Pros: Light-weight, reasonably priced, no need to drag extension cords.
Cons: 18V power pack is limited to only a few minutes of use at normal power.
The Bottom Line:
The Back & Decker Cordless 18V Blower is lightweight, easy to use and convenient without having to drag extension cords. Not for blowing large amounts of fall debris.
michiman1's Full Review: Black & Decker Cordless Blower (Ns118)
I recently picked up the Black & Decker Cordless Blower (NS-118) when I gave up on the gasoline powered Homelite model I had used for years. I originally purchased the Homelite VacAttack II to blow large amounts of leaves and other fall debris out of my back yard. I also used it for clearing grass clippings and small debris around my patio and stone pathways. Over the past two seasons the VacAttack II became a serious problem and rendered itself virtually unusable. Since buying my Craftsman LT2000 Lawn Tractor with the 3 Bin Bagger, I now only need a blower to clear grass clippings off the drive and small amounts of mulch and debris off our deck, patio and walkways. This light-weight sweeper seemed a pretty good choice when I saw it on sale at our local Home Depot... especially at the price I found it.
My wife has been doing more and more of the duties I used to perform with my Homelite model using the removable portion of our shop vac which converts into a blower. I thought she might like using this machine... completely eliminating the need to unravel long lengths of extension cord. Consumers will love the convenience of simply unplugging the battery from the charging unit and clicking it into place on the blower. The battery is rated at 18V and also interchangeable with other Black & Decker 18V tools.
Upon unpacking the box, I immediately plugged in the included battery into the charging unit and proceeded to let it charge for eight to nine hours as the directions instructed me to do. The first use provided sufficient power to blow off all the debris from our deck as well as debris and loose mulch along our patio and stone walkway. I didn't have enough power to clear grass clippings along the length of our entire driveway and street. In all, we used the sweeper for between 5 to 10 minutes before power was reduced to an unusable level. Since the first use, we have experienced similar results, a bit of a disappointment as far as I am concerned since I can not clean up along my driveway and street following mowing and still muster enough power to clean the deck and patio.
Black & Decker does not specifically offer a CFM rating as most blowers manufacturers do but it should suffice to suggest that even at full strength it was certainly no match to our Homelite when it was working properly. The company calls the Black & Decker Cordless Blower (NS-118) both a "hard surface sweeper" or "rechargeable cordless broom" which in my estimation give you a fair sense of what it is you are considering to purchase. Do not expect to blow out flower beds or move leaves across a grass surface.
The unit is a serious light-weight machine.The manufacturer says the blower weighs approximately 4.8 pounds which makes it a nice choice for anyone who has concerns about hauling around a heavy machine. I suspect the weight of this blower will not be a problem for most any homeowner. The machine is comfortable to hold and the design of the end of the blower chute does assist in moving about as much debris as could be expected. Black & Decker designed a large paddle style on-off switch just under the handle of the blower which is easy to switch on and off as you're using the machine. The chute is long enough to reduce the need for bending and leaning while using the machine. While the NS118 is certainly designed in an ergonomical fashion, the positive features become somewhat moot since you will not be using this for much more than 10 minutes at a time before the battery runs down.
There's no denying this blower is extremely convenient to use. We no longer have to drag out 75' to 100' of extension cord and ravel it back up when we're done. The charger and battery are small and easy to use and store. There's no need to mix up gasoline and two-cycle oil. Black & Decker claims the NS118 has a low noise design. I will say the machine is much quieter than my old gasoline powered Homelite and I don't feel the need to wear ear protection but "low noise" is most certainly a subjective claim that's hard to quantify.
I did purchase this blower as an open-box item and was concerned I got cheated out of the second spare battery many reviewers received with their unit. It appears Black & Decker now only includes a single battery with the NS118 model as clearly stated on the box. Consumers who already own other Black & Decker 18V cordless tools will be able to use those batteries which are interchangeable with the battery included here.
I purchased this model at a cost of $49.00 by applying a $5.00 Home Depot discount card on the sale price. After reading all the positive reviews and using the Black & Decker Cordless Blower (NS-118) for a few months, overall, I am quite underwhelmed with the machine for several reasons. About 10 minutes of full battery power just isn't enough usage time for me - this becomes a trade-off of diminished power and short time intervals as opposed to dragging around an extension cord or trying to keep a gas-powered blower in working order. I also have to say the blowing power, even at full strength, seriously limits the possible uses for this machine. For homeowners that are looking to just blow off a few clippings from a drive or quickly blow out the garage, this may not be a bad option... just work fast! As far as I was concerned, this just didn't live up to my even my barest expectations. I was actually thinking about returning it but my wife still wanted it for quick cleanups. Only 3 out of 5 Epinions stars and a "Nah" buy rating for most Epinions readers.
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