Leaf Blower Recommendations (caveat: wife needs to use it ;) )

[snpower]

Greetings...

We have a Husqvarna 130BT that is probably 12 years old and dying. I generally avoid Big Box store small engines, but this unit has historically been very well reviewed. Plus I only paid $75.00 for it slightly used on Craigslist lol.

Anyway, I am a Stihl guy. My eye is on the BR350, my wife was also looking at their smaller unit (forgot the model #) but she can't pull start ANY of them. So their only option is to spend $550 and get an electric starter. Does any reputable manufacturer (Echo, for instance) make a gas blower that is truly easy to start? Does anyone use a newer model of the Husqvarana 130BT, and have you found it to be bullet-proof like our terminally ill one?

 

[Big Chief]

Same situation a few yrs ago. We had the BR 550, she could start it most times. Not much of a difference between any of them as far as starting. Put in the house if it's cold out, starts easier usually 2nd pull.
So then I sold it a few yrs later and went with the BR 800x with the side pull start so you an start it when it's on your back.
IT SUCKED TO START even for me. I just bought the traditional pull start recoil and unbolted the side pull and it easily bolted on. Starts like a traditional still blower.
As far as battery powered ones with what I use stuff for don't impress me.
Never seen a electric start back pack blower, interested in how they work.

 

[Thomas]

We use Echo PB580T easy to start and well balance and my wife small fame body.

 

[FTG-05]

Milwaukee M18 Fuel. My wife uses it all the time.

 

[TractorGuy]

IMO cordless is the only way to go these days.

Bought my wife a Works blower. It is too wimpy for blowing piles of leaves or anything but perfect for blowing off the patio and front porch. The flow is plenty for anything that blows onto those ares and it's not so strong she blows the plants and stands over. I understand the better quality blowers have a variable speed so they could be used for either purpose.

I switched to a DeWalt string trimmer last year and can't believe I waited so long to make the transition from gas. I have only had one project that required changing batteries but I went ahead and invested in a few so I'm prepared. As time goes on I plan to switch to DeWalt. In the meantime I bought a 19.2 to 20V DeWalt adapter to boost my old Craftsman stuff.

 

[snpower]

Milwaukee M18 Fuel. My wife uses it all the time.

I replaced my Stihl pole saw with Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel unit. It’s awesome. I have other M18 tools but I can’t see that blower tackling the amount of fall leaves we have with almost 3 acres, half wooded.

 

[snpower]

We use Echo PB580T easy to start and well balance and my wife small fame body.

I’m looking into this one... some mixed reviews on home depot.com.

Aren’t there always??

 

[Thomas]

I’m looking into this one... some mixed reviews on home depot.com.

Aren’t there always??

We brought our Echo at authorized dealer and they let Mrs. give it good try out...box store hmmmm.

 

[ericm979]

The Stihl electric start version of the BR450 for re-starting after you shut it off. You're supposed to pull start it when it's cold. I have the non electric start version. It's a good powerful blower. I don't find it that hard to start and I'm not a big guy. But it is heavy to get on your back. My wife could use our older Husky BT135 and could start it herself but would usually put it on the tailgate of the truck to get it on her back. The Stihl weighs about 5 lbs more. The adjustable shoulder straps help but you still gotta pick it up.

Once it's on your back though, it's a far better blower than the Husky.

We also have a DeWalt 60v DCBL772B hand held blower which is super useful for smaller jobs including blowing out the tractor radiator.

 

[RSKY]

We had the same problem, wife couldn't pull start either of my blowers. We went the cheap route and she has been very pleased. We bought a Lowes Kobalt 40-volt blower. She uses it all the time and I now use it more than my gas powered blowers. Need to blow off porch because expecting guests? Either go out and get the gas powered Stihl from the shop, gas it up, pull start it, warm it up for a few seconds, blow off porch and sidewalk, put it up, spend ten minutes getting gas smell off hands. Or, take battery from charger on wall IN THE GARAGE (I do not keep gas powered tools in the garage, only in a separate storage building. Ask me about building burning), slap it into the Kobalt, blow off porch and sidewalks, put it up, greet guests.

The battery powered blower impressed me enough that I now have a hedge trimmer that uses the same battery and will probably get the chain saw this spring. It just takes so much less time to do those small jobs that you put off. I will still keep my gas powered tools for the big jobs but.......