Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
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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 |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
Customer Review: As advertized
Summary: 4 Stars
Used for the first time today. I bought this for the vacuum function, as I already own both a gas blower for the big jobs and a battery blower for the small ones. My main reason for purchasing this was to vacuum leaves out of flower beds that are covered with pea gravel/small river rock. It had rained yesterday and many of the leaves were damp. The Toro did an acceptable job of getting up the leaves and leaving most of the rock. I did hear a few clicks that I assume were some smaller stones getting sucked up, but the vac kept on working. It had some trouble with leaves caught in plant stems, but all in all, I'm pleased with the job it does. There were a lot of whole leaves in the bag (I don't know what kind, but they were about 3" X 2"), so the mulching is no way 16:1, but hey, all I wanted to do was get them off the ground.Customer Review: As good as it gets...NOT ANYMORE! Update 3/2010
Summary: 4 Stars
Update 3/18/2010:
So, I got my new one and it is working fine. I also discovered a new use for this. We recently had a ton of snow, but it was very light....so I had a thought, why not try to blow the snow off of my steps (I have about 20 steps leading to the front of my house) so I gave it a try and guess what....it worked! I blew all of the snow off of the steps! My neighbor thought I was nuts until he saw how easy it was, then he borrowed mine and did his own steps. A great new use and this one is holding up, so maybe the first was a fluke???I did drop it down a star, but if it continues to perform well I will bump it back up.
Updated March 1,
Well, the third time I used the blower was today, to clear out some small branches, etc., from a fallen tree. After about 5 seconds, the blower slowed, started to smoke and then stopped working. I am very surprised, because my other Toro products have worked perfectly. I will be contacting the company and see how they handle this and will post as soon as I hear from them. I would stay away from this blower. I leave my original review incase I get a replacement and it works flawlessly (I have my doubts). As cumbersome as it was, my ShopVac NEVER gave me a problem after using it over a dozen times to blow leaves.
I used to use my ShopVac to blow the leaves, but that was a real pain. I hired landscapers and they were great for the first year. I was raking the leaves and it took forever, and then the handle snapped in two and hit me in the mouth. I bought this that same night. I was tempted to give it four stars, but then I realized this is as good as they get. There is no way that you will get the power of the blowers that you have to push. With that said, let me tell you that I have about half an acre with a lot of trees. The fall looks beautiful.....for a few weeks....and then, it's a killer. So, having this blower is very helpful. Blowing the leaves is very easy and this is relatively light, my 5 year old can hold it and walk around with it....he carries it for me when I am finished. I would not recommend letting a child use this, for multiple reasons. As far as blowing, well first thing, try blow dry leaves. If they get wet it will be harder to blow them as they pile up. Having said that, it is hard to blow even dry leaves when the pile is big. Keep in mind, however, that even the backpack gas blowers have their limitations and are not much better than this (you need a team of two people to really be effective). It takes me about two hours to blow all the leaves. Keep in mind that I am being followed by my five year old helper. So, why do I think you should purchase this over others....well, first, it's a Toro. They usually make a long lasting product, I have two other Toro products and they are awesome as well. The cost for this is really what makes it a great deal. Low cost, good function, solid reputation....these are the things that make an item not only a good buy, but also a great value. One note, as with any of these products, the cord can come off and you should ONLY use this on a GFCI.
Customer Review: As good as they say
Summary: 5 Stars
I was convinced I needed a strap-on gas blower for my large (over 1 acre) partially wooded yard. This really does the trick quickly and without much hassle. I put a few extension cords together and they really aren't that much of a problem. The blower is much smaller than I would have thought, given the job it does moving large amounts of semi-wet leaves. I found it very ergonomic. I wasn't sore after using it and found it not the least bit cumbersome. It was night and day from my last toro blower. I havent used the leave vacuum because my lawn is just too big...
I really see no cons to this other than I worry about getting fingers into the fan if the bottom grille isn't on. Not sure if there is a safety switch that prevents this.
In short, I love this thing!!
Customer Review: As strong a breeze as Katrina!
Summary: 4 Stars
Ordered to replace an inexpensive B&D closeout I've used for two years. Enough airspeed and volume to make one handed holding tiring (Newton's third law) if not difficult. I've rigged a shoulder harness that helps but a flexible section in the blower tube would be a vast design improvement.Customer Review: Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
Everything I expected. I am new to lawn care, but this product helps make it a joy! And what a great price!