Looking to buy a leaf blower...any suggestions?

[burntime]

I like my stihl saw and am kinda leaning to the hand held bg85 blower. Anyone have any experience or can they direct me to a better one? I ran a craftsman for 8 years and its just rolled over and died! The stihl is a little longer nozzle to make it easier to walk the roof and clean the gutters. Let me hear what you got?

 

[They Call Me Pete]

I've got a Echo PB755H backpack and love it. It'll set ya back around $600 though. Mine is used in the line of duty most days so I could justify the cost. You might want to look at weight if your going to use it on your roof. Good luck

 

[burntime]

My brother has the stihl backpack, they do move some air but like you said, I am looking more at the handheld one so that I STAY on the roof :cheese:

 

[Shipper50]

My brother has the stihl backpack, they do move some air but like you said, I am looking more at the handheld one so that I STAY on the roof :cheese:

I also had a Craftsman handheld blower that I used for years. I bought the attachment for blowing out gutters from ground level as long as one doesn't live in a tree house.

I moved and found the former owner left me the exact attachment under the front porch. I found this attachment fits my Redmax back pack blower and I can reach my gutters from the ground. It does put out some force and you have to hold onto the piping, but keeps me from having to climb on the roof.

Shipper

 

[oilstinks]

I run a BR420C sthil backpack blower commercialy and it works great. Only problem is i had to replace the coil once. Not a big deal though. Understand you want a handheld though. Sthil been good brand so far

 

[brewerpete]

i went threw a had
dful of homeowner handhelds Homelite and craftsmans ryobis.
They never seemed to last.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a professional backpack about 4-500 bucks. Had it for 3 years. It starts on the first pull and blows like a bat out of hell.

it is not too heavy and is so powerful i can thatch the lawn in the spring....amazing get ear protection though.
It's a redmax check out this post quote from some guy....
Posted by loudtexan 7 (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 07 at 18:15

"I have owned the same RED MAX leaf blower since 1991 and it still works its only been in the shop two times and that was for a carb tune up each time about five years apart "

i concur

 

[dsil]

Cut and burn the trees! Problem solved, keep the money in your pocket.

 

[computeruser]

BG85 is an absolutely great handheld blower. Side-by-side with a BG55 there is no comparison.

I've got a BG85, BR420, and an 8hp walk-behind Parker blower (which is for sale...), and am consistently amazed by what the handheld can do. If you don't need a backpack or walk-behind, then the BG85 will leave you quite pleased!!