Help me decide on leaf blower options? Small property

[pendragon1998]

I have a small place with just a few small trees. The front yard is just around 30 ft by 45 ft, the back yard is maybe 60 ft by 30 ft. The driveway is probably 40 ft by 15 ft.

I want a leaf blower for mainly cleaning grass clippings off the driveway after I mow. I have a cheapo corded electric model now, which works ok but is a pain in the **** with the extension cords.

I have some ryobi 1+ gear that's good enough (I like their string trimmer). I am considering the Ryobi P2108A ONE+ 100 mph 280 CFM 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Jet Fan Blower on Amazon for about $90, with no battery or charger (I have 2 batteries).

1. Could I do better with another one+ blower? I'm mainly considering Ryobi since I have the batteries.

2. Could I do better with something from Lowes (has to be Lowes for various reasons), for under, say $150? I would consider gas, I just dislike the noise.

 

[CR888]

Gas has the power to do real work easy. If your happy with the performance of you corded electric one perhaps a cordless may suit your needs, I use blowers at work I have 2 handhelds & a backpack, I personally would not use anything other than gas as they don't have the power or run time suited for what we do. But if your only doing small areas, have time to do it and don't need long extended run times maybe a little cordless is a good choice for you. The few I've tried out just don't move enough air for commercial work but my expectations are high.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Which batteries you like is very important. No reason to have too many different kinds.
A variable speed is VERY useful.
I really like my Dewalt DCBL720P1

 

[JRC3]

I have both 18V (older and smaller version than the one you're looking at) and 40V Ryobi blowers and sring trimmers. I am impressed witht the 18v versons. If it weren't for the amount of trimming I have to do I would've been happy with the 18V.

You have the batteries, go get the 18V Ryobi.

 

[aknawful]

Husqvarna, stihl and echo have some awesome low cost gas blowers.

I have a husky, dad has a stihl. great!

 

[kd3pc]

F-i-L has a battery stihl that works great for him, it is powerful, yet light and the batteries can be used in other machines.

 

[jgromada]

I have the 20v DeWalt and it works great. I have a few batteries so this works well for me. At least the equivalent of a corded model i had before.

I think this decision would be driven somewhat by what battery platform you have. If you have a lot of Ryobi tools then maybe that is the way to go.

A gas blower will be a lot more expensive but I've used the blower that was on wheels and that was sweet. But waaay more money than i would spend. My DeWalt is more versatile.

 

[shoot summ]

I have a Stihl BR600, beast of a machine, makes quick work out of just about anything.

Also have a Stihl BG85, great little machine for quick clean ups, wife loves it, she claims it is hers.

Just got a Dewalt DCE100, it is a pretty awesome little 20V blower. I find I use it a lot because it is light, pretty powerful, and handy. It is NOT in the league of the BR600, but it is great for blowing out the shop real quick, cleaning the front porch, or even using as a blower to get a good fire going.

I can see where the larger battery powered blowers would be nice to have.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have the double battery Makita brushless which I much prefer over the Milwaukee Fuel 18V one that I had that was stolen. (Thank you thieves.). The Makita has a much narrower pipe on the end of it and produces a lot more velocity than the Milwaukee did. It's not a gas powered Echo at full blast but it's pretty close. And it's quiet.

 

[Moparman390]

Try not to over think this, that leads to over kill which leads to over spending. Small property, few leaves, primary job grass clippings on hard surfaces, already invested in One+? This is a no brainer. Get something from Ryobi that fits your system. I have more propriety and the cheap B&D blower I have works for that, now I wish it was a little stronger for the leaves, but you say you don't have many leaves and I'm pretty sure the Ryobi you are looking at is considerably stronger than my B&D. It should do just fine for you.

 

[brokeboater]

Bosch 18v blower checking in. I've had plenty of gas blowers, Echo, Husky, hand held, back pack. I absolutely love my cordless blower. Hardly even a second thought to grab it and blow off the parking pad or the edging after mowing. If you have a need for the power of a gas blower, fine, or a corded blower. But it you can at all make due with a cordless, by all means, go cordless, IMO. Stick with the brand you already have and made it work if it's at all viable.

 

[buba]

Two points:
1) Go cordless battery (40v or better)
2) Its the CFM that moves material not MPH (MPH does not move wet leaves unless they are within 2 inches of the outlet)

I have the Ryobi 40volt blower, works great. I would expect the Kobalt 40v blower to perform well also.

 

[Ign]

Two points:
1) Go cordless battery (40v or better)
2) Its the CFM that moves material not MPH (MPH does not move wet leaves unless they are within 2 inches of the outlet)

I have the Ryobi 40volt blower, works great. I would expect the Kobalt 40v blower to perform well also.

Volts isn't everything. The 18V offerings from the big cordless names are just as good. The Milwaukee Fuel 2724 is better than my Ryobi "jet fan" 40V unit

Also there are at least 2 offerings of the 40V Ryobi- one with the clear "jet fan" housing (so you can see the impeller --- 'cause THAT adds 5hp we all know) and one without the clear housing.

Anyone talking Ryobi 40V should specify which they have.

The *best* I've used? (but I haven't used THAT MANY) The Gen 1 58V Echo. It just flat moves a lot of air, but it's heavy. The debris ring on the end of the tube for scraping is the best damn idea ever, no idea why others have not caught on.

 

[rtz]

Good looking machine indeed: http://www.echocordless.com/products/blower/

Some other high power options:

https://egopowerplus.com/collections/power-blowers

https://www.greenworkstools.com/shop-by-tool/blowers

 

[Trey T]

I have two leaf blowers for specific jobs:

1. normal/heavy leaf blowing: I use a Husqavarna backpack blower for powerful and long run-time
2. light leaf blowing: I use a M18 hand-held blower to clear the garage floor for short run-time

 

[Moparman390]

Guys, I need a basic hammer for hanging pictures around the house that goes with the Husky tools I already have, what do you recommend?

Typical Garage Journal Answer:

You need this - https://store.snapon.com/Sledge-Blu...-Ounce-Sledge-Hammer-Blue-Point--P635007.aspx

 

[bwringer]

I have a somewhat larger yard, and I have the 18v Ryobi. Works frickin' great.

I also have the little 18V Ryobi string trimmer, which also works far better than it has any right to.

One great bonus I didn't even consider at first is that the battery-powered stuff is so much quieter. I mean, I knew it wouldn't stink, and it would start every time, and all that, but it's so much nicer and easier and more pleasant to use simply because there's so little noise; you end up staying on top of things a little more, I think.

If you already have Ryobi batteries, this is sort of a no-brainer.

 

[buba]

Guys, I need a basic hammer for hanging pictures around the house that goes with the Husky tools I already have, what do you recommend?

Typical Garage Journal Answer:

You need this - https://store.snapon.com/Sledge-Blu...-Ounce-Sledge-Hammer-Blue-Point--P635007.aspx

OP says 18v ryobi or something from lowes for $150. So we recommend one of these...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...0Ah-Battery-Rapid-Charger-2724-21HD/302752056

OBTW: CFM out the nozzle is everything in blowers regardless of power source or battery voltage.

 

[joe_padavano]

I have a small place with just a few small trees. The front yard is just around 30 ft by 45 ft, the back yard is maybe 60 ft by 30 ft. The driveway is probably 40 ft by 15 ft.

I would consider gas, I just dislike the noise.

News flash: your neighbors dislike the noise even more. Buy a broom and a rake. It's not like we're talking major acreage here.

 

[JRC3]

News flash: your neighbors dislike the noise even more. Buy a broom and a rake. It's not like we're talking major acreage here.

I hate when I'm working at someones house and the lawn guys are blowing leaves next door or something, pure noise for two hours. Raking leaves is so much faster if you know how to use a leaf rake. Sweeping grass off a driveway is way easy with a blower than broom though.

 

[must86]

“Ryobi P2108A ONE+ 100 mph 280 CFM 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Jet Fan Blower”
I pick one up and the flea market last month for $30 no battery or charger in like new condition. Works good blowing grass of driveway and out the dog kennel.

 

[bpjr]

I've had the small Stihl handheld a couple of yrs...price was around $140. Cranks first or second pull every time and it gets used every week or two on small driveway and brick porch. It's pretty hassle free and I'd buy another in a heart beat.