Garden vacuum

Anyone got any recommendations, I'm fed up raking leaves every autumn.
Blower is probably more what I would want it for.

I'm not against a cordless one but are they any good?

Not sure I want the bother of a petrol one to be honest.

 

Have a look at B&Q mains ones and you can buy ones that sucks up or blows at the push of a leaver. No problem with these of cutting your cable. Again check the price of a replacement battery if you go down that road.

 

I’ve got a cordless one that does both functions. The vacuum uses up the battery quickly while the blower less so. It’s also a bit bulky. Because of this I also have a small cordless leaf blower with a slow and fast speed which is excellent, much lighter and lasts longer. Mine is this one from Stiga but there are lots of similar brands:

Cordless leaf blower - BL 100e Kit | STIGA

 

That link was for the leaf blower only, not the other one I have which is a combined blower and vacuum. I’m yet to find a garden vacuum that picks up anything other than leaves, particularly Sorbus berries which are a constant problem here over autumn.

I’ve had three different vacuums and they all spit things out and jam . Switching between the two functions can also be awkward with combinations so check whether this is straightforward or involves replacing tubes.

 

To be honest I've since looked at screwfix and they do reconditioned ones.

I've already got makita batteries and earlier I bought a 36volt chainsaw, it's brilliant, so I'm considering getting a makita one.

 

I've been blowing everything into one area and then using the lawn mower to vac it up . I think I need a new vac though after reading this!

 

Battery ones are a waste of time. Charge doesn't last long enough.
Electric Flymo is the only model I would buy.

 

Well I've bought the 36 volt makita, pick it up tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes when we get some leaf fall.

It's worth bearing in mind you can get 5 or 6 Ah batteries these days.

 

Yes the lawnmower is good for that, chops it all up ready for composting.

 

@pete - 8amp HR if you get Bosch professional

 

Year, the batteries I have are about 10 yrs old, I used them at work for more than 5 yrs and now at home, admittedly much less, for 5 yrs.

The way batteries are going they will get too heavy for hand held stuff I'm thinking, a 36 volt makita takes two 18 volt which works for me because the other stuff I have is either 18 or 36 volt.

I keep expecting the batteries to fail and when they do I might invest in higher Ah ones, the ones I have are only 3Ah, but they last a reasonable time and because I have three there can be one one fully charged all the time, they only take about 15mins to charge so that's a sit down with a beer for me.

I'd certainly get bigger Ah ones if I wanted to run a mower.

 

This is the one I have bought.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/refurb-m...-ion-lxt-brushless-cordless-blower-bare/183pt

 

Hope it works well for you @pete. Might be worth warning the neighbours .