The Mexican lawn mower, also sometimes referred to as the Mexican grass cutter or Mexican weed whacker, is a hand-pushed device used to trim grass and weeds around properties. This cost-effective and eco-friendly tool provides an efficient alternative to gas-powered mowers and trimmers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Mexican lawn mowers, including what they are, how they work, their benefits, and using tips.
What is a Mexican Lawn Mower?
A Mexican lawn mower is a specially designed manual push lawn mower that uses spinning metal blades to cut grass and weeds. It consists of a vertical spinning blade assembly mounted on wheels with two handles to push and guide the device.
The vertically oriented blades provide an easy, ergonomic design that does not require bending over to operate like traditional push mowers. As the mower is pushed forward, the fast spinning blades trim the grass or weeds, providing a clean, even cut.
These specialized lawn mowers first became popular in Mexico as an affordable way to keep lawns trimmed without the need for fuel or electricity. The design has since spread in popularity across North America and beyond.
How Do Mexican Lawn Mowers Work?
Mexican lawn mowers utilize a simple but effective spinning blade system to cut grass and weeds. Here’s an overview of how they work:
- Spinning Metal Blades – At the heart of the mower is a vertical blade assembly with two to five curved metal blades that spin very rapidly with the wheels’ motion.
- Wheels Drive Blade Spin – The mower has two durable rubber wheels on the sides. As you roll the device forward along the ground, the friction of the wheels touching the earth powers the blades to spin.
- Cuts Grass Upon Contact – With the fast-moving blades extending out in front of the wheels, the spinning blades trim any grass or weeds they come into contact with as your push. This gives an even, consistent trim.
- Adjustable Cutting Height – Many Mexican lawn mower models allow adjusting the wheel height to control the depth the blades trim to suit your preference.
The simplicity of the friction-powered spinning blade design is what makes these lawn mowers highly effective yet affordable and low maintenance.
Benefits of Using a Mexican Lawn Mower
From being extremely budget-friendly to providing a green alternative to gas mowers, Mexican lawn mowers offer many benefits:
Cost Savings
With no engine or complex components, Mexican grass cutters cost a fraction of motorized consumer mowers and trimmers. Prices typically range from $100 to $250 USD. Without any fuel or electricity demands either, you’ll save big on operational costs too.
No Emissions
Gas and electric mowers release emissions and pollutants in operation, whereas non-motorized Mexican models have zero emissions. This makes them a cleaner, greener lawn care solution for improving local air quality.
Low Maintenance
These manual lawn mowers involve very few parts, have no engine or transmission fluids to change, and don’t require tune-ups or oil changes. This greatly minimizes maintenance requirements.
Lightweight and Portable
Weighing less than 40 pounds on average, it’s easy to maneuver Mexican mowers around your property. Plus the foldable design with handles allows conveniently storing in garages, sheds, or vehicles when not in use.
Exercise Benefits
Pushing your Mexican lawn mower provides a great active way to mow and trim while getting your heart rate up. You can burn over 400 calories an hour using one!
For home lawns, Mexican lawn mowers present the perfect green alternative to meet landscaping needs economically and sustainably.
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How to Use a Mexican Lawn Mower Properly
While Mexican lawn mowers are simple tools, there are some usage techniques to employ for safe operation and achieving the best cutting results:
Inspect the Blades
Before use, inspect the metal blades to ensure they are securely fastened and not excessively worn down. Replace damaged blades.
Adjust Cutting Height
Based on your grass length and desired trim, set the wheel positions higher or lower to control cutting depth. Lower trims better but requires more push force.
Wear Protective Gear
Use covered footwear and long pants to protect from flying grass clippings and debris. Safety glasses provide eye protection too.
Walk at Brisk Pace
Push the mower at a consistent brisk walking pace for sufficient wheel rotation to engage the blades quickly and fully to slice grass cleanly. Moving too slowly prevents proper spins.
Make Several Overlapping Passes
Rather than cutting very wide rows, take narrow passes of 2 to 3 feet wide, overlapping each pass by a few inches to prevent leaving uncut patches.
Change Direction on Slopes
When mowing slopes, push across and down slopes instead of straight up/down to avoid tipping. Take extra precaution on steep pitches.
Avoid Hard Surfaces
Push mowers lightly over paved areas to transfer between grass areas. Extended use on concrete or asphalt rapidly wears down blade edges.
When used cautiously and methodically, Mexican push mowers can produce attractive lawn trimming results with minimal user effort.
Common Mexican Lawn Mower Models
Many manufacturers now produce Mexican lawn mowers, primarily out of Mexico, but also from other countries. Some reputable brands and popular models include:
TUFFY Push Lawn Mower
The TUFFY mower comes from a Mexican company called PICA. Their friction-powered weed trimmer is lightweight at just 23 pounds yet ruggedly built. It rolls on 10-inch wheels and has three 14-inch curved blades that spin at 3000 RPM.
Yardwise Star Silent Push Mower
From Yardwise in the USA, this quiet mower has four steel blades powered by 12-inch wheels. It folds easily for storage and allows adjusting cutting heights between 1 to 2 inches.
Great States 415-16 Push Lawn Mower
Boasting durable 16-inch tires and five steel blades, Great States’ popular 415-16 push mower weighs 36 pounds for easily gliding through overgrown areas. The 16-inch trim width provides wide cutting swaths.
Fiskars Staysharp Push Reel Mower
This innovative Fiskars reel mower doesn’t spin blades but rather uses curved steel to scissor cut grass strands between its reel roller and stationary blade. It is recommended for manicured lawns under 1.5 inches high.
There are many options from various companies to evaluate based on budget, lawn specifics, and individual needs when selecting the best Mexican lawn mower model for residential use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican Lawn Mowers
With these unique grass cutting tools growing in popularity worldwide, some common questions arise around effectively using them:
Are Mexican lawn mowers good for tall grass?
They can cut moderately overgrown grass under 12 inches tall by taking several slow overlapping passes. For severely overgrown yards, first trim down with weed whackers or brush cutters, then maintain with a push mower.
What thickness of grass can they cut?
Mexican lawn mowers perform best cutting average thickness and lightly thatch grass from 1 to 6 inches length. Adjust wheel height lower for thinner grass or higher for dense growth.
How fast does it mow compared to gas power?
These manual mowers cut at a pace equivalent to an average person’s walking speed, so total mow time depends on the yard size. Expect 30-40 minutes per quarter acre.
Can bagging attachments collect clippings?
Certain models offer custom fabric bags that attach behind the mower to collect grass clippings as you cut. Otherwise expect some raking or sweeping afterward.
Are the blades dangerous to users or pets?
Spinning at 3000+ RPM, the exposed blades pose a significant laceration risk if fingers or toes come in contact. Keep people and pets at a 10 foot distance during operation for safety.
Be sure to equip yourself with protective clothing and knowledge of proper operational techniques when utilizing Mexican lawn mowers for home grass cutting needs.
Conclusion
Mexican lawn mowers provide a unique, eco-friendly alternative for residential lawn care needs. These innovative manual push mowers utilize spinning blade assemblies that use the wheels’ motion to slice grass and weeds without any electricity or gasoline. Models from various brands offer adjustable cutting heights to trim grass from 1 to 6 inches tall at walking speeds.
Key benefits over traditional motorized mowers encompass lower costs, zero emissions, easier storage, and physical activity for the user. Just be sure to wear protective gear, make overlapping passes at a brisk pace, and keep hands and feet clear of the sharp spinning blades within the mower heads. When used properly and with caution, Mexican lawn mowers can be an economical, green solution for keeping lawns neatly trimmed.