Comments on: Dealmonger: Toro Rake And Vacuum $50 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:16:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: B-Man http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-360512 B-Man Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:55:44 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-360512 Yes! It is a decent workhorse for the price IMO. I was impressed with the power immediately. I purchased mine a little over a year ago and haven't had any problems so far with it. The cord hasn't been an issue, that is, until we purchased our first home this past year. Now, with only two (2) exterior outlets I find myself considering a gas powered model as soon as this one bites the dust... or in the event that something bad, say like it being left in the driveway and I "accidentally" back over it! Hmmm, Davo, the centrifugal-force cannon IS tempting, LOL. I wonder how much gravel it would take??? Yes! It is a decent workhorse for the price IMO. I was impressed with
the power immediately. I purchased mine a little over a year ago and
haven’t had any problems so far with it. The cord hasn’t been an issue,
that is, until we purchased our first home this past year. Now, with only
two (2) exterior outlets I find myself considering a gas powered model
as soon as this one bites the dust… or in the event that something bad,
say like it being left in the driveway and I “accidentally” back over it!

Hmmm, Davo, the centrifugal-force cannon IS tempting, LOL. I wonder
how much gravel it would take???

]]> By: Zeek http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-331218 Zeek Tue, 27 May 2008 16:36:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-331218 While being a decent workhorse for the price, I've had the plastic impeller shatter [under normal use] as well as the small safety 'engage clip' on the impeller guard break off [use a screw, not glue as a replacement if this happens to you]. I sent a few letters to Toro but got no response, which is what pissed me off the most. While being a decent workhorse for the price, I’ve had the plastic impeller shatter [under normal use] as well as the small safety ‘engage clip’ on the impeller guard break off [use a screw, not glue as a replacement if this happens to you]. I sent a few letters to Toro but got no response, which is what pissed me off the most.

]]> By: Davo http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-330143 Davo Mon, 26 May 2008 18:03:48 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-330143 I was looking at these, at Home Depot, the other day, and noticed that these things could be converted into a centrifugal-force cannon...just run the thing upside-down, and drop a handfull of marbles or bbs into the intake...I don't have one of these, so I haven't tried it myself... I was looking at these, at Home Depot, the other day, and noticed that these things could be converted into a centrifugal-force cannon…just run the thing upside-down, and drop a handfull of marbles or bbs into the intake…I don’t have one of these, so I haven’t tried it myself…

]]> By: Frank Townend http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-327995 Frank Townend Sat, 24 May 2008 18:50:16 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-327995 I bought the Toro a year or so ago and am pleased with its durability. I also put it to work after the drywall sanders did their thing while my basement was being finished. I opened the back door and the casement windows near the front of the house and blew all the drywall dust out the back door. I will admit it looked like the Dust Bowl of the Dirty Thirties in my back yard, but it got rid of the dust completely. I bought the Toro a year or so ago and am pleased with its durability. I also put it to work after the drywall sanders did their thing while my basement was being finished. I opened the back door and the casement windows near the front of the house and blew all the drywall dust out the back door. I will admit it looked like the Dust Bowl of the Dirty Thirties in my back yard, but it got rid of the dust completely.

]]> By: ryan http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-327916 ryan Sat, 24 May 2008 17:04:40 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-327916 I tried the Black and Decker version of this a while back. It lasted 20 min until the plastic mulch blade became dull and then broke. Took it back, and did not try another brand because it seems all of them were all plastic at Lowe's. Sound's like this toro is better quality? thinking about using my mulching mower next year. I tried the Black and Decker version of this a while back. It lasted 20 min until the plastic mulch blade became dull and then broke. Took it back, and did not try another brand because it seems all of them were all plastic at Lowe’s. Sound’s like this toro is better quality? thinking about using my mulching mower next year.

]]> By: Zathrus http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-327215 Zathrus Sat, 24 May 2008 01:39:43 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-327215 That's a steal... I have this as well and, like Keith, I've never had the issues that Ben mentions. The one issue I do have is that getting the mulching bag off is a major PITA. There's no way I can get it off with gloves on, and I generally end up wrestling the thing on the ground using my hands <b>and</b> feet to convince it to come off. I considered getting the hose/bucket thing, but last time I looked at HD it was ~$50 by itself... That’s a steal… I have this as well and, like Keith, I’ve never had the issues that Ben mentions.

The one issue I do have is that getting the mulching bag off is a major PITA. There’s no way I can get it off with gloves on, and I generally end up wrestling the thing on the ground using my hands and feet to convince it to come off.

I considered getting the hose/bucket thing, but last time I looked at HD it was ~$50 by itself…

]]> By: Leslie Wong http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326813 Leslie Wong Fri, 23 May 2008 18:02:16 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326813 The Toro site has a link to Amazon, where they have the Toro Rake and Vac (51574) for $49.87. The Toro site has a link to Amazon, where they have the Toro Rake and Vac (51574) for $49.87.

]]> By: Keith Melton http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326763 Keith Melton Fri, 23 May 2008 17:07:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326763 Wow Ben, I have the same model as John does and I have never had the problems you described. Plugging in the cord around isn't that big of a deal to me (and I've got a nice sized lot I work on) and never had any problem moving grass around. Wow Ben, I have the same model as John does and I have never had the problems you described. Plugging in the cord around isn’t that big of a deal to me (and I’ve got a nice sized lot I work on) and never had any problem moving grass around.

]]> By: Benjamen Johnson http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326744 Benjamen Johnson Fri, 23 May 2008 16:34:26 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326744 I've had an older version of this blower/vac and a newer craftsman gas blower/vac. I can't say that I agree with you, I switched from electric to gas and I won't go back. Even if you have a long enough cord, to go all the way around most houses involves walking back to the outlet unplugging the cord and plugging it in elsewhere. Don't even try to blow the grass off the street back into your lawn if you have any trees. (being consciencous of algae growth in lakes which is way more of a problem where I am that a little exhaust) You'll have to weave back and forth through them just to blow in a straight line. Not to mention the cord hanging up on everything. In the case of blower/vacs noise isn't really an issue, because usually the sound of the air is louder that the engine. Gas weed wackers on the other hand are a lot louder then their corded brethren. Unrelated to the gas vs electric issue the mechanism to clip the blower wand on the Toro broke and I ended up duct-taping it on. I don't know if Toro has fixed this or not. I’ve had an older version of this blower/vac and a newer craftsman gas blower/vac. I can’t say that I agree with you, I switched from electric to gas and I won’t go back. Even if you have a long enough cord, to go all the way around most houses involves walking back to the outlet unplugging the cord and plugging it in elsewhere. Don’t even try to blow the grass off the street back into your lawn if you have any trees. (being consciencous of algae growth in lakes which is way more of a problem where I am that a little exhaust) You’ll have to weave back and forth through them just to blow in a straight line. Not to mention the cord hanging up on everything.

In the case of blower/vacs noise isn’t really an issue, because usually the sound of the air is louder that the engine. Gas weed wackers on the other hand are a lot louder then their corded brethren.

Unrelated to the gas vs electric issue the mechanism to clip the blower wand on the Toro broke and I ended up duct-taping it on. I don’t know if Toro has fixed this or not.

]]> By: John http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326740 John Fri, 23 May 2008 16:31:23 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/23/dealmonger-toro-rake-and-vacuum-50/#comment-326740 I've got the previous model of this, and it works great. Wife runs it while I rake up piles of leaves, she moves along and muches them up. You can also buy an attachment that has a hose that goes straight into a leaf bag or can. I’ve got the previous model of this, and it works great. Wife runs it while I rake up piles of leaves, she moves along and muches them up. You can also buy an attachment that has a hose that goes straight into a leaf bag or can.

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