Black & Decker Rakes & Leaf Blowers

A Black and Decker leaf blower sweeps garden debris such as fallen leaves and grass cuttings with gusts of air coming out of its nozzle. These blowers are usually handheld garden tools but they can also come in commercial formats as well. They are typically backpack and wheeled options that have gas engines while handheld blowers can either be electric or gas-powered machines. Staples offers a good selection of electric handheld blowers including plug-in models and those powered by high-capacity lithium-ion batteries.

Why Get an Electric Leaf Blower?
A gas-powered leaf blower packs a two or four-cycle engine and is usually more powerful than an electric blower of comparable size. However, the latter is powerful enough for most homeowners cleaning up leaves and twigs from their yards. Electric models do a much better job than rakes and are easier to use.

They also offer clear advantages over gas blowers. First, electric blowers are lighter and produce no exhaust emissions. They are also quieter and, thanks to their push-start buttons, do not require gardeners to pull starter cords to turn them on. They do not need fueling, oil mixing or regular tune-ups to keep their engines going. Maintaining an electric motor is also a lot less demanding and they do not take as much storage space as gas-powered models.

Choosing Between Corded and Cordless Blowers
An electric leaf blower can either be a plug-in corded appliance or a cordless battery-powered machine. Generally, corded models are more powerful than cordless ones and they are lighter too. However, you need to keep a corded blower plugged into the power outlet while using it. This tether limits the maneuverability of the unit, especially when vacuuming or sweeping around trees and other obstacles in the yard. In addition, these electric leaf blowers require outdoor power outlets. The reach of the corded blower depends on the length of its power cord.

A cordless blower, on the other hand, packs its own electric power source. With this type, a homeowner can clean up anywhere on the property. However, the rechargeable battery inside the unit may not keep it running long enough to finish a big yard. However, manufacturers usually overcome this limitation by including high-capacity batteries or two batteries with each blower.

Picking the Right Black and Decker Leaf Blower
To find the right leaf blower from this brand, first choose between a corded and a cordless electric model. To avoid tangled cords and interruptions during cleanups, choose a model with a cord retention mechanism. When comparing corded models, note their amp ratings, as blowers with higher amp ratings have more power. Black and Decker's cordless blowers, for example, use 20V and 40V MAX lithium batteries. Both voltages can also power other cordless garden equipment from the brand. However, the 40V battery delivers a longer runtime.

Besides sweepers, this brand also makes leaf blowers that allow you to switch airflow directions so you can pull in leaves and twigs into attached reusable bags. Such hybrid tools are ideal for homeowners who want their blowers to also serve as outdoor vacuums and mulchers. Mulching leaves while vacuuming them significantly reduces the volume of yard debris piled up in the collection bag.