Do-it-yourself manual lawn mower. How to make a lawn mower from available materials. Lawn mowers: their types and main features

  • 16.09.2018

In the agricultural equipment market, there are various models mowers. There are electrical, mechanical and gasoline units. In the variety presented, there is only one significant drawback - buying a good mower can significantly hit your pocket.

There is nothing complicated in the design of the mower: frame, running gear, engine and cutting elements. Therefore, many landowners prefer not to spend money on the purchase of equipment, but to show a little ingenuity and make this unit themselves. A do-it-yourself lawn mower is made from any improvised materials. In this article, we will tell you about the features of this design.

They usually don't cut long grass, aiming to flatten longer leaves so the blades don't reach them and are much better suited to turf that is cut regularly. During wet, warm weather when the grass grows quickly, you may need to cut your lawn two to three times a week. If you can't cut your lawn in the winter, your best bet is to borrow a rotary or tilt mower for the first cut of the season, or have someone else cut it for you.

If you cut your lawn regularly, you don't need to collect the clippings, they will quickly break into the soil. You need to keep the lawn free of debris such as leaves and twigs as they can clog the cylinder along the way. Side wheel options tend to fall off the edge of the lawn when in use and do not mow near fences. But there are no spark plugs electrical cables or dirty fuel that can be fought.

Frame

As a basis, you can use a metal sheet. To ensure that the structure does not turn out to be too heavy, the thickness of the metal should not exceed 3 millimeters. To give the site the desired look, you have to work with a welding machine.

In particular, it is necessary to cut a hole in the middle for mounting the engine, weld the handles and make eyelets for mounting the wheels. You can use an old garden cart or pram as a basis. In this case, the structure will need to be strengthened.

Old lawn mowers were built to last a lifetime and engineered with high quality, high performance materials. Built to last, most can be refurbished, refurbished and put back into service.

He offers remanufactured heavy leaf mowers complete with a first season warranty and a copy of the original manufacturer's operating and maintenance instructions from around £100 - £100. Prices vary but expect to pay around £175 for a refurbished model. We bundled seven smart lawnmowers and took them to the National Garden of Trust at Montacute House in Somerset. They were laid in half an hour on a cedar lawn by gardener Charlotte Allen, her team of capable volunteers, and occasional garden visitors.

For example, baby strollers are usually made of aluminum. It's pretty soft material, which will deform from any load. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the frame of the stroller with metal plates or corners.

This element is the main node of the whole structure. The choice of power plant is up to you. If you want to do electric model, then you can borrow the engine from a vacuum cleaner or washing machine. In this household appliances asynchronous motors with low noise level are installed. If you use a synchronous motor, then the noise of your mower will be heard at a distance of 50-70 meters. Agree that the neighbors are unlikely to approve such an undertaking.

All mowers gave a respectable cut and collected clippings. However, we noticed that on windy days, build bags on some models tended to redistribute the clippings. Power mowers are only suitable for small lawns, if you are not physically fit, can mow twice a week during the growing season and have enough time. However, this is the most green option and a valid alternative to the basic electric lawn mower.

“I was impressed with the cylindrical mowers and probably didn't know how much they could do,” Charlotte admits. "Many people buy electric and petrol mowers and don't give manual cylinders." John Perring, volunteer in Montacute, says: There is a certain sense of pleasure that comes with using a push mower. You don't have pollution to worry about or where the energy comes from. This good exercise and there is pride in what you did.

If there is no vacuum cleaner or washing machine at hand, you can use any motor with a power of 1 kW or more. The speed of rotation of the power unit must be at least 1,500 rpm. Some craftsmen install half-kilowatt motors, but such units do not have enough power. Accordingly, when working with thick grass, the lawn mower will be inefficient. Please note that the engine is mounted on the frame with the shaft down.

Mixed and pink borders are at their best in early summer. Visit Tuesday or Thursday, 14.00-4.00. 00 to try out the mowers in a test, weather permitting. A cottage in the countryside is the dream of many city dwellers. If one has finally reached one, the realization slowly ripens: the garden makes Good work. Some find their satisfaction in spending their free time watering and mowing, others prefer to be quiet. If you want to avoid the stress of a lawn mower, you can get rid of smart robots.

One of the disadvantages of electric lawn mowers is the dependence on the power source. You will need either an extension cord from the home electrical network or a battery, which will add extra weight to the structure, which will adversely affect maneuverability.

You can install a gasoline engine. For this, the power plant from the Druzhba chainsaw is optimally suited. The power of such an engine is about 4 horsepower. Accordingly, the effort is enough to remove shrubs and even thin trees from the site. Provided that the cutting element can withstand. Among the shortcomings can be noted high level noise, quite noticeable exhaust and fuel costs.

In fact, automation is increasingly making its way into the garden. Depending on the size of the local grassland, a regular lawnmower can be an indicator of strength. Loud and heavy gasoline or electric mowers require not only great physical strength, endurance and time, but also a large number self-forgetfulness. The constant emptying of the grass bag or the final collapse of the grass clipping and their removal also provide busy hours into valuable free time. The labor-saving classic is the robotic lawnmower, the first models were already on the market in the mid-nineties.

When telling how to make a lawn mower with your own hands, you need to focus on the wheels. This element is responsible for the patency and maneuverability of the product. Homemade mowers are made on two or four wheels.

In the first case, the design turns out to be maneuverable, but part of the load will fall on the shoulders and legs. Therefore, working all day will be very problematic. Four-wheeled models can be steered with one hand, but are difficult to turn. Some designers are trying to make three-wheeled models. Here the front wheel is steerable, and the two rear ones act as support wheels.

With constantly improving technology, it is spreading rapidly, with 000 units sold in Europe last year, with a growth rate of over 30 percent. Germany is one of the largest markets. There are many manufacturers, but the lion's share is provided by a few.

Since the robot is busy, it only needs to cut off the tips. They fall between the stems and return nutrients to the ground. The result is a uniform and dense lawn. The blades used to cut blades are similar to razor blades: if they are dull, they are easy to replace.

In any case, the wheels must be large, such a scheme will allow even tall grass to be processed.

To achieve a clean cut, the diameter of the chassis is selected so that the cutting element mounted on the engine is at a distance of 3-5 centimeters from the ground.

The cutting element can be obtained in finished form, for example, use a disk from circular saw, or make your own from tool steel. To make a knife, you need a metal plate, 2-4 mm thick. The length of the knife depends on the width of the frame, but usually this figure is from 15 to 45 centimeters, with a width of about 25 mm.

In general, the mower manages up to 000 square meters. The mower can be controlled via smartphone. It can then be started earlier so it doesn't disturb the party. Through the smart app, the user can get the current status of their robot anytime and anywhere and redefine its operating conditions based on weather-related requirements.

In addition, the application displays errors, blade changes, the robot's stay and its battery status. Is the garden suitable for a robot? Anyone toying with the idea of ​​getting such a helper must first critically question whether their family and garden are right for a robot. From about 200 square meters of grass this can cost between 700 and 000 euros plus accessories, the weight starts at about eight kilograms. There are hardly any restrictions at the top. If the peat ends at the embankment, there can be problems - robots can create gradients, but when turning, they can slide and then stop.

Two options for fastening cutting elements are usually used:

  1. One long knife mounted in the center.
  2. Two symmetrically arranged knives 5-8 centimeters long.

Separately, it is worth mentioning such a design as a mechanical lawn mower. This design works on the principle of scissors. It is very problematic to make such an assembly without drawing up drawings. Here it is important to fit the rotating knives to the fixed cutting edge. Such mowers work absolutely silently, but without some experience, you should not take on the manufacture of such a design.

And when the battery runs out, the device almost always moves independently of the charging station. Anyone who chooses such a robot gets it - depending on the manufacturer - installed by the dealer or has to set it up. In any case, the operator must first think about the areas in which the robot should go. The location of the charging station must also be considered. It should be located in the center, protected from heavy rain and sunlight, and provide access to a power outlet.

Laying the mandatory perimeter wire with plastic nails also governs the laity. Only model-dependent distances to bed limits, paths or sensitive plants must be observed. In the operating instructions, the characteristics are usually well described. The wire loop is no longer visible after a few weeks as it grows onto the lawn.

Additional elements

To prepare the mower for work, you need to install the control knobs and the starting device to start the engine. Handles can be taken from a baby stroller, and a start button from household appliances, from where you previously borrowed an engine.

In principle, apart from a simple comparison of technical data and appearance, a few additional considerations are useful: can the charging station be installed anywhere in the garden? Replacement blades are not expensive, but the battery can be expensive if it needs to be replaced after a few years.

Nowadays, almost all well-known garden equipment manufacturers have at least one lawnmower robot in their product range. But will robotic mowers actually replace manual grass cuttings? The test of the robotic lawn mower revealed big differences in price and performance.

You also need to take care of security. To do this, a protective cover is installed in the upper part of the frame. This element can be made from sheet iron. The guard prevents grass from scattering and protects you from flying parts in the event of a mower breakdown. Please note that if you plan to create a two-wheeled mower, then the protective cover must also be located at the bottom. This will prevent leg injury.

Here's How Robotic Lawn Mowers Work

The inconspicuous, flat car stretched as if it had magically made footprints in the leaves and retracted a neatly trimmed sword. Lawn robots are becoming more and more popular. Lawn robots are powered by an electric motor that is powered by a battery of energy. At the base station, which connects to the mower via radio, gardeners charge their batteries themselves and then get back to work. Even if the rain suddenly sets and makes mowing impossible, it will be registered and the robot will return to the charging station.

Homemade lawn mowers are in no way inferior in performance to factory models. At the same time, the cost of their production is minimal.

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On a suburban area, which is intended primarily for recreation and only secondly for harvesting, it is difficult to do without a lawn mower. Even a do-it-yourself electric lawn mower makes it much easier to care for the site in comparison with a scythe.

The area to be bevelled is limited by the conductor, which must be laid just above or below the turf before being put into service, depending on the device. You can do it yourself or have it done by a specialist. In this area, lawn robots then move their footprints on their own.

Perfect turf without bending your toe

Therefore, robotic mowers can glide across the lawn every day, and the green is always optimally trimmed. In addition, you have no problem cleaning up the clippings, praises the product tester. The tips of the grass can remain lying down.

Robot mowers in the test: not all scythes are "good"

This has its price.

Electric Lawn Mower Application

An electric or petrol lawn mower can hardly be called a necessity.

And yet, it helps to make a neat lawn, which is not just a well-groomed and eye-catching site, but also speaks of the status of its owner. Finding an electric lawn mower that matches your preferences is not a problem nowadays.

These shortcomings when mowing can occur

“The robots drive long and often, sometimes for several hours every day,” the testers said. So that automatic garden helpers can do their job, so the lawn must always be free of obstacles, because even pine cones or fallen fruit can become an insurmountable obstacle. In addition, some mowers have injured the swan on haunted lawns.

All devices have problems. “Round all the edges of the lawn with a few centimeters of stone slabs at the height of the turf,” product testers guess. "Otherwise you'll have to work with the trimmer." However, how clean the robots mow the edges of the lawn is also highly dependent on how well and carefully the conductor is laid.

However, such a pleasure will cost a lot, so for many, a do-it-yourself electric lawn mower is a more attractive option. To assemble the much-needed electrical homemade design you need to spend only a few evenings, easily finding a medium-power motor on the farm: from a chainsaw, a vacuum cleaner, a drill, even a washing machine.

Safety risks of lawnmower robots

No device received a "satisfactory" result. "Out of eight mowers, none is sure you want to know him unattended in the garden," draw commodity testers with a sobering conclusion. Inspectors recommend that if children often play in the garden, it would be better to do without robotic lawn mowers. "Not every device stops reliably when it hits obstacles, and sometimes the blades continue to work if you lift the device in the wrong place." The blades worked too long when the device was turned off.

A home-made electrical device allows you to save a lot and enjoy creativity.

What is an electric lawn mower made of?

Of course, the most important part of it, including a homemade electric lawn mower, is the motor. Engines are capable of converting energy into any other form of mechanical energy.

Maintenance and care of lawnmower robots

On the other hand, you don't have to worry about excessively high costs for Maintenance and maintenance with the help of lawn robots. Once a week you should clean your mower and change blades every few months. This is usually easy and replacement blades are available for a few euros, reassure testers. The most expensive consumable is the battery. It needs to be replaced every few years. For eight testers, the cost ranges from 71 to 415 euros. To save a costly battery, you should make sure the state of charge and temperature are within the manufacturer's storage recommendations, especially if it's not being used for long periods of time in the winter.

They are divided into primary, which convert energy resources into mechanical energy, and secondary, which convert energy that is produced by other sources:

  • chemical energy of fuel - internal combustion engine;
  • fuel, i.e. during fuel combustion - a piston engine;
  • igniting the compressed air mixture in the cylinders - gasoline;
  • working due to the ignition of pressurized fuel - diesel, which is distinguished by low cost and the possibility of long-term operation;
  • gas, functioning due to the supply of heat (with a constant volume);
  • electric.

When choosing a motor, you need to know that the quality of the haircut directly depends on the engine speed: the higher this value, the higher the quality. That is, it depends on the linear speed, which is in direct proportion to the speed of the cutters: the higher it is, the greater the grip.

It is known from practice that the best option is a self-made electrical design with the following characteristics:

  • motor power 1 kW;
  • number of revolutions - 1.5 thousand rpm;
  • capture - 50 cm. Will mow weeds and a less powerful engine - 500 kW (1500 rpm). But doing so will make it worse. At the same time, for low-power motors, knives become dull faster.

The electric mower has a convenient control handle and knives. Since the homemade design is powered from the mains, a long cord is needed. To make it convenient to work, you can’t do without wheels, which are attached to the bottom of the frame, which holds all the parts together.

For convenience, a protective cover is used.


Where to find details

For an electric mower, a motor with a power of 500 W or more from outdated household appliances, which is in working condition, is suitable. It can be a vacuum cleaner, drill, chainsaw, grinder or washing machine.

The greater the engine power (ideally 1 kW), the more work homemade device will be at lower speeds. Therefore, the knives will become less blunt.

In addition, the capture area depends on the motor power, i.e. the area cut by the knife at a time.

The size of the homemade electric mower and the diameter of the knife, which is also considered one of the main parts, the quality of which affects the result and service life, depend on the chosen engine.

What should be a homemade knife?

So that the knife does not need to be sharpened often, it is recommended to make it from high-quality steel. They sharpen it to protect the motor shaft from damage, unevenly: they sharpen the edges sharply, without touching it in the place where it is adjacent to the shaft, since the grass is practically not cut off in this place, but only wound onto the knife.

Tool steel strips 20-50mm wide and 2-3mm thick is a suitable starting material for this part. Although a thick knife is stronger, a thin blade cuts weeds better.

The knife can be:

  • a strip, the ends of which are sharpened and perform knives;
  • consist of two knives fixed at an angle of 180 degrees with respect to each other. They can be located directly or with an inclination.

In the first variant, the length of the knife and the width of the grip are equal - 30-50 cm. The length of the knives used in the second case does not exceed 50-80 cm. There are several ways to fasten the knives - with one or two bolts. More reliable, of course, the second option. But knives fixed with a single bolt can, if an obstacle arises, fold without deforming or breaking.

In shape, it can be straight, curved (like branded electrical devices), figured (in the shape of a trapezoid). A part sharpened at both ends can be solid with a hole in the center for a screw.

The knife may be a composite structure, i.e. attached to the steel strip by welding or bolts with a sharply sharpened piece. The most unusual will be a knife, which is a sharpened solid disk.


Such a knife is the safest: an ordinary one, if it hits a stone, can break, but this does not threaten the disk.

The handle of a homemade electric mower


The handle can be made of any length and shape - at the discretion of the master. In practice, a chassis from a baby stroller is often used, which solves three problems at once, since it serves as a frame, handle and wheels at the same time. If there is no stroller, it is made from pipes or garden tool cuttings.

Whatever the handle is made of, the main thing is to choose it correctly according to the height of the person who uses the lawn mower. Its optimal length is about 90 cm.

At the final stage, a cord is connected and a net is installed that protects against cut weeds. The mesh is attached over the lawn mower. This completes the work on assembling the lawn mower, and you can proceed to its testing.

wheels

Wheels provide convenience during the work, allowing the mower to move easily. It has already been said that the best option for choosing wheels is a baby stroller. But, wheels from a vacuum cleaner, a large children's machine are also suitable. As a last resort, they are carved from wood.

Video: Homemade lawn mower

The diameter of the wheels for a homemade electric mower is selected based on the fact that the distance between the ground and the knife is 5-6 cm. This height is optimal in terms of aesthetics and the quality of lawn mowing. With a higher cut of grass, the latter “breaks” and the lawn becomes uneven. If this value is reduced, it is dangerous to work due to the unevenness of the ground.

There is no consensus on the required number of wheels. It can be 2,3 or 4 wheels.

Two wheels of a design give maneuverability, allow even in hard-to-reach places cut grass. Yes, and finding them of the same diameter is easier than 3 or 4.

In the latter case, it is possible to very accurately set the distance to the ground of the knives. In a three-wheeled device, a pair of wheels is located on the side of the handle, so that the structure can be easily lifted from the front and made a U-turn by pressing on the handle.

It is more difficult to work with small wheels, which is why it is recommended to choose a larger diameter.

Additional options

These include:

  • height-adjustable handle;
  • grass catcher for collecting mowed weeds;
  • safety bumpers, thanks to which the knife does not come into contact with the ground.

Power cord

The cord is also suitable for any household appliance. If its length is short, extension cords will help to connect it to the mains.

Frame manufacturing

The frame is made of thick plywood or metal. In order for the home-made design to be safe and less likely to need repairs, a protective cover is also needed. best material there will be metal to make it.


The size of this part depends on the length of the knife. But, rarely, when the maximum width is made more than 60 cm. Taking a sheet of metal with a thickness of at least 3 mm, cut out a square of 50x50 cm (or 60x60 cm). The hole for the engine must be made in the center (at the intersection of the diagonals of the square).

The flanged motor is mounted from below directly to the self-made frame. To securely mount the motor with lugs, you will need additional mounts to be welded to the frame.


The metal frame is more reliable and less prone to deformation. But, if there is no metal, you can make it from plywood or board.

The cover is necessary to prevent weed cuttings and other debris from getting on the motor shaft. The simplest option would be to use a tin can as it. If there is a desire to make the casing can be more aesthetic. The high casing will also protect the electrical mechanism.

Collecting a lawn mower

For assembly you will need the following tools:

  • welding machine;
  • hacksaw for metal.

The finished casing is put on the shaft, then a sharpened knife is installed, fixing the entire mechanism with a bolt. When this is done, wheels are attached to the frame, for which corners with pre-drilled holes must be welded to it.

The size of the wheels is selected in such a way that the knife passes above the ground at a height of 5-7 cm. If it is lower, it is more likely to contact the ground, and if it is higher, weeds will be crushed (not cut).


The frame is made in a curved shape. An example would be a homemade device from a drill, where a wide knife is attached instead of a drill. The drill is fixed on the handle of the frame.

The advantages of such a device include:

  • lack of connection of the power cord, since the mechanism of the drill is used;
  • Possibility of trimming the grass near the curbs and under the trees.

It is not difficult to come up with an attachment to the frame of the drill, but in terms of the duration of work and reliability, a home-made lawn mower based on it will be inferior at times asynchronous motors which are more commonly used for this purpose. Therefore, for the care of large areas, they prefer the latter.


A drill is more suitable if you need to assemble a homemade trimmer.


From a chainsaw

In this case, a chainsaw motor is installed on a special frame frame welded from pipes, knives are attached. Powerful engine such a homemade lawn mower copes not only with grass, but also with small shrubs.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade lawn mower designs

They depend on the parts used for assembly.

The main benefits include:

  • environmental friendliness;
  • cheapness (since you can use any household appliance);
  • noiselessness (if using an asynchronous motor).

Low noise is undoubtedly an important indicator, but given that any lawn mower, including a homemade one, makes it incredibly easy manual work, it can be endured, so any other motor will do.

It is not advised to use the engine from a vacuum cleaner due to its rapid overheating. If there is no other, you can use it. And fight overheating with the help of the right casing, made of metal mesh or having holes for air circulation.

The disadvantage of a homemade tool is a knife that is not adjustable in height. But, with certain skills, this can be corrected.


Safety during operation

Safety precautions must be observed both when working with a factory-made lawn mower and a home-made one, since they have knives and the tool works from the mains.

It is important to check the following before connecting the instrument to the network:

  • reliability of fastening of bolts;
  • sharpness of knives;
  • wheel free play.

On the site to be processed, it is advisable to collect everything that can cause a breakdown of a home-made structure and injure a person managing it: wooden bars, stones, garbage. There should be no children or pets in the area.


Device usage

The lawn mower is pushed in front of you, turning off, if necessary, stopping the power supply by pulling the cord from the socket, but without pressing the button located near the engine. Mowing wet grass is strictly prohibited.

Repair and cleaning is carried out only after disconnecting the lawn mower from the mains and its complete cooling. If the rules are followed strictly, a homemade device will last for many years.

To help those who decide to assemble a lawn mower with their own hands, the video is given below.

To assemble the home-made design needed on the farm, they often use a vertical shaft lawn mower engine, which is also used for boats and cultivators.

One- and two-cylinder engines are used, in which the shaft is located vertically, also for drilling rigs and motor drills, mini tractors, watering motor pumps, concrete joint grinders, woodworking equipment and concrete cutters. From these installations, they can be borrowed to assemble a homemade electric lawn mower.

Video: DIY lawn mower