skip to main content

Dumb question, but I am curious...

wertach zone 7-B SC

7 years ago

Can someone explain to me why a commercial mower can cut smooth at a really fast speed?

My neighbor has her grass cut by a lawn service. They go more than twice as fast as my mower will go at top speed. We have the same grass and weeds. Native Bermuda, wild garlic, and dandelions. The dandelions give me the most problems when they stand back up and laugh at me! I have been working on getting rid of them, but they come back from seeds in the ground.

If I cut with brand new blades at full speed there will be stuff it doesn't cut. I have tried several different types of blades. I've even took a new set of blades and filed them to a sharper point!I have to go slow!!!!

Do the blades spin faster? Does the deck have a different configuration so that it sucks the grass and weeds up better?

I have a lot of grass to cut, about 3 acres. I would like to at least go full speed!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

exmar zone 7, SE Ohio
7 years ago
FWIW, my understanding of mower deck "geometry" is that the last place manufacturer's put money is in the shape of the deck as they're juggling to meet a "price point." ergo, if you have a garden variety LT with a deck, yes, it will cut grass, but the deck shape creating a vacuum to pull the blades up for an even cut just isn't there. Commercial decks have that feature and also are designed for that and mulching in one FAST pass. Another point to be considered, how often do you clean the clumps from the deck? Whatever vacuum effect you might have is significantly reduced if you have a lot of crud under there. Also, how anal are you about cleaning off the top of the mandrels to allow airflow up and through them? Just MHO.
wertach zone 7-B SC thanked exmar zone 7, SE Ohio
wertach zone 7-B SC
Original Author
7 years ago
I think you answered my question! Thanks!

I clean my deck thoroughly, bottom and top, with compressed air after ever use. Because I have saw too many perfectly good mowers end up junked because the deck rusted out in just a few years.

I may go to the JD dealer that's close by tomorrow and check the decks out on the high end mowers.

I may be able to steal a few ideas! I'm pretty good at fabrication!
Related Discussions
I am soooooooooo dumb!
Q
Comments (21)
I was so proud of the purple wildflower that was growing all down the driveway. Then a neighbor told me it was silver nightshade, very toxic and an invasive weed. So I have done the weed thing too. But I did something really stupid. I have lusted after New Mexico privet (forestiera neomexicana) since I saw it growing in a nursery a couple of years ago. I recently found one that I could afford and ran off with it skipping with glee. Except that the leaves looked strangely familiar and not quite what I had expected. Right outside a bedroom window is what I call the trash tree. It's planted too close to the house so various people, including us, have hacked pieces of it off, none too gracefully. Other bits have rooted where they touched the ground so it was a very messy tree which was going to come out when we got to it. You can see it coming - it's a NM privet. I could have dug a piece out and planted it any time in the past 2 years. Now that is dumb. Cheryl
...See More
How dumb am I??
Q
Comments (28)
I live 2 hours from Chamblees and was just there about a week ago - bought quite a few one gallon plants. Got Blue For You that was a little small - wouldn't say tiny - and I was wondering whether to pot them up and grow them out or plant them. I called Ron at Chamblees to ask. He said plant them in the ground. Actually, I have seen roses planted in the ground take off and grow - and sometimes not so much in pots. Now, I pot all my Vintage Gardens bands in pots and grow them out because I baby them so much and it works out. Chamblees roses are extremely healthy and I would bet you can plant them in the ground, mulch them and keep them watered and they will do fine. I am going to take Ron's advice and do just that. I have found that own roots take just a bit longer to get started but they are tough in the long run. My experience has been that fall planted roses here in Texas have a bit of time to develop roots and get settled in, are stabilized in the winter then in spring, start taking off. I like fall planted roses for that reason - they are already established in the ground in fall, then no disturbance in spring - they just grow. Good luck - Chamblees sells a quality product. If you have any questions, just call them. I will be going back again in about a week - they called and said I paid $19 too much for my last order - and that I had a $20 credit. What store have you ever heard of that does this? Chamblees is #1 in my book.
...See More
Hi, I'm a dumb question (about rooting!)
Q
Comments (15)
I have soaked cuttings for more than 12 hours but more than that would be trouble. Really only very stressed and dessicated cuttings need such treatment. Water is H2O, an oxygen molicule with a pair of Hydrogen molecules, one positioned off to each side. Plants don't starve for oxygen while under water although if their tissues are not made to endure such conditions they can certianly rot. Shallow non moving warm water can be very low in available oxygen but an air pump can fix that easily. I think the best method to root involves a moist substrate which can be organic or inorganic in nature, soil, peat, perlite or hydrotron for example. The next most important or perhaps the most important factor to get a nice fast rooting response in delicate or fussy cuttings is high humidty. Many commercial setups use a misting system where plant cuttings are placed in plugs or on moss and automatucally misted every minute for a few seconds. Using a sealed bag or rooting chamber is much easier and it really works well, heat speeds up all plant processes so hot and humid is what you want. The use of an aquarium air stone and pump is often called deep water rooting and there are cloning setups available althogh you can make one very easily using hydroponic net pots, a bucket and a lid, rockwool and and aquarium air pump and air stone. GG you are growing Hoyas right? LOL Mike
...See More
Dumb question, I am sure
Q
Comments (5)
Next time you find one, check to see if it has, on its back, eggs the size and color of a grain of rice. Often times it will have several. If it does, and you can stand to do so, leave it be for a few days. That is the egg of a wasp. The egg hatches and then the larvae of the wasp devours the worm. Doing it this way ensure that the beneficial wasp lives to kill the next worm you miss.
...See More
rexlex
7 years ago
Exmar is correct on commercial decks having a better cutting design - but also by federal standards, allowed max blade tip speeds are significantly higher on commercial mowers... makes a big difference.
wheely_boy
7 years ago
Dumb question just got a dumb answer.
rexlex
7 years ago
Ah, rollerGirl... see you is back outta yer hole again - tsk, tsk. But then what would you know about blade tip speeds...?

Related Stories

FEEL-GOOD HOME The Question That Can Make You Love Your Home More

By Laura Gaskill

Change your relationship with your house for the better by focusing on the answer to something designers often ask

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Questions to Ask When Planning a Kitchen Pantry

By Susan Redman

Avoid blunders and get the storage space and layout you need by asking these questions before you begin

LIGHTING 5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Get your overhead, task and accent lighting right for decorative beauty, less eyestrain and a focus exactly where you want

REMODELING GUIDES Considering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First

By Sarah Phipps Design

Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features

GREEN BUILDING Considering Concrete Floors? 3 Green-Minded Questions to Ask

By Melanie Loftus

Learn what’s in your concrete and about sustainability to make a healthy choice for your home and the earth

WORKING WITH PROS 9 Questions to Ask a Home Remodeler Before You Meet

By Ventana Construction LLC

Save time and effort by ruling out deal breakers with your contractor before an in-person session

FEEL-GOOD HOME 12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers

By Becky Harris

These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable

DECORATING GUIDES The Dumbest Decorating Decisions I’ve Ever Made

Caution: Do not try these at home

KITCHEN DESIGN Single-Wall Galley Kitchens Catch the 'I'

By Lisa Frederick

I-shape kitchen layouts take a streamlined, flexible approach and can be easy on the wallet too

FURNITURE Smart Shopper: How to Judge Antique Furniture Quality

Pick the treasures from the trash without expert experience by learning how to evaluate antiques and what questions to ask

Sponsored

River Mill Construction

1 Review

Delaware County's Customer Focused General Contractor

More Discussions

Mower Blade rotation

1