Advantages Of Cylinder Mowers

What Are The Advantages Of Cylinder Mowers And How Do They Work?

Cylinder Mowers Explained

How Do Cylinder Mowers WorkMost luxurious lawns are cut with cylinder mowers as they provide outstanding results and prestigious appearance. They are also used by the Lawn Tennis Association for venues such as Wimbledon where the grass must be cut precisely and short.

Providing that the blades are sharp and in good condition the results will be second to none. Cylinder mowers, also called reel mowers, should ideally be used on level ground that is maintained on a regular basis and where the grass needs to be close-mown. For example they are used at the oldest Southampton Old Bowling Green. Of course, your garden is unlikely to be of this size, but there is no reason you should not be able to benefit from a professional piece of equipment to help you achieve similar results.

If your lawn is long, unkept, neglected or bumpy then cylinder mowers should not be used as they are not suitable for this purpose.

5 Best Cylinder Mowers

Masport Olympic 660 26" Cylinder Mower
  • CATCHER TYPE: Metal Box
  • BLADE: Six Bladed Cylinder Unit
  • CHASSIS: Steel 65cm/26” cut width
  • WEIGHT: 78kg
  • POWER: 6.0hp
Bosch Lawn and Garden Lawn Mower AHM 38 G (for Small Areas;...
  • Effortless lawn maintenance: Enjoy simple, quick, and easy mowing of small areas without the need for petrol or electricity
  • Tool-free click-adjustable cutting adjustment: Customize the cutting height with ease for a perfectly manicured lawn
  • Efficient cutting system: Features a cylinder with 5 helical blades made of hardened steel, ensuring precise and clean cuts
  • Stepless cutting height adjustment: Achieve your desired height of cut ranging from 12 to 40 mm for optimal results
  • Compact and versatile: With a 38 cm cutting width, this mower is designed for small areas, making it ideal for urban gardens and narrow lawns
Cobra HM381 Manual Garden Lawnmower, Hand Cylinder Mower, 38cm (15in)...
  • HIGH QUALITY - 38cm (15in) 5 Bladed Cylinder Blade provides a clean cut finish to your lawn. Hand push power for the most environmental mowing.
  • HEIGHTS of CUT - Simply adjust the height of cut from as low as 13mm to 38mm. 4 Stages are available. Ideal for closely cut lawns.
  • GRASS COLLECTOR INCLUDED - The grass collector ensures most of the clippings are neatly caught, saving the bother of raking after mowing. The quick release catch makes emptying the bag fast and simple.
  • REAR ROLLER for stripes and mowing over border edges. The rollers provide the traditional striped affect to the lawn.
  • 2 Year warranty included
Masport CGM 500 GH 10 Bladed Golf Petrol Cylinder Mower
  • ENGINE: Briggs & Stratton IC 800 205cc
  • POWER: 6.0hp WEIGHT: 78kg
  • CHASSIS: Steel 50cm/20” cut width
  • BLADE: Ten Bladed Cylinder Unit
  • CATCHER TYPE: Plastic Box
GARDENA Comfort reel mower 400 C: Hand lawn mower with 40 cm working...
  • Mowing as with shears: The blade roll and the lower blade made of hardened quality steel allow a precise mowing as with shears, ideal for small and medium-sized gardens to 250m² mowing area
  • Space-saving storage: The boom can be folded so that space-saving cleared the cylinder mower can be
  • Convenient cleaning: The knife roller is non-stick coating and thus prevents the hassle of drying of wet grass
  • Scope of delivery: 1x GARDENA Classic reel mower 400 C
  • International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions.

Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How Do Cylinder Mowers Work?

The multiple and spiral blades, that are exposed at the front of the cylinder mower, rotate on a horizontal fixed axis. The grass is cut between these sharp blades and a stationery knife that creates a “scissor” like cutting action, resulting in a sharp and clean cut.

What Is The Difference In Cutting Between Cylinder And Rotary Mower?

Cylinder MowerAs mentioned above cylinder mowers have multiple blades, between 5 to 12, that cut the grass against a fixed knife/plate, like a pair of scissors. The blades are visible at the front of the cylinder mower when the mower is in action.

Rotary mowers have 1 blade, can be metal or plastic, underneath the main body of the mower that rotates at a very high speed. The blade can’t be seen when the mower is in action.

Types of Cylinder Mower

As you would expect with any mower, cylinder mowers can be purchased in different power sources, including petrol, electric, manual hand push and battery cordless. The most popular cylinder mower for domestic use is, unsurprisingly, the manual hand push cylinder mower for small to medium sized lawns.

For homeowners with large lawns, the most popular option is the petrol-powered model. With both these options you do not need to worry about charging batteries or being restricted by the length of the cord. While petrol cylinder mowers are by far the most powerful machines suitable for larger gardens, the manual hand push mowers are lightweight, easy-to-use, inexpensive and also provide outstanding results when used in smaller gardens.

Why Should You Buy A Cylinder Mower?

Provide Outstanding Results

As with any product there are many advantages and a few disadvantages, however the main advantage of these cylinder mowers is the outstanding cutting results they provide. As the grass is cut with scissor like action, the blades of grass are less stressed/injured, therefore the grass is more likely to be healthy, greener and disease-free.

Cutting Features

Of course, as you would expect the cutting height on cylinder mowers can be adjusted depending on your requirements, but in general they are designed for low cutting heights providing that manicured and well-kept appearance.

You can purchase a cylinder mower with a grass collection box that is always located at the front of the mower, however with some models you can mulch the grass cuttings and use them as a natural fertiliser too.

Rollers For Striped Lawn Appearance

Guide To Purchasing A Hand Push Manual Lawn MowerAs striped lawn appearance is becoming more and more important in recent years, you will be pleased to learn that some higher end cylinder mowers are supplied with front or rear rollers. Another advantage of having a full width roller is that you will not have any wheel marks left on your lawn. You will for sure be the envy of your neighbours. Just remember, the heavier the mower the more defined and long-lasting the stripes will be.

Sharp Multiple Blades Cut The Grass Short Like Scissors

When owning a cylinder mower, the most important thing to consider and check is the condition of the multiple blades. A good test is to ensure that they can easily cut a piece of paper, if they do not then the blades may need to be adjusted, sharpened or the cassette replaced, all of which can be done quite easily.

Cylinder mowers are suitable for people who like to regularly maintain their lawn and in general like to keep the length of their grass short. It is not suitable for the occasional gardener who just wants to get the job done, when the grass is overgrown and neglected.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Cylinder Mowers

Above I have mentioned all the advantages of cylinder mowers, but as with any product there are a few disadvantages you should be made aware of.

The main disadvantage of cylinder mowers is the initial cost. There is no denying that you will have to pay much more to purchase a cylinder mower compared to a similar rotary mower. Also, the grass collection box being positioned at the front of the cylinder mower means that it is likely to be harder to reach tight spots and corners in your garden. They are designed for regularly maintained lawns, so if your lawn is unkept and bumpy, then perhaps you should consider another type of mower.

Pros
  • Provide outstanding results, the grass is cut clean and sharp

  • Designed to close-mow your lawn providing a professional appearance

  • Blades are self-sharpening due to the scissor action

  • Multiple blades ensure that no grass is left uncut on a single pass

  • Cylinder push mowers are lightweight, inexpensive and require less storage

  • Some models available with roller for striped lawn appearance

  • Some petrol models are self-propelled for ease of use

Cons
  • Higher initial investment

  • Not suitable for uneven lawns

  • As grass collection box positioned at the front of the mower, it will be harder to reach some areas

  • More storage space required as normally larger than rotary mowers

  • Very few electric and cordless models available

 

Conclusion

Hopefully from this article you will see that cylinder mowers come highly recommended, but they are not suitable for all gardeners.

Before parting with your hard-earned cash, you need to ensure that you understand the types of mowers currently available on the market, what features and functions are needed, consider the size of your garden and any additional features and requirements.

Of course, as mentioned above there are differences between cylinder and rotary mowers, as the blades cut the grass in a completely different way. You also need to consider your lawn maintenance regime and what results you are wanting / needing to achieve.

To choose your best lawn mower may sound very daunting, so to help you out I have created a free mower selection tool that will recommend the perfect mower/s for you in seconds, based on your requirements. Why not click on the image link below to try it out.

 

Find Mower Banner Mobile

 

Mark Haley Author
Lawnmower Product Expert, Reviewer and Author at EasyLawnMowing.co.uk | 01284 615144 | info@easylawnmowing.co.uk | Website | + posts

As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.

Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.

With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.

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