Cheap Black & Decker LH4500 12 Amp 2-Speed Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum With Leaf Bag

Black & Decker LH4500 12 Amp 2-Speed Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum With Leaf Bag
Keep your yard and driveway free of clutter with this ultra-efficient three-in-one blower, vacuum, and mulcher from Black & Decker. The LH4500 works fast, with an impressive 385 CFM air volume and two-speed switch for more control around garden beds and other contained, mulched areas. It also boasts a blow speed of up to 240 MPH so you can get rid of even heavy, wet piles of leaves. In fact, this multi-purpose tool features a metal mulching impeller that condenses 16 bags of leaves to just one bag! Transitioning from the blower to vacuum mode is also a snap, thanks to a straightforward push button--no tools required! For added convenience, the LH4500 has a bag that's easy to empty, so you can get more done in less time. It also comes with a Leaf Blaster nozzle, vacuum attachment with tube, leaf bag with zipper, adjustable shoulder strap, and air concentrator.

Customer Review: Leaf Hog LH4500 Black & Decker, excellent plus suggestions

I purchased the Black & Decker LH4500 Leaf Hog back in September of 2008 when the leaves began to fall. It is now Jan 2009 and I hope the leaves are finally all down.
I was initially very suspicious of this Black & Decker product having been bitten by poor quality in other products, but my rating of this product is excellent. It really sucks up and shreds the leaves. I use it both to pick up piles of leaves and to suck leaves from the tops of my junipers where they are a pain to rake. It is really powerful and has no problem sucking up and munching both leaves and twigs.
The leaf bag while initially very confusing is really a great design that allows you to quickly empty the bag and to reseal it. As usual, the manual for the product sucks, but once it is assembled, it is easy to use.
Pros: Does what it says. Easy to use extension cord retainer. Easy to empty bag. Very powerful leaf vac and very powerful leaf blower.
Cons: Difficult to switch between vacuuming and blowing. Until you have done it a few times, it is very confusing and the manual is no help at all. I hardly ever switch it from vacuum to blow, but that is just me. The shoulder strap for the bag is too narrow and cuts into my neck. I nearly threw away the bag closure when I assembled the unit because I could not figure out what it was for. Also the bag closure while easy to use requires a lot of hand/arm strength to remove it. I found that spraying it with silicon spray made it easier to slide the plastic over the bag. Also, silicon spray makes it a lot easier to remove/assemble the leaf bag from the engine and also to remove/assemble the vacuum or blower parts.
Annoyances: There is no way to put the Leaf Hog down without it falling over completely making it difficult to pick up again. It would have been nice if there was a way to put it down so it was easy to pick up again. This may be a small matter when you are 20, but bending over gets more difficult once you pass 60.

Notes: Because the blower and vacuum parts are separate pieces it is easy to lose track of where you have stored them. The variable speed control works well, but is a bit of an overkill. I find I use it only on the highest speed.
All, in all, I am happy with the product, but time will tell if the quality is there.

Customer Review: Great tool for even the casual home maintainer

For many years I have longed for and dreaded fall, having had two different homes with heavily-leaved trees. I finally found the cure. Out of the box and working in 5 minutes and reduced hours and hours of raking and bagging to 45 minutes of vacuuming and dumping leaves, pine needles, twigs, and one unfortunate dog toy (soft, mind you). I design products professionally and this one has met my high standards so far. I certainly hope to get many years of use out of it.