Fall Leaves & DC

[Mark Jerde]

I DAGS.

If I'm careful not to suck up sticks, any reason why I can't use my low-end DC to vacuum up the leaves in the yard?

I tried my shop vac a couple years ago, but the hose was far too small.

-- Mark

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I'd think they would clog up the blower if too many were sucked up at a time. Typical leaf is larger than wood chips. Unless they are ground up a bit to compact them, you'd be emptying the bag frequently if you have any volume to speak of.

Mulching blade on the lawnmower takes care of 80% of mine. Ed

[Chris]

I have a crapsman blower that changes into a sucker by attaching a wide pipe onto the intake and replacing the outlet tube with a bag. Works great for getting the leaves out from behind shrubs or down in my basement stairwell. Also shreds the leaves which makes great mulch for the garden.

But you should hear the nasty noises it makes when I suck up those Sweet Gum balls or a rock!

-Chris

[Casey Stamper]

[e-mail] (Chris) wrote in news: [e-mail]:

That's really funny to read. I have 2 sweet gum trees and I've all but given up vacuuming up the leaves because of the balls. It may not be hurting the vacuum at all but it sure SOUNDS like the thing is going to explode, doesn't it? I still haven't figured out how to hold the thing.

[CW]

I have one of those. I don't use it to suck up leaves for two reasons. To mulch the leaves, it runs them threw the impeller. Not a good idea from a lnogevity standpoint. Another is that around here, the Seattle area, the leaves are rarely dry enough to mulch.

[Morgans]

"Chris" wrote

I had one, until sucking stuff up like that, twisted off the impeller from the motor.

Don't do it, if you want to keep it.

-- Jim in NC