What do you guys think about cordless electric leaf blowers? I have small areas that I would use one on. I like the idea of no cords and no gas. I know they have limitations and limited run-time.
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Cordless electric leaf blowers?
- Thread starter pappabass
- Start date
I had one, and it was "meh". Light and convenient, but not very powerful, and of course you have to charge the battery. After a while the battery wouldn't hold a charge any more, so I gave it away. I use a corded electric one now.
Come to think of it, I had the exact same experience and same outcome with a cordless electric lawnmower.
Come to think of it, I had the exact same experience and same outcome with a cordless electric lawnmower.
I think they're great; in fact, I'm getting ready to replace my (very old) one. As you already know, they aren't quite as powerful as gas-powered ones, and you can only go so long on a battery charge, but the newer 24-volt and higher ones are evidently better on both counts than the older ones. Definitely the way to go if all you want to do is blow dry leaves off the porch, driveway, or a small piece of lawn.
Ha! I actually still prefer an old-fashioned rake for my yard. But a blower is actually much more efficient and effective than a rake or broom for clearing leaves and debris off of hard surfaces like patios, decks, driveways, and garage floors.
When we owned a home, we standardized on the EGO cordless yard tools. We had the mower, weed whacker, and hedge trimmer.
They had two batteries then, a larger one that lasted 45-50 minutes on a charge and a smaller one that would give us 20-25 minutes. The bigger one was heavier, but not to the point where it was too heavy to use for the 45-50 minutes.
We didn't have the need for a leaf blower, but I did check it out when Home Depot had a demo for it. They had a small yard set up on grass with some leaves, branches, and a bowling ball. It blew the bowling ball around at full power.
Besides the quick charge battery and being compatible with all their tools, I liked that it stayed full power until the charge ran out. The battery would start flashing orange when I had five or so minutes left to let me know, then the flashing turned red and it stopped. That I liked since it didn't gradually get weaker and weaker as the battery drained.
They have a three year warranty on the battery, but we never had issues with ours the four years we used them.
-Mike
They had two batteries then, a larger one that lasted 45-50 minutes on a charge and a smaller one that would give us 20-25 minutes. The bigger one was heavier, but not to the point where it was too heavy to use for the 45-50 minutes.
We didn't have the need for a leaf blower, but I did check it out when Home Depot had a demo for it. They had a small yard set up on grass with some leaves, branches, and a bowling ball. It blew the bowling ball around at full power.
Besides the quick charge battery and being compatible with all their tools, I liked that it stayed full power until the charge ran out. The battery would start flashing orange when I had five or so minutes left to let me know, then the flashing turned red and it stopped. That I liked since it didn't gradually get weaker and weaker as the battery drained.
They have a three year warranty on the battery, but we never had issues with ours the four years we used them.
-Mike
I never found them to be strong enough or last long enough.
I have a really cheap power one and a 100' drop cord. Works like a champ and goes as long as I do.
I have a really cheap power one and a 100' drop cord. Works like a champ and goes as long as I do.
But why clear leaves off of hard surfaces? Don't more blow in?
Well, if you really want to know.... If I don't clear the leaves off my (curved, steep) driveway, I can't tell where the driveway ends and the yard begins. If I don't clear the leaves off my deck, it will be several inches deep in leaves by the end of autumn. And I assume that clearing leaves and other crap out of the garage needs no explanation. Really, my reasons are very practical.
Yes, some leaves eventually blow back, and you sooner or later you have to do it again. I only do it when it's really necessary, though -- unlike many of my neighbors, who seem to feel compelled to do it three times a day to make sure there isn't a single leaf in view anywhere.
I'm a firm believer that if a leaf falls in my yard, it belongs there.
I don't have a cordless leaf blower (no need for one here), but I do have a cordless weed eater - and I absolutely LOVE it (or should I say the wife loves it). Ours is a Dewalt and the reviews on the darn thing were all over the place. I'd normally pass with as many negative reviews as I saw, but something convinced me to give it a try (probably all of the excellent Dewalt tools I already owned). At any rate, it turned out to be a fantastic tool. With that in mind I'd have zero issues trying a cordless leaf blower. Turns out Dewalt makes one of those too!
Never tried one, assumed that as has been said they would be less powerful and have shorter run times. I prefer plugging in and knowing every time I want to use it, it runs.
It's not my favorite activity, just part of basic maintenance.
If I position the ladder just right I can use it to clean my gutters in about 10 minutes, maybe move the ladder twice.
We have a wooded lot with lots of maple and oak trees so clearing away of leaves in the fall is a necessity if I would like grass in the spring, which I do. And using the leaf blower to clear the landscape rocks around the house is far more effective than raking, or by hand.
And after mowing the aforementioned lawn, the leaf blower is a quick way to clear all the grass off the driveway.
It's not my favorite activity, just part of basic maintenance.
If I position the ladder just right I can use it to clean my gutters in about 10 minutes, maybe move the ladder twice.
We have a wooded lot with lots of maple and oak trees so clearing away of leaves in the fall is a necessity if I would like grass in the spring, which I do. And using the leaf blower to clear the landscape rocks around the house is far more effective than raking, or by hand.
And after mowing the aforementioned lawn, the leaf blower is a quick way to clear all the grass off the driveway.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I've got no choice. If I don't get rid of them, I will have about 4 inches of them in my back yard, even after the breeze.
Yeah, the initial investment in cordless is usually higher. I can't think of a product where the cordless version is cheaper.
-Mike
I just bag everything with the lawnmower and set the bags out for the garbage man. Easy and fun.
That's all you need to know right there.
Used 'em, hate 'em. You couldn't give me one.
