Lets talk blowers

[djdicetn]

For me shoulder straps are not necessary, and also the Echo has a second handle in case your arm gets tired, but for some people it might be helpful. I do have a shoulder strap attached to the blower, but it as just something I made out of some strap and also the cushion for a seat belt so it is softer. But I never actually have to use it when blowing debris. See top of pic.

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Thanks for all the feedback!! Yeah, I have a shoulder strap on the gas trimmer and that's the wife's "job" too. Since her lumpectomy and radiation treatment in June/July she "tires real easily". That will probably be better next season, but just thinking about her when I mentioned attaching a strap. That one you put on yours appears as though it "could be" used to support some of the blower's weight. Needless to say our yard lacked decent trimming this summer as I've got the Post-Polio and really can't "walk the yard" and the wife is just now able to do yard work after her bout with breast cancer. I'm just glad they did such a fantastic job getting that stuff outa her body and chances are slim/none that it will ever return!!!!!

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Thanks for all the feedback!! Yeah, I have a shoulder strap on the gas trimmer and that's the wife's "job" too. Since her lumpectomy and radiation treatment in June/July she "tires real easily". That will probably be better next season, but just thinking about her when I mentioned attaching a strap. That one you put on yours appears as though it "could be" used to support some of the blower's weight. Needless to say our yard lacked decent trimming this summer as I've got the Post-Polio and really can't "walk the yard" and the wife is just now able to do yard work after her bout with breast cancer. I'm just glad they did such a fantastic job getting that stuff outa her body and chances are slim/none that it will ever return!!!!!

Great to hear! Yes I have put the blower in my shoulder when I am walking to a house or something, so I know it can support the weight.

 

[Ric]

I started out thinking I would buy a Stihl BR350 this fall, but my wife will be using this more than I to clean the sidewalks and driveway. She recently had surgery for breast cancer and the BR350 weighs 22 pounds, so now I'm considering the BR200 instead(only weighs 12 pounds). The air volumes(with/without tube) is 441/677cfm for the BR350 and only 406/471cfm for the BR200. Aside from the definite benefit of being lighter, the BR200 is also $100 cheaper. Will the BR200 do the job for simple homeowner uses like I described??? And why can't you use gutter kits with backpack-style blowers.....the Stihl kit specifically says "handheld blowers only"(which my dealer confirmed). That's the one other "important" use I would be looking for in a new blower and it stinks that you can't use them on a backpack-style!! Maybe I need to be considering a hand-held blower like the BG86 entry-level commercial(but has even less "power" @ 359/459cfm:0(

I have the BR 200 and I purchase it for the wife and she really likes the thing and it does a great job@ 132mph, you can increase the velocity by using the flat nozzle. The hand held units are alright but I find them harder to use even with there straps. The control and weight with the HH is the issue with me. Even though the 86 is a couple of lbs lighter the BR 200 is more efficient and would be easier to use or control especially for the wife. Actually the difference in productivity between the two units wont be that much different.

 

[djdicetn]

I have the BR 200 and I purchase it for the wife and she really likes the thing and it does a great job@ 132mph, you can increase the velocity by using the flat nozzle. The hand held units are alright but I find them harder to use even with there straps. The control and weight with the HH is the issue with me. Even though the 86 is a couple of lbs lighter the BR 200 is more efficient and would be easier to use or control especially for the wife. Actually the difference in productivity between the two units wont be that much different.

Thanks Ric......now if it would just accomodate a gutter kit I would be 100% sold on that one(my Gravely dealer carries Stihl and the BR200 is what he recommended). Yeah...the wife is right-handed and that's the side she had the lumpectomy on. I really want to avoid her having to carry around much unsupported weight for a year or two.
P.S.
Besides...if ALL that I wanted to use a hand-held blower for was gutter cleaning I'm sure a real cheap one with a gutter kit would git er dun.....right?? So just get the BR200 and a cheap hand-held with gutter kit and I'm good to go:0)

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Thanks Ric......now if it would just accomodate a gutter kit I would be 100% sold on that one(my Gravely dealer carries Stihl and the BR200 is what he recommended). Yeah...the wife is right-handed and that's the side she had the lumpectomy on. I really want to avoid her having to carry around much unsupported weight for a year or two.
P.S.
Besides...if ALL that I wanted to use a hand-held blower for was gutter cleaning I'm sure a real cheap one with a gutter kit would git er dun.....right?? So just get the BR200 and a cheap hand-held with gutter kit and I'm good to go:0)

I don't even know if cheap brands offer a gutter kit.

But I looked and even Weedeater does: Amazon.com: Weed Eater GA2010 Gutter Cleaning Blower Attachment: Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[djdicetn]

I don't even know if cheap brands offer a gutter kit.

But I looked and even Weedeater does: Amazon.com: Weed Eater GA2010 Gutter Cleaning Blower Attachment: Patio, Lawn & Garden

Home Depot has an Echo gutter kit that has some very good customer reviews. They are kinda pricey @ $43.99 but that and the PB250-LN for $159 still wouldn't be too bad. Even though it's an "overkill" I'd probably still consider getting the Stihl PB-200 for the wife to use cleaning the driveway(about 150 footer) and the front/back sidewalks. I may get the Echo blower & gutter kit first and let her try it out to see if it's too difficult for her to use. Thanks guys for all the advice!!!

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Home Depot has an Echo gutter kit that has some very good customer reviews. They are kinda pricey @ $43.99 but that and the PB250-LN for $159 still wouldn't be too bad. Even though it's an "overkill" I'd probably still consider getting the Stihl PB-200 for the wife to use cleaning the driveway(about 150 footer) and the front/back sidewalks. I may get the Echo blower & gutter kit first and let her try it out to see if it's too difficult for her to use. Thanks guys for all the advice!!!

Keep us posted!

 

[Ric]

Home Depot has an Echo gutter kit that has some very good customer reviews. They are kinda pricey @ $43.99 but that and the PB250-LN for $159 still wouldn't be too bad. Even though it's an "overkill" I'd probably still consider getting the Stihl BR-200 for the wife to use cleaning the driveway(about 150 footer) and the front/back sidewalks. I may get the Echo blower & gutter kit first and let her try it out to see if it's too difficult for her to use. Thanks guys for all the advice!!!

Check with your dealer and see if he will let you try the BR 200 out in the lot and see if it's going to be what you want. The wife uses it for cleaning driveways, sidewalks, doorways and patios and such and it does a good job. I'd almost bet if you wanted to you could adapt a gutter kit in some way. There was a guy that made a video and made his own using PVC pipe. He used the throttle half of his blower tube and put the pvc pipe over it.

 

[djdicetn]

Check with your dealer and see if he will let you try the BR 200 out in the lot and see if it's going to be what you want. The wife uses it for cleaning driveways, sidewalks, doorways and patios and such and it does a good job. I'd almost bet if you wanted to you could adapt a gutter kit in some way. There was a guy that made a video and made his own using PVC pipe. He used the throttle half of his blower tube and put the pvc pipe over it.

Yeah, even though "not recommended" I read a review on H.D. about the Echo gutter kit where a guy used it on his Echo PB500 backpack blower and it worked fine. I know my dealer has the Stihl gutter kits and I may just ask him to let me see if it will fit the BR200!!

 

[sgmgarden]

Stihl are a really good brand and produce excellent blowers.