I'm trying to justify buying the Stihl 600 backpack blower. Thought I'd
save by cleaning my own gutters twice a year, by getting the gutter
attachment. They don't make a gutter cleaning tool for backback blowers.
Went on YouTube, seen someone made one for a single story out of 4" sewer
pipe. I'd like to do a 2 story home.

At the dealer, they told me to buy a handheld Stihl, then get the gutter
attachments.

I really want to spoil myself with the 600. Any suggestions on how to make
a functional attachment, which won't fly apart when hooked up to a backpack
blower?

Help!

On Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:15:35 -0400, "Eddie" wrote:

I'm trying to justify buying the Stihl 600 backpack blower.

You need it. it is that simple.g

Thought I'd
save by cleaning my own gutters twice a year, by getting the gutter
attachment. They don't make a gutter cleaning tool for backback blowers.
Went on YouTube, seen someone made one for a single story out of 4" sewer
pipe. I'd like to do a 2 story home.

Mine is made from 3" PVC that is screwed to a shopvac gutter cleaner.
I've adapted it to hook onto my Stihl handheld.


At the dealer, they told me to buy a handheld Stihl, then get the gutter
attachments.

I really want to spoil myself with the 600. Any suggestions on how to make
a functional attachment, which won't fly apart when hooked up to a backpack
blower?

Couple sheetmetal screws in the joints will do it.

I don't own a backpack blower- but a decent one will move twice the
leaves a handheld will [and wet ones, too]. If you can afford it, go
for it. The whole idea is to make life easier. Make it as easy as
you can.

Jim

On Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:15:35 -0400, "Eddie" wrote:

I'm trying to justify buying the Stihl 600 backpack blower. Thought I'd
save by cleaning my own gutters twice a year, by getting the gutter
attachment. They don't make a gutter cleaning tool for backback blowers.
Went on YouTube, seen someone made one for a single story out of 4" sewer
pipe. I'd like to do a 2 story home.

At the dealer, they told me to buy a handheld Stihl, then get the gutter
attachments.

I really want to spoil myself with the 600. Any suggestions on how to make
a functional attachment, which won't fly apart when hooked up to a backpack
blower?

Help!

Gutters might get me to buy a leaf blower.
I always crawl around up there and scoop them out by hand.
Hate it.
Always seems there's muck there too, which I throw on the lawn.
Seems I've done it mostly after a backup. Takes along time for leaves
to dry in a gutter.
So watch for that and try to do it when it's dry as possible so you
don't get muck splatter.
My gutters are only about 10' off the ground, so I'd rig a piece of 2"
or 2 1/2" PVC with a gooseneck made of a 90 and a 45 .
Attach to the blower with a flex hose/clamps.
For a 2-story that PVC pipe could be hard to handle.
My first thought was a light 20' painter's pole with flex hose
strapped to it, but that's expensive and still hard to handle.
So I'll go Rube Goldberg.
Go with a long PVC setup, but fabricate an aluminum frame at the end
with a light plastic wheel that let's you roll it along the roof.
If you want to get fancy, add a light plastic V-wheel that runs on the
gutter rim to keep distance.
Might have to jump it past gutter straps/brackets.
Everything cheap and easy except putting it together right.
Envy of the neighborhood maybe.

--Vic

On 10/10/2011 6:15 PM, Eddie wrote:
I'm trying to justify buying the Stihl 600 backpack blower. Thought I'd
save by cleaning my own gutters twice a year, by getting the gutter
attachment. They don't make a gutter cleaning tool for backback blowers.
Went on YouTube, seen someone made one for a single story out of 4" sewer
pipe. I'd like to do a 2 story home.

At the dealer, they told me to buy a handheld Stihl, then get the gutter
attachments.

I really want to spoil myself with the 600. Any suggestions on how to make
a functional attachment, which won't fly apart when hooked up to a backpack
blower?

Help!

If you are planning to stand on the ground, then you need a long blower
extension to reach the second floor. At the end of the extension, you
need an elbow to curve the air into the gutter. This is going to put a
strong side force on the extension, making it very hard to control, even
if you have powerful upper body strength.

If you are near the ground of a single-story building (ranch house),
your shoulders might be only four feet below the gutter (standing on a
lower rung of a step ladder). Add nine feet for a second story, and now
you are 13 feet below the gutter. The side forces will be 13/4 = 3.25
times higher. This is due to the change in direction of air flow alone.
The higher air speed from the backpack style worsens the situation.

I've ignored the weight of the extension itself. Even with the blower
off, you have to consider wrestling with the weight of the extension.

Lowes (and others) offer water wands for the end of a garden hose. Even
they are hard to control.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_100100-74985...0051&langId=-1

To avoid the whole situation, consider gutter covers. Cheaper and safer.

R1

Vic Smith wrote:

-snip-
My gutters are only about 10' off the ground,

Make your life easy. This is where I started-
http://www.mysears.com/Craftsman-Gut...ws?tab=details

Then I got a Stihl blower and pumped it up a bit. Some of my
gutters are 25' off the ground so I've got a 10' piece of PVC, several
sections of vac tubing and a 10' piece of flex hose that gets hose
clamped to the blower.

-snip-
For a 2-story that PVC pipe could be hard to handle.

Actually not bad. Once it is up there, the blowing takes the weight
off the operator. I *have* lost control a couple times, but it
isn't un-recoverable.

My first thought was a light 20' painter's pole with flex hose
strapped to it, but that's expensive and still hard to handle.

I tried that at first. The PVC is easier. [mine happens to be
schedule 40-- lighter might be better.]

So I'll go Rube Goldberg.
Go with a long PVC setup, but fabricate an aluminum frame at the end
with a light plastic wheel that let's you roll it along the roof.
If you want to get fancy, add a light plastic V-wheel that runs on the
gutter rim to keep distance.

IMO- way too complicated. a fairly able-bodied guy can handle 15' of
plastic pipe - especially after the blower supports the business end.

Jim

"Eddie" writes:

I'm trying to justify buying the Stihl 600 backpack blower. Thought I'd
save by cleaning my own gutters twice a year, by getting the gutter
attachment. They don't make a gutter cleaning tool for backback blowers.
Went on YouTube, seen someone made one for a single story out of 4" sewer
pipe. I'd like to do a 2 story home.

At the dealer, they told me to buy a handheld Stihl, then get the gutter
attachments.

I really want to spoil myself with the 600. Any suggestions on how to make
a functional attachment, which won't fly apart when hooked up to a backpack
blower?

I tried that once, with an electric blower.

What's the point, all that stuff comes out of the gutter and
lands right on you.

With my backpack blower, I climb up on the roof and blow out
the gutters from above. No attachments.


--
Dan Espen

On 10/10/2011 8:45 PM, Rebel1 wrote:
(snip)
If you are near the ground of a single-story building (ranch house),
your shoulders might be only four feet below the gutter (standing on a
lower rung of a step ladder). Add nine feet for a second story, and now
you are 13 feet below the gutter. The side forces will be 13/4 = 3.25
times higher. This is due to the change in direction of air flow alone.
The higher air speed from the backpack style worsens the situation.

I've ignored the weight of the extension itself. Even with the blower
off, you have to consider wrestling with the weight of the extension.

Lowes (and others) offer water wands for the end of a garden hose. Even
they are hard to control.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_100100-74985...0051&langId=-1


To avoid the whole situation, consider gutter covers. Cheaper and safer.


Before my inner ears told me to stop doing that, I used to clean
single-story gutters by scooting along on my butt from above, and
scooping the crud out by hand. Tried a garden hose a few times, with
less than great results. (old galvanized gutter with seams every six
feet.) On this house, I walk the roof and use an electric leaf blower,
held in one extended arm, but I don't feel real comfortable doing it.
Good thing these are continuous gutters, very slick on the inside.

--
aem sends...

aemeijers wrote:
On 10/10/2011 8:45 PM, Rebel1 wrote:
(snip)
If you are near the ground of a single-story building (ranch house),
your shoulders might be only four feet below the gutter (standing on
a lower rung of a step ladder). Add nine feet for a second story,
and now you are 13 feet below the gutter. The side forces will be
13/4 = 3.25 times higher. This is due to the change in direction of
air flow alone. The higher air speed from the backpack style worsens
the situation. I've ignored the weight of the extension itself. Even with the
blower
off, you have to consider wrestling with the weight of the extension.

Lowes (and others) offer water wands for the end of a garden hose.
Even they are hard to control.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_100100-74985...0051&langId=-1


To avoid the whole situation, consider gutter covers. Cheaper and
safer.

Before my inner ears told me to stop doing that, I used to clean
single-story gutters by scooting along on my butt from above, and
scooping the crud out by hand. Tried a garden hose a few times, with
less than great results. (old galvanized gutter with seams every six
feet.) On this house, I walk the roof and use an electric leaf blower,
held in one extended arm, but I don't feel real comfortable doing it.
Good thing these are continuous gutters, very slick on the inside.

I use a 10' length of 1/2" copper with a ball valve at the bottom and pair of
threaded ells at the top going to a nozzle, fed by my 2 stage 5 HP compressor.
It's still a little hard to control sometimes, but will blow out gutters 10' up.

On Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:30:59 -0400, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:

-snip-
My gutters are only about 10' off the ground,

Make your life easy. This is where I started-
http://www.mysears.com/Craftsman-Gut...ws?tab=details


Thanks. Never even thought of vacuuming.
I've got a hang-up shop vac, 3hp with 1 1/2" hose.
Should do, with the right length PVC and gooseneck.
Luckily I don't too many leaves since I had the big maple next to the
house cut down. Not due to the leaves, but because it was over my
sewer tiles.
Saw this when searching for vacuum gutter attachments.
http://www.pvcworkshop.com/freePVCplans.htm
Some good ideas.

--Vic

On Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:34:42 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:30:59 -0400, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:

-snip-
My gutters are only about 10' off the ground,

Make your life easy. This is where I started-
http://www.mysears.com/Craftsman-Gut...ws?tab=details


Thanks. Never even thought of vacuuming.

No-- Don't suck-- blow!!! Sucking will just keep clogging up, IMO.
They blow better when dry- and twice a year makes it a job that takes
longer to set up than accomplish.

Jim

On Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:46:55 -0400, wrote:

"Eddie" writes:

I'm trying to justify buying the Stihl 600 backpack blower. Thought I'd
save by cleaning my own gutters twice a year, by getting the gutter
attachment. They don't make a gutter cleaning tool for backback blowers.
Went on YouTube, seen someone made one for a single story out of 4" sewer
pipe. I'd like to do a 2 story home.

At the dealer, they told me to buy a handheld Stihl, then get the gutter
attachments.

I really want to spoil myself with the 600. Any suggestions on how to make
a functional attachment, which won't fly apart when hooked up to a backpack
blower?

I tried that once, with an electric blower.

What's the point, all that stuff comes out of the gutter and
lands right on you.

I never get dirty when I do mine-- and they are 20-25' up, on a roof
with about 12/12 pitch. You won't be walking mine- especially with
a backpack blower strapped on.

I pay attention to which way the wind is blowing and save the highest
point for last. For most of the roof I'm standing 5-10 feet away
from directly below the 'action point.


With my backpack blower, I climb up on the roof and blow out
the gutters from above. No attachments.

That would work for my porch roof-- but why get the ladder out when I
don't need it.

Jim

On Oct 10, 6:15*pm, "Eddie" wrote:
I'm trying to justify buying the Stihl 600 backpack blower. Thought I'd
save by cleaning my own gutters twice a year, by getting the gutter
attachment. They don't make a gutter cleaning tool for backback blowers.
Went on YouTube, seen someone made one for a single story out of 4" sewer
pipe. I'd like to do a 2 story home.

At the dealer, they told me to buy a handheld Stihl, then get the gutter
attachments.

I really want to spoil myself with the 600. Any suggestions on how to make
a functional attachment, which won't fly apart when hooked up to a backpack
blower?

Help!

If I tried blowing my gutters, I'd spray mud and rotting debris all
over my house, cars and probably the neighbor's house.

I live in an area with a lot of trees and have to clean my gutters at
least 3 times a year - 2 story colonial, almost 3 in the back, fully
extended 28' ladder required.

There's *always* gunk in the gutters due to rain rotting the seed pods
and other vegetation that lands in the gutter. I'd be doing them
weekly if I tried to blow them out before the stuff rotted.

For me, it's up the ladder wearing a homemade belt with hooks to hold
a 5 gallon bucket. I have a hook on each side so I can reach as far as
I can to the left then switch the bucket to the right side and reach
as far as I can to the right. Then it's down the ladder, dump the
bucket, move the ladder and back up again.

Maybe I need to invent some sort of "auger system" that continuously
spins and moves the debris up and out of the gutters. Of course, the
ice melt wires might get a little tangled...

On 10/11/2011 8:05 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
....

Maybe I need to invent some sort of "auger system" that continuously
spins and moves the debris up and out of the gutters. Of course, the
ice melt wires might get a little tangled...

Saw one such robot on a local TV news "Does It Work?" segment within the
last year...basically, it was a rotary brush on wheels w/ the same
problems as mentioned above of throwing trash everywhere.

Solved the problem here by not having gutters.

--

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
Vic Smith wrote:

-snip-
My gutters are only about 10' off the ground,

Make your life easy. This is where I started-
http://www.mysears.com/Craftsman-Gut...ws?tab=details

Then I got a Stihl blower and pumped it up a bit. Some of my
gutters are 25' off the ground so I've got a 10' piece of PVC, several
sections of vac tubing and a 10' piece of flex hose that gets hose
clamped to the blower.

-snip-
For a 2-story that PVC pipe could be hard to handle.

Actually not bad. Once it is up there, the blowing takes the weight
off the operator. I *have* lost control a couple times, but it
isn't un-recoverable.

My first thought was a light 20' painter's pole with flex hose
strapped to it, but that's expensive and still hard to handle.

I tried that at first. The PVC is easier. [mine happens to be
schedule 40-- lighter might be better.]

So I'll go Rube Goldberg.
Go with a long PVC setup, but fabricate an aluminum frame at the end
with a light plastic wheel that let's you roll it along the roof.
If you want to get fancy, add a light plastic V-wheel that runs on the
gutter rim to keep distance.

IMO- way too complicated. a fairly able-bodied guy can handle 15' of
plastic pipe - especially after the blower supports the business end.

Jim

Think I'm going to give your idea a try. I have a generic hand held, I'll
start with that. Still trying to justify that Stihl 600! Making life easier
is what I need at this point in life.

On Oct 11, 9:20*am, dpb wrote:
On 10/11/2011 8:05 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
...

Maybe I need to invent some sort of "auger system" that continuously
spins and moves the debris up and out of the gutters. Of course, the
ice melt wires might get a little tangled...

Saw one such robot on a local TV news "Does It Work?" segment within the
last year...basically, it was a rotary brush on wheels w/ the same
problems as mentioned above of throwing trash everywhere.

Solved the problem here by not having gutters. *

--

think gutter helmet, and other similiar products.

end gutter cleaning forever.

espically if the gunk that accumulates and rots can clog a
underground line or drywell

On 10/11/2011 8:48 AM, bob haller wrote:
On Oct 11, 9:20 am, wrote:
....

Solved the problem here by not having gutters.


think gutter helmet, and other similiar products.

end gutter cleaning forever.
....

Or, not so much...

Installations saw in TN/VA failed miserably on maple helicopters and
various pines (still got thru into gutters) or tended to simply cover
over the top and not wash over thereby rendering gutters nonfunctional
(oaks, primarily, other large leafed species to a lesser degree).

There it rained enough that gutters did have a reason to be; here, not
so much an issue so many just forego them entirely. Of course, nothing
like the variety and sizes in the way of trees, either.

--

I also like to clean my own gutters with a leaf blower but I would never
take a gas powered tool of any sort onto my roof. I would be afraid that
any gas leakage would destroy the asphalt shingles.

On Oct 11, 9:48*am, bob haller wrote:
On Oct 11, 9:20*am, dpb wrote:

On 10/11/2011 8:05 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
...

Maybe I need to invent some sort of "auger system" that continuously
spins and moves the debris up and out of the gutters. Of course, the
ice melt wires might get a little tangled...

Saw one such robot on a local TV news "Does It Work?" segment within the
last year...basically, it was a rotary brush on wheels w/ the same
problems as mentioned above of throwing trash everywhere.

Solved the problem here by not having gutters. *

--

think gutter helmet, and other similiar products.

I have yet to hear of a gutter covering product that both:

1 - Work well when maple tree "helicopters" and pine needles are part
of the debris
2 - Work at all when ice melt wires are required

Please, no comments about about reinsulating the attic to eliminate
the ice dams, etc. There is more to that particular issue than I care
to get into.


end gutter cleaning forever.

espically if the gunk that accumulates and rots can *clog a
underground line or drywell

Once every couple of years a little bit of quality time with a 3/4"
power snake clears the roots and debris from my underground pipes.