Blowers

[Scag48]

I've finally narrowed my purchasing power down to two blowers, the Stihl BG 85 or the Stihl BR 320. I want the 320 so d@mn bad but dad says "that's alot of money, no!". I say "productivity". I thought about what you guys said about having a backpack to do leaves and tried to use that for persuasion. It obviously didn't work. I think he'll let me buy a hand held, so I'm looking at the biggest one they make (why not, still is alot cheaper than the backpack), the BG 85. Is 183 Air Velocity too much? Do you need that much? I asked the dealer why backpacks were so much more than handhelds when on the BR 320 it only has 162 mph and the BG 85 has 183. He said that the volume was more on backpacks, making that the main reason why they were more. Would the BG 85 handheld work for leaves? Does anyone own one and have any regrets? I heard they were new and wasn't sure how great they were. Any info greatly appreciated.

[gene gls]

I would not own a back-pack blower. I use Echo PB 210E hand held blower, its well balanced and easy to hold. Much easyer to handle for walks and bushes.On large open areas I use an 8HP Giant Vac push blower.

[Evan528]

like someone said earlier.... when it comes to leaves raking is faster than using a handheld blower. Ive used them all... they dont have the power for leaves.

[Evan528]

I have a pb210.... I hardly use it. I keep it as a spair. I have a echo 60ht backpack i mostly use. I use it to blow off walks and drives when i mow and beds when im doing leaves. my 8hp little wander is used to blow the main part of the yard. A handheld is fine for blowing walks but just will not cut it for leaves!

[bob]

Get the backpack blower. Compaired to a handheld ,it's like going from a 21" to a rider!

[geogunn]

skag--repeat after me...&quot;my parents are not scrubs!&quot; say it again....!<p>now talk them into scraping that br 320 and go for the BR-400! I've never used the 320 but I own the 400!!! it rules!<p>trust me grasshopper...bigger is better...!<p>good luck!<p>GEO

[Keith]

Scag, How much are they asking for the BR320?<p>I paid $400 out the door for my most recent BR400.

[Scag48]

Keith-They want $340 for the BR 320, on sale!

[Keith]

OK, how about the best of both? A brand new Echo backpack for $260. Could ya swing that? It is the baby Echo, only like 14.5lbs. Personally I would buy a $70 Homelite right now and save my money for a bigger blower.<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: Keith

[bdemir]

Get a top of the line redmax or shindaiwa and it will blow a brick on blacktop. I have two redmax and one is the 6200 model and it blows small rocks and can blow a big pile of leaves. Most poeple trying to clean up will use a blower and a rake. The blower is a must and can be used for many applications. Spen the money and get the top of line blower because its worth it.<p> Im not sure about the southern states but up here in michigan a strong blower is a must.<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: bdemir

[columbiaplower]

i have 2 br 400 i love them. i have a homelite handblower and i never use it. i would save up the money till i could get the backpack. and u can never have too much mph in a blower.

[columbiaplower]

i have 2 br 400 i love them. i have a homelite handblower and i never use it. i would save up the money till i could get the backpack. and u can never have too much mph in a blower. <p>what is ur setup mowers trimmers lawns?

[trimmer]

Does anyone use the echo back pack blowers

[kenneybros]

The guy i work for(full time) uses them. he (we, whatever) have 2, an all metal one (aluminum engine too) and a plastic one im not sure on the #'s but that metal one is great

[tony58]

I just bought a red max from Alamia for $399.Free shipping no tax.This blower is awesome!

[Cutter1]

Scag....Save your money get a small one. The way your talking I don't think you have that many yards, I think you can handle a little raking. If you really can't live without one, shindaiwa, eb630 201mph<p><br>&lt;font size=&quot;1&quot;&gt;Edited by: Cutter1<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: Cutter1

[niblick49]

Scag; don't complete your deal until you have tried the Tanaka THB-2510 handheld blower. It's also convertible to a vacuum if needed. Do yourself a favor.

[little green guy]

tony which redmax did u get for 400.00? i paid 560.00 for my eb6200 at my dealer. Oh yah scag if u can't afford the big backpacks get a cheaper one. I think you can get a echo or somethin small for like 260.00

[John Deere]

200 accts. per week. Two words: RED MAX! The hand held red max blower is stronger that our backpack John Deere.

[gene gls]

When you have been burned by gasoline the last thing you want to do is strap an engin to your back!!!!!It gets very hot very fast and hurts very much!!!!

[TurfMan]

I have a Kawasaki backpack and a echo pb210. I would definitely recommend the echo. had it for many years still like new. the kaw is only a yr old but it is a nice unit and i could not pass it up at $300. Any way. <p>----------<br>thats my 2 cents, <br>mike

[eslawns]

Scag,<br>Your dad is wrong. I bought my first BP this year (Redmax EB4300 $360) No comparison to hand held. As different as cutting a 2 acre yard witha 21&quot; push mower, instead of a 48&quot; WB. Take a look at the small Echo PB260L. 14lbs, and less than $300 Lesco BP is around $300 also. If you plan to keep doing this work, it's well worth the $$$.

[Runner]

Scag, Let your dad know that making the RIGHT purchases the FIRST time is one of the keys to success. Not Let him know, and I think everyone will vouch for me here, that a blower is one the MOST USED pieces of equipment you'll ever buy. Maybe not hourly, but for the amount of different uses and handiness. If you buy a good one, and it's got adequate or MORE than adequate power, all you're going to get out of it is the ability to have better performance, saved work, and in some instances, better work. Yeah, you may just have worked those last 2 or three leaves loose under each one of those bushes. We run the Echo PB 4600's (Our newer ones are called PB460's but they're the same blower. There are slightly smaller ones available though. The nice thing about the Echos as opposed to alot of other ones, is that they fire right up usually on the first pull. Every piece of equipment that I have that is Stihl doesn't do that. And I have several. This is important because this is going to be pulled on EVERY job. Just show your DAD this site, and whatever you decide, do it right the first time. Runner

[Bush Master]

BR400,,,,BR400...... a couple of dollors more than the baby 320well worth it <br>&quot; more is better&quot;

[tony58]

Little green guy<br> Sorry I forgot to mention mine is also a eb6200.Check out www.alamia.com before your next purchase they have great prices and good survice.<br> Tony

[MOW ED]

I suffered thru 1 year with a Singer blower vac (hand held) before I spent 400 on a Husky backpack blower. It was paid for in a week with the time I saved on cleans. I would not even think of using the hand held again. As a matter of fact you can have it for $25 bucks if you want it.<br>Sorry but if you want to play Commercial then buy commercial.

[Grasscape Inc]

REDMAX 6200

[FIREMAN]

STIHL BR400 THE ONLY WAY TO BLOW.....AT LEAST WITH A BACK BACK...IF GOING FOR A GROUND/WHEELED BLOWER CHECK OUT THE LITTLE WONDER...IT IS TRULY A WONDER.

[geogunn]

gene gls--how have you been burned by gas from a back pack blower? I hope it wasn't serious like 2nd or 3rd degree! how did it happen? thanks!<p>GEO

[gene gls]

I didn't get burned from a back pack.Lost most of the skin from my right hand from pouring gas into a carborator and the engin back fired and cought the can on fire.A little gas goes a very long way.When it comes to machines any thing can go wrong and having an engin straped to your back I think is asking for trouble.Ya, I know, 100'rds of back packs are sold every day.

[greensman21]

i do a little over 10 jobs a day and i baught a mccullock blower for $49.99, its lasted 3 years and nothing has went wrong. dont BLOW your money on a 400 or 500 dollar blower.

[Lazer]

I do a little over 30 jobs a day and use the best, (sometimes most expensive) equipment suitable for the job.

--Don't blow your workweek using inferior equipment.

It's really a choice about TIME or MONEY. Always choose time. Anybody can make money, nobody can make time.

[sunrise]

As Lazer stated anyone can make money but nobody can make time.You get out of it what you put into it. I still have the same blower I started with 10 plus yrs. ago and still use it everyday.I wouldn't buy a cheap blower most of them willn't last a year doing heavy work.

[Likestomow]

I had the big Echo blower, and after it was stolen, I bought a Red Max... it's been great.

[crew]

I have two echo eb 460's and recently bought two Shindaiwa 640,s(about 400$ at alamia.com).I now have two perfectly good echo boat anchors! The Shindaiwas are so much better the boys are avoiding the echos like a haitian hooker. Go for the goods and you wont be sorry.