How To Choose Digging Tools The right tool will make any job easier, especially when it comes to digging. And when it comes to digging, there's no shortage of tools to choose from – but which tool is right for which job?There are two kinds of people in your average street: the people who love their leaf blower, and their neighbours. But while you might curse those chipper souls who like to do their leaf blowing at 8am every Sunday, the appeal is undeniable: not only can a blower vac be a convenient option for clearing a large leaf-covered lawn, but its vacuum with built-in mulcher turns the leaves and other bits into mulch for your garden or compost. Of course, before you throw away your rake and rush off to buy a blower vac, first ask yourself whether you really need one. In most yards with only a moderate quantity of leaves to clear up, a bit of exercise with a rake is probably a better option - for you and your neighbours. You'll need to wear good ear protection when using a blower vac, as they can have sound levels up to 95 dB;

that’s as loud as an angle grinder. Goggles and a dust mask are also advisable. Another point to consider is that if you have plastic or other litter mixed in with your leaves, it can clog the mechanism. If you’re not fussed about the mulching, you might consider getting just a blower rather than a blower vac. Using a blower to gather all the leaves into a pile, then picking them up by hand or with a rake, is often an easier option than fiddling around with converting from blower to vacuum (particularly for most petrol models). shark vacuum cleaner how to emptyOur reviews include cordless (battery-powered) blower-only models and we've found several that can do the job well.kirby vacuum cleaner phone number We test blower vacs by scattering a large bag of dry leaves evenly over a 60 square metre yard, blowing them into a pile, converting the model to vacuum mode and vacuuming up the piled leaves. cek harga vacuum cleaner

The faster the blower vac completes the job, the better its score. The best models complete the job in about 10 to 12 minutes – which is not a lot faster than doing the job manually with a rake. CHOICE tests in the past have found no significant overall performance difference between petrol and corded electric leaf blowers. Most of the electric models are generally a bit easier to use, mainly because they’re more easily converted from blower to vacuum and back again, and can be easier to start. They're also a bit quieter. However, you will need a long outdoor extension cord (and a safety switch) and dragging the cord around behind you can be annoying. A petrol model would be a better choice if you've got a very big area to clean up, but you'll probably need to mix fuel for them (most petrol models have two-stroke motors) and they emit exhaust fumes. Cordless models can be very effective and convenient, at least for blowing leaves into a pile, though you need to remember to make sure the battery is charged up before you use them.

We've tested some cordless blower-vacs too, but found that generally their vacuuming performance isn't as good as the petrol or electric models. They don't yet appear to have the necessary power to suck up and shred leaves swiftly and without clogging and as a result they tend to run out of juice too soon. If you go for a cordless model, consider getting a spare battery; it can be handy if you have a larger yard that can't be covered with one battery charge, or if you get out the trimmer only to realise you didn't charge it last time. There are two numbers to consider when it comes to batteries: Your leaf blower should be well-balanced and not too heavy (remember, a vacuum model will get heavier as the bag fills up). A collection bag that’s easily removed and emptied, and not too large. The bigger it is, the heavier it’ll be when full. It should be easy to convert the machine from blower to vacuum mode - preferably without needing tools. Some models need you to swap the nozzle and attach the bag when converting from blower to vacuum, while others have all the features built-in (making them more bulky) and just need you to flick a lever or switch.

Most of the tested models claim a mulching ratio of around 10:1 — that is, 10 bags of leaves reduced to one bag of mulch. However, we've found the ratio to be more like 4:1. So you can use just enough power to keep the leaves moving without blasting them away. Prices range from around $60 to more than $500.It's Autumn and that means one, annoying thing needs clearing up – leaves. We've tested five of the best leaf blowers available to see which one is ideal for you.You might view a leaf blower and garden vac as something of a luxury, but they’re actually very versatile tools that can be bought for as little as £50 to £100.Of course, what type of 'blower' is best for you will depend on what you need to do. Here's what you need to knowLeaf blowers are best for small gardens or if you're dealing with a large number of leaves that can't be easily vacuumed up. They only blow, but they're ideal for moving lots of detritus in one big pile that you can then collect up easily.

Garden vacuums are useful for small jobs – particularly the non-shredding types, as they're good for picking up general litter as well as leaves. bined leaf blowers and garden vacs are best for the great majority of people, due to their versatility. The main drawback is they can be fiddly to set up and often have extra attachments you need to store, which you could potentially lose.We've already covered the different types of leaf blowers and garden vacs, but what else should you think about when deciding which one to buy? Here's a handy check list of questions when choosing which leaf blower to buy.This sounds very obvious (and it is), but it's important. If you have a small garden then a smaller, lower-power blower or vac should suffice. Most people will be better off with a blower or combi blower and vac, but if you have a large amount of leaves then you'll need a more powerful, longer-lasting machine to get the job done. If you have a large area to cover, don't skimp on the machinery, as you'll regret it later.

If so, a straight garden vac without shredding is what you need. They're not as good at picking up and storing wet leaves, but they're a hugely versatile time saver.Petrol is generally something you’ll only want to go for if you know you’re going to be working all day. only last well under 30 minutes, so if your garden is quite large you’ll probably need to go for a mains-powered unit.Each time we test a leaf blower or garden vac we collect 3kg of damp leaves and scatter them over a 40m2 patch of lawn. We then time how long it takes to blow the leaves into a pile. Along the way we look at how easy the device is to handle, what its blowing power is and how loud it is.For blowing power we stand at a fixed point and simply use the blower to create an arc in the patch of fallen leaves. We then measure the distance cleared by the blower. As for loudness, we hold a decibel meter at head height while operating the device at its usual position to the side of the body.For vacs we then suck up the whole pile and assess how well the vac coped, checking for blockages, whether it can take in the whole pile and how easy it is to empty.