Gardening equipment, recommended brands?

NIMAN

I am currently on the lookout for a petrol blower (and possibly vacuum).

I own a Husqvarna ride-on, very happy with it.
My petrol strimmer is a generic 2-stroke Chinese brand which has served me well up to now.

I would like a 4 stroke blower for convenience. Budget would be up to £200.
I am prepared to buy second hand to get a better brand but would prefer new.

I spotted this Makita, new, delivered for £169 (no vacuum attachments, could live with that for meantime)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makita-ZMAK-BHX2501-24-5cc-Stroke-Petrol/dp/B004Z55FTC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462874849&sr=8-1&keywords=makita+4+stroke

Have seen some Stihl's, Husq's and Honda's on eBay for anywhere between £130 - £200 depending on age. Again the Honda's are 4 stroke.
Some of them are:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361548485860?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351726485302?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201576218255?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222104143098?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Anyone recommend a brand to go for? There's loads of others, like Tanaka, McCulloch, Ryobi, Timberpro, Draper, Einhell .....

Buying secondhand is not preferred option, but do you think a top brand is safe enough to go for if its well enough looked after?

I have Stihl hand held blower and vacuum for the past four years and never had any problems. I'd say buying second hand would be safe enough the engine is never put under any pressure and if the
right mix is used all the time they should last.

I have used the vacuum once. They are not great the bag is small and the leaves have to be very dry. I wouldn't even bother with a vacuum if I replaced it. I just blow the leaves into a corner and put them into a tonne bag.

The blower is very good at blowing wet leaves off paths and driveways

johnb25

The question I would have buying these types of things second hand is if they are still any good, why would owners want to sell/trade them? Unless they were commercial, in which case they would probably be hammered anyway.

I bought a Husqvarna (125BV) blower/vac last winter, and am happy with it so far. I would second the comment above about the Vac; you will not get much use out of it.

NIMAN

Thanks for the replies. The 125BV was one I was on the verge of buying recently.

I am starting to think I might go for blower only. I have tarmac recently put down and after cutting grass usually have some cuttings on it, plus bits that fall off the lawnmowers wheels as I drive across it. I had always seen myself vacuuming it up to keep my tarmac in good condition, I suppose I could just blow it all back where it came from.

I might go 4 stroke though, its a pain to do the mixing for my strimmer.