Today we are going to be talking about the Billy Goat LB352 wheeled push vacuum, which is Billy Goats entry-level vacuum that sells for just £649.99.
We are now well into October and the leaves are coming down. However, in East Anglia, the trees are still quite green for the time of year, but that will quickly change with the autumn rains and frosts!
Over the past few weeks, we have been talking about various types of leaf blowers, ranging from handheld leaf blowers,knapsack blowers and wheeled blowers. So I thought today would be a good time to introduce the Billy Goat LB 352 wheeled push vacuum. This is Billy Goats entry-level model, however, it still has good features that the larger more powerful models also have.
Briggs & Stratton 500E Engine
Billy Goat LB352 Wheeled Push Vacuum
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The Billy Goat LB 352 wheeled push vacuum is powered by Briggs & Stratton 500 series engine, which develops 3.5 hp. This model is a push model, however, at 26 kg, it pushes easily, especially on hard surfaces, like patios and pathways etc.
More Info Billy Goat LB352 Wheeled Push Vacuum
This vacuum is ideal for people with limited access, it is approximately 21 inches wide and has a working capacity of 20 inches. This is the type of machine that will fit into most smaller gardens and get around those narrow winding paths.
The Billy Goat LB 352 wheeled push vacuum is suitable for areas up to half an acre. If you are looking for a larger garden vacuum you can see more of our Billy Goat garden vacuums here. We will be featuring a few more models over the coming few days.
Compact And Easy To Manoeuvre
Is This Billy Goat Model Suitable For You?
The Billy Goat LB 352 wheeled push vacuum is perfect for clearing leaves on lawns, patios, driveways and even tennis courts. The easy empty bag system allows you to collect leaves with literally no spillage. The large chute at the rear of the machine minimises blockages and keeps the debris flowing into the bag.
The ingenious design actually allows you to pick up leaves from gravel drives without picking up stones.
To make your Billy Goat garden vacuum even more versatile, there is an optional 7-foot hose kit that allows you to vacuum between plants and shrubs. This is a very useful feature as with traditional blowers the leaves tend to get held up on shrubs and plants. Whereas with the Billy Goat wonder hose the leaves can simply be vacuumed up, it is almost like vacuuming your lounge!
Wide Nozzle Billy Goat LB352 Wheeled Push Vacuum
Height Adjustment
The front wheels of the Billy Goat vacuum are adjustable independently. It’s important to adjust the wheels to the right cutting height for optimum performance. On lawns you will need the machine to be slightly further off the ground otherwise will be difficult to push through the grass. Whereas on smooth surfaces, like driveways and tennis courts the height adjustment can be set much lower.
Warranty
The Billy Goat LB 352 wheeled push vacuum has a one-year domestic warranty and six-month commercial warranty.
Would I Buy A Billy Goat?
I am someone who likes to make gardening easy and as a contractor, over the years I have seen people make unbelievably hard work of gardening. With the right equipment and machines your garden work can become pleasurable rather than a drag or drain on your body. I recommend the Billy goat range of vacuums, they have model to suit every need. You can see more Billy Goat vacuums here.
Today we are going to talk about the Stihl BR800 backpack blower. This Stihl BR800 backpack blower has only been available in the UK for a few months, I believe the BR 800 backpack blower was available earlier in the US.
Features
Stihl’s most powerful backpack blower.
Antivibration system.
Powerful 79.9cc two-stroke petrol engine.
User-friendly starting system.
Comfortable shoulder and waist harness.
Solid dealer network.
Two years domestic and one-year commercial warranty.
Stihl blowers are used by many professionals.
Stihl BR800 Backpack Blower
I’ve always liked Stihl products and I’ve used them commercially for over 30 years and I am still using Stihl products today.
About three years ago I was starting up a new business. I needed a powerful blower to assist me in the cleaning up process after I had completed a job. The original leaf blower that I owned was a Stihl BG86CE which is a 27 mL handheld blower. It’s a great blower and it’s a machine that I still use today, however, I needed something larger so that I could really move debris quickly.
I decided to purchase Stihl’s largest backpack blower at the time which was the BR600. However, literally, a few days after purchasing this blower, the BG 700 came out! If I had of known I would have purchased the BG700 as the BR600 and 700 are identical in physical size, but obviously, the BR 700 has more blowing power.
I have to say that I am more than happy with my Stihl BG 600 blower. However, when you know there’s something a bit more powerful on the market there is a feeling that it may be time to go for the more powerful machine.
Stihl BR800 Backpack Blower
Let’s Compare The Differences In Specification
The BR 600 has a 64.8 cc engine, the BR 800 has a 79.9cc engine, so that is almost 25% larger.
The BR 800 has a 4.4 hp engine against the BR 600 which has a 3.8 hp engine.
To See The Full Specifications, Have A Look At The Chart Below.
There is very little weight difference between the BR 600 and BR 800. The weight difference is approximately three pounds or 1.5 kg. I have to say that I have never found the BR 600 to be heavy on my back. I believe this is because it is very well balanced, and it has an excellent shoulder and waist strap that can be adjusted to suit every size of body.
If I’m clearing leaves with my backpack blower, I will normally run the machine until it runs out of fuel. This normally takes around the one-hour mark. I’ve never thought to myself that I need to get this blower off my back due to the weight or the discomfort of carrying it. The weight really is distributed very well indeed, it’s certainly much easier than using a handheld blower and much more powerful!
Stihl BR800 Backpack Blower
Start The Engine On Your Back
One of the best features that I like about the BR 800 is the option to be able to start the blower without removing it from your back. This may not sound like the most exciting feature but to me, it is extremely useful.
For example, if your phone rings or a customer comes out to see you, there is no need to remove the blower from your back! With the recoil at the side, you can just simply pull the starter cord without removing it from your back, this really is a great feature!
Just remember that when you are carrying out a cold start, make sure you don’t touch the throttle lever otherwise this will release the choke and make for difficult starting. It’s a very natural thing to do when you are putting the backpack blower on your back, for some reason we want to touch the throttle trigger!
Search eBay for Leaf Blowers
How Much Better Is The BR 800 Backpack Blower?
I find my BR 600 blower a really great tool for blowing leaves and clearing up in the garden. So I don’t want to run this machine down as it’s a machine that I really recommend. However, when you know there’s something more powerful on the market for a similar cost and similar type of machine, it seemed a good idea to upgrade. I will definitely be going for the larger BR 800 machine, even though I haven’t personally tried it as yet.
There are many reviews and videos for the BR800 and they are all praising up this backpack blower. I have used the BR 700 model and although it’s the same engine size as the BR 600, even this offers more blowing power.
Why Choose Stihl?
I know that there are many manufacturers who make good leaf blowers at all different prices. However, I have used and I still use Stihl products today as I like to purchase a quality product that will last and be reliable. Another good plus point is if you have a need to sell a Stihl product, providing the machine is in good order and condition it will hold its value.
Even if you’re not a professional but you want to purchase a product that will last you for many years, I would recommend Stihl products.
As I always mention in many of my posts, buy the best product that you can afford, it’s far cheaper in the long run. It’s also nice to use a product that feels well-engineered and works efficiently.
Today we are looking at the Mantis Classic 4-Stroke Tiller, this is a small but very well built tiller with multiple uses for the garden.
Mantis obviously trust their product as they give a five-year consumer use warranty on this particular tiller. They also offer a lifetime guarantee on their tines, however, tines do wear when they are digging soil, so the warranty is more for damage to the tines.
With over 2 million Mantis tillers sold you can buy this machine with confidence, this Mantis Classic Tiller also has excellent reviews which average 4.65 out of 5.
The Mantis classic 4-stroke tiller is the perfect machine to make light work out of heavy garden tasks. It can be used to cultivate your vegetable patch, hoe between vegetables and to weed shrub and flower borders.
The tiller is lightweight and yet heavy enough to dig compacted ground. Now obviously this isn’t a contractors tool for tearing up compacted ground, but it can, however, make light work of tough jobs in the garden. Jobs that you would have had to call a professional in for can be carried out with the Mantis classic 4-stroke tiller. If you require a larger machine you can find more tillers here
Mantis Classic 4- Stroke Tiller
Lightweight
The Mantis classic 4-stroke tiller ways just 24 lbs (11 kg) and with its fold-down handles, it easily fits into most cars and can be taken to the allotment or carried to the garden shed very easily.
Mantis Classic 4-Stroke Tiller Engine
The tiller is powered by a Honda 25cc four-stroke engine, so in other words, there is no petrol to mix like traditional two-stroke engines on small machines. However, there is an oil sump on this machine that needs to be checked and changed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I always like to change the oil regularly on machines as it is far cheaper to replace engine oil than worn engine parts.
Over the years, I have had a lot of experience with Honda engines and I can say that they are probably the best starting engines on the market. I have often left machines for a few months over the winter and came to stop them in the spring and they start on the first pull! I do like to normally run engines a couple of times in the winter just to keep things moving.
Mantis Classic 4- Stroke Tiller
The Mantis Tiller Makes Gardening Easy
The Mantis tiller definitely helps to make gardening much easier, once you own a Mantis, you will wonder how you manage without one! I was reading a review from a 65 year old lady who uses her machine on a regular basis and has no problem handling and manoeuvring the machine.
The Mantis Tiller is just 9 inches wide (23 cm) which is perfect for getting into the small places, hoeing around plants and shrubs and in the vegetable garden.
Designed To Last
The Mantis tiller is designed to last, with a one-unit gearbox and still mudguard in Serpentine tines which come with a lifetime guarantee against breakage. So you can use your Mantis tiller with great confidence.
A Versatile Machine
The Mantis tiller is more than just a tiller. It has some great optional attachments available to help you in your garden. These attachments include a dethatcher, lawn aerator, a furrow for bulking up potatoes or overwintering. And the ability to weed between plants and shrubs in borders.
90 Day Money Back Guarantee
Mantis trust this tiller so much that they offer a 90 day money-back guarantee trial period if your tiller does not meet your needs.
95% of customers were very happy with their Mantis classic 4-stroke tiller, you can see reviews here.
Here Are Some Of The Main Features Of The Mantis Tiller
Light and easy to handle.
Powerful.
Efficient and adaptable.
Easy-to-use.
Easy to carry.
Designed to last.
Versatile.
Free kickstand.
90-day moneyback guarantee.
Honda four-stroke engine
Specification
Tilling width9″ / 23 cm
Weight24 lbs / 11 kg
Engine25cc, 4-Stroke Honda® engine
No mixing of petrol/oil required
Starting/operating Recoil
Variable speed throttle
Tines spin at up to 200 rpm
Today we are talking about the Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower, this is the largest zero turn stand on blower available. Billy Goat makes a slightly smaller stand on blower which is 23 hp, however, today we will be talking about the largest model which is 35 hp.
The Largest Range Of Wheeled Blowers
Billy Goat has the largest range of wheeled blowers in the world, the smallest wheeled blower being just 5 hp and then their largest walk-behind model going right up to 18 hp. Briggs & Stratton brought out the Hurricane models, they also make the identical Ferris model which is painted in the Ferris red paint colour. Ferris has been making great zero turn mowers for years, so having owned several Ferris zero-turn mowers I know that these machines are very well constructed and reliable.
Ferris makes the FB 2000 and FB 3000 Hurricane stand on blower, they are, 23 hp and 35 hp respectively.
The Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower comes complete with headlights, so as the daylight disappears in the autumn you can complete your leaf clearance jobs.
With a 35 hp engine, this blower is the equivalent to about 10 to 12 traditional backpack blowers, which is actually quite amazing, that’s a lot of blowing power. This blower has about 8500 CFM.
Billy Goat Wheeled Blower Adjustable Chute
Vent Control
You can blow out the right side, this is a fixed vent which is open or closed, this fan is controlled by the throttle speed. The vent at the front is also the same, it is controlled by the throttle speed.
The left-hand vent is different, all the vents will work providing that the key is turned on. The vents are controlled by a joystick, if you move the joystick to open, they will open. You don’t have to close the vents all the time, you can just move across to the open position and the other vent will close. There’s also a place on the joystick to close all the vents, a very straightforward control feature.
When you want to open the left-hand vent, you basically have a depth gauge which you can see from the operator’s position. This depth gauge will tell you how far the vent is open.
As you can see in the photograph the left-hand vent has complete control, the vent is in two pieces, so as soon as the air blows through both vents will rise up together. Being able to adjust these vents is an extremely useful feature, you can direct the air to exactly where you want it depending on the type of material being blown. If you don’t want all that blowing power blowing out just simply adjust the vent to the required position. All these features are carried out from the joystick control.
Briggs And Stratton 35 hp Vanguard Engine
More Features
The 35 hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine has an easy access oil filter, which is always good to know when it comes to draining the oil out of the sump. The oil needs changing after the first 10 hours of use and then I would change every 100 hours of use. It’s always a good idea to keep the oil clean as it is much cheaper to change the oil regularly rather than wear expensive metal parts.
The batteries are housed underneath the engine. The air filter sits on top of the engine and is very easily accessible. Once again, keep your air filter clean as it is so important that your engine does not take any debris in that cause unnecessary wear to the engine.
The Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower has an hour meter, this is always a good idea as it tells you exactly when you need to carry out an oil change etc. When the machine is running the hour meter will actually tell you the rpm of the engine, you can push a button to switch from rpm to hours.
There is an oil alert light, which is always good to know in case your engine runs short of oil in case it has not been checked recently. I generally like to check the oil every time before I use a machine, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
10 Gallon Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank
The machine has a large 10-gallon fuel tank, which should keep going for several hours work. Unfortunately, and I see this on many machines, it does not have a fuel gauge. Some machines have a simple gauge on the fuel which works on a float system. I am guessing that providing you can find the right size fuel cap, you may be able to purchase an optional float fuel gauge from somewhere.
Although there is no fuel gauge on this tank, due to the large-cap, it is easy to look into the fuel tank. There is no filter to block your vision. Ideally, if you are filling from cans I would use a fuel funnel with a fuel filter on, it’s always good to keep your fuel tank clean and to help stop any fuel problems or blockages.
There are two small oil tanks that need to be checked regularly, make sure you use the correct hydraulic oil and keep the area around the caps clean. These oil tanks normally have around half an inch of oil in the bottom as the rest of the tank allows for expansion as the oil heats up. In normal terms, you shouldn’t need to add any oil as the individual hydraulic motors should all be sealed and should not leak.
Tyres And Speed
The stand on blower has large pneumatic rear tyres and foam-filled puncture-free caster wheels at the front. I always fill my tyres on horticulture machinery with a puncture repair fluid, this has literally saved me hours of downtime.
The puncture repellent normally comes in 1 L bottles, simply remove the valve from the tyre, the tar needs to be at the 10 to 2 position. Then place the spout on the valve and squirt in the required amount of fluid. The manufacturers will tell you how much you need to add. I cannot tell you how much downtime this process and save me. A puncture in a tyre can be so time-consuming and costly.
The speed of the machine is variable, it is powered by two individual hydraulic motors on each rear wheel. The speed is controlled by two levers that give you instant forward and reverse control, zero-turn machines are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market.
This is a commercial machine
This Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower certainly isn’t for the average homeowner, it is more for the contractor who is doing regular leaf clearing and parking areas.
It certainly is a very efficient machine and with the zero-turn capabilities it makes it exceptionally manoeuvrable, it can literally turn around on itself. Although the traditional walk-behind blowers are great, the 18 hp Billy Goat machine only has one forward speed and no reverse, which is fine, but also this particular machine is far superior and efficient.
With the walk-behind machines you have to pull the machine backwards, however, with this zero turn machine, you have instant reverse on two levers. Although, due to the three air vents, you will probably never need to blow in reverse.
To Conclude
Although this is a new machine the Hurricane design has been around for several years, so it should be bullet-proof. The 35 hp Briggs & Stratton engine is a well-proven engine which is also used on Billy Goats largest vacuum machine.
The fact that this machine is the same as the Ferris gives me a great deal of confidence. I have used and owned several Ferris zero-turn mowers which have been excellent machines. They are built to a very high standard and over the years that I owned these machines I had minimal problems. I was also using my Ferris machines commercially, so they carried out a lot of work.
The Billy Goat Billy F1802SPV self-propelled force blower, I believe, is the most powerful wheeled blower on the market today. It is certainly Billy Goats most powerful walk behind blower. Billy Goat makes several models of wheeled leaf blowers, starting from the smallest model which is 5 hp and the largest model being 18 hp.
It is powered by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard 18 hp petrol engine which can actually be the equivalent power of seven backpack blowers!
The model in the video has an engine hour meter fitted, which was actually fitted by the owner. I don’t know why more manufacturers do not fit hour meters to the machine, to me it’s very important to know how many hours work a machine has worked as to regard oil changes and servicing et cetera.
The machine in the video has around 150 hours on the clock, it is approximately four years old and it looks like it’s been looked after and kept undercover. To me, it’s always a good practice to keep your machinery clean, serviced and undercover.
What Can Your Billy Goat Wheeled Blower Be Used For?
The Billy Goat wheeled blower is ideal for clearing parking areas, as you can see in the video it quickly moves debris out the way. It’s also good for blowing leaves on lawns and in fields and driveways.
Patented Aim N Shoot
Using The Billy Goat Wheeled Blower
The Billy Goat wheeled blower is self-propelled, however, it does not have a reverse gear, so there may be times when you have to pull the machine backwards, depending what work is being carried out. Fortunately, the blower is quite light and pushes very easily backwards and forwards.
When using the blower on hard areas, for example, driveways and car parks is often easier just to push the blower as the forward speed is quite slow. It is very easy to push on hard surfaces, the forward speed can be used on hills or grassed areas where there is slightly more resistance when pushing.
The Aim N Chute technology enables you to move the chute from the handlebars of the wheeled blower. This is a great feature as it enables you to adjust the chute very simply depending on conditions or the material being blown.
Reliability
On this particular Billy Goat wheeled blower, the only issue the owner has had in four years is a new recoil start cord. Which to me is nothing, however, I would expect to recoil cord to last a bit longer than 150 hours. It’s a very straightforward job to replace the recoil cord, a local dealer can carry out this job in a matter of minutes.
The machine normally starts on the first or second pull which is great. I have actually owned machines with this particular Briggs & Stratton engine, it’s a good engine and easy to start. I believe on the particular engine that I owned had a recoil start and electric start. It’s always good to have the optional recoil start in case the electric start fails! I don’t think electric start is an option on this particular wheeled blower, to me this isn’t a problem as it starts pretty easily and keeps the cost of the machine down.
The front wheel on this particular machine has also been replaced as it is used on hard surfaces and takes quite a bit of the weight. The tyres are foam filled so there is no downtime through punctures, which is a great idea. I’ve spent far too long over the years getting punctures repaired!
Features
The Billy Goat wheeled blower has the air filter mounted on top of the engine, so this is very accessible. Always make sure and keep your air filter clean and take care when removing the air cleaner from the engine. You do not want any dust or debris entering the engine as this can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the engine parts. A few minutes of regular cleaning can save you huge amounts of money in the long run.
The fuel tank is constructed in plastic material, its large fuel tank (approximately 2 gallons) that can give you plenty of work time between refills.
Final Thoughts
The Billy Goat wheeled blower has been a reliable machine and is a great way to move leaves. However, if you are using this machine all day can become slightly tiring.
The good news is that there is a Billy Goat stander blower coming out soon, in fact, I think it’s probably out now in the US. I will try and find out more about this machine in the next few weeks.
Today we are going to talk about the special offer on the Mitox 26B-SP select petrol £99 leaf blower and the features that it offers.
Autumn Is Almost Here
Autumn is almost upon us, the official day of autumn is Michaelmas which is the 29th September. Already the leaves are falling and have been for several weeks, although I think some of this has been due to the dry weather, especially here in East Anglia.
I have several tools that I really value in the garden, which I will be talking about over the coming months. I think probably that one of the tools that I use most in the garden all year round is a leaf blower.
Although garden blowers are often referred to as leaf blowers they are a tool that I use all year round. The primary purpose of a garden blower is to blow leaves, however, they are great for tidying up in the garden. For example, if I have been weeding a border, I normally just blow the lawn area around the border. I know that traditionally this can be carried out with a rake, but I am someone who likes to take full advantage of mechanical power!
Another great purpose that a leaf lower house is blowing down machinery after use, it’s a great way to keep your machines clean and free from dust and grass etc.
A Budget Petrol Leaf Blower For £99
The Mitox 26B-SP select petrol leaf blower is a budget petrol leaf blower which sells for just £99. I appreciate that there are cheaper electric models available, however, I would much prefer to spend a few more pounds and something that offers the freedom of a petrol leaf blower. For me, there is nothing worse than having an electric cable trailing behind you and getting the lead caught up in various objects in the garden!
If you want to go slightly upmarket, Mitox offers large models with more power and the ability to collect. You can see more of the Mitox leaf blowers here.
Mitox Perfectly Balanced Leaf Blower
Value for money
The Mitox 26B-SP select petrol leaf blower really does offer value for money. It is powered by a 25.4cc 2 stroke petrol engine which generates a lot of blowing power reaching blowing speeds of 155 mph.
The throttle lever offers variable speed operation which is very important when you are blowing in corners or you just want a gentle blow. It also has a lock on feature for blowing larger areas of leaves. It’s important to remember that not all electric leaf blowers have a variable speed feature which can make blowing difficult when you are in tight spaces.
Well-Balanced
Something that I like about these compact handheld blowers is that they are very easy to pick up and use. I personally use a backpack blower which is great as it has more power as I do quite a bit of commercial work. Although sometimes it would be useful just to have a handheld blower which is compact and literally you pull the starter cord and you are blowing straight away. A backpack blower is a little bit more cumbersome, although they definitely have their uses.
The Mitox leaf blower is a nicely balanced machine that is easy and comfortable to hold. This machine has a very good performance at an incredibly low price of £99 for a petrol blower.
The leaf blower comes with a long tube which is flat at one end to increase blowing power.
This leaf blower is suitable for blowing leaves, dry grass and moss, sawdust and light hedge clippings.
Flat End Blowing Tube
Mitox offers a one-year domestic warranty and three months commercial warranty on this leaf blower.
Today we are going to feature the Henchman 12 foot adjustable ladder review. I think those of us who have had the experience of cutting hedges know the issues that come with cutting hedges, especially tall hedges.
Henchman makes products for the gardener and professional landscaper that help to make hedge cutting, pruning and those jobs that need extra cutting height easier. I have never actually owned a Henchman product, however, I have had experience of using their products. I would rate their products excellent, due to the fact that they are far safer than your average ladder or platform, due to be adjustable legs and more.
Let’s Take A Look At Jason’s Review
Jason is going to review the Henchman ladder and carry out a comparison on the other tripod -type ladders that he uses. It will be a totally honest review. He also mentions that Henchman has kindly donated this ladder for him to review and keep for future use, very useful indeed!
Jason’s three ladders are very similar apart from the other two makes of ladders are eight-foot and ten-foot respectively. The biggest difference is the large platform area at the top of the ladder.
Plus Points
• Very stable. • Lightweight. • Much more comfortable to use than a conventional ladder. • Easily adjustable feet. • Despite its size, it’s ideal for tight spaces. • Very useful top platform. • Well-engineered.
Features
Adjustable Legs
The ladder has three adjustable legs, this is obviously extremely useful for keeping the ladder upright on uneven ground. It seems to me that traditionally when you use a conventional ladder it’s exceptionally difficult to keep it level in the average garden.
The two front legs are adjustable via a spring pin on the side of the leg. The legs simply drop down and can be adjusted to the required height to keep the ladder stable.
The rear leg is adjustable by totally removing the pin, ideally, a spring pin would be better as it can be slightly fiddly to put the pin back.
Search eBay For Henchman Tripod Ladder
Jason has been using the Henchman 12 foot ladder for several weeks now and the is really finding the top step extremely useful. This ladder is far easier to use than a conventional ladder as you more or less stand upright.
I think we all know the problem of using a ladder when we are cutting a hedge and keeping it stable, the ground never seems to be level. With the Henchman, the legs can simply be adjusted to keep the ladder perfectly stable, such a useful feature. It definitely brings much more confidence when cutting tall hedges.
Lightweight Henchman
Lightweight Henchman Tripod Ladder
The henchman ladder is exceptionally lightweight and easy to move around. The henchman ladder can literally be picked up in one hand.
Tripod ladder
One of the biggest advantages of the tripod ladder is that you are not resting the ladder against the hedge like conventional ladders. This eliminates the risk of the ladder pushing into the hedge or the bottom of the ladder kicking out. It also stops the hedge potentially becoming out of shape due to the ladder resting against the hedge.
Another advantage of the tripod ladder is that you can use it sideways onto the hedge, which is exceptionally useful when you’re cutting high hedges.
As the video shows the tripod ladder can get in fairly tight spaces between trees and shrubs, which to me is a really great advantage.
A very stable ladder
This Henchman tripod ladder is totally different from the traditional ladder, I think we have all experienced being upper latter and feeling that unpleasant wobble! The Henchman eradicates these unpleasant wobbles, due to the tripod design and the adjustable feet.
Henchman 12 Foot Ladder
Is A Henchman Tripod Ladder For You?
As I mentioned earlier in this post, I have used Henchman products and although they are not cheap they are worth every penny, especially where safety is concerned.
The biggest advantage of this Henchman ladder over conventional ladders is the platform at the top. This platform proves to be a very useful feature that conventional tripod ladders do not have.
I would recommend the Henchman ladder for large gardens with tall hedges, gardeners, landscape contractors and tree surgeons.
More features!
• Three adjustable legs allow for level and stable steps on very uneven or sloping terrain.
• Uniquely, all Henchman Tripods include the 7″ deep “Platform” rung for safety and comfort
• Tuck your legs in, gain added support against your thighs, without hitting shins on rung above
• Top rail for one-handed support whilst working; or for leaning against whilst using both hands
• Wide, clawed feet are designed to “grab” soft ground and so prevent slipping or sudden sinking
• The 3-leg ‘milking stool’ principle makes it impossible to wobble and extremely difficult to topple
• Narrow top and third leg for access to tight awkward spaces.
• Incredibly light for ease of carriage and storage
• Rubber’shoes’ for added grip and no scratching inside or on hard slippery surfaces
• Uniquely broad range of height options. Available in 6′ to 16′ sizes
The elephant trunk harness, I believe is something rather unique to the landscaping industry. Having been in landscaping for over 30 years, I come across many different products, some excellent, some not so good and some just pointless. However, I think most of us who have carried out hedge cutting jobs appreciate that however many times you cut a hedge, your arms still ache!
I know that when I used to cut hedges and I still occasionally do, I normally do this in short bursts, doing as much as possible in one go and then giving your arms and shoulders a rest, due to the amazing amount of fatigue a hedge cutter puts on your arms and shoulders!
I normally like to use a Stihl 30 inch hedge cutter, I have always found Stihl products to be engineered well and long lasting. You can see our selection of hedge cutters here. It’s always good to go for the largest cutting head possible as it definitely speeds up the cutting process. This is where I believe the elephant trunk harness can help you!
GTM Is A German Company
GTM is a German company that produces products for the garden and professional landscaper. These products are imported into the UK by EP Barrus, more commonly known as MTD Lawnflite.
So How Does The Elephant Trunk Harness Work?
The elephant trunk harness is basically a harness that fits in your back just like a tree climbing harness or a harness that holds your backpack blower. The harness has a long trunk with a wire cable, that is weighted at the end of the cable there is a carabiner clip which can then support your hedge cutter.
The weighted wire cable can support a hedge cutter that weighs up to 8 kg (approximately 17 lbs.) The actual cable is weighted at 3 kg, so in other words, your hedge trimmer will be 3 kg lighter making a considerable difference to your arms and shoulders.
Carry Bag
The elephant trunk harness comes with its own bespoke carry bag, although the trunk does stick out the top of the bag!
Adjustment And Comfort
It comes with lots of straps for comfort, all the straps can be adjusted to the particular size of the operator. It will probably take you a couple of times to make the harness fit comfortably on your back. It is a bit of her trial and error job to start with, but practice makes perfect.
Is The Elephant’s Trunk Harness For You?
Although I haven’t personally used the elephant’s trunk harness myself, from reading the reviews and watching various videos on the subject, it seems like a great idea. I’m not someone who likes pointless gadgets. However, I do know that hedge cutting can take its toll on you especially as you get older.
Some people may think that it’s a lazy way to cut hedges. However, I believe that if you are cutting hedges continuously or even have a lot of hedges in your garden this could really speed up production and reduce fatigue in a massive way.
Many professionals who carry out hedge cutting and similar jobs daily suffer from long-term injuries that reduce their ability to work quite so efficiently. This is where the elephant’s trunk harness could really help many people.
According to the manufacturers, they say it can boost production by 100%, I believe that it can also save your body from aches and pains the next day.
The elephant trunk harness initially does take a little bit of time to get used to it. However, once you have got your harness fitted correctly and get used to the principle of this gadget, it really can save you a lot of time and effort.
Are There Any Negative Features?
The only real issue that can happen occasionally is if you are cutting a hedge which is under trees, the harness can become tangled in the overhanging branches. This isn’t really a negative issue, it’s just reality that often where there are hedges there can often be trees with overhanging branches. The best way to deal with this is to cut the part of the hedge where there are overhanging branches first. Then you can attach your harness and deal with the rest of the hedge.
Have you had experience with the elephant trunk harness?
Today we are going to take a look at the Stihl BG86C leaf blower. I believe that this Stihl BG86C leaf blower is probably one of the most popular petrol leaf blowers on the market. I see many professionals using this particular model and also many private houses. This is probably due to the blower’s compactness, power, reliability and power for its size.
I have personally owned a Stihl BG86C and I have used many of these particular models. If you are a professional or need a decent blower for your private garden, I would strongly recommend this model. If you look after this leaf blower, it will give you many years of service.
Stihl_BG86C What’s In The Box
What’s In The Box?
So in the box, we have the actual Stihl BG86C power unit and three pipes which connect to the power unit. One of the pipes connects to the actual power unit. Simply connect this pipe by pushing onto the power unit and turning until you see the padlock key where it will be locked into place.
You then have the option to choose between a round pipe or a tapered end pipe. I generally go for the pipe with a tapered end as this seems to direct the airflow slightly better than the round ended pipe. Once again just slide the pipe on and just turn until it locks on the tabs.
Optional Shredder/Vacuum Kit
Stihl does offer an optional shredder/vacuum kit that comes complete with a collection bag for vacuuming your patio or cleaning out gutters etc. Personally, I have used this vacuum kit, it does work but my preference is to use this particular model blower as a blower as I feel it works much more efficiently. I would normally blow leaves into a corner or a particular area and then collect by hand. As the video shows you can purchase large hands which make the collection process easier.
Once again, the collection bag does have its uses for cleaning gutters et cetera and it can be handy extra for small jobs. If I was carrying out a lot of vacuuming then I would go for a larger purpose-built garden vacuum, preferably something like a Billy Goat.
Fuel And Engine
This particular model is powered by a 27 cc engine two-stroke engine which develops approximately 1.5 hp, it certainly has plenty of blow for a model of this size.
It is very important to use the correct fuel mix in a two-stroke engine. Two-stroke engines use a mixture of petrol and oil, if no oil is used the engine will quickly seize up. So it is of utmost importance that the correct grade of oil is used and the correct amount of oil is mixed with petrol.
I actually use the Stihl oil, this is available in sachets, 1 L measuring bottles and 5 L plastic cans. I actually buy the 1 L measuring bottles as I can simply squeeze the bottle and add 100 mL to a litre of fuel.
The fuel mix for two-stroke Stihl engines is 50 to 1.
Keep Your Leaf Blower Clean
As with all machinery, it’s always good to keep it clean, especially around the engine area as you do not want dirt and dust entering the engine. It’s a good idea to check the air filter on your blower regularly. Fortunately, in my experience these blowers do not pick up too much dirt as in general they are not working in a particularly dusty environment.
However, it is a good practice just to clean your air filter every month or so as it only takes a few minutes. It is far cheaper and better to make sure that your petrol leaf blower is not taking in dirty air which will cause unnecessary wear to the engine components.
In the video, this particular blower has been used and there is a small amount of dirt in the fuel tank. I would clean this out with neat petrol making sure that the fuel tank is completely empty before refuelling with a 50 to 1 two-stroke fuel mix. The fuel tank does have a fuel filter within the tank, however, it’s a good practice to keep the fuel tank clean. I normally have a clean rag handy just to wipe away any dirt around the fuel cap area.
Starting The Engine
Fill the fuel tank with a 50 to 1 fuel mix. Prime the engine by pressing the primer on top of the carburettor. I normally press three or four times, you can normally feel when the fuel is coming through. The primer is actually clear so you can actually see when there is fuel coming through. If your leaf blower is new or hasn’t been used for several months it may take slightly more pumps to prime your engine.
On the side of the engine, there is a choke, there are three positions, I must admit I have never used the midway position. I just put the choke on full choke and then pull the starter cord. Please note that on this model if you press the throttle trigger, it will automatically release the choke. So from cold starts, be careful not to touch the throttle trigger as it may release the choke without you realising.
I often find that the blower will start the first time and on other occasions, 2 to 3 pulls of the pull cord. Two-stroke engines can be slightly temperamental, so be careful not to flood your engine with fuel.
Normally once you hear the engine fires, press the trigger and the engine will normally come to life. Two strokes are definitely much more reliable and easier to start than they were a few years ago!
As you can see in the video, this was the first start in eight months and on the fourth pull the blower is running!
Tips For Efficient Leaf Blowing
• Make sure that you are not trying to blow against the wind if possible.
• Don’t try and blow to many leaves at once.
• It’s far easier to make small heaps rather than trying to blow to many leaves all at once.
• Use a large barrow or sack to remove your leaves to the compost heap.
• Large hands as shown in the video are very useful for clearing leaves properly.
• Use a plastic flexible rake for gathering the odd leaves.
• A lightweight tarpaulin with handles at the corners is another useful way of transporting leaves.
• Clear your leaves regularly in the autumn as this is far quicker in the long run.
• Avoid trying to blow leaves that are saturated as this slows the process down considerably. (I appreciate that this is not always possible if we have a wet autumn.)
If you are thinking about purchasing a leaf blower then I hope I can help you select the right Stihl blower. I have used Stihl products for over 30 years with very few problems, in fact, virtually no problems whatsoever. I’m still using Stihl products right now and I will carry on doing so.
Which Blower Do I Choose?
In this video, Stihl will give you a few tips on finding the right blower for your garden or estate, just remember to buy the best blower that you can afford. The more powerful the blower, the quicker you are able to get your work completed.
First Ask Yourself These Questions;
How large is the property that I need to clean?
What type of material do I want to blow?
Are there any noise restrictions that I need to take into consideration in my area?
Are there any special features that I require my blower to have?
Now Let’s Take A Look At Each Of The Above Questions
If you live in an urban setting that has minimum areas that need to be cleaned, such as driveways, paths and patios. If you are blowing lite material, for example, dry leaves and dry grass then the Stihl BG55 leaf blower could be a good choice. If you would like to step up to a couple more features then the BG56C offers simplified starting and automatic choke release. Both of these leaf blowers are comparable in power and performance.
Stihl BG56CE Leaf Blower
The Stihl BG55 leaf blower has a standard starting procedure with a standard on-off switch which needs to be turned to on, before starting. The throttle lever then needs to be locked on by pulling the lever and pushing the button in. The choke lever then needs to be placed in the choke position.
Easy Start Feature
Easy Start Feature
The Stihl BG56C leaf blower has an on-off switch that is always on the on position, to turn the machine off you simply hold the switch down in the off position. So, in other words, you don’t need to turn the switch on before starting your blower as it is always in the on position. You then need to position the choke lever to the on position. As soon as the engine fires after pulling the starting cord and you touch the throttle trigger, the choke will automatically come off.
The easy to start feature enables the user to start the blower with an almost effortless pull cord, making starting exceptionally easy.
I personally use a slightly larger handheld Stihl blower and I have to say starting is exceptionally easy and on many occasions, the blower will actually start first pull.
Moving Up To A Slightly Larger Blower
Stihl BG86CE Blower
if you’re looking for a slightly larger handheld blower, then the Stihl BG86 or the BG86C, these offer slightly more power than the previous models. They are also considered professional models. I would definitely go for one of these models as for the slight extra cost it’s always worth having more power.
Simplified Starting Process
Both of these models feature a simplified starting process as well as an advanced anti-vibration system. On many occasions, I find with this starting process that the blower will start up first time.
STIHL BR600 Magnum Backpack Blower
Knapsack Or Backpack Blowers
If you have a considerable amount of blower work then it is well worth considering a backpack blower. Using a backpack blower considerably reduces the fatigue on your body as you are carrying the weight on your back. However, although I own a backpack blower, I do like the flexibility of just being able to grab a handheld blower quickly and instantly start blowing. Another plus point of the handheld blower is that it is easy to transport and easy to store. The blower pipe is removable making it exceptionally compact. However, if you’re looking for speed and productivity then you definitely need to be looking at a knapsack blower.
Stihl BR200 Leaf Blower
If you’re looking for ease of operation then the Stihl BR200 leaf blower could be your answer. This has the same engine as the Stihl BG86, which develops just over 27cc. Having the ability to carry this leaf blower on your back is ideal for long time run situations and takes the fatigue out of blowing leaves etc.
Larger Leaf Blowers
Stihl has a large range of leaf blowers, the next model up is a BR350 which offers a bit more blowing power. I personally use a BR 600 which is a great blower for blowing leaves and clearing up after carrying out various tasks in the garden. I will probably upgrade this soon to a BR 800 which will give me an extra 25% blowing power.
The downside of a backpack blower is that they are quite bulky to carry around and store, however, for me, it is definitely worth having the extra power to carry out jobs quickly and efficiently. The knapsack blowers are all similar in physical size so this is another reason for going for the largest model, although on the larger models the engine size and blow power increases. When I purchased my BR 600 this was the largest Stihl knapsack blower, literally a few days after I purchased this model the BR 700 came out and now we have the BR 800! Whether there will be a 900 model in the future, I have no idea! There comes a point when we have to move from a knapsack blower to a wheeled leaf blower or a garden vacuum.
Noise Levels
If noise levels are an issue in your area it may be worth looking at the range of electric blowers or rechargeable battery blowers. However, I personally don’t like the idea of dragging around power lead and being restricted to the length of the lead. I like the freedom to be able to walk around with the blower and not have the issue of an electric power cable.
The other option is to go for a rechargeable leaf blower, however, just remember that batteries do not last for very long before they need recharging. Spare batteries can be an option, but they can be expensive to purchase.
If you would like a petrol leaf blower but the price is too much may be worth looking at this budget petrol leaf blower. It is excellent value for money and reviews are good considering the price. However, just remember that if you are buying a Stihl product it could potentially give you many years of service. I know this for a fact as I have owned many Stihl products over the years and they have carried out huge amounts of work. I always say to people buy the best that you can afford.
Don’t forget to ask yourself the four questions that we started with.
