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 + Sunlawn have the "Contact-free" reel blade design. This means the reel blades stay sharp and you will save money and time on sharpening services. Older generation reel mowers require frequent 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 33	Brill Luxus 38	Sunlawn lmm35	Sunlawn lmm40	Sunlawn MM2	Agrifab	Scotts Classic 2000	Great States
Retail List Price	Razorcut 33 - $224	Razorcut 38 - $249	Discontinued -2008	Discontinued -2008	LMM35 - $159	LMM40 - $179	Sunlawn MM2 - $199	$305	$164	$160
Weight	15.2 pounds	17 pounds	15 pounds	16.1 pounds	17.7 pounds	19.3 pounds	25 pounds	55 pounds	34 pounds	25 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	7 Flame-hardened, precision ground, steel, welded	Flame-hardened steel, welded	Tempered alloy steel, riveted	Tempered alloy steel, riveted
Sharpening interval (avg.)	5-8 years	5-8 years	8 years	8 years	7-10 years	7-10 years	7-10 years	3-5 years	annual or biannual	annual or biannual
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 5 minute adjustment (blade adjustment gauge included)	bring to shop for sharpening	bring to shop for sharpening and adjusting	bring to shop for sharpening and adjusting
Cutting System	Silent (non-contact)	Silent (non-contact)	Silent (non-contact)	Silent (non-contact)	Contact-free blade design	Contact-free blade design	Contact-free blade design	Silent (non-contact)	Standard (contact)	Standard (contact)
Cutting Height Adjustment	Infinitely adjustalbe using hand knobs and side control gauge .55" 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"	Infinitely adjustable using hand knobs and side control gauge .5" to 1.8"	.4" - 2.2" easily adjustable to any setting within the range	.4" - 2.2" easily adjustable to any setting within the range	1" - 2.8" easily adjustable to any setting within the range	.5"-2.25"	adjustable using side control scales	Remove and reposition roller and/or wheels
Ball bearing reel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	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	Hour glass with contoured foam grip	Rigid full-width handle with foam grip	Rigid full-width handle with foam grip	Rigid full-width handle with foam grip	T-handle	Flared with foam grip	Flared with foam grip
Flower/shrub protection	7" metal cover	7" metal cover	7" metal cover	7" metal cover	8" metal cover	8" metal cover	8" metal cover	none	2" shrub bar	2" shrub bar
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	Durable, lightweight, mesh catcher	canvas bagger	canvas bagger	canvas bagger
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Large Lawns
We recommend using the push reel mower for lawns of 8000 square feet or less. Because of the effort required, we do not recommend using manual push reel mowers for large lawns.

St. Augustine and Zoysia 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. Push reel mowers do not do well on Zoysia.

Bermuda Lawns

Manual push reel mowers are not recommended for cutting Bermuda grass because Bermuda grass is too thick and dense.