[Shop-talk] Leaf Blowers, The new air compressors?

[Arvid Jedlicka]

As a data point, not a recommendation, Consumer Reports has a best buy check 
mark on the Stihl BG55 - 75 points, with the Craftsman 79498 and 79496 - 
could not find either on the Sears site - at 49 and 47 points. They Ryobi 
RY08548 was listed as a 'recommended' at 68 points.

For back pack, it was Husqvarna 356BFx at 90 points and the most expensive - 
which could be why it was not recommended, with the Echo PB-265L as a best 
buy and the Echo PB-260L and Kawasaki KRB300A as recommended - 81, 78 and 64 
points respectively. The Craftsman 79499 was at 40 points. Both of the 
Echo's have a foot note about 89-octane gas being recommended.

Again, not a recommendation of any of the items listed - or even of Consumer 
Reports ability to accurately judge stuff.

Arvid

> Ok, Part VII of my on going leaf blower saga...
>
> I started looking at replacing the leaf blower with a new one, and as I
> looked at the packages, I'm seeing the claims of air flow that are getting
> weird.
>
> In some cases, the more air / speed, the cheaper the price.
>
> Here are a few I'm looking at... (I'm down graded from a backpack.)
>
> http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_071C0004000B?keyword=leaf+blower
>
> Any advice?  Should I just bite the bullet and get a backpack for about
> twice the price?  (I don't make a living doing this, but I do have a large
> area that I normally do.)