Switched from a gas mower to a reel mower for my small lawn

I compared the carbon footprint and noise over a whole season. The reel mower produced zero emissions and my neighbor actually thanked me for the quiet. Anyone have tips for keeping the blades sharp without special tools?

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3 Comments

kelly.charlie6mo ago

You said the reel mower produced zero emissions. That's mostly true for using it, but making the steel for the mower and shipping it still has a carbon cost. It's way lower than gas for sure, just not completely zero. For sharpening, I lay mine on its side and run a hand file along the cutting edge a few times each spring. It's not perfect but it works okay for my small yard.

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gibson.avery6mo ago

Read that too, good point on the full life cycle.

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milesk276mo ago

Saw an article that broke down the carbon cost of making a steel reel mower versus a plastic electric one, and @kelly.charlie is right, the upfront cost is real. The math showed the reel mower still wins big over its whole life because you cut out all the battery or gas use. Your sharpening trick is basically what they recommended, just a few passes with a file to keep the edge.

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