On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:34:21 -0600, Red Green
wrote:

wrote in news
On Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:28:19 -0800 (PST), Joe wrote:

On Nov 17, 9:57*pm, "CGB" wrote:
Will be purchasing one. * Live in New England. *Question is the
type. *I have come to the conclusion that hedge trimmers etc.
powered by rechargeable batteries just never seem to have enough
oooomph *for the job, even when fully charged. *Does anyone take
exception to that?

I'm torn between an electric blower, run by AC current via a long
extension cord (I hate the thought of dragging this around) or a
gasoline powered blower ( not one with the motor transported on my
back but with the motor in the unit itself). Wife won't use a
gasoline powered one (can't start it, period) and wants the electric
cord powered one. *I want power and convenience. *I guess I'm OK
with getting gas/oil ratios, changing plugs, etc., etc. if that is
what is requiered to have a powerful unit and not drag cords all
around, what's one more small engine to fool around with....ugh..

Question is: *Can I get an AC powered unit that has enough power to
do the job (half acre lawn, lot of pine needles and oak leaves) and
put up with the inconvenience of dragging the cord or should I go to
gasoline powered machine? *First of all, I want something that
works, secondly which is more convenient if either type of machine
works.

After answering above question, how much wind speed, air flow in
cfm, ? get one that works as vacuum machine or not, etc., do you
recommend. *Brand, model recommendations/warnings appreciated.

Thanks. *I've had enough of lawn care for this year but I've got to
do it and want to get it overwith

Chet\

I've had a Toro electric ($70 or so) for five years now. Great
machine. We chop the leaves with it and dump the bag in oversize trash
can liners from Sams'. They go to a friend who is a composting demon.
Our yard looks fabulous and his garden is spectacular. Synergism at
work. When the Toro dies it will be replaced by another one.
Everything just works.

Joe

Joe.

I've got the Toro as well. There are a few models that are very
similar near the top of the line. The one you want is the variable
speed model with the METAL impeller. It may be called Ultimate or
something like that. You don't really need variable speed, but that
comes with the best machine. One other advantage I've found is that
the Toro is much better balanced and you won't get a backache after an
hour. Just hold it in the position where it naturally falls with your
arm hanging down while standing up straight.




Must be the same one I have. Definitely metal impeller if it's a vac. The
variable speed is more a dial than a selector. About 10 speeds. That low
speed does get used in like corners of places where I don't want all the
crap blowing back in my face.

I mentioned the metal impeller, because that's one of the features
that makes it easy to select the "good" model. The one with the metal
impeller is overall better than the very similar model with the
plastic impeller. The price is close enough, and the packaging is
close enough that's it's easy to go home with the inferior model. I
think one is called "super" and one is called "Ultimate". When I
bought mine, I had researched it online. At the store, there were a
lot of the plastic impeller model on the display, and since it was
about the right price, I was almost fooled. In looking for a carton
with less damage, I found ONE of the metal impeller models behind all
the plastic ones, for $8 more.