I’ve had a Toro leaf blower for maybe 20 years and used it maybe 20 times. It was underutilized because it was a hassle using an extension cord. I know that sounds lazy, and it is. But seriously, pulling out an extension cord, whipping it around the yard because it gets caught on everything, moving to another outlet to get to the far side of the yard, then winding up the cord to put it away – it’s a hassle!
Why I bought a leaf blower
One night, while surfing through power tools on Amazon, because that’s what I do to fall asleep, I see the Dewalt 60V Max FlexVolt Leaf Blower. I’m a Dewalt fanboy so I’m already in the FlexVolt battery system and it’s cordless – sold! I promptly donated my old, corded leaf blower.
But that’s how I got to the purchase. The “why” is a little different. It was after a full weekend of woodworking that I noticed a layer of fine sawdust had accumulated on everything. The floor, obviously, but also the tools hanging on my walls, the refrigerator, the wall cabinets, my wife’s car, etc. I thought about getting the leaf blower down from it’s spot on my garage wall, but then thought about the extension cord and immediately decided I liked the layer of fine sawdust. It showed how hard I was working. 😉
And then I felt guilty about my wife’s car. She definitely does not like the layer of fine sawdust. I knew right then I needed to either get over my aversion to extension cords or part with the money to get a cordless leaf blower. As they say, “happy wife, happy life!”
The Good Stuff
- It’s powerful. I don’t have one of those devices to measure windspeed, but the product description says it is rated at 600 CFM. That’s over 50% more powerful than my old corded Toro (390 CFM) so the difference is noticeable.
- It’s light. The blower itself is 7.6 pounds so even with a 9 Ah battery the total weight is under 10 pounds. I think my old Toro was 12 pounds. I often carry the Dewalt to and from job sites because it’s so easy.
- It’s easy to maneuver. I often raise and lower the unit to clear sawdust from under carts and out of the nooks and crannies in my workshop. It has handles on the bottom and backside that make it easy to switch hands and change angles.
- It’s easy to control the speed. On my old Toro, you controlled the speed with a dial behind the handle. It was inconvenient because it required that you either use your other hand, which in this case was holding the extension cord, or set it down to adjust the speed. On the Dewalt, speed is controlled with the trigger. It allows me to clean all the sawdust off the tools, cords, and cabinets on my walls without knocking anything down.
- It’s convenient. Hello, it’s cordless! I know this isn’t unique to Dewalt, but it is a huge reason I love this leaf blower. It’s so convenient that it gets used at the end of every woodworking session. I use this leaf blower more times in a month than I used the old leaf blower in 20 years.
The Bad Stuff
- It’s relatively expensive. I paid about $200 for the tool only. I already had 60V batteries and charger so I didn’t have to buy them separately.
- The run-time is short. With the 9 Ah battery, I get about 15 minutes of continuous use. It’s more than enough to blow out my workshop or garage, but I can see how it would be a problem if you were blowing leaves in a yard.
- It produces a loud, high-pitched whine. The noise level is to be expected of a motor capable of 600 CFM but I mention it anyway because when I use it in my garage and workshop at full power, it leaves my ears ringing if I don’t use ear protection. It’s fine if you’re outdoors.
Conclusion
If you’re already in the Dewalt system and need a leaf blower (all woodworkers should have one), the Dewalt 60V Max FlexVolt Leaf Blower is an excellent choice. I also believe the 60V version is worth the premium over the 20V version. If you’re not in the Dewalt system, there are other less expensive options, especially if you’re willing to go with one of the many knock-off brands.
By the way, the link takes you to the product page on Amazon.com and if you subsequently buy it I will earn a small commission. Please know this does not change the price. If you go to the product page without using my link, you will see the same price. Here’s the official disclosure statement. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting Moto Woodworks!
Finally, I only recommend products that I use on a regular basis and have proved their worthiness over time. Check out the Product Recommendations page to see more.
