I shared your frustration of having to whip the cable out the way every few feet for years. I resented every second of grass cutting! So I swapped it for a small petrol mower. It was superb! No snags or electrocution risk. But it was heavier and nosier. And storing (even a small amount) of petrol in the same space that gets used for grinding and occasional welding always felt uncomfortable. In 2021 I grasped the nettle and got a Makita 17” battery mower. This uses a pair of standard 5Ah 18V ‘drill batteries’. This feature tipped the balance on this model as the batteries were a standard (and common) part rather than a bespoke item, so I figured longer term I should have no problem obtaining replacements. I also got a Makita strimmer that used the same battery system (to replace the battered two stroke item that was infuriating to start). I’ve never looked back! I’ve only a modest 100 or so square metres, and it copes admirably with all but the longest and wettest grass. I’m sure the Monty Dons amongst us would find fault, but it suits my gardening style (lazy!) perfectly. Thanks for your weight distribution note. That’s something I’ll bear in mind next time. Cheers Paul, enjoy your weekend. Matt
Hi Matt, Bosch are in a community called 'Power for All' where the 18V batteries can be shared across about 12 brands. I bought an 18V Bosch hedge trimmer and then Husqvarna strimmer which takes the 18v Bosch battery. Whilst Bosch do have a 2x18V 4Ah mower it has quite a small blade so that was not really an option for me. For 17in I needed the 36V mower but, guess what, the 36V battery is not currently in the 'Power for All' club. But still I don't think I would have started again with batteries from another brand as I was already invested in Bosch. Cheers
Hi Paul, I purchased a new petrol mower last year to replace another one from 1993, a recoil/push Hayter 46 cm/18" to Hyundai 42 cm/17" with electric start and self propelled. previous to those it was an electric 30 cm/12",(All I could afford at the time,(ref mortage rate of 14.75%) this took 2 hours 15 mins to cut the rear grass, the Hayter petrol took 45 mins, lawn size has shrunk ref shed, gravel areas, but certainly a joy in reduced effort. I did look at Cordless mowers, but at a 25 to 40% premium. I've just bought a small Sthil Cordless chainsaw, and leaf blower, work very well. Nice review on past and present, yes, noise is a great annoyance, I think Germany or Switzerland have restrictions of garden machinery times and days. Thanks for sharing.
I have the predecessor model. Also the cordless 36V hedge trimmer which uses the same battery - we only use that twice a year, so sharing the battery makes a lot of sense, given its price. Only issue is that long and/or wet grass uses a LOT more battery and we often leave it longer between cuts than we should. But no cables or petrol required!
Hi Paul. Two weeks ago my electric mower gave up on me in a puff of smoke. It was almost 20 years old and had given great service. I thought long and hard about going battery powered and in the end decided to remain corded. The price differential was too much for me. Luckily I don’t have too large a lawn and I don’t struggle with the cord. But if the price had been right I probably would have taken the plunge. 👍😀
Hi Paul, excellent review and you make a lot of salient points which you could apply to other devices. Its a devils job to grow grass down here, most of which is a much thicker type compared to the UK. I expect they use finer types on the greens, fairways and football pitches. Often you see synthetic grass, most kids grow up playing football on these types of pitches, sometimes with small rubber pellets ingrained. I tried synthetic grass for a couple of years but the weeds knew better and in the end we paved that area. Our first forray into battery devices was with our hoover (vacuum cleaner!!) I can just about do the whole house on one charge and then it needs a couple of hours I think. The weight distribution is all at the hand and it really precludes my wife using it but that is more to do with her shoulder than the weight. I looked like the handles flexed when you tried to pivot your mower. Its a great improvement not having that lead and a space saver perhaps too. I'm not sure what the lead time might be but I know someone on here who is a dab hand at converting mowers to battery driven. I think you know who I'm talking about, it certainly made for interesting videos!! All the best!!
It is spring, the rain is here, and I am using a mower that was new in 1988. Still runs, a little battered and bent, but so long as I get a new set of blades on every so often, after cutting the old bolts off, it works well.
I think it was a clip of Rory Sutherland that I saw recently that observed that humans are very good at making quick decisions and then justifying them retrospectively. If you cut the grass 25 times a year then in the first year each mow will cost £20! year 2 £10 per cut, etc. if the battery lasts 5 years then that is £4/cut. The battery could last if you don't deep discharge it and keep it relatively warm over winter. These things seem to die from being left out in a cold shed discharged over winter. the cells continue to discharge below the threshold for the BMS to allow them to be charged. If it was my mower I would recharge every time you have finished with it and it should last a good long time. On the other hand I found my mower beside some bins with a pile of other scrap mowers. A 24v battery mower. Without a charger. Works a treat. I agree with you on the cable issue.
Hi Owen, charging policies to maximise battery life are a big topic. I have an 18V 'professional' Bosch pistol drill which I have abused for about a decade with no thought to charging policy and it will still pull my arm off. I have just bought my first EV - that will really bring charging policy to the front of the conversation. I will show it on the channel soon-ish as a technical interest topic. Cheers
Now I am worried, seems we are very similar in our taste 🙂 I had the same corded mower as yours and moved to the same battery mower. I have had mine for a year and its been excellent. I have a slightly larger grass area, one charge does it easily every time. Last weekend I scarified, which gets up so much stuff! but the mower picked it all up fine, must have been 8 "bag" full or more. I don't 100% know this is true but have an idea that the key thing is a security device to prevent theft. I think it might have an NFC in it. You have to contact Bosh to get a new one and its around £25, maybe others will know better? Thank you for all your lovely videos, I enjoy them immensely, thanks, Dave
Hi CW, we must have fallen pray to the same subliminal advertising messages ..... I will follow up on the key NFC comment to see what I can find out. I genuinely had no clue what it was for until I did some fiddling. I thought it may be just a switch but then I saw it was detachable. Cheers
Hi jeeptek, I'm sure you are right. It must be something like that. And it causes me to realise I should probably take the batteries out of dangerous tools when stored. Good point. Cheers
Same here, and unfortunately battery ones don't seem to have the same torque for those early cuts, especially if the grass is a bit on the longer side or if you have a larger lawn. I picked up a hardly used Hayter with a briggs engine for less than the first corded price 🙂
Hi Andy, my old Bosch cabled electric mower has been very good I have to say but we'll have to see how well the battery mower stands up. Part of the problem these days is there are not many shops that carry a range of stock where you can actually go and handle the kit before you buy. So much is done on-line, which makes the TH-cam reviews more important in that sense. Cheers Paul
Sure enough hrxy1 this is a bit of an outlier vid for me but life is pretty busy with outdoor projects and I'm not getting much time in the workshop. I hope it will be useful to some people. Cheers Paul
I shared your frustration of having to whip the cable out the way every few feet for years.
I resented every second of grass cutting!
So I swapped it for a small petrol mower.
It was superb! No snags or electrocution risk. But it was heavier and nosier. And storing (even a small amount) of petrol in the same space that gets used for grinding and occasional welding always felt uncomfortable.
In 2021 I grasped the nettle and got a Makita 17” battery mower. This uses a pair of standard 5Ah 18V ‘drill batteries’. This feature tipped the balance on this model as the batteries were a standard (and common) part rather than a bespoke item, so I figured longer term I should have no problem obtaining replacements. I also got a Makita strimmer that used the same battery system (to replace the battered two stroke item that was infuriating to start).
I’ve never looked back! I’ve only a modest 100 or so square metres, and it copes admirably with all but the longest and wettest grass. I’m sure the Monty Dons amongst us would find fault, but it suits my gardening style (lazy!) perfectly.
Thanks for your weight distribution note. That’s something I’ll bear in mind next time. Cheers Paul, enjoy your weekend. Matt
Hi Matt, Bosch are in a community called 'Power for All' where the 18V batteries can be shared across about 12 brands. I bought an 18V Bosch hedge trimmer and then Husqvarna strimmer which takes the 18v Bosch battery. Whilst Bosch do have a 2x18V 4Ah mower it has quite a small blade so that was not really an option for me. For 17in I needed the 36V mower but, guess what, the 36V battery is not currently in the 'Power for All' club. But still I don't think I would have started again with batteries from another brand as I was already invested in Bosch. Cheers
Hi Paul,
I purchased a new petrol mower last year to replace another one from 1993, a recoil/push Hayter 46 cm/18" to Hyundai 42 cm/17" with electric start and self propelled. previous to those it was an electric 30 cm/12",(All I could afford at the time,(ref mortage rate of 14.75%) this took 2 hours 15 mins to cut the rear grass, the Hayter petrol took 45 mins, lawn size has shrunk ref shed, gravel areas, but certainly a joy in reduced effort. I did look at Cordless mowers, but at a 25 to 40% premium. I've just bought a small Sthil Cordless chainsaw, and leaf blower, work very well.
Nice review on past and present, yes, noise is a great annoyance, I think Germany or Switzerland have restrictions of garden machinery times and days.
Thanks for sharing.
I have the predecessor model. Also the cordless 36V hedge trimmer which uses the same battery - we only use that twice a year, so sharing the battery makes a lot of sense, given its price. Only issue is that long and/or wet grass uses a LOT more battery and we often leave it longer between cuts than we should. But no cables or petrol required!
Hi Paul. Two weeks ago my electric mower gave up on me in a puff of smoke. It was almost 20 years old and had given great service. I thought long and hard about going battery powered and in the end decided to remain corded. The price differential was too much for me.
Luckily I don’t have too large a lawn and I don’t struggle with the cord. But if the price had been right I probably would have taken the plunge. 👍😀
The removable isolator key is to stop kids shredding themselves. Also useful for pretending it's broken when the neighbours ask to borrow it.
Yeh I agree Mark shredded kids is not a good look. Rather than using the key though I've started taking the battery out after use. Cheers
Hi Paul, excellent review and you make a lot of salient points which you could apply to other devices.
Its a devils job to grow grass down here, most of which is a much thicker type compared to the UK. I expect they use finer types on the greens, fairways and football pitches. Often you see synthetic grass, most kids grow up playing football on these types of pitches, sometimes with small rubber pellets ingrained. I tried synthetic grass for a couple of years but the weeds knew better and in the end we paved that area.
Our first forray into battery devices was with our hoover (vacuum cleaner!!) I can just about do the whole house on one charge and then it needs a couple of hours I think. The weight distribution is all at the hand and it really precludes my wife using it but that is more to do with her shoulder than the weight. I looked like the handles flexed when you tried to pivot your mower.
Its a great improvement not having that lead and a space saver perhaps too. I'm not sure what the lead time might be but I know someone on here who is a dab hand at converting mowers to battery driven. I think you know who I'm talking about, it certainly made for interesting videos!!
All the best!!
It is spring, the rain is here, and I am using a mower that was new in 1988. Still runs, a little battered and bent, but so long as I get a new set of blades on every so often, after cutting the old bolts off, it works well.
good video paul
I think it was a clip of Rory Sutherland that I saw recently that observed that humans are very good at making quick decisions and then justifying them retrospectively. If you cut the grass 25 times a year then in the first year each mow will cost £20! year 2 £10 per cut, etc. if the battery lasts 5 years then that is £4/cut. The battery could last if you don't deep discharge it and keep it relatively warm over winter. These things seem to die from being left out in a cold shed discharged over winter. the cells continue to discharge below the threshold for the BMS to allow them to be charged. If it was my mower I would recharge every time you have finished with it and it should last a good long time. On the other hand I found my mower beside some bins with a pile of other scrap mowers. A 24v battery mower. Without a charger. Works a treat. I agree with you on the cable issue.
Hi Owen, charging policies to maximise battery life are a big topic. I have an 18V 'professional' Bosch pistol drill which I have abused for about a decade with no thought to charging policy and it will still pull my arm off. I have just bought my first EV - that will really bring charging policy to the front of the conversation. I will show it on the channel soon-ish as a technical interest topic. Cheers
Now I am worried, seems we are very similar in our taste 🙂 I had the same corded mower as yours and moved to the same battery mower. I have had mine for a year and its been excellent. I have a slightly larger grass area, one charge does it easily every time. Last weekend I scarified, which gets up so much stuff! but the mower picked it all up fine, must have been 8 "bag" full or more. I don't 100% know this is true but have an idea that the key thing is a security device to prevent theft. I think it might have an NFC in it. You have to contact Bosh to get a new one and its around £25, maybe others will know better? Thank you for all your lovely videos, I enjoy them immensely, thanks, Dave
Hi CW, we must have fallen pray to the same subliminal advertising messages ..... I will follow up on the key NFC comment to see what I can find out. I genuinely had no clue what it was for until I did some fiddling. I thought it may be just a switch but then I saw it was detachable. Cheers
Good review Paul and it looks to be a very good mower
Early days Jason - the real test will come in the spring. Cheers
Good review Paul.
Interesting review but it would have been good to show a time lapse of it cutting the grass!
Very informative, but I don’t think it would cope with our 4+ acres of commando gardening!
Phil
Horses for courses Phil 😁
Only the Fordson can handle that Phil!
The key is to prevent a child from powering it up. Yes, you could remove the battery but it most likely is some health and safety code
Hi jeeptek, I'm sure you are right. It must be something like that. And it causes me to realise I should probably take the batteries out of dangerous tools when stored. Good point. Cheers
I am not keen on plastic on lawnmowers, I have seen too many parts break. I am currently on my second Honda with a proper engine
Same here, and unfortunately battery ones don't seem to have the same torque for those early cuts, especially if the grass is a bit on the longer side or if you have a larger lawn. I picked up a hardly used Hayter with a briggs engine for less than the first corded price 🙂
Hi Andy, my old Bosch cabled electric mower has been very good I have to say but we'll have to see how well the battery mower stands up. Part of the problem these days is there are not many shops that carry a range of stock where you can actually go and handle the kit before you buy. So much is done on-line, which makes the TH-cam reviews more important in that sense. Cheers Paul
Not my bag Paul, I'll keep using my petrol until they put me in prison. No doubt it will be the job for someone though.
excuse me for walking in front of the camera,
excuse me for not watching the video
Sure enough hrxy1 this is a bit of an outlier vid for me but life is pretty busy with outdoor projects and I'm not getting much time in the workshop. I hope it will be useful to some people. Cheers Paul