Leaf Blower / Vac Recommendatios

I’d like to get a leaf blower and vac to tidy up after hedge cutting and to clear leaves etc. Last year I used a rake and mower, this year I’d like to try something different.
I’ve got my eye on Tanaka and Stihl products. does anyone have any experience of these two or can suggest an alternative?

Needs to be petrol due to the size of garden etc

http://www.justlawnmowers.co.uk/stihl-sh-86-c-e-vacuum-shredder-blower.html

http://www.justlawnmowers.co.uk/tanaka-thb-260pf-blower-vacuum.html

I have stihl products and they have been bomb proof over 12 years. Parts are cheap and easy to get too. I have been looking at leaf blowers and would get the stihl.

I have owned the older model of the Stihl, the 85, for about ten years. It’s been a great unit, but after an hour’s use, the weight and vibration is noticeable. When using it to shred damp leaves, it has forced mulch between the rubber lining and the case, so I have stripped that out. Otherwise, it’s been easy to maintain and reliable.

As an annoyed neighbour who has to tolerate these infernal contraptions between September and Christmas I recommend Stihl products. They are considerably quieter than the cheapies and seem to clear the leaves in half the time.

Tried the sheet on floor cut that bit ball sheet up empty into bin compost heap Barrow whatever move along repeat.

Our Stihl vacuum/blower has been a PITA, difficult to start, noisy, jams easily, hard to get spare parts for and the casing is now cracked. For blowing duties it’s been supplanted by a cheap Worx cordless blower (Li-Ion is where it’s at for garden tools, 2-stroke is so yesterday), which is much more neighbour-friendly and just as effective. The Stihl is still sometimes used for vacuuming/shredding but only when the leaves are very dry.

I’d like to do li ion but I’d need multiple batteries making it cost prohibitive.

Thanks for the replies so far. So no ones any experience of tanaka then? Supposed to be a good brand?

Got a few Stihl BG86 at work (same unit, but without vac attachment), reliably good low vibe and noise test results, even after a few years use. Easy to start, even if there are a lot of steps, like pre flight checks for a helicopter. Ours spend a fair bit of time getting fires going, nozzle has blistered a bit.

Never heard of Tanakawotsit. Do they make saws?

Timber – yes, they do saws, trimmers etc.

There’s 4:1 at the mo for stihl and no one has heard of tanaka. Will prob go with the stihl

Thanks all

Tanaka are the mob that most OEMs use to rebrand and fill gaps in their portfolio.

I have a Hitachi brush cutter at home . It’s branded Tanaka under the Hitachi plastics

Not even close to stihl for quality. But it’s cheap.

If I was using it for a day job my HAV assessment would be through the roof (i use to use a stihl with no issue)

For blowers the backpack stihl 4 stroke is king for me.

But the smaller one won’t be too bad better than hand held for big areas.

Most important thing is don’t try blowing wet leaves -waste of time although our big backpack. Stihl could do it – but on gravel it would also sandblast the van if you weren’t careful 🙂

Oh and never had any success with vac’s. Was always quicker to blow Into a pile and pick it up using a pair of gardena blue rake heads.

Tried the sheet on floor cut that bit ball sheet up empty into bin compost heap Barrow whatever move along repeat

For hedge cutting this is the way forward. Much much much quicker than any other method.

Stihl bg86 here. Not too pricy and for domestic use should go on forever.