Homemade electric lawn mower

A lawn mowing machine is a simple device and therefore affordable for self-production.

You just need to get the main component - an electric motor from some household appliance.

From this article you will learn how to make a lawn mower with your own hands from an old vacuum cleaner.

Electric lawn mower application

An electric or gasoline lawn mower can hardly be called an essential item.

And yet, it helps to make a neat lawn, which is not just a well-groomed area that attracts the eyes of neighbors, but also speaks of the status of its owner. Finding an electric lawn mower that suits your preferences is not a problem these days.

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 home-made electric structure, you need to spend only a few evenings, easily finding a medium-power motor on the farm: from a chainsaw, vacuum cleaner, drill, even a washing machine.

A homemade electrical device allows you to save a fair amount and get pleasure from creativity.

Recommendations for use

The knife will be less likely to become dull if it is made of high quality steel.
To keep the motor shaft intact, the knife needs to be sharpened unevenly. It should be sharp towards the edge. The place where it touches the shaft cannot be touched, since the grass near the area where the knife and shaft are attached is cut rather poorly, but only gets stuck on the knife.
You can adjust the length of the handle.
The knife can be protected from contact with the ground. To do this you need to make safety bumpers.
A special collection box can be provided for mown grass.
Before turning on the unit, you need to carefully check its condition: the sharpness of the knives, the reliability of the fasteners, the free movement of the wheels.
Before work, clean the work site: remove debris, stones, and pieces of wood. They can damage the machine or injure the mower.
Remove children and animals from the work site.
When operating, push the unit away from you.
When there is a pause in operation, disconnect the unit from the power supply by unplugging the plug from the socket.
Do not work in rain or on wet surfaces.
Clean or repair the unit only after its mechanism has completely cooled down.
Experts recommend making a locking button in the device. It will operate if the knife is damaged or jammed. Here is the diagram:

What does an electric lawn mower consist 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.

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

chemical energy of fuel - internal combustion engine;
fuel, i.e. when burning fuel - a piston engine;
igniting the compressed air mixture in the cylinders - gasoline;
working by igniting fuel under pressure - diesel, which is characterized by its low cost and the possibility of long-term operation;
gas, operating 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 directly dependent on the speed of the cutters: the higher it is, the greater the grip.

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

motor power 1 kW;
number of revolutions – 1.5 thousand rpm;
grip - 50 cm. A less powerful engine - 500 kW (1500 rpm) will also mow weeds. But doing this will make him worse. At the same time, the knives of low-power motors become dull faster.

The electric mower has a convenient control handle and blades. Since the homemade design is powered from the mains, a long cord is required. To make work convenient, you cannot do without wheels, which are attached to the lower part of the frame, which holds all the parts together.

For convenience, a protective casing is used.

General characteristics

The lawn mower includes the following components:

herb collection;
body design;
wheel base;
motor.

When choosing a lawn mower, you should also pay attention to the accessories that are included in the kit. For example, some devices come with a knife and a special plug for collecting grass.

Motor

Lawn mowers can be battery-powered, gasoline-powered, or electric. The latter can operate from a household power supply and are intended for relatively small areas.

Battery-type models are equipped with a battery. Using such a device, you will have the opportunity to process an area of 6 acres with literally one battery charge.

Motor power indicators determine the speed of processing. As a rule, such equipment is equipped with engines from various manufacturers. American and Japanese engines are considered to be of the highest quality.

The low quality of Chinese-made engines is a banal and very common stereotype. Some Chinese manufacturers make engines according to the certificates of companies from Japan.

Wheels

Equipment of different prices is equipped with different wheels: needle or ball bearings, with bronze bushings, etc. The higher the price of a lawn mower, the more convenient it is to use, because such equipment is characterized by smooth running.

Also, ease of use depends on the diameter of the wheels. That is, the higher it is, the more comfortable it will be to use the equipment.

Collection of grass

There are three types of grass catchers:

plastic;
fabric;
combined.

Fabric-type grass collectors are very compact and lightweight, but they should be washed from time to time. When the cells of the mesh become clogged, an air lock is formed, which can easily cause the engine to overheat.

Plastic grass catchers are made using high quality materials. If a solid object (stone, wood chip, etc.) accidentally gets into the vessel, the body will not be damaged in any way. The plastic container is very easy to clean. Combined options are used in the most expensive devices. They combine the advantages of the varieties mentioned above.

By the way, you can make a lawn mower yourself.

Where to find parts

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

The greater the engine power (ideally 1 kW), the lower the homemade device will operate at lower speeds. Consequently, the knives will become dull less.

In addition, the gripping area depends on the motor power, i.e. area cut by a 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 selected engine.

Process of creation

The initial stage of creating a lawn mower yourself is to select parts. The most important thing is the presence of an engine. It can be taken from household appliances that are no longer in use, or it can be removed from some power tool:

drills,
vacuum cleaner,
chainsaws,
Bulgarians.

The minimum required motor parameter is 500 V. Better than 1000 V. This way you can work at low speeds. And sharpening knives will become a less common task. The selection of the engine is influenced by the diameter of the knife and the overall dimensions of the equipment. The larger the working area for it, the higher the engine power should be.

What should a homemade knife be like?

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 engine shaft from damage, unevenly: they sharpen the edges sharply, without touching the place where it is adjacent to the shaft, since the grass is practically not cut in this place, but is only wound onto the knife.

Tool steel strips 20-50mm wide and 2-3mm thick are a suitable starting material for the manufacture of 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 serve as knives;
consist of two knives, fixed to each other at an angle of 180 degrees. They can be located straight or inclined.

In the first option, the length of the knife and the width of the grip are equal - 30-50cm. The length of the knives used in the second case does not exceed 50-80 cm. There are several ways to fasten the knives - using one bolt or two. The second option is, of course, safer. But knives secured 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 (trapezoidal). The 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. a sharpened piece attached to a steel strip by welding or bolting. The most unusual knife will be one that is a sharpened solid disk.

This type of knife is the safest: an ordinary knife can break if it hits a stone, but this does not threaten the disc.

Manufacturing instructions. DIY lawn mower

Next, we invite you to talk about how to make a mower from various accessories and how to assemble it with your own hands. First, you need to form a metal frame, which will be made from a sheet with a thickness of 2-3 cm. It is cut, and then holes are made in it for the motor shaft. After this, the motor is selected and installed. It is extremely important to choose it based on the size of the knives you plan to install. When this is completed, it is worth making the knives, and then attaching them to the device. Then install the protective cover on the lawn mower, which is a strip of metal rolled into a ring (this is the blade frame). At the next stage, the selection and further installation of wheels in the mower is made. Then select and secure the handles.

From an old washing machine

To make a lawn mower based on an unnecessary washing machine, you will need:
Switch.
Fork.
Electric drive.
A pipe that will become the base for the handle.
Wheels.
Steel knives.
Electrical engine.

If you plan to make a mower out of an engine, then it is better to take a model with a power of 170 to 190 W, which is equipped with a starting relay with a special capacitor. You also need to choose good wheels. The legs should be made of steel, which has a thickness of 0.2-0.3 cm and a length of 0.5 meters. The cutting part bends slightly downward, which makes it possible to remove the shaft from getting all sorts of objects into it. The handles are made of tube so that the device is comfortable to hold. It is attached to the frame by welding. A platform pre-made from sheet metal is installed on the chassis of the trolley. For this reason, holes are made for the motor shaft. A steel grille is installed on the front part to serve as a protective function, and its lower and upper parts are screwed with bolts to which the wire is attached. The grid of such a device makes it possible to create a knife gap. The motor is attached so that the shaft fits into the hole. A pre-sharpened knife is placed on it, and a hole is made in the center. The knife should be balanced and centered. The motor is covered with a protective casing. Considering that it must be cooled when it works, there must also be holes in the casing. Wiring is attached to it, which is then fixed to the body. A metal handle should be wrapped in a rubber cover to protect it from possible electric shock.

From an angle grinder

Making a lawnmower from an angle grinder is easy. The body of the device is made from car wheels, and it also needs to be cut into 2 parts. A lid is welded to one of them, and a hole is made on the side where the front part of the lawn mower will be placed. A handle and wheels are attached to the body. Holes are made in the casing, and the device is secured to the body using bolts. It is also worth making a knife out of steel, and the edges should be sharpened as best as possible and installed as a propeller. The knife is secured to the shaft of the angle grinder, and then the nut is tightened. At the final stage, it is attached with a screw, which is installed in the nut. The switch of the device is fixed on a block, and a plug and a switch are also placed on the handle so that an extension cord can be easily connected to it, if necessary.

From an old vacuum cleaner

Another equally interesting and simple way to create a lawn mower is to transform a vacuum cleaner. First, you should make a cutter, and if you have the opportunity, use a polymer thread. It should be attached to a piece of steel, in the center of which there is a hole. Next, make a knife from a saw, and if the steel is too hard, you should soften it. After this, the workpiece should be heated as much as possible, and then allowed to cool. When the knife is made, it needs to be heated again and cooled as soon as possible. The length of the cutter should be up to 0.5 meters, and the cutting part is often sharpened at an angle of 60 degrees. The edges should be made along the edges of the knife, and the shaft opening should be as precise as possible, because in the future the cutters will have to be balanced. All structural parts must be secured to the highest possible quality. To prevent deformation of the cutter after hitting a stone, it should be made prefabricated. It is worth attaching steel knives to the base in the middle on both sides using bolts. When struck, the knife will rotate and the risk of damage will be minimal.

It is worth making a hole in the plate to be able to install the motor. It is installed in the slot and clamped with a strip of steel, and then installed across the slot and tightened with screws. It is worth removing the part where the turbine is located from the engine. You will have to install a cutting element there. From the reverse side, dismantle the turbine, and then replace it with a tin fan. To protect the motor, attach a tin casing to the plate, or you can also use the cover from the vacuum cleaner from which you removed the electric motor. Install a PCB plate with a motor placed on a wheeled chassis. At the final stage, it is important to attach the handle to the device using the brackets on which the switch is attached. Next will be connecting the cables to the engine and the power button. At the end, they should be insulated and checked to ensure that the system is functional.

From an electric drill

A mower can also be made from a simple drill, and its main components are made on a milling and lathe. But first it is worth making a load-bearing element from a steel sheet. The base is fixed with a clamp, and 6 longitudinal cuts are made in the shank. The screed should be as tight as possible, and 8 holes are made at the tip of the flange for the support plate. It is made from 0.3 centimeter steel sheet. This will be the handle of the lawn mower.

8 holes are made in it for the base, and 4 of them are required for fastening to the guide. Another 3 will be required for the cutter pad, and it’s also worth making an eccentric from steel with a gap of 0.4 cm. You need to make holes for the sleeve on a lathe, and the curtains are made from rods 1 cm in diameter. The axle and pin are made of steel, and then hardened and ground.

The axle is installed in the shackle, and the pin is installed in the rod shank. Next, a guide with a length of 5 cm is made of steel. The remaining holes are made for fastenings, and then it is worth preparing the combs and drawings of the cutter. They are then applied to cardboard and created to form a template. Afterwards it is transferred to metal and processed. Next, you need to punch holes for fastening and guides, and then harden the metal. All that remains is to slightly sand the surface and assemble.

From a gasoline saw

A DIY chainsaw lawnmower is also a good option. To do this, take a motor that should be placed on the cart. It should be made from a frame based on profile corners 2.5*2.5 cm. Its dimensions will be about 0.5*0.6 meters. Install the wheels in the corners, and also place the tire and steering wheel there. A handle is made from the pipe, the height of which can be adjusted. A hose, steering wheel and cable are attached to it. Next, screw the engine onto the frame. Secure the tire using the hole in the gearbox. Place the casing mounts on the bottom, which will become the basis of the mower. Next, it remains to install the knives using welding. This is done on the saw star, on a previously mounted pipe section.

Handle of a homemade electric mower

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

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, connect the cord and install a mesh that protects from cut weeds. The mesh is attached above the lawn mower. At this point, the work of assembling the lawn mower is completed, and you can proceed to testing it.

Chainsaw

Building a lawn mower from a chainsaw is quite simple if you follow our recommendations:

First of all, without changing anything in the design of the unit, we simply move it onto a frame measuring 50x60 cm. We advise you to first weld it from 25x25 corners. Wheels of the required diameter are attached to the edges of the cart;

Now you need to disconnect the “steering wheel” and the tire from the saw;
Using water pipes, attach the handle to the cart. We attach the “steering wheel” to it, which we removed from the chainsaw, extend the fuel supply hose and the “throttle” cable;
After this we attach the engine to the frame. Make sure that the shaft is always at the bottom;

To regulate the height of the grass to be trimmed, weld a piece of pipe 8 cm long and 5 cm in diameter coaxially onto the “star” from a chainsaw. Another piece of pipe 8 cm long and already 5.8 cm in diameter is placed on it with a gap.
The disc and blades are attached in the same way as a mower from a vacuum cleaner.

Wheels

Wheels provide convenience when working, 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 or a large children's car 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 blade is 5-6 cm. This height is optimal from the point of view of aesthetics and the quality of lawn cutting. When the grass is cut higher, 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.

The design's two wheels give it maneuverability and allow you to cut grass even in hard-to-reach places. And it’s easier to find them of the same diameter than 3 or 4.

We recommend:

Do-it-yourself lawnmower from a washing machine
How to choose an electric lawn mower
Do-it-yourself repair of electric lawn mowers

In the latter case, it is possible to very precisely 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 turned around 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.

Algorithm for assembling a mower with a grass catcher from a washing machine

They make a lawn mower from a washing machine by performing the steps in the following sequence.

A frame (platform for the engine) is made by cutting out a square of approximately 50 by 50 cm from a metal sheet.
A hole is drilled in the center of the platform for the electric motor shaft.
On the bottom side of the square, metal corners are welded around the perimeter or secured with bolts.
Install homemade wheels (for example, as in the photo below) or wheels removed from a suitable mechanism on iron gussets, or by connecting them with metal axles.
The electric motor is fixed on the platform. For a flanged one, holes are drilled in the metal, and for a regular one, racks are welded from corners under the paws, equipped with slots.
Attach the control handle.
A casing made from the lid of the washing machine is placed under the platform.
Install a self-made or ready-made knife, screwing it to the electric motor shaft.
To protect the shaft from grass, place a regular tin can under the knife.

The mechanical part is assembled after the steps taken. Then assemble the electrical circuit of the mechanism:

install the switch, fixing it in a convenient place to the handle;
connect the power cable with the plug;
install an RCD.

The final design will look something like the photo below.

If you use plywood, you will get a unit, the possible appearance of which is shown in the photo below.

The grass catcher for the lawn mower is installed at the very end. It is made in the form of a box or bag. Some options are shown in the photographs below.

It is imperative to cover the knives with a casing - this will increase work safety. You can also cover the electric motor with a casing to protect it from debris or water.

Frame making

The frame is made of thick plywood or metal. In order for a homemade structure to be safe and less likely to need repair, a protective casing is also required. The best material for its manufacture will be metal.

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 60x60cm). The hole for the engine must be made in the center (at the intersection of the diagonals of the square).

The flange motor is attached from below directly to the homemade frame. To securely fasten the motor with ears, you will need additional fasteners that need to be welded to the frame.

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

The casing is necessary to prevent weed cuttings and other debris from getting onto the engine shaft. The simplest option would be to use a tin can. If you want to make the casing you can make it look more aesthetically pleasing. The high casing will also protect the electrical mechanism.

Selection and installation of wheels

The wheels for a homemade lawn mower should not be too large, but the height of such elements to the central part of the unit, as a rule, is at least 100 mm, which ensures optimal placement of the cutters and comfortable movement of the device around the work area.

Wheels that are too small, including furniture wheels, are not able to withstand the significant weight of metal structures for mowing grass.

The correct choice of wheels is especially important when making a mechanical mower yourself, which is due to the lack of an engine. The movement of mechanical units is carried out through pushing forces applied by the operator.

When choosing the wheel diameter, the size of the lawn mower and the rotation speed of the cutters are taken into account, and the tread pattern should prevent slipping on grassy surfaces.

Assembling 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, securing the entire mechanism with a bolt. When this is done, the wheels are attached to the frame, for which angles with pre-drilled holes must be welded to it.

The size of the wheels is selected in such a way that the knife passes over the ground at a height of 5-7 cm. If it is lower, there is a high probability of its contact with the ground, and if it is higher, it will crush weeds (not cut).

Lawn mower based on an old washing machine

As you know, Soviet “washing machines” were stamped from strong metal. Their engines are optimally matched in terms of performance and power for the intended lawn mower.

The superior steel body will act as a defensive skirt and guide when flipping the grass to the side.

It also uses two pulleys and a belt that transmits impulse from the engine to the knife mechanism. The motor is mounted on the platform and connected to only one phase.

Such a unit will work in an area near the house, since it is connected to the network with an electrical cord. To make the device more mobile, a special coil wire is used - an extension cord with a cross-section corresponding to the power of the motor. Its minimum length is 40 m.

Electric mower made from a drill

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

The advantages of such a device include:

lack of connection of the power cord, since a drill mechanism is used;
Possibility of cutting grass at curbs and under trees.

It is not difficult to come up with an attachment to the drill frame, but in terms of operating time and reliability, a homemade lawn mower based on it will be many times inferior to asynchronous motors, which are more often used for these purposes. Therefore, for the care of large areas, preference is given to the latter.

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

How to make your own mechanical lawn mower?

Mechanical mowers are noise-free, do not require a power source and can operate in any weather conditions. But you can fully enjoy all these features after purchasing a factory-made object, because with home-made objects you need to try a lot.

Despite the simplicity of the mechanism, it is quite difficult to create a mechanical device with your own hands. After all, the main problem is the impossibility of choosing knives, wheel and gear sizes the first time without experience.

The mower includes two types of blades: one rotates and collects grass, and the other remains stationary and cuts elongated vegetation. For full operation of the mechanism, a sufficient speed of rotation of the knives is required, which is formed using the transmission movement from gears and wheels.

Problem: how to make sure that the grass is cut using the principle of scissors? Since the working width, drum size and number of cutting elements are completely interrelated, the solution to the above problem has a mathematical direction.

This needs to be sorted out.
The diameter of the drum is determined by the size of the wheels and the diameter of the gear installed on one of them. If the wheels are mounted on one axle, then the radius of the drum will be less than the radius of the wheel. If you analyze everything, you can create conditions for methodically touching the cutting edges, between which there is grass. It is important to understand that the knives must have a special curved shape that allows for continuous cutting of the grass. In principle, the process of creating a homemade lawn mower will seem simple for people with experience in design. For those who have never encountered creating tools and don’t really want to deal with it, it’s still worth a try, because the procedure is very exciting and educational.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade lawn mower designs

They depend on the parts used for assembly.

The main advantages include:

environmental friendliness;
low cost (since you can use any household appliance);
noiselessness (if an asynchronous motor is used).

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

It is not recommended to use a vacuum cleaner motor due to its rapid overheating. If there is no other one, you can use that too. And fight overheating with the help of a proper casing made of metal mesh or with holes for air circulation.

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

Advantages of the design

There are several reasons to start making a homemade electric mower:

Low cost of the device in comparison with factory-made analogues.
Environmental friendliness of the electric motor. An electric lawn mower does not produce harmful emissions like a gasoline lawn mower.
Low noise level.
Easy to use: there is no need to store or periodically refuel.
Compact sizes.

But you should be prepared for some features:

The electric mower is not autonomous: its range of action is limited by the length of the power cord. But with a lawn size of up to 12 acres, this drawback is not particularly significant.
Limited power. Gasoline lawn mowers are usually more powerful, and the power of the electric version is also limited by wiring capabilities.
Electric shock hazard when working on wet lawn.

The homemade version is inferior to factory-made models in the following:

is not self-propelled;
there is no possibility of adjusting the height of the knife;
there is no grass collection function;

Homemade structures do not have reliable moisture insulation of live parts.

Safety precautions 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 operates from an electrical network.

It is important to check before connecting the tool to the network:

reliability of bolt fastening;
sharpness of knives;
free wheel movement.

In the area to be processed, it is advisable to collect everything that could cause a breakage of the homemade structure and injury to the person operating it: wooden blocks, stones, debris. There should be no children or pets on the site.

Precautionary measures

When using this equipment at home, you should follow safety precautions. There are only two main dangers:

Injury from knives.
Electric shock.

For this reason, you can inspect the mower only when it is turned off, and before using the device, make sure that all points where electrical wires are connected are well insulated. Moreover, it is worth collecting all the debris on a flat area where you plan to work, so that it does not cause damage to the device and does not cause injury to a person. The production is described in the video tutorial.

Where can I get drawings, diagrams and photos?

Despite the fact that all lawn mowers are made according to the same principle, there are many ideas and technical solutions that make it easier to independently manufacture such equipment or increase its efficiency.

We have prepared links to forums where users discuss the independent production of such devices, as well as share their ideas or successful technical solutions.

These are the links:

forumhouse.ru.
chipmaker.ru.
electrotransport.ru.
woodcraftsman.ru.
miracle-ogorod.ru.
blogotshelnika.ru.
krainamaystriv.com.
samodel.pro.