Cylinder Mowers
A cylinder mower shears the grass against a bottom blade, the same scissor action used on bowling greens and cricket squares. It is the right tool when you want a fine, striped finish on a lawn you keep short and level, not an all-rounder for long or rough grass.
This range covers Cobra Fortis (petrol and EGO cordless, including Fine Turf and Stadium) and Masport Olympic. Our buying guide below starts with whether a cylinder suits your lawn at all.
Cylinder mower buying guideWhen to choose cylinder, size, petrol vs battery and FAQs
1. Is a cylinder the right machine?
- Yes, if: the lawn is fine turf, mostly level, cut often and kept short. You want a scissor cut and a rear-roller stripe.
- No, if: the grass is long, rough, uneven or only cut occasionally. Use a rotary walk-behind instead, or a ride-on on larger plots.
Cylinder mowers reward regular cutting. Let the lawn grow long and you will struggle; that is a limit of the design, not a fault of the machine.
2. How fine a cut do you need?
- Domestic fine lawn: a six-blade cylinder (standard Fortis / Olympic) is usually enough for a neat home finish.
- Ornamental or sports-quality turf: Fine Turf (FT) Fortis models use more blades for a finer cut when height is kept very low.
- Pitches and large sports surfaces: Stadium 34 machines are built for wide, professional work, not a typical garden path.
| What you're cutting | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Small fine lawn | Masport Olympic 400 or Cobra Fortis 14 |
| Medium fine lawn | Fortis 17 to 20, or Olympic 500 |
| Large fine lawn / light grounds | Fortis 25 or Olympic 660 |
| Very fine ornamental / sports turf | Fortis Fine Turf (FT / FTE) |
| Wide sports pitches | Fortis Stadium 34 |
Petrol or battery?
- Petrol: familiar choice for domestic and grounds use when runtime and power matter most.
- EGO cordless (Fortis E / FTE / Stadium E): quiet, no pull-cord, useful on sites where fumes or noise are a problem. Batteries and chargers are often bare-tool or kit options; size the pack to the area.
If you already run EGO tools, a Fortis E model can share the same battery system. Ask us before you buy if you are mixing pack sizes.
Why buy your cylinder mower from us
We're a family-run garden machinery specialist at Island Road, Westbere, near Canterbury. Cylinder machines need correct set-up and sharp cylinders to cut properly; we prepare and check them in our workshop before they leave, supply parts, and handle servicing and bottom-blade work after the sale. We deliver UK-wide. Call 01227 711100 if you want a straight answer on whether a cylinder suits your lawn.
Frequently asked questions
Cylinder or rotary?
Cylinder for a fine, short lawn and a scissor cut. Rotary for general garden grass, longer growth and uneven ground. See our lawn mowers guide if you are unsure.
Will a cylinder cope with long grass?
No. Cut little and often. If the lawn has got away from you, bring it down gradually with a rotary first.
What do the Fine Turf models add?
More blades and a cut aimed at very short ornamental or sports turf. Worth it only if you keep that kind of surface.
Do you sharpen and service cylinder mowers?
Yes. Our workshop handles servicing, and cylinder and bottom-blade work is part of keeping these machines cutting cleanly.
Do you deliver cylinder mowers?
Yes, UK-wide. Local customers can collect from Westbere after we have checked the machine over.
