I need a leaf blower. I know nothing about it.

[slugg]

I was hoping Hyundai or Kia would sell me a leaf blower with a 100k mile warranty, but they refused.

I just need something cheap and reliable for light, home duty. I'm not running a lawn service business. I'm also a lousy mechanic, so I'd prefer something that's somewhat bullet proof.

What should I look for and what should I pay?

 

[mmntech]

For light duty, an electric one will do. Black & Decker and Toro make a good ones. Zero maintenance. Just get corded instead of cordless.

 

[slugg]

freaking cords... uhg!

 

[satyajitmenon]

freaking cords... uhg!

Not as bad as you might think.

I've got a Toro Blower Vac with a 100ft extension cord. Pretty easy to use.

But if range/distance is an issue, nothing beats a gas blower. Not much noisier than an electric one, but more expensive initial outlay.

 

[Greenman]

Electric is what you need. I have a Toro that works well. I think it sells for $39. If you get serious and go with a gas model, buy a Stihl.

 

[AmdEmAll]

Get a Stihl gas

 

[radtechtips]

Get one that sucks and blows

 

[Vincent]

I've been pretty happy with my cordless Ryobi:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-On...s-Blower-Sweeper-P2102/202042150?N=5yc1vZbxav

The included battery doesn't last very long but I have a second one. I use it for blowing off the sidewalks and driveway. It's not powerful enough for clearing leaves from the lawn.

 

[boomerang]

Your first decision is handheld or backpack. Yeah, I know that you're thinking commercial by going backpack but it doesn't take more than 10 minutes of usage with my handheld before my fingers go numb and tingly from holding it. It's the vibrations that do it. A price range would be nice to know too. Cheap is a very subjective term.

I am very fond of Stihl products.

 

[smackababy]

Just don't get one that sucks! Pun totally intended. >_<

 

[deadken]

I can't even imagine using an electric leaf blower. My property is 80x100 and I can't imagine anything but gas. In the time I set up the cord, and cleaned up the cord, I'd have most of the entire job done with my gas powered blower. I have a Stihl, and I'm pretty happy with it.

If you are going to consider an electric leaf blower, I'd look into a Craftsman (maybe others make them) Shop Vac / Blower. They designed the shop vac so that the motor un-clips from the Vac housing and then you use it with the tubes (part of the vac attachments) as a blower. I haven't used one, but after seeing it, I figured that if I ever needed a Shop Vac or an electric Blower, I'd look into one of those.

Having said that, I would NOT consider one of those buy gas engine and add different garden attachments to it (edger, blower, weed whacker, etc...). I saw one made by Toro (who makes my weed whacker) and the attachments didn't save you much money over buying a dedicated machine for each task (Ie: $100 for a weed whacker attachment, $120 for a whole new weed whacker (same Toro brand)).

 

[radtechtips]

Having said that, I would NOT consider one of those buy gas engine and add different garden attachments to it (edger, blower, weed whacker, etc...). I saw one made by Toro (who makes my weed whacker) and the attachments didn't save you much money over buying a dedicated machine for each task (Ie: $100 for a weed whacker attachment, $120 for a whole new weed whacker (same Toro brand)).

I have one of these but Stihl brand and it did save me some money plus it's very convenient if I have to take it somewhere cause its breaks down into half size.