8 Blade: Home Greens Mower

Includes: 8 - Blade Reel 16" Cut Width Standard Steel Bearings Standard Bed Knife Precision-cut between 0.125" - 0.75" OR up to 1.25" (by adding extender blocks) 4 Front wheels + Rollers in the Rear Grass Catcher and Handle Bars Sharp & Ready to Cut! Sold Separately: Sharpening/Maintenance Kit...

hudsonstarmowers.com

 

I do really like this one. It’s kind of in its own class being a manual greens mower.

$2400 is a lot though to not have fancy handles like that other $2700 one.

 

Cut the grass a few times with the silver pro and it’s everything I wanted and more! Definitely a work out even cutting a tiny yard, but the cut quality and satisfaction are worth it.

I’m not a fan of hanging to rake or clear the lawn before mowing to stop the reel from picking up stray mulch or sticks, but thats the cost of doing business with low Bermuda.

next is to get my yard flatter and cut lower. I’ve been cutting on setting 3 of 5 which is just about 1/8” lower than the second lowest setting of my hrx 217 rotary

 

What kind of gear ratio does the silver have?

 

I recently have become afdicted to reel mowing last year after sodding my lawn woth emerald zoyisa. Ive been able to keep it maintained at 1/2in with a earthwise 16”. It does well no washboarding but must cut it every 24-36 hours. Recently, did some work for a customer and this custmower had a reel mower that hasnt moved in who knows how long. It was there 2 years ago and hadnt moved. It’s a 18in Smith and Hawken, I can’t find any information on it, ither than Scott’s bought smith and hawken in 2004 and completely liquidated it in 2009. I noticed it pretty much has the exact frame as the silver model. Its every bit of 50 pounds, bed knife adjust the same, has 6 blades. It was pretty new looking, but some nuts and bolts that are stripped out so I made out with what I had since no replacement parts can be ordered. Have any of you have any information on this brand?

 

To be honest the silver pro is my very first reel mower and I’m ignorant to how they function in a high level.

Thag there does look very similar. Maybe it’s a former iteration that the silver pro evolved from somehow.

information is really hard to find. Almost everything I know is from one website, where I bought it from.

 

Probably so, or maybe the design is standard across mid level push reels. This one i have has withstood the elements for who knows how long, i literlaly had to cut it away for vines and small tree growing through it lol. Tree probably 5-6 years old lol.

 

Hopefully that means the silver pro lives just as long! Looking at it more the wheels, roller, handles, reel, HOC adjustment and the little faceplate and how it attaches with the one coarse screw at the bottom all look exactly the same to me.

The only real huge visual differences are the color and the adjustment deals on the lower sides.

Have you got it cutting again? I found a parts diagram for the silver pro with part numbers if it helps:

https://cottagecraftworks.com/silver-clipper-reel-mower-parts

 

 

If I were to do it all over again, I would go with the Webb WEH12R.

 

But 12” cutting width? I guess that and not being very available in the US from what I can see are the only negatives. Otherwise looks to be the best manual reel mower for the money, for sure

 

Got my second ever reel mower, the Webb WEH12r @turfbro was talking about. Worth it!

I’ve been using it for about a month and really like it. 12” wide does take a lot longer to cut. I can’t say it’s better or replaces my silver pro.

Pros (to me)
Cheap. Even with paying $120+ to ship from the UK
Light, easy and fun to use
Reel to bedknife easy click adjustment
Handle geometry
Stripes

Cons (to me)
Cheap. Not built to last forever like silver pro
Can’t purchase in US without work around
12” cutting width, double or triple cutting is required for same cut quality as silver pro

First season Bermuda single cut 3 days apart 3/4” HOC

 

Got my second ever reel mower, the Webb WEH12r @turfbro was talking about. Worth it!

I’ve been using it for about a month and really like it. 12” wide does take a lot longer to cut. I can’t say it’s better or replaces my silver pro.

Pros (to me)
Cheap. Even with paying $120+ to ship from the UK
Light, easy and fun to use
Reel to bedknife easy click adjustment
Handle geometry
Stripes

Cons (to me)
Cheap. Not built to last forever like silver pro
Can’t purchase in US without work around
12” cutting width, double or triple cutting is required for same cut quality as silver pro

View attachment 57227

First season Bermuda single cut 3 days apart 3/4” HOC
View attachment 57226
View attachment 57225

Which forwarder did you use?

 

can’t get it right now due to tariff uncertainty per their website.

 

I’ve been down the same rabbit hole trying to find the best manual reel mower for Bermuda at 1” or below. Honestly, for that cut height, a 7-blade is almost a must since it handles dense warm-season grass like Bermuda way better than a 5-blade. The American Lawn Mower Company 16” 7-blade is solid, cuts super clean, and it’s built tough enough to last with regular maintenance. The Earthwise 16” 7-blade is pretty much the same mower (some say identical parts), just a tad lighter and cheaper. As for the Fiskars StaySharp 18”, I’ve used it, great for maneuverability and tall grass, but not ideal if you’re trying to mow really low. It doesn’t cut quite as close to the ground as the others. And yeah, McLane’s manual models are almost like unicorns now, I’ve only ever seen their gas reels in the wild. If you’re serious about that 1" height, I’d stick with either of the 7-blade 16” options.

 

would like to know what this everyone thinks about the Husqvarna 64 16" 5 blade.

 

I would go with an earthwise 16” 7 blade if I were to buy my first on again. They’re not terribly expensive, they have a pretty decent cut quality for the price, and they’re also readily mod-able.

 

Again, I’d go with the 7 blade option out of all of those.