Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
by Toro
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List Price: Our Price: $74.97 You Save: $15.02 (17%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $65.22 (click here) Category: Lawn & Patio See more product details |
Product Details
Manufacturer: ToroBrand: Toro
Edition: Lawn & Patio
Model: 51599
Publisher: Toro
Studio: Toro
Music Label: Toro
Product features:
- Toro Ultra 3-in-1 blower, vacuum, and leaf shredder makes completing yard work fun and easy
- Exclusive cord-lock system holds power cord firmly in place
- Rugged metal impeller and infinite variable speed motor delivers up to 235 miles-per-hour of air flow
- Comes with power unit, blower tubes, vacuum tubes, vacuum bag, and operating manual
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- Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve Snow Thrower
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
Customer Review: A huge disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
I've tried 3 electric blowers, the Toro 51599, the Troy-Bilt TB195BV and the B&D LH4500 (the B&D LH5000 was not available locally). 2 of them are going back to the store. I hate to buy things knowing I'm going to return them, it's an expense for the stores yet its not their fault. They need to take this up with the manufacturers that are building shoddy equipment. Hopefully it is Toro that eats the cost of the return.
My 12 year old B&D 2 speed blower (bv1500) just died, I kept it running for those 12 years by replacing the motor brushes 2 times at about $7/pair. I've been using a router speed controller ($10 on sale at harborfreight) with it (same type of motor) and loved being able to dial it down to a whisper, really handy for blowing out fragile flower beds. I knew that when this blower died I wanted the built-in speed control of and metal impeller that the Toro 51599 had. What a disappointment that turned out to be. In a vain attempt I went back to try to fix my bv1500 one last time, it was still flat-lining. I took back everything bad I've ever said about it, wiped the tear from my eye and went on a search for a suitable replacement.
Every review I've read for a failed blower sited a "burned out motor" as the problem. The universal motors in all electric blowers run fast (like 10k+ rpm) and hot. Once the brushes start sparking excessively (due to wear, dirt or vibration), the 12A arcs can burn out a motor in minutes. About 5-10% of the reviews indicate premature failure with a burned out motor (read the 1 & 2 star reviews).
You can't buy replacement brushes for any blower sold today by the major electric blower manufactures (B&D, Toro, Troy-bilt). The brushes *can* easily be replaced, they just don't offer them for sale, you have little choice but to toss the whole thing into the land fill. So much for trying to be green.
The next best thing is to find a blower with beefier brushes that doesn't spark too much and hope that it will last longer. The Toro 51599 does not fit the bill, the measly brushes are barely ¼" square and about 1" long, they'll be toast in less than 50 hours like many people have reported. My old B&D had brushes that were 1/4" x ½" and 1 ½" long, they ran for 6 years before needing replacement.
Excessive vibration can cause the brushes to bounce and arc. This blower has excessive vibration, after 15 minutes my hand was numb. No doubt the vibration is caused by the metal impeller which was not properly balanced at the factory. To make matters worse, the brushes on this blower are next to the impeller (rather than at the other end of the motor like the B&D and Troy-bilt). This is where the vibration is worst. It's also the end of the motor furthest from the vents, so you won't see the sparks until they become really festive.
Other cons about this blower:
1. Vibrates like crazy, this causes hand fatigue and is not good for the blower either. I imagine that the vibration will wear on the plastic motor mounts and get even worse over time.
2. You can't operate the blower without the long exhaust nozzle, it holds the intake guard in place and the safety switch won't let you run without it. I have plants close to the house I like to blow away from the house with no output nozzle. My old B&D had a ¼ turn nozzle that was easily added or removed while running.
3. The vacuum intake tubes can't easily be taken apart for storage, they lock together once you attach them.
4. It's not "infinitely variable" as it says on the box. You can adjust the power from 7A to 12A (measured), about 60-100%. It doesn't go low enough to blow out fragile flower beds. You'll get a lower low speed with any 2 speed blower (50% & 100%) (2 speed blowers just switch a diode in series with the ac line so you just get 1/2 of the cycles, it's cheap, effective and reliable).
5. The concentrator attachment is not easily installed or removed. You have to remove the intake guard, remove the blower tube, shove it down the tube from the inside then re-assemble.
Pros:
1. it is powerful
2. I like the ergonomics of the handles
3. metal impeller (but matters little if it burns out in 1 year as they tend to do)
FWIW, the B&D LH4500 2-speed with metal impeller vibrates even more than this one and it's really loud. Seems that metal impellers are a good idea, but poorly manufactured. Right now I'm gonna stick with the Troy-Bilt TB195BV, it runs very quiet and has no vibration at all. The brushes look beefy as viewed from the vents and has very little sparking when running.
The TB195 claims 450CFM (highest of all 3 blowers), but the intake restriction and small output nozzle limits it to nearly half that (estimated). Yet, it still seems to move the leaves nicely. I may knock out the center most ring of the intake finger guard and cut off the last 2-4 inches of the nozzle for an estimated 30% increase in air flow. This will void the warranty, so I'm gonna wait till next fall on this mod. The TB195 is a variable speed and like the Toro, adjustment range is only 60%-100%.
Couldn't find the noise spec on the Toro, but the B&D is 69db and the Troy-Bilt is 64db. Per the specs this makes the B&D well over twice as loud as the Troy-Bilt. My experience confirms the volume difference. I barely need ear protection with the Troy-Bilt.
More Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller Customer Reviews:
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Description of Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller
Powerful and effective, the Toro Ultra 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum, and Leaf Shredder makes completing yard work fun and easy. With air speeds up to 235 mph, this electric blower nevertheless is lighter, quieter, and cleaner than similar gas blowers. And with a sleek, ergonomical design, it's a tool that is easy to use and will grab your neighbors' attention.
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 Convert from blower to vacuum without tools. |
 The metal impeller shreds leaves into a mulch. |
 The impeller can reduce up to 16 bags' worth of waste to one bag. |
Tackle big clean-up jobs the right way with this powerful blower vac. A variable speed 12 Amp motor lets you select from an infinite variety of speeds between 112 mph and 235 mph. This means that you can use low speeds to clear off hard surfaces and clean up tight areas without making a mess and without sacrificing the blower's high-speed functionality.
Air Speed and Air Volume to Get Yard Jobs Done
Unlike some manufacturers, who simply reduce the size of their blower nozzles to achieve higher air speed ratings without increasing the practical value of their tools, Toro gives this blower vac the ability to balance between air speed (measured in mph) and air volume (measured in cfm) to ensure maximum power and performance. This Ultra blower vac offers air speeds up to 235 mph and air volume up to 255 cfm, allowing you to move a substantial volume of leaves and debris with ease.
3-in-1 Versatility Makes Managing Tasks Easy
A convenient quick-release latch lets you convert your blower into a vacuum in seconds without any tools, while a metal impeller makes it easy to mulch debris.
The magnesium serrated metal blades on the impeller shred leaves and other unwanted debris into a fine mulch that you can use around your lawn and garden, saving money and recycling important nutrients. It also makes it easy to dispose of unwanted yard waste, since the impeller can reduce 16 bags? worth of leaves to one bag.
Clean and Efficient with Electric Power
Compared with gas blowers, electric blowers are quieter and require less maintenance. They start up instantly without requiring you to master a finicky pull cord. There's no messy gas-oil mixture to worry about, and you don't have to contend with noxious fumes to get a job done.
This high-powered blower also weighs in at a very manageable 7.5 pounds, making it easy on your back.
This blower/vac is backed by a full two-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Power unit, blower tubes, vac tubes, vac bag, and operators manual.
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