I'm looking for something like this:
- posted
19 years ago
I'm looking for something like this:
Looks like a worthless piece of junk to me.
Thanks for sharing. Now, where do I get something like this in the US?
Try your local Ford dealer!
I'm un-sure why you would need one of these per-say. It seems that it de-thatches (would bet rather poorly) and picks up leaves. It's only a foot wide and it would take you forever to do a 1500 square foot lawn area.
I would suggest that if you need to thatch your lawn area, rent a bluebird thatcher with a bagger on it. As far as leaf pick up in the fall.... mow them. Any bagging mower will work at picking them up or just multch them into the lawn if the the leaves arn't too thick.
If you feel that you *NeeD* one of these... then call Black & Decker and see where to order one in the us. You may also have intrest in looking at Mantis. They have a thatching attachment.
As stated by others, you want something like a Bluebird
-al sung Rapid Realm Technology, Inc. Hopkinton, MA
You can rent one from Taylor for about $40 per half day. I've done this twice over the years and am always disappointed. The ground must be very flat for them to work properly and rolling it first doesn't help. This is not due to worn parts, there's only so much that the machine can cope with.
I don't need that particular brand and model, just something like it. However the something like its that I've seen in the US so far start around $1000.
Which is still several hundred dollars more than what the lower-end ones in Europe cost brand new. Now, I'm sure that the Bluebird is bigger and better, but I'm looking for something more on the low end, affordable side, which doesn't seem to even exist in the US.
Sure it does... Buy a rake
You must have missed the word "power" in the subjectline...
I'd suggest that you research the euro suppliers of said machines and
*try* to hunt them down on this side of the pond. I would also suggest that you look to Canada as they may have more euro-type machines than the usa.I'm still at a lose as to why you want one. What is it that your trying to accomplish? Leaf pick up.. thatching..? Thatching really only needs to be done at best every 3/4 years. As for picking up leaf litter..ect, use a lawn vac or even a lawn mower.
I can understand how one can get used to a certain tool and a certain way of doing things, but it may be time to look at different options and tools.
Good luck finding that right tool for your job.
Thatching, mostly. I'd rather have a $100 machine I own, rather than spend $50 to rent one.
If ever.
Even if the one you own takes 5 times the effort of the commercial-grade rental, and is only durable enough to be used twice? And you have the storage space for a machine that'll sit unused for three or four (or more) years?
I may be going out on a limb here, but I would think that if it's this difficult to find a tool like the one you want, there's a reason for it: There's no demand for one like it. And there's no demand for it because it doesn't match the needs of consumers.
If you're really sure that this machine is such a good idea, then buy a truckload, and resell them. You already know you'll corner the US market if you do so.
Typical of asking for product advice on usenet. You'll get a few dozen responses from idiots who failed to read the post, and answer what they felt like answering, or you'll get people who tell you "don't do it this way". Like you, I've never seen anything like that, look at Black & Decker's website directly, doesn't seem like as useful of a machine as you think.
Good luck
-S
You should take a look at the power requirements for this tool. If it is made for European use, it is likely to require 230/50 power, so you would need a power converter also.
I doubt they build them for the US market. Eur> >
Didn't miss it. You said inexpensive and low-end. Can't get much lower than a rake that you power yourself. Plus you didn't specify how big a lawn we were talking about. For a small lawn like most of the new homes I see, this would be a one-hour job.
That said, somebody used to sell a thatch rake that was built like a reel mower. Not powered, but still an improvement over a rake. I thought it was Lee Valley, but I can't find it on their site.
Honda's mini-tiller also has an attachment for de-thatching, but your getting back into the 400 range.
Since this is a tool you generally don't use more than once a year, most companies don't seem interested in building anything other than a commercial grade tool. It's also tough to recommend buying something for once a year use (although find a good deal on one and I'd consider it).
My experience is that it'll be used every year. Multiple times every year if you count lending it to friends, family and neighbors.
Is the need of the American consumer really that different from that of the European consumer when it comes to lawns?
I'm guessing that wouldn't work for the same reason that small European cars don't sell in the US: Americans 'need' something big and gasoline- powered.
Again, I'm looking for something *like* it, not necessarily this model per se. A US-version of this would be good. Other brands/types would be OK too.
While I pointed to a British website in my original posting, this model is sold throughout Europe. My parent's lawn (they live in the Netherlands) isn't much smaller than mine (SF bay area), and they swear by it.
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