[rainie]

Am thinking of getting a leaf blower this autumn. Any ideas on make, petrol or electric, size, anything else. It will be used for around the garden, the paths which are concrete or gravel. There will be the usual garden stuff and bits of hay to blow into a pile and picked up. Not bothered about one which has a bag ot collect as I think it will just get blocked with hay. Would like a quiet runner, economical and reliable.

[arugula]

I always feel with these things, that if you don't have a bag to collect the clippings - for want of a better collective word - as you go along, they're all going to be blown all over the place again by the wind before you can pick them up. Just my thoughts.... 

[Swed]

Depending on budjet, there are quite a lot to choose between.

I would recommend, based on your description, something like these:
Husqvarna 125BT
http://www.blocket.se/varmland/Lovblas_35438163.htm?ca=11&w=3
http://www.blocket.se/gavleborg/Lovblas_35248316.htm?ca=11&w=3

But... -all- leaf-blowers are -noicy- to say the least...

[Gwiz]

Stihl SH56 or the SH86 if you want to collect, BG56 or BG86 if you don't,
Or the Mitox range do two budget petrol two stroke models, 1 hand-held and 1 backpack (based on the echo model) Niether have a collect option.

There is more of an art to using one effectively than you'd think. I'd certainly not be without one! I use the Stihl SH86 It came with a small bag attachment which I've never needed to use.
As for the electric models, I have used them in the past, but would never use them again in the future!

[Swed]

http://www.stihlusa.com/blowers/features.html

http://www.stihlusa.com/blowers/backpack.html

I have booth handheld and backpack versions (other manufacturers; not Stihl). They do supplement eachother. My electric handheld is far better than my 2-stroke handheld... and my 2-stroke backpack is xY better than those two handheld combined.

Sample pdf manuals:
http://www.stihlusa.com/stihl_ownersmanuals/BG_56_66_86_SH_56_86_Manual.pdf

http://www.stihlusa.com/stihl_ownersmanuals/BR350_430.pdf

[Flatcat]

I use the Stihl BG ones at work and they are great - very quiet and always reliable,
although these style are only good if there is somewhere to blow the stuff if it does not  have to be collected (I.e under a hedge or into a river)

We have an electric sucker/blower at home, and that is next to useless. I reckon a good 2 stroke blower/sucker would be a good buy.

Damon

[Rangerkris]

We use the br600's sthil at work and they are a mighty bit of kit, shoot a tennis ball a fair distance  Out of your budget and too big for what you want.  Lot of the smaller sthil ones around also.

[Gwiz]

That Stihl BR600 Magnum is a fantastic backpack blower.
At full throttle it can really make your arm ache keeping the nozzle forward.

[Rangerkris]

We got bike handle attachment for it to Gwiz as it was a mean bit of kit with out it.

[rainie]

Thanks all, some good advice there. The BG56 looks like top of the list so far. Will have a look at links and try to hold some in shops.
Maybe with the BR600 UI would be doing the whole street  but then again, it could be a new chuck the tennis ball for the dog    (pictures the dog blowing down the field after the tennis ball.


Thanks again all. 

[dorimower]

kO-CBLbNwQA
Dori.

[Rangerkris]

hahahahhaDori i love it.