• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Leaf blower/vacuum

G

Greenman

Lifer
Any recommendations?
I generally buy pro grade equipment, but since this will be used a few times a year at home, it seems like overkill to spend hundreds on one. Unless hundreds is the price point that makes sense, I don't want to own a near useless toy.

Thanks in advance fellows.
 
I have a 3y.o. Husky backpack. IIRC ~$400. Happy with it but I've heard that they are substituting Poulan parts now. Probably Stihl next time I have to buy.
 
A little poking around suggests that even with an occasional use tool like this that quality is the best value.

Is the Stihl homeowners line any good?
 
I found my push mower did a pretty good job of picking up leaves. Obviously that doesn't help much over uneven terrain.
 
Greenman said:
Any recommendations?
I generally buy pro grade equipment, but since this will be used a few times a year at home, it seems like overkill to spend hundreds on one. Unless hundreds is the price point that makes sense, I don't want to own a near useless toy.

Thanks in advance fellows.
Click to expand...

I have a redmax backpack blower ~6yrs now ... never given me a stitch of trouble. I would say get the biggest displacement one you can comfortably afford. especially if you have a lot of leaves.
 
echo4747 said:
I have a redmax backpack blower ~6yrs now ... never given me a stitch of trouble. I would say get the biggest displacement one you can comfortably afford. especially if you have a lot of leaves.
Click to expand...

It needs to suck up and chop the leaves as well. There really isn't all that much material to be cleaned up, but I'm lazy and there is no profit in bagging leaves, so I need a machine.
 
Greenman said:
The leaves are on mulch, so a mower would be a less the optimum solution.
Click to expand...
Big leaves or small? Mine are very small and shriveled up. I can only blow them off.

Man, this post could definitely be interpreted the wrong way. 😀

I have a Stihl handheld that is about eight years old that is going strong. I use it pretty much only in the fall. Blowing leaves off the deck and the beds after the leaves drop. I do use it to blow off the zero turn several times during the season too. Grass accumulates on top of the cutting deck.

I don't know what Stihl offers that does both functions but with beds that take 33 yards of mulch, I wish I'd bought a backpack instead of the handheld. It's tiring to use that blower for as long as it takes to get the job done. It's one of those tools that is light in the beginning but not at the end. And when I switch hands, the intake brushes up against my leg or jacket and gets closed off. Really wish I'd gotten the backpack.

I've also got a Stihl weedwacker and a chainsaw that are approaching 30 years old that are giving me no troubles.
 
If the leaves are on uneven terrain, then a lawnmower style leaf vacuum wont help. You might just have to use a leaf blower to blow them out of the beds and on to a lawn where they can be handled. Perhaps by somethign like this: http://littlewonder.com/lw-vac.asp

You could try a handheld leaf vacuum but I have found the power of these to be lacking (the one I used was electrically powered and took forever). Plus, from my experience, they like to work on piles rather than sucking the leaves from where they had fallen.

The pro landscapers use truck loaders to suck/shred leaves and blow them into an enclosed box truck. After using blowers to push them into big piles.
 
NetWareHead said:
If the leaves are on uneven terrain, then a lawnmower style leaf vacuum wont help. You might just have to use a leaf blower to blow them out of the beds and on to a lawn where they can be handled. Perhaps by somethign like this: http://littlewonder.com/lw-vac.asp

You could try a handheld leaf vacuum but I have found the power of these to be lacking (the one I used was electrically powered and took forever). Plus, from my experience, they like to work on piles rather than sucking the leaves from where they had fallen.

The pro landscapers use truck loaders to suck/shred leaves and blow them into an enclosed box truck. After using blowers to push them into big piles.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it will have to be a blower then suck them up. I'm just going to buy the Stihl blower/vacuum and be done with it.
 
I see these show up, over at Ben's Bargains, from time to time. Never really heard anything bad about them, and the price seems right.

Of course, you'll have to drag a cord around behind you, with this.

WORX leaf blower/vaccum (refurb) at eBay

I'm currently using a Greenworks brand cordless mower and trimmer, and their blower/vacuum is next on my list of yard machines to buy. 40 volt Li-ion batteries, so there's plenty of power, and once I get this, I'll have a total of 3 chargers and 4 batteries, to use among 3 devices. I've been really happy with their quality, but understand that I also have a small yard (1/4 acre). Nice, not having to deal with gasoline, though! :thumbsup:
 
Greenman said:
It needs to suck up and chop the leaves as well. There really isn't all that much material to be cleaned up, but I'm lazy and there is no profit in bagging leaves, so I need a machine.
Click to expand...

If you really dont have too much material ...a mower with bagger attachment should work
 
I just bought on of these this year to replace my 15 year old blower that fell off a shelf and cracked:

http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51619-Ultra-Blower-Vac/dp/B00SBPFREU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449489217&sr=8-1&keywords=leaf+blower

For the money I spent it does a fine job. Sure, a gas powered unit would probably be more powerful but I have a small yard and this gets the job done. One thing I like about this one compared to my old Toro is that this has a metal fan blade. I use my blower's vacuum feature quite a bit to clean out the flower beds and having a metal blade is much nicer than chipping a plastic one every time you suck up a rock or something else that can't be chopped.
 
DaveStall said:
I just bought on of these this year to replace my 15 year old blower that fell off a shelf and cracked:

http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51619-Ultra-Blower-Vac/dp/B00SBPFREU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449489217&sr=8-1&keywords=leaf+blower

For the money I spent it does a fine job. Sure, a gas powered unit would probably be more powerful but I have a small yard and this gets the job done. One thing I like about this one compared to my old Toro is that this has a metal fan blade. I use my blower's vacuum feature quite a bit to clean out the flower beds and having a metal blade is much nicer than chipping a plastic one every time you suck up a rock or something else that can't be chopped.
Click to expand...

I've had one of these for a few years. I use and abuse it, and the metal impeller handles everything I've thrown at it, including wet clumped leaves and leaves with acorns intermixed.
 
I've got a corded one - Craftsman, I think. It was fairly cheap. It does a decent job at blowing leaves out the flower beds that are covered with that decorative bark stuff - when the leaves are dry, it's fairly easy to remove the leaves and not the bark. I've sucked up the leaves with it, and it did good enough for me, but it's just easier to blow them all toward one area by doing laps around the yard with the riding mower, then scoop them up and toss them in the bed of the pickup to be dumped up the road.

edit: I should have mentioned - there are a couple of areas near my barn where I'd love to use it, but I don't want to string together additional extension cords. Provided everything you want to do is within range of, say, a 100 foot extension cord, the corded one is fine. But, it has its limitations.
 
Last edited:
yardowner n00b question - why would you ever want a blower instead of a vacuum? Doesn't a blower only do half the job?
 
It's faster to blow it into a pile and scoop said pile into the trashcan. Even faster is when they're on the lawn so you can just run the mower a few times to pick 'em up.
 
Greenman said:
Yeah, it will have to be a blower then suck them up. I'm just going to buy the Stihl blower/vacuum and be done with it.
Click to expand...

Summary:
I live on a 1/3rd acre lot that has about 120 feet worth of treeline running along the back. I bought the Stihl SH 56 C-E last year to clear out my flower beds. After two seasons with it I've found the idea of it is more attractive than the actual operation. It takes too long to suck the leaves and the bag is too small to hold much.

I find it most useful for quick touch ups (small leaf quantities) and for vacuuming leaves out of the garage and off the porch.

Observations:
- It can suck up small rocks, acorns, small sticks and small pieces of mulch without problems
- If you are sucking up wet leaves expect to clog the output tube to the bag occasionally (Keep a flat head screw driver handy)
- If you have mulch that isn't finely shredded you will end up sucking up pieces that will jam it. Which means taking the vacuum tube off and clearing out the flywheel (Keep that flat head handy)
- It's damn near impossible to empty the bag without detaching it which means more time spent
- It's quicker and easier to blow large quantities of leaves out of the flower beds and suck up with the mower
- It's not powerful enough to move big piles of leaves quickly.
- Gets heavy after a while

Conclusion:
I would probably skip the vacuum portion and either spend the same money on a more powerful hand held or most likely go with a backpack. Ideally I'd also have a cheap electric blower/vac for touch ups and garage duty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top