Nice write up Red!! I too am surprised it did as good of a job as it did.

 

Thank, Redtenchu, for the writeup!

I'll bet you love how it starts on the first pull every time.

 

I'll bet you love how it starts on the first pull every time.

That's always a bonus!

 

Excellent review. It looks like it did exactly what you needed it to do.

I like the short (front-to-back) wheelbase - I think that is probably a limitation of my Classen if a lawn had severe undulations.

One thing in your photos that caught my attention was the double-offset blades. That's a unique way to get by with fewer blades.

 

Great review Red! I just checked Amazon and it's on sale for $109 now, so I think I'll grab one of these and use it a few times as opposed to renting a flail blade from local store.

........and I just ordered it for delivery tomorrow.

 

Great review Red! I just checked Amazon and it's on sale for $109 now, so I think I'll grab one of these and use it a few times as opposed to renting a flail blade from local store.

........and I just ordered it for delivery tomorrow.

Awesome! Feel free to add your 0.02 to the review!

 

Great review Red! I just checked Amazon and it's on sale for $109 now, so I think I'll grab one of these and use it a few times as opposed to renting a flail blade from local store.

........and I just ordered it for delivery tomorrow.

That's not a bad way to look at it... even if you only got a couple uses out of it, it would likely be cheaper than renting a flail blade dethatcher a couple times. Not to mention it looks like it makes a cleaner cut.

 

Thanks for the great review. After seeing the price on this thing, I'm interested. It seems like a great value.

How much of a problem was the cord? I don't think it would sway my opinion much based on the review, but if you told me it was a major pain I might reconsider.

Also, I'm unsure that I understand the difference in using this as a dethacher vs. a verticutter. It essentially seems the same to me. Would someone mind chiming in on the finer details that I'm missing?

I totally don't get how it aerates the lawn. It appears to be much different than the typical aerators that punch holes (solid tine or hollow tine) that is typically used for this. So, some information here would be useful as well.

 

I just received mine, put it together and front is all wobbly on one side. I took it apart and below is where the weld is broken that holds the front wheel on:



I called Amazon and as it's third party they can't ship me one without me buying it first, just not sure if I want to do that or not. I can return it for a refund or see if it's worth getting this welded. Bummer is I really wanted to do this and scalp tomorrow.

 

Oh.... That sucks Lagerman!

 

Thanks for the great review. After seeing the price on this thing, I'm interested. It seems like a great value.

How much of a problem was the cord? I don't think it would sway my opinion much based on the review, but if you told me it was a major pain I might reconsider.

Also, I'm unsure that I understand the difference in using this as a dethacher vs. a verticutter. It essentially seems the same to me. Would someone mind chiming in on the finer details that I'm missing?

I totally don't get how it aerates the lawn. It appears to be much different than the typical aerators that punch holes (solid tine or hollow tine) that is typically used for this. So, some information here would be useful as well.

The cord definitely wasn't helpful! :lol:

I think calling the item an "aerator" is just a form of marketing, they know people have heard good things about aeration!

The Dethatcher is like using a rake. It pulls and removes thatch or other matter from the surface. Dethatchers works best on Northern grasses that grow vertically like Fescue, KBG and PRG.

A Verticutter is like a slicer. It also removes thatch or other material from the surface but additionally cuts stolons and some rhizomes of southern grasses like Bermuda.

Hope that helps Wes.

 

Red,
Thanks for the info and review. At that price, considering picking one up for the bermuda front lawn. Did you run it at max depth in one pass?
Thanks

 

Red,
Thanks for the info and review. At that price, considering picking one up for the bermuda front lawn. Did you run it at max depth in one pass?
Thanks

Yes! Max depth was in the soil, but it's hard to see in these pictures because it was so dry.

That reminds me, I wanted to take a measurement of the depths!

 

Cool, could be a better option for leveling this season than a rental.

 

Taking a chance, I have one arriving Saturday.

 

Edit: Added bench HOC to the original review

 

Plan on using the Vonhaus on 2000 sq/ft. this weekend if the weather cooperates.

 

I glad you found that, mine only came with an assembly booklet. Those are some accurate measurements.

 

Reporting back about the modifications made today. I took a dremel and sharpened the dull stock blades down to simulate a rotary mower edge for more of a cutting action and less ripping. I started out by only doing one side, so I could compare the sharpened side, to the insharpened side.

Unfortunately, this made zero difference. The grass was still being ripped from the ground at all available HOC.

 

Really hoping this was a solution for a smaller yard. My beauty strips are tifgrand and I am seeing that annoying dead material more than want. I assume a solution is vertically cut it, thin out the canopy. Trucut can't go any lower.
I suppose I could
A) topdress
B) free wheel it -use edger like a Verticutter
C) scalp with string trimmer
D) rent a slicer version of de thatcher (burn cash)

Maybe others?

 

Really hoping this was a solution for a smaller yard. My beauty strips are tifgrand and I am seeing that annoying dead material more than want. I assume a solution is vertically cut it, thin out the canopy. Trucut can't go any lower.
I suppose I could
A) topdress
B) free wheel it -use edger like a Verticutter
C) scalp with string trimmer
D) rent a slicer version of de thatcher (burn cash)

Maybe others?

all I have done to this area is top dress trouble spots and used my pro plugger. Still mowing at 5/8" no problem. eventually I will need to run my verticutter over this area as it is gettting real thick. I only mow this area every 6-7 days. You can try manual raking it, then scalp, then top dress to get rid of all the dead material. verticutting is essential to keep things looking clean but this area has proved to me that with a little top dressing can help out a lot.

 

Yeah I was going to suggest a manual thatch rake.

 

Other than using this as a sort of pseudo-verticutter, how can I get my hands on a true verticutter?

 

Other than using this as a sort of pseudo-verticutter, how can I get my hands on a true verticutter?

I think most people probably rent a dethatcher/power rake (flail blades) or overseeder (fixed blades). I think the fixed blades would be preferred.

 

Red - any updates on using this midseason with fixed blades as a verticutter?