battery leaf blowers

[WinterDeere]

"Bosch M18?" I see you're trying to blend your Bosch with Milwaukee quality!

lol... sorry. yeah, I've owned so many of both, that I probably mixed up the branding. Bosch = "CORE18V". Same difference, 18V Li-Ion technology.

You'd probably fare better with a Bauer than a Bosch, lol!

? I've been very happy with my Bosch 18V tools. They're pretty beat up after 15 years of constant use, but they keep ticking.

The drill has been overheated several times, I sometimes tend to use the tool that's close at hand for bigger jobs than it was designed, rather than going to fetch a bigger one. But the thermal switch seems to do a good job of protecting it, it always comes back to life with no apparent degradation.

349.00 dollars?

Only $80 more than the DeWalt. I don't care about $80 on a tool I'm going to keep for 10 - 20 years. I've spent far more on other handheld power tools.

 

[TractorGunn]

lol... sorry. yeah, I've owned so many of both, that I probably mixed up the branding. Bosch = "CORE18V". Same difference, 18V Li-Ion technology.


? I've been very happy with my Bosch 18V tools. They're pretty beat up after 15 years of constant use, but they keep ticking.

The drill has been overheated several times, I sometimes tend to use the tool that's close at hand for bigger jobs than it was designed, rather than going to fetch a bigger one. But the thermal switch seems to do a good job of protecting it, it always comes back to life with no apparent degradation.


Only $80 more than the DeWalt. I don't care about $80 on a tool I'm going to keep for 10 - 20 years. I've spent far more on other handheld power tools.

Just kidding you about Bosch/Bauer.

I was surprised to see the Milwaukee for 199.00 with 2 batteries, and free shipping though.

My Stihl works well, but if it blew up, I'd go with the Milwaukee since I have a lot of its tools and batteries. My husky weed whacker started giving me fits, so I got the Milwuakee and it is too easy to plug and go with that thing.

 

[WinterDeere]

IMHO, Ryobi is a tad underrated.

Agreed, with caveats. I've bought two Ryobi tools in my life, and both were crap, but also both got the job done.

After killing at least three DeWalt 4" or 4-1/2" angle grinders in the 1990's, I decided it really wasn't worth spending much on angle grinders any more. If I'm going to throw them away after a year or two, making them almost desposable tools, I might as well just buy cheap ones. So, I bought a Ryobi.

The very first time I used the Ryobi, the spindle lock snapped. It was about 8 minutes old, so I took it back to the store and got a replacement. But it's replacement is still running today, 25 years later! That's probably 15x the average lifespan I've seen from the DeWalts I used to buy.

Full disclosure, I've since snapped the spindle lock on the second Ryobi, the casting around it just a terrible weak design. But the motor and gears keep turning, and I keep using it!

 

[scootr]

Agreed, with caveats. I've bought two Ryobi tools in my life, and both were crap, but also both got the job done.

After killing at least three DeWalt 4" or 4-1/2" angle grinders in the 1990's, I decided it really wasn't worth spending much on angle grinders any more. If I'm going to throw them away after a year or two, making them almost desposable tools, I might as well just buy cheap ones. So, I bought a Ryobi.

The very first time I used the Ryobi, the spindle lock snapped. It was about 8 minutes old, so I took it back to the store and got a replacement. But it's replacement is still running today, 25 years later! That's probably 15x the average lifespan I've seen from the DeWalts I used to buy.

Full disclosure, I've since snapped the spindle lock on the second Ryobi, the casting around it just a terrible weak design. But the motor and gears keep turning, and I keep using it!

I havent found a tool yet that can't be destroyed. The exception is my Milwaukie Hole hog. That fuker will break your arm before it quits.

 

[WinterDeere]

My Stihl works well, but if it blew up, I'd go with the Milwaukee since I have a lot of its tools and batteries.

Yeah. If I had to start over today, Milwaukee would definitely be at or near the top of my list, too. A buddy of mine bought a large Milwaukee 18V kit with like 10 tools many years ago, and they've all been great. The Bosch's fit what I was doing better, at the time I bought them, being a little more compact and ligher on a model by model comparison. But usage patterns change over time!

 

[TractorGunn]

Agreed, with caveats. I've bought two Ryobi tools in my life, and both were crap, but also both got the job done.

After killing at least three DeWalt 4" or 4-1/2" angle grinders in the 1990's, I decided it really wasn't worth spending much on angle grinders any more. If I'm going to throw them away after a year or two, making them almost desposable tools, I might as well just buy cheap ones. So, I bought a Ryobi.

The very first time I used the Ryobi, the spindle lock snapped. It was about 8 minutes old, so I took it back to the store and got a replacement. But it's replacement is still running today, 25 years later! That's probably 15x the average lifespan I've seen from the DeWalts I used to buy.

Full disclosure, I've since snapped the spindle lock on the second Ryobi, the casting around it just a terrible weak design. But the motor and gears keep turning, and I keep using it!

One time I ran to town to get a nice hammer drill for a remodel job I was doing. So I got the corded Milwaukee (M18 just came out, so, I got a corded one).

Went back to the job, put the bit in it, plugged it in, and it wouldn't touch the concrete, got really hot. So I took it right back to Home Depot. Then I went to Lowe's and got a nice Bosch, and that thing rocks. First time I ever got a bad Milwaukee.

Lol, I was talking on a Milwaukee forum or tool, review or something about this, and some over-zealous Milwaukee *jerk* told me I was full of crap, was talking "smack" about Milwaukee, and went off like some tyrant.

Uh...

 

[JeepHead]

I have a large collection of Dewalt 20v tools and they have served me very well. Some of them are over 10 years old and I have yet to have one break on me despite heavy use. I purchased the Dewalt Die grinder a year or so ago and wish I had opted for the Milwaukee die grinder instead as it seems more user friendly than the Dewalt model.

 

[TractorGunn]

I'm eventually going to get an M12 ratchet. Anyone here have experience with cordless ratchets?

 

[JeepHead]

I'm eventually going to get an M12 ratchet. Anyone here have experience with cordless ratchets?

I think anything made by Milwaukee nis a safe bet if that's what you're wanting. My cordless ratchet recently failed after many years of use (I dropped it on concrete). It was an AC Delco and worked very well for a fraction of the cost of Dewalt/Milwaukee.

I am going to try this one I think. Amazon Link

 

[TractorGunn]

I think anything made by Milwaukee nis a safe bet if that's what you're wanting. My cordless ratchet recently failed after many years of use (I dropped it on concrete). It was an AC Delco and worked very well for a fraction of the cost of Dewalt/Milwaukee.

I am going to try this one I think. Amazon Link

Yeah I'm thinking Milwaukee. I'll have to get the M12 batteries though since I only have M18 batteries.

 

[jyoutz]

I’ve had a Makita leaf blower for about 3 years and I’ve been very happy with it. It takes 2 18V batteries and the kit comes with the blower, charger, and 4 batteries.

 

[kenmbz]

I have the M18 single battery blower for small debris.
It goes through batteries fast, but for enclosed areas, decks and pool area, it does most of the work.
I switch to the gas ones for the driveway and large areas.
I even use it sometimes to clear out the needles from the christmas tree from the living room to the outside deck.
Ok for blowing light snow off cars etc.