Silence

[FlyingScot]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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/