I just registered here after reading all the posts regarding the fiskars and bermuda at the lower settings. I purchased a fiskars a couple of weeks ago and noticed the chopping look and the grabbing of the grass at the lower settings too. I laid my bermuda 419 in my front yard a couple of months ago and have been trying to keep it at the lowest setting like it was from the sod farm. When the mower does not jam up and stop dead it its tracks I get a rippled look like someone else mentioned earlier. I was going to post a couple of pics but can't seem to figure out how. I have sent an email with pics to fiskars explaining the difficulty with my bermuda and will post a follow up if they can offer a fix. I don't want to have to send it back since I ordered it online and I think it is a nice mower, but if it won't glide through my bermuda, what's the use? Someone mentioned that it needs a roller on the front instead of the two little wheels, what do you mean by that? I also have scott's classic 20" but didn't notice a roller on the front. I have read this explanation somewhere else too, but would like some clarification. Thanks, so far I love the advice given here.

You wrote MY story!!! Weird. I have a Fiskars that has an orange tab that you push to retract the blade. The tab broke off. Without it, the blade is engaged forever. DH wrote to Fiskars and sent pictures and they promptly mailed me a new rotary cutter. We were pleased with their response time. This was their new design with an orange push button. This now has stopped working (I think it was at retreat last year) and the blade won't stay engaged. I have yet to write to them...still use the one with the broken tab. One of these days, I hope they come up with a design that withstands the rigorous use they can get. Hope they come through for you! [Maybe I should try to get mine replaced before Retreat?!]

I don't have the CM oval cutter, but I've used it and I must say that I hate it. I wasn't comfortable with it AT ALL. My CMC told me that it took her many tries before she became comfortable with it too. I've never tried any other kind - I still just use templates and cut them out by hand. To me, it's easier than trying to fiddle with that awkward contraption CM came out with. Ok, here's what I don't like about it - I find that it's not a smooth "swing" around the arcs, it leaves sort of a lip around the edge of the picture, and it often leaves a little "hangnail" (for lack of a better word) where you meet up at the end with where you began. I wish they had figured otu a way to make an oval cutter just like their OLD circle cutter - I loved that thing!

Ok. I'm going to hang my head and admit that the CM one isn't as bad as I originally thought (see my post above from March 9). I've since used it numerous times and have gotten much better at it. It's not the sinister piece of equipment that I felt it was. But it definitely takes some getting used to. I will admit that I liked the old CM CIRCLE cutter better and I got the hang of that one really quickly. This one takes a lot more practice. I'm still not comfortable enought to BUY it, but when I'm at crops, I don't panic about using it anymore. :) And Donna - I can't believe your CMC gives away stuff like that at crops!!! wow!! My CMC hasn't even been in the business for a year yet so she can't afford to give away big stuff yet. I'm looking forward to her little business to start turning a good profit so she can raffle off more than idea books and stickers. :) Patti