Driveway vacuum

[pwschuh]

I'm in search of a better solution for vacuuming up the leaves and small twigs from my driveway.

1. Using a broom takes too much time. And I don't want a blower. I need to pick them up.

2. I have a electric (corded) vacuum that would be ideal if it was not so poorly designed. It's the Shop Vac Shop Sweep:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00018ALEQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The bag connection is not secure (even with new replacement bags) and i have to stop frequently to reconnect. Very frustrating to use.

3. The big gas-powered units are overkill.

Does anyone have a driveway vacuum they really like? I'd love a battery powered unit, even shoulder-carried, but have never seen one.

 

[Ing3018]

Search for manual push floor sweeper.

 

[BillK]

How big of a driveway are we talking about ? My next door neighbor has an old school Billy Goat vac but it is pretty good size and gas powered.

https://www.billygoat.com/na/en_us/products/leaf-litter-vacuums.html

I would go crazy trying to vacuum them. More would just fall the next day I just blow them onto the grass before I cut with the mulching mower and then they are gone

 

[kctyphoon]

You can buy a gas power leaf vacuum. Its like a lawnmower with a snorkel on the front that ***** everything up and shreds it into a large rear mounted bag. They usually have a large detachable hose to vacuum areas you cant push the machine into. Even a small branch chipper.. my advice would be to get a self propelled unit.. mine picks up everything, down to the sand and grit in the street. I stopped using it cause - well, ive gotten lazier, and you get covered in dust from whats NOT captured in the bag.

It only works good on the grass if the leaves just fell. If they are left out there for a while, it *****.. But for the driveway, sidewalk, street - thing works amazing.

This is exactly like the one i have.. Troy Bilt. There is a small branch chute on the opposite side. Craftsman, Cub Cabet and others have models similar.. like i said - get a self propelled one if you go this route.. i didnt..

For something smaller - you can get a blower/vac combo. You can blow everything to a pile and then **** it up and shred it. I have a Husqvarna one thats decent.

For leaves - you really want something that shreds. Thats why a typical sweeper prob isnt that great for what you want - but Ryobi makes a cordless one of those.

 

[pwschuh]

Thanks for the input. I don't need my driveway to be clean all all the time, normally just weekends when I'm working in and out of the garage and have the doors open and don't want debris blowing into the garage.

The driveway is good sized; it can fit 12 cars.

I don't generally like blowers because the it's hard to control where the debris go, at least in my driveway set-up, and in the end, they're still on the ground. Maybe if I practiced a little bit I would get better at it.

The Billy Goat always seemed like overkill to me. It's expensive and is designed to pick up and shred trash. I just have leaves and small sticks, but mostly just leaves.

Thanks again.

 

[kythri]

https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/18v-one-plus-devour-cordless

Ryobi to the rescue!

 

[pwschuh]

https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/18v-one-plus-devour-cordless

Ryobi to the rescue!

Actually, that looks pretty cool... as long as the leaves are captured by the brushes and don't bounce off. I'll have to see if I can see on in action with yard debris.

 

[Odd-job]

Actually, that looks pretty cool... as long as the leaves are captured by the brushes and don't bounce off. I'll have to see if I can see on in action with yard debris.

I started with the Ryobi sweeper with a surebonder adapter so I could use my Milwaukee batteries, but then got a used 8hp billy goat yard vacuum. The sweeper gets leaves however fills up quickly. Twigs also have a habit of jamming it. Sweeper is now mostly delegated to the garage.

Agree the billy goat is probably overkill (when it runs). My neighbors who don’t do any yard work must think I am nuts when I start vacuuming the cul de sac for fun.

 

[decableguy2000]

I have a Craftsman one, like posted above. It works well on my gravel drive way. I wish it had the hose like the newer models. I use a back pack blower for the rest of the yard.