Artificial grass electric brush diy project

[marcg]

So, I'm living in a rented house with a AstroTurf lawn whilst we build our own house nearby. Im loving the lawn and will be having one at the new place. The problem i have is the maintenance, little as it is. The current place has a large pine tree over the lawn and it drops needles which neither broom nor vacuum cleaner seem to cope easily with. Professionals seem to use "powerbrooms" such as the petrol motors stihl or there is an electric one someone is trying to sell at £200. Fundamentally all they are is a rotating drum full of long nylon bristles.

So I'm thinking to save some money by making my own using an electric cylinder mower and some nylon brush draught excluders.

Would appreciate pH wisdom on this before I start. First thoughts are I will need to remove the cutting blade that the cylinder slices against. Maybe need to reverse the wiring so as to make the brushes push rather than scrape. What about cleaning the brushes? Just thinking they might just end up full of detritus unless there is some way of knocking it off. Or maybe the brushes will just lightly catch the dirt and throw it into the grass box?

Anyway, all thoughts appreciated...

[stirling37]

marcg said:

So, I'm living in a rented house with a AstroTurf lawn whilst we build our own house nearby. Im loving the lawn and will be having one at the new place. The problem i have is the maintenance, little as it is. The current place has a large pine tree over the lawn and it drops needles which neither broom nor vacuum cleaner seem to cope easily with. Professionals seem to use "powerbrooms" such as the petrol motors stihl or there is an electric one someone is trying to sell at £200. Fundamentally all they are is a rotating drum full of long nylon bristles.

So I'm thinking to save some money by making my own using an electric cylinder mower and some nylon brush draught excluders.

Would appreciate pH wisdom on this before I start. First thoughts are I will need to remove the cutting blade that the cylinder slices against. Maybe need to reverse the wiring so as to make the brushes push rather than scrape. What about cleaning the brushes? Just thinking they might just end up full of detritus unless there is some way of knocking it off. Or maybe the brushes will just lightly catch the dirt and throw it into the grass box?

Anyway, all thoughts appreciated...

i need oneof these in my life... our lawn is quit eflat after being down for 6+ years.

[Craikeybaby]

Have you tried a vacuum cleaner with spinning bristles?

Having said that, making your own, more powerful contraption does sound more fun!

[selwonk]

I jet wash mine. If you use a shallow angle it removes all the detritus without disturbing the sand.

[Simpo Two]

Qualcast used to make a cylinder mower that you could get a lawn rake attachment for. I think you took the cutting cylinder out and replaced it with one that had lots of spring-loaded wire tines that whizzed round. These clawed out the moss and threw it at the collector.

So maybe wires rather than brushes would help to get down and dig the pine needles out rather than just bounce over the surface.

[julianm]

I had an ancient B & D lawnraker which could remove huge amounts of moss & thatch from an old lawn. Thin springy wires, possibility of changing depth of `cut`. I might be Ok for you - a new one seems to be about £80. Would be worth borrowing one for a test - try the local allotment blokes.

[Craikeybaby]

julianm said:

I had an ancient B & D lawnraker which could remove huge amounts of moss & thatch from an old lawn. Thin springy wires, possibility of changing depth of `cut`. I might be Ok for you - a new one seems to be about £80. Would be worth borrowing one for a test - try the local allotment blokes.

You can hire them from HSS, for about £10.

[marcg]

selwonk said:

I jet wash mine. If you use a shallow angle it removes all the detritus without disturbing the sand.

That is genius. Much as I like making things, I don't have a spare lawnmower so I'd have to find one. I do however have a jet wash! Will try and report back.

[marcg]

OK so finally got round to jet washing the lawn and it works perfectly. Including removing pine needles. Obviously there is a risk of making holes, but only if you are an idiot and point it at your feet. Job done, 40sqm in under an hour. Given the time of year, probably won't need doing again till autumn.