Black & Decker CM1836 18-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
June 4, 2010 by
Filed under Lawn Mowers
- Cordless electric lawn mower with integrated 36V battery for cutting lawns up to 1/3 acre
- Produces zero emissions; includes Energy Star rated charger
- 1-touch adjustment quickly changes height on all 4 wheels simultaneopusly
- 18-inch deck size; weighs 64 pounds
- 2-year limited warranty; includes rear bag assembly, mulch plug, safety key, battery charger
Black & Decker CM1836 18-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
I have been on the lookout for a mower that is especially good for mowing grass. Unfortunately, gas-powered mowers emit fumes that cause me to become dizzy and nauseous after a few hours, particularly within the confines of a garage with all the doors closed and the mower running. I have tried manual push mowers, however after suffering a stroke due to a combination of physical exertion and diet pills my doctor has advised against them. I am also barred from using a riding lawn mower due to a lawsuit from my homeowners association.
After reading the reviews on several electric mowers, I selected this one mainly because it was a Black & Deckard and I thought the battery might be interchangeable with the one in my power drill. As it turns out this is not the case, so if you are thinking the same then do not purchase this mower for that reason! However this mower will mow grass to the specified length just as good as any gas-powered mower that I have ever used.
However if you are going to use this mower, obey all safety warnings because these mowers are dangerous machines! On my third time out with the mower, I was slightly hazy from some Ambien taken earlier in the day and did not notice running over my 14-year-old son’s foot until hours later when the police came to question me. By that time the charge on the battery had long since died so I was incapable of doing harm to anyone else while I pushed the mower up and down my yard, still under a medicated trance. Obviously the lesson from this is to stay more alert while on medication, particularly when operating a dangerous machine.
However this is not a complaint specific to the Black & Deckard mower, but to all mowers in general. I am otherwise very satisfied with this mower, although I took one star off because I do not like the orange color of the housing although if you like that color you may well deem this a five star review with guns blazing.
Rating: 4 / 5
Best mower that I’ve owned. Starts up easy and runs over my lawn great (I don’t have really long grass). The bag doesn’t get in the way of mowing and it’s easy to disconnect. This is a great mower!
Rating: 5 / 5
This mower has met all expectations. The mower was ready for service upon arrival plus a 24 hour charge. My lawn is about 6000 sf and I was able to mow all the first time I tried. The weight is not bad. It takes a good bit of push to complete this slightly sloping lawn. At this early stage I have not tried to see how long it will continue on one charge.
Rating: 5 / 5
This mower gets the job done!
One charge is enough to cut my yard (a little over 1/4 acre). My back yard is a little uneven and it does have some trouble with handling the bumps, but I just take it a little slower and works great. Also, it isn’t as powerful as my previous gas models but as long as you don’t let your grass get too long you shouldn’t have any issues with getting the job done. The few negatives are greatly outweighed by no gas and no emissions!
Rating: 4 / 5
After searching (and searching, and searching, and searching…) for information and good reviews on cordless mowers, I finally bit the bullet and bought this one. Having had the mower for almost a month and used it three times to mow the lawn, I’m now convinced that I made an excellent decision.
The mower has plenty of power to handle a typical lawn. In truth, the first time I used it, it seemd to be a little sluggish on the longer grass I encountered near the end of the mowing the back yard. The next two times I used it I did nopt experience this however. I chalk this up to my being over-anxious to use the mower the first time, and probably not charging it as much as need be. (But honestly… aren’t you the same way with new tools, gadgets and toys?)
Coming out of the box, the mower sets up in just a couple of minutes. It is easily configured for use and reconfigured for vertical storage at the end of every job. I have only used the mower as a mower/mulcher, so I can’t speak to the effectiveness of the cut grass bag. It seems very sturdy, though, and I have every reason to believe that it would be as highly functional as the rest of the mower.
One of the features I didn’t give much credence to when I bought the mower is the electric braking on the blade. When you release the “dead man” handle to stop the mower, the blades stop in less than two seconds. This brings a great peace of mind when my 18-month old son runs toward me and the mower. I simply let go and the mower comes to a screaching halt. Starting up again is as easy as pushing a button while pulling the dead man handle again.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this mower to anyone looking for an energy-friendly, solid, workhorse of a machine.
Rating: 5 / 5