The Craftsman 37051 electric mower is a popular model for smaller lawns within 100 feet of an electrical outlet. It's easy to operate and a very good value.

Powered by a 12-amp Black & Decker electric motor, the Craftsman 37051 (Sears item 07137051000) has features in common with most comparable mowers but at a slightly higher price. However, the model includes a side-discharge chute at no additional cost. For homeowners who don't want to bag and don't really need the mulching feature, the side-discharge method is the way to go.

We found that starting this mower was about as easy as it gets. Release the safety switch, press the start button and you're ready to mow. A handy lever on the right side of the mower handle controls the motor speed and engages and disengages the blade.

The mulching feature is straightforward. Remove the rear bag and the mulch door swings down to trap grass clippings in the deep mower deck where they circulate to be recut. The fine cuttings then drop into the lawn where they become fertilizer -- recycling at its finest.

For folks who prefer to bag their clippings for a compost pile or other disposal, the bag (included) holds 1.8 bushels of grass, though we recommend that you don't let it fill up more than about half before emptying it. The weight of a full bag can move the mower's center of gravity and make handling the mower on inclines a little tricky.

Remember that corded electric lawn mowers require an outdoor cord of 14-gauge (medium) or 12-gauge (heavier) that must be drug around to power the mower. We recommend that you don't use an electrical cord longer than 100 feet as power drops off dramatically at that point and can underpower the motor. If a 100-foot electric cord will handle the whole cutting job, the Craftsman 37051 is a very good choice that can keep your lawn trim for many years with minimal effort at low cost.


Pros: No gasoline needed, relatively quiet, good value
Cons: For smaller lawns only, more expensive than other electric mowers, you have to watch for the electric cord

Warranty
2 years