Yard? Leaf Blower - electric. Which one?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
I hate maple trees theya re constantly dropping something, the helicopters being one

Yes, but there are few trees more beautiful, Bill. I have at least two varieties here, in the fall one turns a bright yellow/orange, and the other a fiery red.

Stunning.

It's the pines that I dislike, growing like weeds.

[TerryH]

Consumer Reports recommends two electrics, both Toro's.

Toro Ultra Blower 51598 $75
Toro Super Blower 51591 $60

[matthew-s]

I have the Toro Ultra Blower (I am about to go outside an use it). It is fantastic if you are close enough to an outlet. Very powerful. I have used the gas ones before, this does not leave me wanting for a 2-stroke.

[Por_sha911]

Originally posted by kach22i
I was looking these up recently and read that the 2-stroke back-pack style Husqvarna is supposed to be pretty quiet compared to some of the older stuff. I saw the 45 cc for $300 at Lowes today.

I bought this unit in the spring and its awesome. Starts right up, comfortable, quiet and powerful. I have a dozen 25-40 foot oak trees around my yard that this thing handles it.

[Hugh R]

The professional gardners around here use Echos. My brother has one and its great. I have an Echo chain saw and its great too.

[targa911S]

you want leaves i'll give you leaves! burned the old Toro out keeping up with these boys. Every leaf you see is now on the ground. Calf deep in the back.

[fastpat]

I took my Stihl up to my mothers yesterday, her yard & driveway were full of leaves, she's been trying to keep up with an electric but can't do it. The Stihl moved them all, even those she's managed to pile up with her electric.

[austin552]

With ten trees here, we have had better luck running the mower with the bag. It chops up the leaves and bags them. Just have to stop quite often to unload. I am putting two bags a week vs five on the street. I use a gas Troybuilt on the walkways and driveway.

[rick-l]

For leaves in the fall a blower is just about useless. You can blow the first 5 feet but then you have to get the rake out anyway.

[Craig 930 RS]

What is the scenario with wet leaves? Tough to blow, or not too bad?

[rammstein]

Craig, I dig your house man. Nice setup.

[Craig 930 RS]

You do? Where's my house here.......

[legion]

It used to take me 10 hours to rake my lawn alone (and another two to do the gutters by hand). It takes me five with my little gas powered blower ($70 a Wal-Mart). If my wife and I do it together with one raking the mass of leaves and the other blowing the remains, we can be done in as little as two hours.

I couldn't tolerate 7-10 minute charges. It would take me weeks to do my lawn unless I bought dozen batteries and chargers and contiually rotated batteries. I also couldn't tolerate long electric chords getting wrapped around all of our trees and trying to reach all of our roof with our two poorly-placed external power sockets.

Spend the $70 and get the bottom-of-the-line gas powered blower. Much like Porches, you get what you pay for. A better example is going to cost more.

[notfarnow]

I dunno how you guys can stand the racket.

We have 28 maple trees on our property that are big enough to tap for maple syrup, and another 15 or so smaller ones. It takes me 2 full days to rake my yard in the fall. Last year I borrowed a leaf blower, and was done in 2-3 hours but it was a miserable time... the racket drove me bonkers.

This past weekend I raked again, 2 full days but I really enjoy it,,, excpet for when my ars##ole neighbor fired up his leafblower, ruined the tranquility and effed up my zen-like state.

Side note: We don't bag our leaves, we just let them compost in the far corner of our lot. Makes fantastic soil in 2 years.

[RickM]

Originally posted by fastpat
Stihl 550 which does a very good job. The engine is a 4-stroke that burns the oil/gas mixture than most folks use in their weed trimmers and chain saws. Very quiet for the power, and no smoke.

Nice blower. I think it's a 2 stroke though...lighter and more HP than 4 stroke. If 4Mix means that it automatically injects the oil into the gas that's a real nice feature.

One technique of quieting the exhaust is to run it through the nozzle.

[Craig 930 RS]

At least you guys don't have a jack@ss neighbor who blows his frucking leaves into the street - to let the passing cars take them down and away from his property. Just freaking great to drive through 4 inches thick X 5 foot wide X 50 yard long swath of wet & decomposing cherry/maple leaves.....

[notfarnow]

That's great! Nothing like trying to brake on wet leaves!

We used to have a guy down the road who would shovel his driveway out into the street. I happen to know a guy who works for the municipal sevices, and gave him a phone call. The next week, the guy's snow was plowed righ back into his driveway

[legion]

Originally posted by Craig911
At least you guys don't have a jack@ss neighbor who blows his frucking leaves into the street - to let the passing cars take them down and away from his property. Just freaking great to drive through 4 inches thick X 5 foot wide X 50 yard long swath of wet & decomposing cherry/maple leaves.....

We blow ours into neat piles on the side of the street because that is where our city picks them up from. I always go around and blow the escapees in the middle of the street back into the piles.

[rammstein]

Originally posted by Craig911
You do? Where's my house here.......

Ooops. I guess I meant targa911s's house. I sometimes don't read words, just look at pictures. I am sure your house is very nice too.

[Craig 930 RS]

Not as leafy.