Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
|
List Price: Our Price: $74.97 You Save: $15.02 (17%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $55.95 (click here) Category: Lawn & Patio See more product details |
|---|
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
Customer Review: An Excellent Machine!
Summary: 5 Stars
I looked at several leaf blower/vacs before settling on this one. From the reviews, I found that the most important feature is a metal impeller, rather than a plastic one. This narrowed it down to this machine and a similar Black & Decker model in my price range. From the reviews of the B & D model, it seemed that people had more problems with it than with this model. Also, the B & D model had only two speeds versus this model's variable speeds.
I was amazed at how well this machine performed. Its ability to move even wet leaves is outstanding. With the concentrator nozzle, I am able to blow leaves in tight places like under my fence. The vacuum is also excellent. The only problem I had was keeping the speed low enough to pick up the leaves and twigs but not the pebbles. But if a pebble does get sucked up, you can hear it in the impeller, and you have to just turn it off and the pebble will fall back out. I had no problems with the vacuum tube or the impeller getting clogged, because I kept the speed low and tried not to suck up too many leaves at a time.
This machine is relatively light and easy to handle. The conversion from blower to vacuum is quick and easy. Also, the handles are configured for easy maneuvering in either mode. I highly recommend this tool for all leaf removal jobs.
Customer Review: An Overall Good Product
Summary: 4 Stars
I was browsing leaf vacuum's and this had the highest rating, so I purchased it. The item came in 1 business day which was awesome! I couldn't wait to use it. When I received the product, I didn't review the directions throughly and was still able to figure out how to operate it. The only part I don't like about this product is that I wish I didn't have to change the black hose in order to activate the blower from the vacuum.
The leaf blower module works great! However, I wish the vacuum module would suck up the leaves better. Maybe it's a good thing that it isn't too powerful or else rocks and other debris can get sucked up and ruin the medal impeller. This is an overall great product and I would recommend it to my friends and family.
Customer Review: An annoying change to the product
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought Model 51599 as a replacement for an older model 51591 Toro that died after about 5 years of use. The 51591 had a molded "bracket" (for lack of a better term) on the back of the blower where you could loop the extension cord to keep pressure off the connection between that cord and the blower. I found a reference that described to this as a Lock-Cord and a reference #100-9088 in the manual. This reduced the number of times the extension cord would be pulled loose from the blower. It didn't stop them completely, but did so a large percentage of the time. The new model does not have such a bracket and the connection pulls loose ALL the time. This is VERY annoying.Customer Review: An excellent value in an electric blow and vac
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this Toro electric blow and vac in utter frustration after spending a small fortune on similar gasoline powered products. I use it as a vac several times per week and even daily in the Fall. I found that the very cheap gasoline blow and vacs start falling apart very quickly indeed as the result of poor and shoddy design so I moved up to the top of the line, Echo, which appears to be very well made and engineered. My first one, an ES211, did outlast its 2 year warranty, it had a starter assembly and cord replaced under warranty but then just wore out during the third year. The second ES211 lasted 18 months until something broke inside the engine and it wouldn't even rotate. The third one (a $290+tax ES231 heavy duty model) is just over a year old and overheats very quickly, smokes badly, and is melting the plastic grill surrounding the engine.
The dealers lie and tell me that it's my fault and that the problem is lack of lubrication. As a lifelong, now retired, professional mechanical engineer and having owned 2-stroke engines since a teenager I have always used the correct gas/oil mixture in 2-stroke engines including motorcycles of course.
The Toro Ultra Blower and Vac does everything I need. Let's list the advantages. It is amazingly light and doesn't strain your back lugging its bulk plus a heavy bag of leaves around the way a gas powered model does - this is very important and not to be dismissed as you get up in years. It always starts when you turn the knob - you sure can't say that about gasoline powered garden equipment. It converts from a blower to a vac very quickly without needing a screwdriver and undue force - Toro obviously corrected this problem from the prior model. It is very quiet compared with gas models - your neighbors will appreciate this. It doesn't have a spark plug or an air filter that needs frequent attention. It doesn't get dirty, grimy, and oily from gasoline exhaust and leaky carburetors and tubing. You don't have to buy expensive gasoline and oil and be required to mix and find a place to store a separate highly inflammable gas/oil mixture. The Toro has a cast magnesium impeller that handles the occasional twig or stone quite handily. The leaf bag is well designed, it disconnects easily and is a snap to empty. The vac suction and air blast from the blower seems equivalent to the Echo. Last but not least is P R I C E , my Toro was $69.99, at that price I could buy four of them for the price of one Echo ES231.
Now for the only disadvantage I can think of. I use a 100 ft. 13amp. electric cord and reel. You sacrifice some ease of mobility because you have a cord dragging behind you all of the time - nothing in life is perfect I guess.
Customer Review: As Advertised
Summary: 5 Stars
Great product. It's nice and powerful and seems pretty durable. For the price, I think it's a great value. The only thing you're going to need is an extension cord as the cord is maybe a foot long. Easy to snap together and get going.