Let’s talk about some of the leading brands, STIHL, Echo and Makita, of shedder vacs and do a little comparison. The STIHL SH-56, which has been around a long time, is a great unit. Both the STIHL SH-56 and SH-86 blower and shedder vacs have the same bagging capacity and the same cc engine but, the 86 has a little higher output.
STIHL SH-56 has a handle for holding as a vacuum with a convenient shoulder strap to help support the weight of the bag. This unit, as well as all the units discussed, can easily be converted from a vacuum to a blower with the tubes that come with it. Simply remove the vacuum tube, the bagging end, and attach the blowing tube onto the end so you get the use of a multi-tool function.
The SH-86 has slightly more power which, for blowing is not noticeable but when you get into shredding it does take more power and gives a little additional power when you get into heavier, tougher conditions. This model also has some nice features including rubber grips for added comfort for continuous use, a trigger lock like a cruise control system, and a heavier duty air filtering system so if you work in dusty conditions you won’t have to clean the filter quite as often. The SH-86 is a nice step up from the base SH-56 model.
Another great brand is Echo. The Echo ES 250 is very comparable as far as performance and it comes with both the tube for vacuuming or blowing. A nice feature of the Echo is the two-bushel bag versus a 1.2 bushel.
All models discussed are shredder vacs. The shredder vacs are actually three tools in one – a blower, a vacuum, and a shredder/mulcher. Echo blowers have the power to reduce a volume of leaves, grass and other debris by a ratio of up to 12:1. These are great for doing work around your shrubs and flower beds but for getting in some of those tight areas the vacuum does a great job.
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Why Weingartz?
Weingartz, family owned and operated, began in 1945 as a farm supply store for local Michigan families. In the 1970s, we began to focus exclusively on outdoor power equipment. Over time, we morphed into the “power equipment superstore” that now defines all of our locations. The staff and experts at Weingartz work diligently to provide the best service possible and give honest and helpful advice to each and every customer.
Weingartz also sells parts for all outdoor power equipment at https://weingartz.com/parts-lookup.
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