I assume that you are talking about a core aerator. There are several different styles of core aerators. The revolving drum style is the most common, but it is also the most difficult to use. I don't know the name of the other style.
Using the revolving drum aerator is a bit like your first experience using a rototiller over a hard clay soil that has well established sod on top. The machine tends to run away from you and it doesn't corner easily.
The approach which has worked well for me is a bit like the method that I developed for using a riding mower. Operate the device in large, overlapping ovals so that you are never (or seldom) turning sharp corners and there definitely are no 180 turns. Even so, the tiller is going to attempt to get away from you sometimes.
Just don't get over-confident. And remember that the machine will also tend to run away from you anytime that it can't bite into the soil and it tend to run over the top. The most frequent situation for this problem is when you go over tree roots.
I had the device mastered rather quickly on my first rental, and my in-laws say I ain't too bright. So you should do fine.
Good luck, Gideon
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blueman wrote
I am planning on overseeding my lawn this week and would like to rent an AERATOR and an OVERSEEDER/SLICE SEEDER. I only need to do about four thousand square feet
My first inclination was just to rent from the local Home Depot but then I started wondering about whethere there are any differences in quality and effectiviness.
So are there differences and features that I should be concerned about? For the relatively small lawn that I am doing is just going with the Home Depot likely to be good enough or should I be looking at more professional tool rental shops?