The BLACK+DECKER BV5600 is currently one of the most popular leaf blowers/vacuums on the market. Powerful, easy to use and also to switch between the two modes, plus with 2 speeds as a nice bonus.
Pros:
- Good power
- 2 speeds
- Easy to switch between tools
Cons:
- a few users reported a defective unit
Key specifications:
- Air speed: 250/180 mph
- Air volume: up to 400 CFM
Electric = Easy to Use and with Solid Power
Black+Decker BV5600 is one of the popular 3-in-1 electric leaf blowers that serve as a complete leaf removal tool, offering a vacuum and mulcher as well.
It comes with all the traditional advantages and disadvantages of corded units – it’s very easy to use (you just plug it in and start working), there is no gas/oil mixing and almost no maintenance.
Also it offers a good power (but not comparable to the backpack gas blowers of course) and reasonable price – on the other hand you are limited by the cord which gets stuck and tangled sometimes.
And a few customers reported they got a defective unit which stopped working after some time.
Powerful Blower with 2 Speeds
The BV5600 has enough strength for the standard duties like blowing leaves from your yard or into piles, getting them out of bushes and banks and cleaning walkways, driveways, decks or garages.
You can select from two speeds (180 and 250 mph) which is very useful for cleaning flower beds and other delicate areas – so you don’t rip the flowers or suck up rocks (the settings work for vacuuming as well). For example the Toro 51619 enables you to fine-tune the power exactly as you want, but the two speeds are pretty enough.
And there’s also an additional Leaf-blaster oscillating turbo nozzle to help you loosen up tougher debris (like wet leaves).
Effective Vacuum and Mulcher
Users are satisfied with the vacuum function as well – it easily picks up leaves, grass clippings, twigs, pine needles,…everything except for heavy stuff.
Switching between blower and vacuum is tool-free and really easy (slightly better compared to the Toro 51619) so you can effectively combine them together, blowing the leaves into piles or lines and then sucking and shredding them into mulch.
Blowing loosens the leaves nicely and the vacuuming is quite fast then – customers are very pleased how much time, effort and back pain is possible to save compared to using rake, for example cutting the work time from 4+ to 2 hours.
The mulcher uses a metal blade which is able to shred even small twigs – it can get stuck occasionally but the tube can be removed, unclogged and put back on easily.
Quality of the leaf bag is okay, it hangs down horizontally for better ground clearance, emptying is easy and takes only a few moments. Just the shoulder strap could have been wider, it starts to dig into your shoulder after some time (wearing a hooded jacket helps).
Handling
Besides the thin shoulder strap on the leaf bag, the BV5600 is comfortable to work with – the noise level is acceptable, it’s well balanced and not too heavy – definitely suitable even for women and seniors. However, if you use it for several hours without a break, it gets quite tiring of course.
Conclusion: If you want quality and powerful leaf blower with vacuum and mulcher (and for a good price), the BLACK+DECKER BV5600 would be a great choice for you. We can definitely recommend it.
On the other hand, gas powered blowers are still ahead in power – so if you need a heavy duty unit which you can use independently on electric sockets, they are the way to go.
>> Read more or buy the BLACK+DECKER BV5600 here
Specifications:
- Brand: Black+Decker
- Type: Electric, corded
- Air speed: 250/180 mph
- Air volume: up to 400 CFM
- Vacuum:
- Weight: 8.1 lbs
- Warranty: 2-year limited
- Amp: 12 Amp
Frequently asked questions:
Are there any accessories I should buy?
If you don’t have a long extension cord yet, you’re going to need one. The blower is 12 Amp which means for 50 feet you can use a 16/3 safely, but if you need a 100 feet cable, the 14 gauge would be better to prevent overheating.
Is there any maintenance needed?
No, the motor is an enclosed unit so no maintenance is required. Just clean the machine from debris and dirt.