Leaf blowers

[fridayman]

I want to venture into the world of petrol leaf blowers. Are cheap ones worth bothering with? I would prefer not to spend $800... but don't want to buy something that won't do the job, or break in a few months time.

[Jakster1]

I had a cheap 2stroke GMC from bunnings that thing must have lasted 7 years before it finally self destructed. Only cost $99 from bunnings if I remember right and it did the job at home blowing off the driveway and concrete.
Now I just have an electric for around home. It cost $39 from bunnings and she blows hard. But it's only used around the outside of the house  and blow out the shed, garage and driveway. No need to mix fuel or ever run out of fuel or stinky fumes going everywhere.
For me the cheapies do the job.

[wilson79]

I too brought a a $99.00 GMC from Bunnings 8 years ago and she is still going although blows a little smoke now. I use it every weekend blowing down my driveway, Front and rear patio and the deck.

I have only ever replaced the plug once and have snapped the pull cord which I just shortened and put back together.

Cheers

[Jenko67]

Bought a stihl for about $240 after having the cheap brands over the years.... Couldn't recommend more highly...

[JCOJ]

I just bought a $99 Ozito one from Bunnings - its not petrol but battery operated.  Its doing the job just fine.

[Trex_s4m1]

i have an electric ozito.. it works but i will get a petrol one next time for sure. hate running leads everywhere!

[D4D]

I have an Echo PB-2100, it is a ripper, I use all the stale 2 stroke in it and it just keeps going. I am the 2nd owner, it was made in 1997, enough said

[RebsWA]

Get a Stihl

[Silvo]

Bought a stihl for about $240 after having the cheap brands over the years.... Couldn't recommend more highly...

+1

i've had one of these entry level stihl for years, absolutely no troubles with it.

[MDS69]

I have a cheap one from Bunnings (not GMC) and it works well apart from the tube falling off, nothing a screw couldn't fix. I have had it over 10 years. It is a little heavy and just quietly I am waiting for it to blow up or something so I can buy a Stihl to match my line trimmer and hedge trimmer but it just keeps going. Mine has the vac option as well which comes in handy occasionally.

[austastar]

Hi,
  I have the leaf-blower, along with hedge-trimmer and pole saw as part of the Stihl Combi tool.
Very pleased with it.
Give the garage a blow job every so often - so much easier than a broom.


It makes a bon-fire really get up and go.


Mostly used for cleaning up after mowing.


cheers

[paulo]

I bought a cheapie petrol one from Big W, 3 in 1 (suck/blow/mulch), and it's a cracker. Just watch the leaf bag and the exhaust port. I didn't notice I'd burnt a small hole in the bag. Found out when I got showered by dust and bits next time I fired it up! No biggy though.

My vote. Go the cheapie.

[fridayman]

What a great response!

I really like the idea of the Stihl Kombi, but it certainly isn't cheap. I also like the idea of having a vac/blower because there are areas e.g. around the pool that I would prefer to vac rather than blow. So it looks like I need to spend around $200 for a vac/blower, or for $100-$200 more I could look at a Stihl (2 stroke), Makita (4 stroke) or maybe an Echo (2 stroke). Hmmm... I do like my little 2 stroke Stihl saw, but wonder if 4 stroke is the way to go these days?

[builder94]

I run a 2 stroke husqvarna blower/ vac no problems at all. Cleans up all the mess the husqvarna chainsaw makes. Not brand loyal just picked them up at a good price and do all the jobs I need.

[Jeepers Creepers]

I use a 2 stroke Husky (blower only) leaf blower.

Gets used 5 days a week, week after week after week. (I'm a lawnie)

In three years, all that's gone wrong was the pull start frayed really bad near the handle/puller grip thingy, so I shortened it and its still there.

[Moto Mech]

Dolmar, 4stroke. No more forgetting to mix the fuel or smoking out the neighbours ?

[Buccan80]

I bought a Tradetools blower for $118 (normally $128) and it works a treat, I'm an ex arborist and still do a few jobs on the side and it's as good as the entry level stihls etc

[achjimmy]

Tanaka blower here with the vac kit. I wouldn't bother with the vac kit again but the blower is fantastic.

[paulo]

Price wise, my cheapie cost about $60-70 I think.

[marvellous_matt]

I've got a $12 multi stroke broom. Ultra reliable, Very energy efficient, so quiet you can use it at 7.00 on a Sunday morning with out annoying the neighbors. Can prop open tailgate while changing gas struts, shoo away stray cat. Also provides transport for the mother in law when she visits.

[Mongoose]

Stick with your rake and broom and be content with waking your neighbours one at a time.

[Matto]

I have a 2-stroke Bunnings one - it was a middle-of-the-road brand - cost a couple of hundred bucks. At the time, it was an Aus-made copy of the comparable Ryobi product, just $100 less. It's a combination blower/vac - one of the ones you can flick the lever to change between on the fly. I loved it, but it was heavy, the dog hated it and it was ridiculously loud.

After 5 years of weekly usage the vac bag disintegrated, and I can't seem to find a replacement. Bunnings have stopped stocking that brand. It's been sitting in the shed, collecting dust.

I recently bought the Ryobi ONE+ 18v blower, because I already have a bunch of the ONE+ gear. It's a great little thing. No where near the power of the petrol unit, but good enough for blowing out a patio or carport. It does chew batteries though. And you've got to be pretty specific with where you point it. The petrol one, you could just stand at one end of the carport and let her rip and you'd blow the cat out the other end. This one takes more work. I wouldn't want to try to blow out a large open area with it, you'd be there all day.

Despite all it's limitations, it's still the one I use the most. Grab a fresh battery and bang it in, and start blowing. I really miss the ability to use it as a vac though - that was perfect for dog hair. You can't blow out our patio, you just end up sitting in the midst of a hair snowstorm.

My $0.02.

Cheers,
Matto

[bodgie]

I have a Makita 4 stroke blower, IMO it is much nicer to use than a 2 stroke blower as it is a quieter and produces less nasty emissions.

[JPH]

I've had a stihl blower for years, been really happy with it. Great way to clean up after doing the lawns. I originally bought it for cleaning up building sites after framing and straightening walls.

[oldmate]

I got a good blower years ago, got married..... Yeah yeah ok familly forum.