Stihl or Echo Blowers???

Stihl or Echo Blowers????

Ever wonder what brand of blower you should buy. Maybe this will help...

Stihl
Stihl makes professional-grade gas leaf blowers and high-end electric models. It sells exclusively through outdoor power equipment dealers. Stihl uses the HomeScaper line name on some consumer-grade models. The Stihl line of gas handheld and backpack blowers features high power and high amount of air moved, measured in cubic feet per minute.
Echo
Echo makes high-end handheld and backpack professional-grade gas leaf blowers. Its gas blowers feature lower weight and high power, the latest starting and sound-reduction improvements, and high cfm. They're available at The Home Depot, outdoor power equipment dealers and hardware stores.



Source: Consumer Reports

Fall in the Midwest

The leaves are changing colors here in the Midwest. This brings with it many different opinions. There are a number of people who travel great distances to view the beauty that Mother Nature bestows upon us annually. On one occasion I was in Columbus, Indiana for training and as part of our experience there we were taken to dinner on a tour bus. Part of the dinner plans included a trip through an area just so we could view the fall colors the area had to offer. Admiration of the many fall colors is one perspective of what Autumn has to offer… the other side is the task of what to do with all the leaves after they have lost their pretty colors, have turned to brown and have covered the lawn. I have talked to a few people who don’t worry about the leaves, they feel that eventually they will blow into a neighbor’s yard and then the neighbor can worry about them. Most of my friends and family take the other approach of gathering them all up to either use in a compost pile or where permitted burning them. Growing up in the Midwest I fondly remember as a child using the piles of leaves to play in. It would occupy us for hours, raking the leaves into what seemed like enormous piles and then taking turns jumping into them. My parents, of course, didn’t quite get the same enjoyment from the activity. In those days our family didn’t have a leaf blower. The job of removing the leaves from the lawn entailed many hours and a few hand blisters by my parents. Now as an adult I am lucky to have my handy Echo PB-460LN Quiet 1 leaf blower which makes the Fall task enjoyable again. I now have a grandson that I will enjoy watching scatter the leaves that I have blown into a pile simply for his entertainment. I will relive my childhood memories through watching him play in the toy that nature has provided him. If I were to have to go back to the rake for this activity I would probably not be looking so forward to it. Remember to enjoy the wonders you are provided and take the time to treasure the memories that you are able make.

Tara Funneman - Office Manager at lawneq, Division of Bahrns Equipment, Inc. - where you can fulfill all your lawn and garden equipment and parts needs.

Leaf Blower Safety

Leaf Blower Safety

Be Aware of What is Around You

* Leaf blowers are loud so be considerate to the ones around you and do your business and go on.

* Do not point leaf blowers at people or animals

* Do not leave blowers around so young children can play with them.

Dress Appropriate

* Wear goggles & ear plugs. You might even want to wear a dusk mask if it is dry outside. Your health is the most important

* Wearing long pants and long sleeves protects your skin the best.

* Wear snug clothing so you can move freely and avoid getting anything caught in the moving parts of your blower.

Use the Leaf Blower in the Correct Way

* Know how to operate your leaf blower corectly.

* Blowers should not be used in-doors or should not be used while on a ladder or other objects.

* Do not use leaf blowers to spread chemicals or any other toxic substances.

* Do not alter your blower or remove any safety features.

* Never use a plug in blower while standing on any wet surfaces.

Maintenance, Repair & Storage

* Turn off the blower and let it cool down before adding more gasoline.

* Make sure you add the proper gas mixture.

* Before doing any work on the leaf blower turn it off and disconnect the spark plug wire.

* Before you store your leaf blower be sure the engine is completely cooled off.