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Featured Item of the Week: Leaf Blowers
One of the most useful lawn care tools available, leaf blowers, can be used for everything from clearing sidewalks of debris (even light snow), removing lint buildup from your dryer vent, clearing away cobwebs and of ridding your lawn of the mass of autumn leaves.
There are three main kinds of leaf blowers on the market: cordless, electric and gas-powered models.
What kind of power can they deliver? This is measured by speed — miles per hour (mph) — and by volume — cubic feet per minute (cfm). Obviously, speed is important, but to get a true gauge of how powerful a blower is you need to know how much air (volume) is coming out of the machine and how fast it is moving. You could have a unit capable of speeds of 250 mph, but if it’s coming out of a small straw, you won’t have much power. The higher the mph and cfm for a unit, the more debris you’ll be able to move in less time.
From here, a number of features are available on different units to meet your needs. The following six leaf blowers illustrate the range of different models on the market. One of them should be perfect for your yard.
Cordless Blowers
Troy-Bilt Handheld Cordless Leaf Blower. Ultra compact and incredibly powerful, this handheld leaf blower can shoot air at 125 mph at a volume of 545 cfm. It has the airflow to clean up your yard after a giant oak has shed its leaves, but is small enough to maneuver so you can use it to clean up around your shop or garage. The various speeds and power boost mode further increase the versatility of this battery-powered unit.
WORX 20V Max Cordless Sweeper/Blower. For those looking for the quickest way to effectively “sweep” garage floors, patios, shops and virtually any hard surface, this light, 6.5-pound unit is a great solution. Its 20-volt MAX lithium battery delivers 120 mph of air speed and thanks to its numerous attachments, you can truly customize this blower to suit your needs.
Electric Blowers
WORX 7.5 Amp 2-Speed Lightweight Blower. Are you on the fence about buying a leaf blower? Not sure how often you’ll use it or maybe you need a backup? This lightweight (under six pounds), easy-to assemble model is a perfect choice for the occasional user who nonetheless expects the very best from their equipment. Capable of pushing 160 cfm of air at speeds ranging between 130-160 mph, this blower can easily handle a number of different jobs around your yard.
Toro Ultraplus Blower Vac. This three-in-one machine offers a powerful blower capable of 250 mph air flow, a high-speed vacuum and a leaf shredder. It gives the cost-conscious consumer a lot of bang for not a lot of bucks. The quick-release latch lets you switch from a blower to a vacuum without any tools, and the variable air speeds let you adjust to find just the right power for the job you’re doing. When it comes to versatility, ease of use and power, this is the choice for many homeowners.
Gas Blowers
Husqvarna 125B Gas Blower. Husqvarna’s legendary made-in-the-USA engineering and craftsmanship is in full display in this powerhouse leaf blower. Boasting a 28cc 2-cycle gas engine capable of delivering 425 cfm of air at 170 mph, it has the kind of power the time-strapped homeowner needs. But it’s not just the power that’s so impressive. Once you use it you’ll be immediately impressed by the ergonomic features and how easily it handles.
Troy-Bilt TB2BP Backpack Gas Leaf Blower. For lawncare professionals, homeowners with a large yard, or those who like their toys to be big and powerful, this is the leaf blower for you. With a velocity of 145 mph and air flow volume of 445 cfm, its power is matched only by its comfort. The state-of-the-art backpack suspension system evenly distributes the weight of the machine, allowing you to use it longer with less fatigue. Further comfort-minded features include an ergonomic throttle level and SpringAssist starting system. These features make operating this leaf blower so effortless that you’ll forget there’s a 2-cycle full crank engine at work.
If you want to learn more about the different kinds of leaf blowers available, stop in to your local Fleet Farm and talk to one of our experts, or shop for a full selection online.