hand held leaf blower recomendations.

Which hand held leaf blower do you prefer. I don't need a backpack blower. I mulch leaves in the yard. I just want to hear about hand held units for clean up of small areas around houses. I've heard good things about the Stihl bg 86.... but it's a bit pricey. Is it worth the $? What about husky/redmax, and dolmar.

 

We have 2= Stihl bg 86 blowers at the fire station they move a lot of air, and have been trouble free. I've got an Echo PB 255LN at work, doesn't quite have the velocity of the Stihl, still a great blower, and $50 cheaper.

 

I have a bg85 and its been a good blower.

 

I've found that the best leaf blower is a chainsaw. Cut down all the trees around the house, no more leaves

Seriously, though, I have an older SH85, had it for maybe 12 years or more. It's been flawless except for ONE time the spark screen got plugged. Many many gallons of fuel through it. If it died I would buy whatever today's equivalent is without hesitation.

 

I bought the cheaper end husky 125B $145 over the cheaper end stihl. Liked the husky as it comes with flat and round no extra charge.

Only dislike was they used the cheap clear fuel lines on the lower end husky model.

Otherwise dead nuts reliable hour after hour at WOT going through tank after tank on 700' driveway. I like the flat nozzle best for my uses.
Husky dont twist on the wrist when using with the design used.

 

Showing a old v/s new

I took the old one in trade and resold for $50.

 

I have the largest Sears hand held blower, works good for me. Got it as a gift for Xmas last year.
Not sure of the model number off hand

 

I've got a BG 55 that my dad was about to throw away. I "rescued" it, just took was a carb kit to get it going again. It does great with cleanup around the house, and I've even done some leaf removal with it. I once spent an entire fall doing leaf removal with BR600 backpack blowers, and the little BG55 puts out impressive power compared to the 600. It just really sucks (or blows) using a handheld blower for long lengths of time.

 

that's the one I have too. No problems to date. 400 ft driveway and patios.

 

Bought a BG 86 last fall, have nothing but good things to say about it. Run only Stihl oil & Ethanol free gas. There's an app to locate Pure Gas. Run same mix for saws, blower & weed eater.

 

I have the entry level Stihl and it has been trouble free for 5 years...just dump mix in it and pull the rope. I did permanently remove the spark arrester contraption for a muffler mod.

 

I have a couple BG 86's and there good blowers,a lot of power for a handheld.

 

For clearing my driveway, my favorite is my 61" riding mower.

I don't own a blower - if I did, it would be used for scattering manure piles in the pastures.

 

I have a stihl bg55 it's awesome

 

I have an echo not sure of the model, but echo makes good stuff too.

 

Bg 55..works good

 

Pete.... does your wife know about this?

 

All depends on service behind the sale.
If you want something that will last a year or two buy a cheap throw away from your local box store. If you want something that last go to a dealer.
Most box store blowers are rated for 50 hours, when commercial hand helds are rated for 200 plus. Ive had my redmax for 13 years. If you look closely alot of your lower price blowers the same block carb and fuel tank . The newer Husqvarna blower in the upper pic is the twin to the 149.00. Redmax blower. Not putting down sthil or echo, ive own both the output is not the same, but they do last long. Alot of cheaper blowers have a rubber boot that the carb is attached to that rips or becomes leaky, a complete teardown to replace, not worth fixing, the block and jug and carb is the same as a poulan 79.00 on a good day. So spend 300 on a commercial unit, run good fuel, run it wide open, and clean exhaust ports every year and it will last. Go for the 2600 series