Cordless mowers provide power, efficiency
Q : I am tired of the maintenance for my old gas lawn mower. I might buy a rechargeable cordless mulching one. Are they powerful enough for a normal yard and what features are best? — Marcia H. A : I have used cordless lawn mowers for many years and I would never switch back to a gasoline mower for my one-half-acre yard. Each generation of new designs has offered more features and power. The newest ones use lithium-ion batteries with special motor circuitry to provide more cutting area per battery charge.
Cordless mowers require no maintenance other than sharpening the blade periodically as you should do with a gasoline mower. A sharp blade does more than just reduce the power needed to cut through the grass. It also makes a cleaner cut on each blade of grass. This is healthier for the grass.
The operating cost for a cordless mower is very low. There is no gasoline or oil to buy, no air filter to replace or visits to the mower repair shop. It uses less than 10 cents of electricity to recharge the battery and causes less air pollution overall than running a gasoline mower.
Cordless mowers are quiet. Some have LED headlights so you can cut the grass at night. Another advantage is storage during winter. With no gasoline or oil to worry about leaking, it can be tilted up on end and placed close against a garage wall. The handle folds together so it takes up very little floor space.
When selecting a mower, first consider the size of your yard. Most cordless mowers range in cutting widths from about 14 inches to 20 inches. For a small yard or one with tight, narrow areas, a 14or 16-inch size is good. For most homes, a 19- or 20inch size is effective and convenient to handle.
Many newer cordless mowers use lithium-ion batteries because they are lightweight and can be recharged in just one to three hours. Models with older-type lead acid batteries can weigh up to 20 pounds more and take overnight to recharge. Lead-acid batteries also need to be recharged immediately or their life is reduced.
Most cordless mowers with lithium-ion batteries are not self-propelled because they are not difficult to push. The new Black & Decker 20-inch model weighs only 48 pounds.
For hilly yards, there are variable-speed, selfpropelled models. The amount of yard they cut per charge is slightly reduced due to running the drive motor.
The amount of energy the rechargeable battery pack can store, and thus how much grass it can cut, is a function of (A) the battery voltage and (B) the ampere-hours. Multiply (A) times (B) to compare various models. If you have a large yard and will need to recharge the batteries to finish, also consider the recharging time.
For my yard, I use a 60-volt Black & Decker Power Swap model. Instead of using one big battery, it holds two removable half-size ones. When the grass is very thick during spring and one charge will not cut it all, I charge one battery while the other one runs the mower. This allows me to cut the entire yard nonstop.
Look for a model with load-sensing motor controls. When cutting thinner grass, it spins slower to draw less electric current. When it senses heavy grass and more cutting load, it powers up to the maximum safe blade tip speed. Also, look for an “edge-design” mower to be able to cut very close to trees and walls.
The following companies offer cordless lawn mowers: Black & Decker, (800) 544-6986, www. blackanddecker.com; Greenworks, (888) 9096757, www.greenworkstools.com; Ryobi, (800) 860-4050, www.ryobitools.com; Sun Joe, (866) 766-9563, www.snowjoe.com; and Worx, (855) 2790505, www.worx.com. Q : We have a freestanding woodburning fireplace in our living room and the wall behind it needs paint. What type of paint should we use or is there a better wall coating to use? — Tom J. A : If the stove is the approved distance from the wall, most paints should withstand the heat. Ceramic-filled paint is particularly reflective to heat. Brushed or shiny aluminum sheet squares are also effective. Ordinary mirror tiles, while they look reflective, do not reflect heat.
You might also consider painting the back side of the fireplace with high-temperature silver paint.
This will reduce the heat loss from the fireplace to the outdoor wall behind it.
Send inquiries to James Dulley, Houston Chronicle, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www. dulley.com.