achoo's Full Review: Black & Decker 18", 6.5a Electric Mower
For years, I dreaded the seasonal drudgery of mowing the lawn. I went through a number of traditional gas mowers, all of which were wretched, heavy behemoths that reeked of gas and oil, broke down after a few seasons of light use (carburetors and spark plugs being particular weak points), and taxed every fiber of my being to get started. We all know the drill... bend over, grab that cord, and pull, pull, pull, pull, pull, pull. I hated mowing the lawn.
I finally broke down and purchased an electric mower, the Black and Decker 6.5 amp electric side-discharge mower, more easily referred to as Model #LM100. This $159.99 purchase in 1997 has completely changed my outlook on mowing the lawn. I love this mower, and cutting the grass is now an enjoyable task.
For starters, the obvious benefit of an electric mower is the absence of gasoline. No longer do I have to trek into town to get gas, purchase enough gas to use in one season but not so much that I'll have any left over, and deal with the inherent risk of having a highly inflammable liquid stored in my home. Especially if anyone has kids or pets, this is an important concern. I really despise the odor of gasoline, and I always hated the tasks of re-filling the tank and draining the fuel at the end of the season. Gas mowers are messy, while electrics are not.
Another benefit is that this mower only weighs 42 pounds. Being extremely lightweight, it is a breeze to push across the lawn. It is similarly easy to carry, should the need arise (eg. bringing it indoors for storage or taking it in for repairs if necessary).
This is my fourth season with this mower, and I have yet to perform any maintenance on it. It works as well today as it did the day that I purchased it, and it requires no babying whatsoever. The greatest "maintenance" task with an electric mower is unplugging it and rolling up the cord. At some point I'll have to sharpen the blade, but I have not needed to do that yet. As this mower was inexpensive to purchase, requires no maintenance, and runs on electricity, I suspect that it is a very economical appliance to own. I don't know what the cost of electricity per use is, but my guess is that it is negligible.
The machine is extremely easy to use. As I recall, assembly consisted basically of screwing on the handle and wheels (adjustable from 3/4" to 2 3/4" in height). Operation consists of plugging it in (with an outdoor-rated extension cord that is not included), pulling the safety handle (an orange plastic bar on the handle which immediately cuts off power if released), and pushing the mower around. Nothing could be easier. As an added bonus, it is a handsome dark green and runs with a pleasant, quiet buzz versus the raging "vrooom" of a traditional mower.
Downsides? Absolutely. No machine is right for everyone, and this is no exception. The most obvious drawback is the umbilical cord that connects the mower and user to an electrical outlet. It would be implausible to use this mower on a large lawn. My property is approximately 1/4 acre, perhaps 1/3 of which is covered with grass. That is admittedly an extremely small area to mow. Further, the grassy areas on my property are essentially open lawn. A large property cluttered with trees, shrubs, gardens, etc. would make the use of a corded mower frustrating and difficult. Lawn issues aside, using a corded mower is a nuisance. I've gotten used to it, but there are plenty of users who would not. Although I've gotten used to it, I really can't say that I enjoy the fact that the mower is attached to a long, cumbersome electric cord.
The light weight of the mower that is a convenience in one respect is also a drawback. Although it is easy for the user to push the mower, it is easy for the lawn to push it, too. While a large, heavy machine will hug the ground, this mower is light enough that heavy grass (especially the impenetrably thick Zoysia that I have) can actually lift the mower. As a result, one does not get the tidiest cut. The user can certainly correct for this by mowing over an area more than once, especially in different directions, but it can be a nuisance. If one is anal-retentive about having an absolutely even cut, they really need a much heavier lawn mower than this one.
Also, along the same lines, the mower feels small and weak. Although the cutting surface is a respectable 18", it feels small. The mower readily chokes on thick and damp grass. Large wads of grass clump under the mower and stop the blades. Alternatively, the wads are coughed out onto the lawn as eyesores. Admittedly, the owner's manual warns that grass should only be mowed when dry (to avoid clumping) and that more than 1/3 of the length of the blade of grass should never be removed at once, even if that requires cutting the lawn twice at different height increments. I think that that's unrealistic for the average person, however. Most of us do occasionally mow long, thick, and damp grass, and other mowers are able to handle it better than this one. My grass is a slow-growing variety, and it is only really difficult to mow in the Springtime, after a stretch of heavy rains, or if I let it go too long. For the diehard lawn fanatic who zealously fertilizes and waters and has grass that grows by leaps and bounds, this mower might not be powerful enough to keep growth easily in check.
In the end, for me the advantages of this mower outweigh the disadvantages. I'd get another mower like this again without hesitation, and I'd recommend it to anyone with a small, open lawn who wants to avoid the mess and noise of a traditional gas mower.
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