The humble cordless blower has finally matured. In fact, the whole range or blowers, vacs and combinations of the two have certainly morphed since their acceptance as a home and garden implement less than two decades ago.
Rather than being made specifically as a home and garden tool they were produced to blow chemicals in agricultural applications. Once water became outlawed as a gardening tool the blower, or blower vac, became standard issue for most gardeners and have enjoyed a spot in the garden shed ever since.
When they first appeared the only option was petrol (gas) powered units. Then, over the years, smaller units became more popular and these were often powered by electricity. Yet, every good gardener knows that traversing your yard with a power cord getting tangled between shrubs, landscaping and whimsy is hardly an enjoyable pastime.
The timing seemed “right” for the entrance of the 18-Volt Cordless Blower
So, how do you go about buying a cordless blower and what should you be looking for?
Firstly, noise is a major factor nowadays so comparing decibel ratings for different blowers is a must. In some regions laws have even been introduced to limit the amount of neighbour disturbance and some cordless blowers can’t even be offered for sale in these places.
Second, power is the next most critical requirement. Sure, buying a rechargeable battery cordless blower may make you feel all warm and eco-gooey inside but if it doesn’t have enough grunt for the applications you’re hoping to use it on then you could just be buying a toy.
Third, backup service and warranty is a must. These machines operate at very high revs so will often burnout if used too much. Considering your application, as above, look for a machine that offers a long warranty on parts and where service and repairs can be performed locally.
Finally, a cordless blower will only ever BLOW. A combination blower/vac may be a better option if you’re planning to use this to clean up leaves and other garden refuse.
However, whichever way you choose to go the options these days are certainly better than a decade ago and the technology for cordless blowers is improving all the time.