Looking for a leaf blower

I have heard several times of the benefit of using a leaf blower to clean out a pellet stove. Any recommendation. Gas vs Electric, Brand, ect.

It needs to have the vacuum mode. not just blow. Basically it SUCKS out the pipe, not blows into it. so those high tech backback ones that only blow (and won't take a bag to suck) are useless.

Most members use an electric unit, AFAIK. Search on Lowes or HD websites for the one that has the highest MPH output, for the amount of $$ you want to spend.

Quick search on this forum will give you lots of responses: Here is one thread in particular:

http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/best-leafblower-for-cleaning.84382/

Not sure exactly what I have but it is a basic Home Depot Toro unit. As briansol says....just has to have that vacuum mode. You can figure an easy way to connect it to your terminal vent pipe after taking the cap off. I used a furnco coupling from the plumbing aisle.

I have a generic cheapy electric with no vacuum mode, but the air intake is on the side of the scroll type blower and it fits perfectly over my stove's exhaust. It does a good job.

Dave

Thanks for all of the feed back. Looking at the Menards web site I can get a pretty cheap Weed Eater blower/vacuum for $40.00 that has a 12 amp motor and rated at 235 mph. Seem like that should work. All I need is an adapter from the plumbing department to get a good fit from my stove pipe and I should be good.

Don't forget pics or a video of it in action!!

Next to pictures of new stoves burning the folks here have something for big clouds of soot shooting out of leaf blowers, it may be a left over thing from their steam engine days.

The weirdness level on here can be rather high.

This is what I use. I don't remember paying $75.00 dollars though.

http://menards.com/main/tools-hardw...lowers/ultra-blower-vac/p-1463248-c-10108.htm

If you're able to, get it, use it. You'll love the results!

Leaf blower? you gotta be kidding.... can't possibly work.

Try it, you'll be surprised!

Dave

I do it with toro ultra the red one ! works great i also lint eater the pipe!!
Goodluck stove will run like new!

balderdash....

HD. Homelite UT42120 electric. $39. Works great for me.

*shrug*

Whatever.

I'm pretty certain krooser's Sarcasm Mode was turned on right there...

krooser is the man that brought the LBT to the hearth community.

I did this today.
Electric Task Force from Lowes.
Not sure if blow or suck is better.
I mounted the camera outside - pressed record - then went inside and put the blower into the pipe - and wrapped a used pellet bag around it.
I had absolutely nothing shoot back out at me - it was quite easy - and the pellet bag wrapped around pipe and blower worked fine.
Video -->


Note all the action is @1:30

That was after about 1.5 tons of pellets.

I used to use gas blowers for yard work. Never again. Electric is just fine and oddly I never have to worry about bad fuel or cleaning the carb.

the lbt is actually more to clean the hard to reach areas in the stove. so its best used on the exterior in suck mode.

shhhhhh......

As Smoke Show says above, the main purpose is to clean out the STOVE. What you also get out of the pipe is just gravy.

Use suction, on END of your pipe, and make sure this is done AFTER you have done a complete cleaning of the stove.

And yes, Krooser is the LBT originator.....he's so modest!!

like this-

man that never gets old.

good for the grass too.

Not necessarily..... My "average to low-end" priced TORO electric is a "blow only" and with a homemade PVC adapter this thing fits right over my vent end and connects to suction side of blower.

It's recycling.... makes me feel good like Al Gore but without the oil $$$...