Bought my first house.

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hardcore302

hardcore302

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Nov 23, 2009
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Suffolk County, NY
In Long Island, NY. I lived 30 years in NYC, and finally am moving to quieter pastures. The houses are bigger, more spread apart, and it's better for families.

Anyway, the closing left me a little light in the wallet. I don't mind physical work, and was wondering how those manual mowers and edgers work for the lawn? What about those scythes and trimmers? Thanks.
 
I would get a nice gas mower from craigslist, I got one for $25. 2008 cub cadet that just needed a carb clean.

as an added bonus you get to change oil in the mower too...
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Get a used gas powered mover and the mechanical edger will do just fine. I used the same mower from 1984 until 2012 when the engine finally said "NO MORE"
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It was a used Briggs that I paid $40 for when I bought my first home. Get all yard tools used...the grass doesn't know the difference. Sharpen the blade with a file.
 
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I would buy quality items used from CL. And from a homeowner, not a landscaper. Avoid any and all MTD made OPE junk.

When you say manual mower, how manual, no engine?

How much lawn?

I have never used an edger in my life. Never plan to either.
 
Originally Posted By: cat843
I would buy quality items used from CL. And from a homeowner, not a landscaper. Avoid any and all MTD made OPE junk.

When you say manual mower, how manual, no engine?

How much lawn?

I have never used an edger in my life. Never plan to either.


What is MTD and OPE.

Yeah I meant no engine.

I really need an edger because the grass is growing into the sidealk and such. Thanks
!
 
Don't know about you but I would hate to be using manual mower/edger out in the heat during the summer. I already don't like mowing to begin with, using a gas self propelled mower, I can't imagine using manual mower. Maybe you like the exercise like some people or maybe it doesn't get that hot around your area.
 
Those manual mowers are awful. Look at a 3.5 hp basic no frills gas mower. An olympic athlete makes about .5 hp, peak. Do the math.
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I'd get a $129 MTD basic push mower to start off with. For all its inadequacies it mowes nicely and follows the contours of the yard very well. The light weight from the shabby construction makes them very maneuverable and not tiring.
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Watch yard sales for an electric string trimmer for all your edging needs. The extension cord experience is not much fun but the thing working every spring without winter storage prep is worth it for me at least.

Congrats on the house. News says home prices went up 12% last year; can't wait for next year.
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Congratulations on your new home and welcome to the world of home ownership
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As far as an edger is concerned, you could do like I've always done - use a straight edge spade and simply follow the sidewalk edge and driveway edge. Takes a little time, but it's no big deal. Before you even start, sharpen it good with a file, then what you'll notice is that as you cut the grass and weeds at the edge of your driveway or walkway, the constant abrasion against the cement keeps it razor sharp.
 
You are what they call "house poor" You put every nickel into the down payment and the hoops the bank makes you jump through. I stopped buying mowers 20 yrs ago. I have been fixing freebies and running them. I have gradually worked up to an old IH Cadet 80 with a fresher and larger B+S engine. My walk behind is a Toro 3 speed. They needed some fixing,but nothing major. If you can cold start a mower with 3-4 pulls. it is worth 50$. Freebies may or may not run. Most times, it is just a dirty carb. Thanks to the internet, you can find a how to video on just about anything. Unless you have only 200 sq feet of perfectly smooth lawn. Get a gas push mower.Pick up hand tools at yard sales. Welcome to Suburbia.
 
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I got a new returned scratch & dent mower with rear bag and B&S premium engine at Sears Hardware. It was missing parts so they sold it to me for 1/2 price. Got it home and looking through the owners manual it had a tag that said "iF you are missing parts do not return this to the store call this 1-800 number" SO I did and they sent me all the parts.
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There are deals on power equipment all over because most people can't repair them. Most of the big box stores have them sitting in the back because someone used it twice and returned it.
 
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Where on LI? I'm out at BNL a lot.

congrats!

Reel mowers are supposedly better for the lawn, and can give a bit more workout, but a good one is nearly as expensive as a cheapo 21" push mower with a flathead engine.

Personally, unless you have a huge lawn that requires a fancied up mower, but the cheapest gas mower you can (or electric if your yard is really small), and put more money towards a batter weed whacked and leaf blower,if you decide to buy those.

Fwiw, my father just bought a worx brand battery powered weedwacker, and seems to really like it. He has been using it on over 3/4 acre at the mountains, as well as their other home.
 
Everyone is recommending that you buy super cheap or broken stuff and fix it up. I'm at the other end of the spectrum. If you can afford it, a $500 Ariens/Toro/Husqvarna/Honda mower and $200 Echo trimmer will give you 20 years of trouble free service if you take care of them.
 
Congrats!

We just ours last year....makes it fun!

I got lucky, my dad sold me his craftsman cheap so I could have one, and upgraded for himself....

Agreed with most...get the cheapest and start from there..
 
If you can hold out, wait until fall when mowing season is done and start scanning craigslist or the local papers or get on the buy and sell page in your area on facebook. New and used will be cheaper....
 
Congratulations on the new house.

Most of the advice that I have read on here is sound. If you are strapped for cash, find a mower as inexpensively as you can. If you look at the big boxes and Sears, you can sometimes pick up returns/repaired/open box/discontinued OPE on the cheap. Also, nothing particularly wrong with an MTD, as long as you keep it to the simple, bottom of the line (no self propelled, etc.) If you don't mind used and are handy, you can usually pick up something workable from Craigslist, yard sales. friends/family, the curb, etc and can get it going.

This will keep you going until you can save and buy some good OPE. If you can buy quality from the beginning, do it.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Those manual mowers are awful. Look at a 3.5 hp basic no frills gas mower. An olympic athlete makes about .5 hp, peak. Do the math.
lol.gif


I'd get a $129 MTD basic push mower to start off with. For all its inadequacies it mowes nicely and follows the contours of the yard very well. The light weight from the shabby construction makes them very maneuverable and not tiring.
wink.gif
Watch yard sales for an electric string trimmer for all your edging needs. The extension cord experience is not much fun but the thing working every spring without winter storage prep is worth it for me at least.

Congrats on the house. News says home prices went up 12% last year; can't wait for next year.
laugh.gif



I agree on looking for a good used mower, however in my personal experience ive not found many good used string trimmers.. I would wait till the end of season and just buy a new one with a warranty. Stihl and Echo make very good quality long lasting residential string trimmers, and you can buy the model that has the edger attachment. (along with chain saw attachment etc etc) Good luck !

Also congradulations on buying !
 
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