Silence

ApS · 09-14-2022, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeredithMan

last evening, around 6 or 6:30 maybe, the sun was poking through the clouds over Meredith Bay. I stepped out on the deck to take in the scenery and a dude on an e-foil board went by my house. It was so quiet and the water so still, I could actually hear the "hummmm" of the electric motor on the board. It was awesome!

When will we see leaf-blowers powered by electricity?

Woodsy · 09-14-2022, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

When will we see leaf-blowers powered by electricity?

Not the best situation... but Li-ion battery powered leaf blowers exist and work pretty well. I have a nice Dewalt unit.

Woodsy

FlyingScot · 09-14-2022, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

When will we see leaf-blowers powered by electricity?

There are a few in Mass now. They are wonderful--quiet enough that you can have a conversation while they're blowing

ApS · 09-15-2022, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

There are a few in Mass now. They are wonderful--quiet enough that you can have a conversation while they're blowing

Yes, I own two Greenworks leaf-blowers.

I meant commercial leaf-blowers.

Y'know, to replace those used by yard maintenance crews, who obliterate the lake's natural sounds two days before the absentee owners appear for the weekend (and set off fireworks).

FlyingScot · 09-15-2022, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

Yes, I own two Greenworks leaf-blowers.

I meant commercial leaf-blowers.

Y'know, to replace those used by yard maintenance crews, who obliterate the lake's natural sounds two days before the absentee owners appear for the weekend (and set off fireworks).

I also meant commercial. I cannot remember the brand or whether it was the backpack style, but last Spring I spoke with a guy on a commercial crew while he was blowing. There are a few towns that are talking about banning gas blowers, but getting big resistance from landscaping companies

XCR-700 · 09-15-2022, 08:18 AM

I have always found it interesting that some manufacturers refuse to build quality exhaust mufflers for their power equipment.

It is not a requirement that riding mowers and leaf blowers be loud!

Have any of you heard a Honda Inverter generator before? They are crazy quiet and generate between 2000 and 7000 Watts of power so they are no slouch when it comes to power output.

Same for modern high performance cars. Their exhaust is tuned to sound "healthy" when you punch the throttle, but some are oddly quiet when cruising down the highway at 70 MPH and still making hundreds of HP.

Why backpack leafblower and such equipment doent have similar quality mufflers is an interesting question, but I'm willing to bet its on purpose! If I had to take a very cynical guess, it would be that the manufacturers believe consumers hear loud and think powerful and they believe thats what sells. So in some twisted marketing strategy, they engineer the exhausts to sound powerful, not quiet.

Well clearly I am distrustful of the corporate giants motives, so even I question my theories, sometimes. Unfortunately too often I learn my suspicions were true or very close, so that only fuels even more distrust,,,

I'm certainly open to other ideas about why some equipment is so loud and others (Honda generators being a really good example) are so quiet.

And I dont believe for one minute it is necessary for such equipment to be loud. Sorry, not buying in.

fatlazyless · 09-15-2022, 09:21 AM

So I googled "New Hampshire towns that ban gasoline leaf blowers" and came up with "New Hampshire: Portsmouth is the only city in New Hampshire to limit leaf blower usage. Residents and commercial workers in this city cannot use a gas-powered leaf blower that is louder than 75 decibels.

Use of these tools is prohibited after dark."

The Town of Brookline, Massachusetts has banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers completely.

Cambridge, Massachusetts allows for leaf blowers up to 70 decibels from 9am to 4pm.

Texas: Use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Houston, Texas is limited to 70 decibels, and only from 9am to 5pm.

Burlington, Vermont: April 17, 2021; http://www.bangordailynews.com/2021/...-leaf-blowers/

VitaBene · 09-14-2022, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

When will we see leaf-blowers powered by electricity?

They are common now- and work well. We have a gas redmax 8500, that is great, but will go electric when it dies. https://www.greenworkstools.com/pro-...ower-tool-only

Pine Island Guy · 09-14-2022, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaBene

They are common now- and work well. We have a gas redmax 8500, that is great, but will go electric when it dies. https://www.greenworkstools.com/pro-...ower-tool-only

I have a redmax at the lake too, that is amazing... but at home, I needed a new lawnmower and bought an eGo at Lowe's... quiet, starts at the push of a button, no worries about stale gas...

That was quickly followed by an eGo string trimmer, and an eGo hedge trimmer.

They all share the same batteries, and although the mower won't complete the full lawn on a single charge (it lasts for an hour), it is the perfect time to take a break, eat lunch, and then go out an mow the remainder!

next up... eGo leaf blower that has been getting great reviews, and means I won't be lugging the RedMax back and forth anymore

The silence is deafening!!! What a beautiful day at the lake today -PIG

09-15-2022, 09:21 AM	#7
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,835 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 302 Thanked 1,033 Times in 752 Posts	So I googled "New Hampshire towns that ban gasoline leaf blowers" and came up with "New Hampshire: Portsmouth is the only city in New Hampshire to limit leaf blower usage. Residents and commercial workers in this city cannot use a gas-powered leaf blower that is louder than 75 decibels. Use of these tools is prohibited after dark." The Town of Brookline, Massachusetts has banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers completely. Cambridge, Massachusetts allows for leaf blowers up to 70 decibels from 9am to 4pm. Texas: Use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Houston, Texas is limited to 70 decibels, and only from 9am to 5pm. Burlington, Vermont: April 17, 2021; http://www.bangordailynews.com/2021/...-leaf-blowers/ __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

The Following User Says Thank You to Woodsy For This Useful Post:
Dad207 (09-18-2022)

09-15-2022, 08:18 AM	#6
XCR-700 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 757 Thanked 538 Times in 313 Posts	I have always found it interesting that some manufacturers refuse to build quality exhaust mufflers for their power equipment. It is not a requirement that riding mowers and leaf blowers be loud! Have any of you heard a Honda Inverter generator before? They are crazy quiet and generate between 2000 and 7000 Watts of power so they are no slouch when it comes to power output. Same for modern high performance cars. Their exhaust is tuned to sound "healthy" when you punch the throttle, but some are oddly quiet when cruising down the highway at 70 MPH and still making hundreds of HP. Why backpack leafblower and such equipment doent have similar quality mufflers is an interesting question, but I'm willing to bet its on purpose! If I had to take a very cynical guess, it would be that the manufacturers believe consumers hear loud and think powerful and they believe thats what sells. So in some twisted marketing strategy, they engineer the exhausts to sound powerful, not quiet. Well clearly I am distrustful of the corporate giants motives, so even I question my theories, sometimes. Unfortunately too often I learn my suspicions were true or very close, so that only fuels even more distrust,,, I'm certainly open to other ideas about why some equipment is so loud and others (Honda generators being a really good example) are so quiet. And I dont believe for one minute it is necessary for such equipment to be loud. Sorry, not buying in.