( 36 reviews )
-
Posted: Mar 27 2009
This is the 2nd one of these that I've bought. The 1st was used w/ a gas-powered Weedeater blower/vac. I trimmed tabs on the inlet pipe that connect to the B&D unit and it slid right into the outlet of the Weedeater. All this went to a neighbor and never came back. I couldn't find another one locally, so thank goodness for Amazon and online sellers. The new one got mated to a 23cc Echo gas-powered blower/vac. The inlet/outlet pipe for this combo are both almost the same size, so they don't join up like they did on the Weedeater, but until I find a better coupler, 2 or 3 wraps of duct tape work great. If you use a blower/vac for leaf collection and mulching, you need one of these. I've used the sholder slung collection bags that come w/ the blower/vac, but you end up holding a 10 lb blower/vac and then 10 lbs of leaves in the bag (not to mention the limited capacity of the bag and that you're ALWAYS next to the dust that comes out of the bag) and you just get worn out faster. With this system, you can use any garbage can you want and the cover fits all of them. If you have an extra can and a helper, you can swap garbage cans and keep going. I can't comment on how this system works using an electric blower/vac, but I'm able to collect wet or dry leaves and small debris and haven't had the hose clog yet. If the stuff vac can make it through the impeller, it will make it to the can. The 8' hose is a great length and if you can put the garbage can in the middle of your collection area, you'll find that a 16' circle is pretty big. You can also stay up wind and avoid most of the dust. Once the can is 1/3 to 1/2 full, it becomes very stable and doesn't tip over easily if you go beyond the 8'. But even if you do tip over the can, the drawstring that holds the cover on the can is secure enough that I've never spilled the leaves. I can't believe B&D or another mfg. hasn't marketed something like this for other brands of blower/vacs (especially gas-powered ones) because it makes a great leaf collection system.
-
Posted: Dec 28 2008
The B&D vacuum extension is not very effective. The primary issues are: 1. The hose is too short to allow the flexibility of moving around without constantly moving the leaf collection container. 2. The hose needs some sort of clamp to hold it in place on top of the flexible container cover. It tends to pull out of the cover and blow leaves in unintended paces. 3. The hose is fairly stiff in cold weather (32 degrees). This aggravates the problems listed in 1 and 2 above. All of these problems may be resolved by use in warm weather, but leaf collection is normally associated with cold weather.
-
Posted: Dec 16 2008
I tried the product the day I got it and was very satisfied with the job it did however, like a review I read before I ordered it the hose is made with very cheap, thin plastic. Within 15 minutes of using it, a twig poked thru the plastic. I guess I will have to start wrapping it in duct tape to toughen it up.
