Cutting Damp/Wet Grass with a Rotary Mower

[rayj]

Have you ever been put off cutting your lawn because it hasn't properly dried out like early in the day when there has been a dew.
To avoid the clippings from sticking to the mower or the blade, try coating the inside of the lawnmower and blade with some Cooking Oil. When finished spray with some WD40 or similar as otherwise when you go to use the lawnmower on a dry lawn the clippings will stick to it.

[lynda66]

i always thought you shouldn't do it cos it pulls the grass out ....... or you'll get electrocuted

[Snadger]

If you take a leaf out of Lynda66's book.........you'd dig up the lawn and plant veggies!

[rayj]

Sorry - I should have "highlighted" that I was referring to Petrol Mowers - otherwise I will finish up with a big insurance claim against me for my (not so professional) advice!!

[lynda66]

If you take a leaf out of Lynda66's book.........you'd dig up the lawn and plant veggies!

the 'lawn' is coming along nicely, (potatoes, cauli's and broccoli so far)..... think i'll mow the rest of it tomorrow, and pull the rest of the grass up so i can plant the rest of the pumpkins, melons and courgettes lol

i'm definitely keeping my back lawn ..... god i hope i get the allotment soon lol .... or i might have to change my mind

[Kristen]

"you'll get electrocuted"

You won't get electrocuted because the lawn is wet, unless the wiring on your mower is faulty and you do NOT use an RCD - in which case you are likely to turn crispy even on a dry day!

[Two_Sheds]

I've just got me a push-mower. No chance of electrocution, but I might expire from exhaustion

[lynda66]

"you'll get electrocuted"

You won't get electrocuted because the lawn is wet, unless the wiring on your mower is faulty and you do NOT use an RCD - in which case you are likely to turn crispy even on a dry day!

it wouldn't be the first time lol ..... i've also been electrocuted by the hedge trimmers .... i really must stop cutting through wires and using sellotape to mend them ...... oh yeah and get a circuit thingy

[rayj]

Where can you buy these "circuit thingys"?

[lynda66]

dunno, that's why i haven't got one

[rayj]

That's not the answer I was expecting.
Get to the end of the queue at your favourite store, Lynda!!

[lynda66]

oh ..... do they sell them? cool ..... no doubt i'll forget all about it next time i'm in there ..... and remember next time i electrocute myself

[Kristen]

Your whole house ought to be fitted with one, let alone the extension for garden equipment.

Choiceful.com: Online Shopping for Home and Garden, Kitchen and Cookware, Outdoor Leisure, Building and DIY & more

[rayj]

What's the difference between having one of "those thingys" and having an extension lead with a "cut out" builto in or a trip switch in the house??

[Kristen]

"What's the difference"

I'm no expert, so I expect this explanation has some flaws.

An RCD detects current leakage. If the current starts to leak then it trips, and VERY quickly (milliseconds)

I think the cutout type only work when too much current is drawn - i.e. to protect the cable from getting hot / catching fire - e.g. if most of the cable is coiled up it won't be able to carry as much current as if it is unwound, and that may cause the cutout to trip.

The trip switch in the house works like a fuse - so if you SHORT the Live and Neutral it will trip.

I don't think either of those will help you if you connect the LIVE to earth - through your body, and even then they may not react quickly enough.

If you have got modern wiring you almost certainly have an RCD on your house wiring (and I believe very new wiring has RCDs on each circuit, and I think there are slightly older Regs. about having an RCD for the garage circuit [mine does]), so that would be OK. I imagine that an RCD for the whole house is going to have to be less sensitive than one for a single circuit, but even if it is very sensitive its going to kill ALL the circuits in the house, which is going to be a PITA - mind you, it might alert your spouse to your predicament!

No excuses chaps, if you are using electricity in the garden, or near water, you absolutely must use an RCD.