Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Using Leaf Blower Ratings to Choose a Backpack Leaf Blower

!: Using Leaf Blower Ratings to Choose a Backpack Leaf Blower

Leaf blower ratings can help you choose a backpack leaf blower that will suit your needs. There are technical ratings concerning the physics of how these tools work and there are others that are more the view points of people who have already bought the particular leaf bower that you are looking at. Both types are important but understanding what each means and how they can apply to your choice is just as important. This article assumes that you have already decided on a backpack version rather then a hand held or walk behind type.

Backpack blowers are available in two types. There are ones that just blow and others that can blow and vacuum as well. You firstly have to decide which type will meet your needs. In terms of the work to be done there are advantages associated with each type. The blower only type is simpler in design with fewer attachments to worry about. They will push the leaves and debris about and you can either blow them to the boundaries of your land where they are out of the way or direct them into piles which can then be collected and disposed of later. The ones with a vacuum feature have to have a bag attachment which is used to collect the leaves as they are sucked up. This bag has to be emptied when full and also restricts your movements compared to a simpler blower. You have to decide whether it is less trouble to move the leaves once they are in piles or to keep on emptying a bag.

There are 2 main measurements used to describe the ability of a blower to do its job. The first is the air speed generated in miles per hour and the second is the volume of air moved, measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM. The higher the air speed the larger and stickier the items that can be moved by blowing. A machine with a high air speed is more likely to move large wet leaves and this might be an advantage depending on the type of work you need to do. High air speed also means that debris further away is likely to be moved as well. The CFM measure is useful for determining the vacuuming ability. The higher the CFM of the machine the better that it is likely to be at sucking up larger objects, rather than leaving them lying on the ground.

Ergonomics describes how much thought has gone into making the machine easy on your body when you use it. The fact that this is a backpack design already means that thought has gone into this. It is used to make the machine easier to carry. They are heavier than the hand held ones so this feature is essential. The ergonomic design will determine whether it is comfortable to wear and easy to put on and take off. It will also relate to how easy it is to operate. Strap design and frame design are both important in producing a user friendly tool. Using a blower involves many repeat movements which can damage joints in the body. It is therefore essential that it is well balanced and that the controls are easy to get at and use.

Manufacturers will always say that their machines are well designed, so for information on this you need to consult reviews on the internet written by people who have already bought and used the equipment. With reviews you need to keep in mind that people generally write these if they are very satisfied or very dissatisfied. The vast majority of people who use the tool without problems wouldn't bother to put pen to paper. This means that if you see no reviews it doesn't say that the equipment is bad. You should mainly look to see if there are a lot of complaints about a specific issue and then decide if the information is important in your choice.

The choice of a backpack leaf blower therefore mainly involves looking at the air speed for blowing, the volume of air moved for vacuuming and the ergonomic characteristics to match the human body so that it can be operated in comfort without harming the body. There are many other issues that should be considered but there isn't room to discuss them all here.  


Using Leaf Blower Ratings to Choose a Backpack Leaf Blower

Top 10 Dog Wireless Containment System

Monday, November 14, 2011

Mini Cultivator Tiller Works Great For Flower and Vegetable Gardens

!: Mini Cultivator Tiller Works Great For Flower and Vegetable Gardens

Are you looking for a garden cultivator, one that is easy to use and store in your garage or garden shed? If you are like me, the old wooden handled garden hoe is not your favorite garden tool. On the other hand, a large garden tiller is just too heavy and takes up way to much space. Let me share a little tip with you, a mini cultivator tiller works great, and takes up very little storage space. As you read this article, I believe you will begin to see how you to can use a mini tiller and cultivate your garden.

What is a mini cultivator tiller?

Sometimes called a power hoe; these little powerhouses pack many functions into a small package. Tilling, edging, and convertible models can change their configuration to include weed eating or dethatching and sweeping like the Stihl Yard Boss. Small tillers, as the Mantis is available with a wide variety of gasoline engines, and even an electric motor as an option when noise and engine exhaust is a problem. Gasoline powered units are available in either two-cycle or four-cycle engine configurations. For the gardener who has a weed eater that uses a gas and oil mixture may find it easier and more convenient to opt for the two-cycle model. On the other hand, the four-cycle engine option delivers great power, fuel economy without the need for mixing gas, and oil altogether. Although an electric model does not need fuel of any kind, you will need an extension cord to plug your little tiller into the house electric outlet. Then drag the cord around your garden and landscape. Small compact and easy to handle, mini cultivators are by any other name they are still a small, compact front tine tiller. Which means? Simply the engine or electric motor on the tiller is directly above the tilling tines, making them compact and easier to maneuver, much more so, than a rear tine tiller. The serpentine tines design as those used on the Mantis have a lifetime warranty, and will make digging a hole to plant a small tree or bush much easier. Tilling with a mini cultivator tiller equipped with serpentine tiller tines do a fantastic job working the soil, or cultivate around flowers, tomato plants and any landscape maintenance task, with the best of them, Oh, excuse me for my opinion, but the Mantis or Stihl Yard Boss are the 'best' mini cultivator tillers on the market.

What Makes The Best Compact Tillers and the rest, ?

Ask any professional landscaper or gardener what they want or should I say demand from their equipment and they will tell you, durability, reliability, and easy to operate is a top their list, of important demands. Durability; incorporates safety and above all, a user-friendly design that uses high quality components. A set of well designed handles, not to short as to put the tilling tines to close to a taller users feet, putting them in jeopardy. Controls that are easy to use understand and positioned in a way that protects them from damage. Reliability; Starts with high-quality components, major engine manufactures, like Echo and Stihl manufacture high-end two-cycle gasoline powered engines. Honda, being in a class all their own, with the powerful clean running fuel-efficient four-cycle gasoline powered engine. Found on the Honda FG 110 mini tiller cultivator. All the major compact tiller manufactures use the same small Honda four-stroke engine on their four-cycle engine models as well and charge a hefty premium price for the option. Here is an important tip, the little Honda engine being a four-cycle engine, has motor oil in the crankcase where it belongs. To insure the motor oil stays where it belongs, the engine "CAN NOT" lay on its side. The motor oil "will" go from the crankcase where it belongs, to the combustion chamber where it does not belong, causing problems. Can you say hydraulic lock; the motor oil can cause the piston inside the cylinder that make-up the combustion chamber to get locked-up. Now this is not the end of the world, but a bit of a mess to clean-up. The two cycle engines do not share this inconvenience, just remember, without a wheel kit or kickstand to hold a mini cultivator equipped with a Honda four-cycle engine up right you will have a problem.


Mini Cultivator Tiller Works Great For Flower and Vegetable Gardens

Ponchos Rain Gear Low Cost Sleeveless Tunic How Much Elmo

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Leaf Blower Safety

!: Leaf Blower Safety

Gloves
Wearing protective work gloves prevents blisters on the hands and fingers from forming after hours of rubbing bare skin during use. While using power yard equipment such as a leaf blower, debris can also pop up and hurt the hands. Insects disturbed during yard work may retaliate by going after the first human skin they see. When the hands are covered with gloves, this lowers the chances of being stung on the hands by bees, flies, hornets and other similar winged creatures.

Goggles
Eye safety is paramount. Wearing safety glasses or goggles will prevent debris from damaging the eyes. Small particles of dirt and grass can also get into the eyes and irritate them. They should be worn during any powered equipment use or yard work to prevent eye injury.

Clothing
Those using leaf blowers should wear long sleeves and long pants to avoid flying debris and sunburn. If leaves are wet, they tend to stick to the skin, especially legs and arms. Wearing thick pants and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket will protect the user and help keep them clean. Some landscaping companies issue workers a jumpsuit for protection instead. This preserves clothing and shields the skin.

Shoes
Work boots with steel toes should be worn during yard work, and especially when using a leaf blower. It will protect the soles of the feet from possible injury while walking over hidden surface items, such as pine cones, covered sticks and holes. They also help keep feet and ankles safe from snakes and other creatures in the yard.

Hats
Protective gear for the head comes in many forms, including hats, beanies, 'do rags, helmets and hoods. They prevent injury from flying and falling objects, as well as keep the head warm. This comes in handy on chilly autumn days during leaf clean-up projects in the yard.

Masks
For those with allergies and health problems, wearing a facial protection mask is also a standard piece of protective clothing. For others, it is optional. Outdoor allergens and air quality may be hazardous for those with breathing difficulties, such as asthma or bronchitis. Wearing a mask reduces the ill effects of being outdoors.


Leaf Blower Safety

Range Ovens Life Tips Catalog Coach Briefcase Outlet Black Decker Cordless Pole Saw Quiz


Twitter Facebook Flickr RSS



Français Deutsch Italiano Português
Español 日本語 한국의 中国简体。