Gas Blowers

[lizardman]

I am looking for a hand held blower to clean my driveway and garage. I dont generally like to go el-cheapo, but not top of the line either. Give me some good info on the models I have found.

Stihl-any of the 5+/- models
Echo-any of the 2 models
Husqvarna-any(3? models)

I would consider any of these as some of the better quality models to choose from, but also these others:

Craftsman
Off brand nome at Ace Hardware

All of the top models appear to have 140+ mph wind with 425+/- cfm, but I would imagine that all of these are $150+ machines.

The Craftsman model for $115 claims 200 mph and 430 cfm.

Is cheap the way to go? The machine will not see heavy duty use, but I dont want to plan on buying a new one for years.

Thank for the input.

Rod

 

[Baucom]

You might also consider a Redmax handheld blower if you have a dealer locally. I bought 1 2.5 yrs ago and use it regularly to blow off the deck, porch, driveway, mower, and to blow out my storage shed. I haven't had any trouble with it yet (knocks on wood) and paid $150 OTD from my local small engine dealer. I'd skip the Craftsman, Poulan, Troy Bilt, or other off brands if I was only saving ~$30-$40. OTOH, if you have a little time to shop, keep your eye open for deals at Sears. Dad picked up a Craftsman around Christmas ~5 yrs ago for $35, and he hasn't had any problems with it either.

 

[bp fick]

heh! The models you are talking about aren't the "el cheaps", THIS ONE IS AN EL CHEAPO. Check the specs stickered on this bad boy.

Seriously, this little guy blows out my shop and does other light tasks. I paid a whole $79 for it 4 years ago. Never had a moments trouble.

I guess, what I am perhaps suggesting is that unless you have a real need for a super, duper model, the lesser ones will likely work just fine.

 

[bp fick]

BTW, Husqvarna Corp markets under the following brands.

Brands

The brands in Forestry and Lawn and garden are Husqvarna, Jonsered, Gardena, Flymo, McCulloch, Partner, Poulan, Poulan Pro and WeedEater. The major brands in Construction are Husqvarna and Diamant Boart.

You can also include Craftsman in that list. FWIW

 

[nolefan]

I have an Echo blower, not sure what model, thats about 8 years old and still works great. I also bought a Stihl BG55 about a year ago that I am very happy with. I would highly recommend either brand. If you do basic maintenance, change plug and air filter as needed and correct oil/fuel mixture they should give you years of use. These brands are well worth the extra money they will cost you over the box store brands. Good luck.

Also the Stihl can be used as a vacuum with their kit.

 

[Bird]

Do you have a good air compressor? I've never owned one of the gas, or electric, blowers, but I have enough air hose to reach anywhere in or around my house, garage, shop, etc. and both 2' and 4' blow guns. It works for me and that's one less engine to maintain.

 

[zzvyb6]

I just recently bought a Stihl 55 (older model but brand new at the hardware store). I particularly wanted a blower with an inlet on its right hand side so it doesn't suck my pants into the inlet and cut off the air supply. Most I looked at were LHS air inlet. This one has more wind at 1/2 power than my Weedeater had at full power. I use mine for cleaning out all the hay equipment after each use (baler knotter area, sickle mower bar, tractor grille screen and radiator etc. as well as the driveway and patio leaves and cut grass. I spent more money but this one has already made me glad I went for it. Just having it start on the first pull makes my day. As ever, you find more uses for one when its hand, reliable and powerful. Cleans my barn out at walking speed: hay, spider webs, bird feathers. Makes me think about using it with a skate board down at the school parking lot....

 

[JohnDeereFan8899]

I have a 4 stroke makita. It has plenty of power, but its not the most quiet machine ever. I paid 100 for it, but i think there running about 150.00 now days. Stihl is also a very high quality machine. more expensive, but is built well and will last for years to come.

 

[Burntime]

I have the bg85 stihl. All I can say is WOW. It makes short work of chores! I have had good luck with thier saws so this is just an extension...

 

[oliver28472]

I have the bg 85 also and like it. You can set the throttle to whatever speed you want or use the trigger.

 

[WH401]

Stihl makes the best hand held power equipment IMO, but you certainly won't go wrong with an Echo, Redmax, etc. either. I have 11 acres and lots and lots of leaves to deal with. For that task I purchased a BR600, the biggest, most powerful back pack blower Stihl makes. It cost me $500, but it was the best money I ever spent. That thing will blows some leaves, wet or dry, and I find it actually works better than a walk behind blower. That said, I need to buy a new hand held in a few years since mainly I use one for the gutters. If I was going to buy one now, I would go with the BG86. It came out a year or two ago and has so far proven to be a reliable piece.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I just bought a Stihl BG 86 that replaces a Weed Eater. I've been happy with the MS 250 and MS 290 chainsaws and thought I would "move up" to the BG model.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

I have been using two of the Husqavarna 145BT backpack blowers commercialy for almost ten years and they get used hard. I thought it was alot of money when I bought them but they sure have paid for themselves over and over again. In 10 years I have only had to put one in for service.
They are durable, powerful, not to overly noisy, and will run along time on a tank of fuel.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

My apologies. I just reread the original post and realized you were asking about "Hand Held Blowers" and I go off bragging about a back pack unit.
I use a small cheap weedeater from my local hardware store, it was like $79. It is about 3 years old now. I sure wouldn't waste my time with it trying to clean the yard or driveway. But for $79 it to has paid for itself. It starts easy, runs good and
has never let me down. It works great for porch's, decks, roofs, the garage etc.

 

[coobie]

Stihl makes the best hand held power equipment IMO, but you certainly won't go wrong with an Echo, Redmax, etc. either. I have 11 acres and lots and lots of leaves to deal with. For that task I purchased a BR600, the biggest, most powerful back pack blower Stihl makes. It cost me $500, but it was the best money I ever spent. That thing will blows some leaves, wet or dry, and I find it actually works better than a walk behind blower. That said, I need to buy a new hand held in a few years since mainly I use one for the gutters. If I was going to buy one now, I would go with the BG86. It came out a year or two ago and has so far proven to be a reliable piece.

I would beg to differ on the recent Stihl equipment.The older stihl equipment used to start right up,the new IMHO has a hard time starting.MY stihl 026,028,011 saws had a major starting problems.I recently bought a echo saw and what a dream to start,2 pulls and shes running unlike the stihls which took 15 pulls.coobie

 

[Mark_in_NH]

I would beg to differ on the recent Stihl equipment.The older stihl equipment used to start right up,the new IMHO has a hard time starting.MY stihl 026,028,011 saws had a major starting problems.I recently bought a echo saw and what a dream to start,2 pulls and shes running unlike the stihls which took 15 pulls.coobie

This may have nothing to do with the above situation and I don't want to redirect the original thread. But, Ethynol can creating havoc in anything with a carbourator that isn't used regularly. It is only simple common sense but also a necessity to add a quality stabalizer. Not only for winter storage, but I use it year round now. Our local marinas and small engine repair shops have been flooded this year with carbourated watercraft and mowers, blowers, weed trimmers, chain saws etc. that are all victims of ethyanol.
Enough said. Back to the original topic.
Handheld blowers aren't typically very expensive. As I said above mine as I think $79 and works great. I think the OP will do well by just buying whatever brand he finds in his area with a price he is comfortable with.

 

[amigauser]

I would beg to differ on the recent Stihl equipment.The older stihl equipment used to start right up,the new IMHO has a hard time starting.MY stihl 026,028,011 saws had a major starting problems.I recently bought a echo saw and what a dream to start,2 pulls and shes running unlike the stihls which took 15 pulls.coobie

No issues here, all my Stihl's start on 2 or 3 pulls. I use Sta-Bil in everything gas powered and the Stihl synthetic 2 cycle oil, which I believe also has a fuel stabilizer built in, in all my Stihl equipment. I also use premium gas which is what Stihl recommends at least in their newer equipment.

 

[Bird]

No issues here, all my Stihl's start on 2 or 3 pulls. I use Sta-Bil in everything gas powered and the Stihl synthetic 2 cycle oil, which I believe also has a fuel stabilizer built in, in all my Stihl equipment. I also use premium gas which is what Stihl recommends at least in their newer equipment.

Me, too. My Stihl string trimmer is over four and a half years old and the manual does not specify higher octane gasoline, and originally their 2 cycle oil was not synthetic, but my Stihl dealer does now sell the synthetic oil. My Mantis tiller uses the same mix ratio and their manual does specify 89 octane. So I'm now doing the same as you and couldn't be happier with my string trimmer.

 

[WH401]

I would beg to differ on the recent Stihl equipment.The older stihl equipment used to start right up,the new IMHO has a hard time starting.MY stihl 026,028,011 saws had a major starting problems.I recently bought a echo saw and what a dream to start,2 pulls and shes running unlike the stihls which took 15 pulls.coobie

I have 3 pieces of Stihl equipment, a 390 saw, a BR600 blower, and a FS90R trimmer. The saw was my father's and sat for the 3 years without being started. I took it out and it started right up on the 5th pull, with the same 3 year old gas and everything. Up until now I've never had 2-stroke equipment that started on the first pull. But, that all changed with the BR600 and FS90R. I push the prime bulb 5 times, turn the choke on, pull the cord out ever so slightly so that I can feel it has grabbed the motor, and then I give it a yank and it easily comes to life.

As others have said, ethanol has wrecked havoc on anything with a carburetor, especially small equipment, since it was introduced. That said, I run a mix of Amsoil Saber 2-stroke oil at 80:1 w/ 89 gas, and I also added 2 ounces of Sta-bil to each total gallon for fuel stabilization. This combination has never given me problems and has completely changed the running characteristics of any piece of 2-stroke equipment I have previously had. Some may say, "what?, you run 80:1", yes I do, but I have run it this way in all my equipment for years and I've never had a failure.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Man I guess I should read the manuals...I have two Stihl chain saws and on my second tank of fuel in my new blower and I have been running 87 octane...with no problems (that I am aware of) or starting issues.