40V HP Brushless Whisper Series 22″ 2-Stage Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Snow Blower (model RY408150)

Ryobi 40V 22-inch, 2-Stage Snowblower

3.5/5

Manufacturer: Ryobi
Model number: RY408150
Power source: Cordless
Motor size: 40V
Weight: 136 lbs

Specifications & Features | Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower

Specifications

• Clearing width: 22 in
• Stage Type: 2 stage
• Motor Power: 40 Volts
• Auger diameter: 10 in
• Auger Material: Steel
• Chute material: Plastic
• Run Time (2x *Ah batteries): Avg. 30 min
• Discharge chute turn radius: 180 degrees
• Plowing capacity: 1900lbs/min
• Max throw distance: 45 ft.
• Ideal surfaces: Paved or gravel, even or uneven
• Total Weight: 136 lbs
• Self Propelled: Yes; variable forward and reverse
• Light: Single LED, Auger top-mounted

Features

• Brushless motor, advanced electronics, and lithium batteries to provide more power, runtime, and durability
• Whisper series snow blower is engineered to be 44% quieter than gas snowblowers
• Variable speed, self-propelled drive system
• Variable speed all steel auger for heavy-duty clearing
• Dense & Deep (up to 18 in) snow capable and panel-based, lever-controlled, 180° directional chute
• High-intensity LED headlights allow you to blow snow at dawn or dusk

Overall Power & Performance

The true test of a snowblower is wet snow and luckily (or unluckily) we get plenty of that in Cape Cod where we tested out the Ryobi RY408150 snow blower. We used this to clear 6″-8″ of heavy wet snow and it easily threw the white stuff 35+ feet when needed. This Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower sports a high-torque, brushless motor that self regulates voltage to maintain consistent power throughout the battery run-time. We varied the auger power/speed and the chute top angle to max out around 35-40 ft of max distance. Why does this matter? This allowed us to throw snow across our driveway and/or far enough straight ahead to not double clear the snow. It gives you more options when clearing snow.

Run-time

One of the positive surprises of this snowblower was the run-time. On the above-mentioned snow, we found the included 2x 8 Ah batteries actually allowed us to clear snow for about 35 mins total before running out. This slightly exceeded the stated 30 mins and represents a 17% performance increase over what we expected. More importantly, we had enough run-time to finish clearing our main (gravel) driveway that is approximately 12 ft wide x 30 ft long. This Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower has 4 battery spaces; 2 for active batteries and 2 storage spaces (the 2x 6Ah batteries were ones I already had).

Shear Pin Replacement

Fortunately (at least for review purposes) we did shear a shear bolt while testing out this snowblower. It gave us a chance to test out the shear pin replacement factor and it was not more complicated than required. We appreciated that Ryobi supplied an extra set (4 bolts) or replacement shear pins. And we really appreciated that there was an integrated and easily accessible storage spot between the chute and control panel. We sheared the pin when a few pieces of larger crushed rock got caught between the auger and housing which is not a knock on this snowblower as it comes with the territory of having a crushed rock driveway vs. paved.

LED Light

The placement and brightness of the LED were both effective and appreciated. We did a second clearing just after dusk to specifically test the night operation of the snowblower and it worked great. The LED light is not a full light bar. It is just a centrally mounted LED assembly, but still proved adequate for homeowner/residential use. There is no option to turn off the light.

Control Panel Design & Overall Ergonomics

The overall design of the Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower is pretty standard. It has bottom mounted skid shoes to allow for depth settings on pavements or hard ground surfaces. These are made of heavy-duty plastic as opposed to steel so, while less expensive to replace, have the potential of becoming brittle and breaking in the extreme cold. There is a lever-style control for the chute top angle (controls throw distance) on the top control panel. It was easy to operate with gloves and preferred over a manual adjustment design. There is also a crank-style lever underneath the handle assembly used to adjust the chute throwing direction. This was preferred to other crank handle-style chute controls we’ve tested on other snowblowers.

While the auger and self-propelled drive levers are a standard, handle integrated design, we did run into issues with them during use. In particular, we had to clean out frozen/packed snow accumulation approximately 10 mins into our first run on 6″ heavy snow. The snow build up prevented the plastic handle from fully depressing the activation switch on the bottom of the control assembly, pictured below, preventing the auger from engaging. This was an easy fix but unnecessarily frustrating issue.

We appreciated the self-propelled power but found the lower end speed setting to still be slightly faster than desired. Of note, with a plastic body composition and total weight of 136 lbs, there was a learning curve on gravel surfaces to keeping the auger intake from getting stuck and the tires from spinning. The all-steel auger and intake housing design meant that the high wear components (minus the skid shoes) are rugged and able to clear packed snow and intermittent ice chunks as expected.

Snowblower Safety Features

This Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower has the standard style cleaning tool integrated into the tool body housing. This is a standard yet essential feature as every year there are multiple instances of snow blower operators losing fingers from cleaning out clogged chutes using their hands. It stayed securely in place and was easy to remove and store again.

One of the major benefits of switching to a cordless snowblower is the decrease in noise and fumes. The Ryobi RY408150 snowblower exemplifies these traits. We used it without hearing protection as the only real source of noise is the auger churning through snow. And even then, we were able to have a conversation without yelling. The lack of fumes and post-use ear ringing are real benefits and fall into the long-term safety category.

Final Thoughts | Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower

The Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower (model RY408150) is a mid-sized yet powerful option with basic features and overall solid performance. It is ideally designed for small-mid sized paved driveways and sidewalks. It provides straightforward adjustability with a solidly performing motor. The run-time with the provided 8Ah batteries was on par with the manufacturers advertised performance and sufficient for most of the snow blowing we used it for. At $1200, which is an average-range price, we’d like to see a more robust design in the lever-based auger and self-propelled controls though. The decreased noise and fumes are huge benefits to a cordless snowblower. If you regularly snow blow, and already have Ryobi 40V tools, then this is a no brainer.

Ryobi 40V 22-inch Snowblower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Ryobi 40V HP Battery Kinetic Log Splitter Review

Brushless Kinetic Log Splitter

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Ryobi
Model number: RY40740
Price: $999.00
Power source: 40V HP Battery

A battery-powered log splitter is not a tool that was on my radar. However, while browsing the Ryobi website I came across the Model RY40740. At first, I scoffed at the idea of a battery-powered machine being worthwhile. I am somewhat of a purist when it comes to processing firewood. Splitters in my mind need hydraulic systems powered by gas engines with rugged pump valves to be useful. The Ryobi eliminates all of that!

Ryobi Log Splitter Specifications

• Splitting Force: 12 Tons
• Cycle Time: 2 Seconds
• Maximum Log Diameter: 10″
• Maximum Log Length: 20″
• Weight: 177 Lbs.
• Warranty: 5 Year Limited

How Does it Work?

The Ryobi holds the crown of being the first battery-powered kinetic log splitter. Electric log splitters have been commercially available for decades and farmers and mad scientist mechanics have been building them in barns for even longer. However, the 40V HP splitter is the first machine to feature a dedicated battery-powered system. Furthermore, the 40V HP system utilizes Ryobi’s vastly popular 40V lithium-ion batteries as its powerplant.

Yet a robust battery system alone wouldn’t be enough to power a traditional-style log splitter. Traditional splitters rely upon hydraulic fluid to push a ram forward through a cylinder to then split a piece of wood. This is a slower process and requires a great deal of power and a very strong pump to accomplish. If you are interested in learning more about hydraulic splitters, you can read more here. Ryobi took a completely different approach.

The plastic housing was removed for the photo. It is not recommended to run the machine with the housing removed.

The 40V HP splitter features a flywheel system that utilizes kinetic energy to shoot a steel ram forward. The ram travels with such speed and velocity that it will split the piece of wood quickly and look awesome while doing it! As the ram extends, it stretches out coil springs that are attached to the bottom portion. Once the ram fully extends, these springs automatically retract it backward. A typical hydraulic log splitter will have a total cycle time of the ram system that is usually over ten seconds. In contrast, the Ryobi has a two-second cycle time! The kinetic system was the perfect platform that is energy efficient enough to be battery-powered.

The flywheel assembly and ram sit on top of a steel box beam. The ram runs across the top of the beam on roller guides. At the end of the beam is a vertical wedge which is stationary. There are two side rails on the side of the beam that extend down to form handles for transporting the machine. These rails also act as a cradle for the log to sit on.

Kinetic log splitters are not a new concept. They have long been praised for having fast cycle times, being lighter and more portable, and also being durable and reliable. The Ryobi 40V HP builds on that lineage with the added convenience of battery power.

Ryobi RY40740 Splitter Controls

The Ryobi features simple controls that are easy to operate. An oversized power button is located on the top of the machine’s housing. Due to the speed of the machine and the fast cycle time, it is imperative to keep your hands off of the wood that is going to be split. A two-second cycle time does not allow much room for error. To keep all ten fingers attached to your hands, Ryobi included a safety bypass lever in addition to the splitter control lever. The operator must have a hand on each of these control levers to actuate the splitter as an extra level of safety. The operator must also position themselves at the rear of the machine to properly operate the controls. This is a well-thought-out system to enhance user safety.

Occasionally, kinetic log splitters like the Ryobi will stall out. A very dense or knotty piece of wood may cause the ram to bounce off the face of the wood. When this happens, the ram knocks itself out of sync to preserve the drive assembly. To reset it, two reset buttons must be pushed simultaneously on the top of the machine. This gets everything lined up and ready to work again.

Splitting Capability

Ryobi rates the 40V HP splitter for wood with a maximum width of 10″ and a maximum length of 20″. The 10″ diameter rating is ideally suited for smaller trees and logs to make fireplace or firepit-sized pieces. I found the Ryobi splitter to excel when working with pieces this size. However, I also wanted to push the splitter to its limits. I often receive deliveries of “tree service” wood from arborist friends of mine. These loads often contain oversized pieces from takedown work. During the Ryobi testing period, I was working on a large 28″ diameter ash log. I would not expect the Ryobi to split a piece this large, but I quartered the round into more manageable-sized pieces.

The Ryobi is fully capable of splitting pieces larger than 10″. However, it often needs more than one hit from the ram. Think of it like a boxer setting up a punch combo. The first hit cracks and stuns the opponent and the follow-up hits finish it off. I used the Ryobi in a variety of wood species including maple, oak, and hickory. The machine maintained its fast cycle times and power regardless of the species. I would strongly recommend “reading” your pieces of wood while splitting. Examine the grain structure and look for knots. By rotating the piece or working around the knots, the splitter is less likely to stall and the operator will be able to split more efficiently with fewer interruptions.

Ryobi Battery-Powered Log Splitter Run-time

The Ryobi splitter is available as a kit with a single 4.0 Ah battery and charger. During testing I used the 4.0 Ah battery as well as a new 6.0 Ah battery that Ryobi sent. With a fully charged 6.0 Ah battery, I was able to complete a total of 46 minutes of continuous splitting. I staged a large pile of rounds for this and constantly fed the machine with minimal downtime. I was completely blown away by the performance of the machine on a single battery charge! What is even more impressive is the amount of wood I was able to split during that time frame. With a two-second cycle time, I had to hustle to keep the Ryobi fed. Overall I filled the bed of my Polaris Ranger to the point that it was overflowing during this test.

The 4.0 Ah battery was able to split an overflowing 10-yard wheelbarrow load of wood on a single charge. Based upon this, the 4.0 Ah battery would be more than enough power to keep a fire pit fed for a weekend or periodically split in the evening to prepare for the fall/winter burning seasons. I used a Ryobi 40V Dual Port Rapid Charger with both batteries. This charger allowed one battery to completely recharge in the time it took me to deplete the other. This combo of batteries with a rapid charger would allow for a full day of splitting with minimal downtime.

Mobility and Portability

The compact design of the Ryobi makes it easy to transport. The front legs act as handles and there are solid plastic wheels on the rear of the machine. This allows the splitter to be moved like a wheelbarrow. The machine can also be stood up for storage. The 40V HP Splitter weighs a total of 177 Lbs. Two people can easily load the splitter into a pickup truck bed for transport. There is no towing option for the splitter currently.

Unfortunately, the high center of gravity on the splitter makes it prone to tipping over while moving. The small plastic wheels are unstable in off road conditions and the splitter fell over more than once while I was transporting it to my different splitting areas.

Another downfall of such a compact design is the work height. The beam of the splitter is less than a foot off the ground, which is convenient for lifting heavy pieces of wood, but forces the operator to crouch down or work on one knee. Using the machine for extended periods of time may result in back and leg fatigue. To alleviate this, I would suggest positioning the splitter on a raised platform or possibly a cart. I plan to mill a large log in half to act as a pedestal for the splitter to sit on and my back is already thanking me.

Overall Impressions

A battery-powered log splitter is not a tool that I saw coming, but I am very glad that it is here. The Ryobi 40V HP kinetic log splitter is an outstanding option for homeowners and hobbyists who are looking for a portable and easy-to-use machine without the hassle of gas-powered engine maintenance and bulky hydraulic systems. More importantly, it is fun to use! As the ram shoots forward to split a piece of wood it makes an incredible POW! and then immediately retracts, just as fast as it started. Like a professional boxer or mixed martial artist throwing jabs and punches.

The compact size makes it easy to store and move around and did I mention less maintenance? The only maintenance I would suggest is keeping the box beam clear of built-up debris and also spraying lubricant on the ram rollers. Less resistance on these parts will enhance the lifespan.

The Ryobi is well-suited for homeowners who need to split smaller quantities of firewood for fire pits, fireplaces, small wood stoves, or for cooking. It makes a great travel companion too for remote campsites or cabins to help process campfire wood. Additionally, I would strongly suggest the Ryobi 40V HP splitter to anyone who receives wood deliveries for heating that need to be re-split. Firewood pieces produced by commercial splitters are often too large for small fireplaces or stoves. Homeowners will often need to re-split these pieces down to size with a maul or other tools. The Ryobi can be operated inside a garage or basement to do these re-splits with no hazardous fumes or excessive engine noise.

Price and Availability

The Ryobi battery-powered log splitter is currently available exclusively from the Home Depot. The kit option includes the splitter with charger and one 4.0 Ah battery for $999.00. A bare tool option will be available soon for $899.00. Overall I think is a good value on a very versatile machine. The Ryobi is faster and more rugged than any other commercially available electric homeowner machine I have seen. The kinetic system offers power and performance above almost anything else on the market. Combine this with the 40V HP battery system and it is a great option for a variety of users. I recommend this option to anyone who doesn’t want to deal with a gas splitter. It is also faster and more potentially productive than any hydraulic splitter in the same price range.

The Buy Now link below is available to order the Ryobi RY40740 directly from Home Depot!

#HomeDepotPartner

#MyHomeDepot

Ryobi 40V HP Battery Log Splitter Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

EGO POWER+ 28 In. Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower – Model SNT2807

EGO POWER+ 28 In 2-Stage Snow Blower

5/5

Manufacturer: EGO
Model number: SNT2807
Price: $2,199
Power source: 56V Li-Ion
Weight: 182 lbs

This battery powered snow blower was  designed to perform like a gas powered 2-stage unit and it’s clear from the outset that EGO has set the bar high. Some fresh wet snow here in New Hampshire was a great way to give this snow blower a great test. Check our thoughts on this battery powered snow blower.

Specifications and Features

• 2-in-1 electronic chute adjustment joystick delivers effortless control of 200-degree chute rotation and deflection
• Throws snow up to 60 feet
• EGO claims it will clear a 32-car driveway with 8 inches of snow on a single charge when used with the two recommended 12.0Ah ARC Lithium batteries
• Trigger-controlled steering assists with turning for more control
• Heated handle grips keep your hands warm
• 28-inch clearing width and 21-inch intake height
• Large 16- by 5-inch snow tires deliver added traction in slippery conditions
• IPX4-rated weather resistance for working in challenging weather conditions
• 5-year tool warranty, 5-year battery warranty

Initial Thoughts – Using the EGO 28 Inch 2-Stage Snow Blower

EGO ships the SNT2807 battery powered 2-stage snow blower on a pallet partially assembled. Assembly of the unit is exceptionally easy to do and takes less than 30 minutes from the time you un-crate the unit. The control panel and handles come shipped loose as well as the chute assembly. Both of these pieces come with the control cables attached to them so it’s really only a matter of attaching both with some easy to use bolts and knobs. The knobs have nuts embedded in them so there’s no tools needed, the knobs are simply hand tightened to the bolts.

Over the years we’ve been impressed with the quality of EGO outdoor power equipment and this unit is no different. It clearly stands out both in quality and the features compared to other similar snow blowers. EGO put some thought into both the controls on this snow blower and added features to make it stand out among the competition.

The snow blower includes large 16 inch by 5 inch snow tires that grip well and roll really nice. It also includes adjustable skid plates for the front of the snow blower. These are really important with gravel driveways to minimize the front auger area picking up stones and gravel.

The motorized chute rotates and tilts with the control of the joystick. The snow blower also includes a plastic stick for unplugging a clogged auger or chute.

The snow blower includes steel augers and a typical sheer pin design. The metal auger housing is sturdy and well built.

EGO has also included some LED lights both in front of the auger housing and also on the front of the control panel. This provides a good amount of light for blowing snow at night.

Snow Blower Controls

One of the first things that stand out on this snow blower are the controls. Pictured above are the controls which not only work well but they are very intuitive and positioned well.

• Drive Controls – The left green upper lever is the drive lever that engages the wheels. The lower black lever on the right and left handles are used to steer the snow blower left and right. The green handle just to the right of the left handle operates forward and reverse, with multiple positions that determine the wheel speed.
• Power / Accessories – In the center of the console is the large green power button, along with a button for the LED lights and also the heated handles.
• Auger Control – The upper right green handle engages the auger. It has a safety handle that must be depressed before the auger can be started. To the left of the right handle is the auger speed lever. This lever controls the speed of the auger and the distance the snow is thrown. This is a great feature as it allows battery use to be maximized depending on the depth and heaviness of the snow.
• Chute Controls – At the top, center of the control panel is a joystick that controls the snow chute. The joystick can be depressed left or right to move the chute left or right. By pressing the joystick forward or backward, the top of the chute is angled to increase or decrease the distance the snow is thrown. Both of these motions are motorized and not cable driven like older snow blowers.

Battery Compartment

The EGO 2-stage snow blower holds two batteries in a compartment located just over the axle. Without a motor this is a great location to store the batteries and place as much weight on the drive wheels as possible. The snow blower can use any of the EGO 56V batteries. EGO does recommend the 12 Ah ARC batteries for maximum performance.

Snow Blower Performance

Great features and controls are one thing but the real question is performance. So far the EGO POWER+ 28 Inch 2-Stage Snow Blower has proven to be an excellent battery powered snow blower. This snow blower was able to throw heavy wet snow just as good as a gas powered unit. The electric chute controls work well and the variable auger speed is a very useful feature. The torque created by the electric motor is evident when chewing through a 2 foot tall heavy wet snow bank. This blower can handle anything my old gas powered Craftsman did and then some.

Run-Time

EGO claims this snow blower can clear a 32 car driveway of 8 inches of snow. If you assume a car is roughly 6 ft wide, 15 feet long, or roughly 2,880 square feet. That’s roughly a 200 foot long driveway that’s roughly 10 feet or so wide. Of course 8 inches of what kind of snow? At any rate, that’s a decent size driveway. Just so happens that the driveway this snow blower was tested on is roughly that size. In the previous storm there was about 6 inches of heavy wet snow and a full charge nearly finished the driveway. Luckily we’ve got other EGO batteries so we just swapped them out and finished.

If you’re going to own a battery powered snow blower you really should own at least one set of backup batteries. This will double the range and make things much less frustrating. While doing research for this review, some users were complaining about batteries getting too cold to charge. This is definitely one down fall of all battery powered snow blowers and another reason to have a backup set of batteries that are stored in a warm area.

Final Thoughts – EGO 28 Inch 2-Stage Snow Blower

The EGO POWER+ 28 Inch 2-Stage Snow Blower is by far the best battery powered snow blower we’ve used and reviewed. The snow blower is packed full of features, has easy to use controls, offers exceptional performance, and supported by a company leading the way in battery powered outdoor power equipment. Backed by a 5 year warranty on both the machine and the batteries this snow blower deserves a 5 star rating. Get yourself and extra set of batteries and ditch the yearly maintenance of a gas powered machine and the reliability of your snow blower starting when you need it. We’ve all been in a situation where the gas snow blower won’t start when the first storm hits and that’s not fun!

EGO POWER+ 28 Inch 2-Stage Snow Blower Video Review

EGO POWER+ 28 Inch 2-Stage Snow Blower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Hud-Son Forest Equipment Log Splitters Preview

This article is a preview of some of the professional-grade log splitters offered by Hud-Son Forest Equipment. Hud-Son is a family-owned business based out of Barneveld, New York, and has been manufacturing equipment for the forestry industry since 1946. The company was started by Daniel J. Hudon, who was a logger in the foothills of the Adirondack mountains.

Today, Hud-Son manufactures a large variety of sawmills, firewood processors, log splitters, and other equipment to serve demanding pros and homeowners alike. Their products are rugged and proudly manufactured here in the United States. I had the opportunity to learn more about Hud-Son from my friend Marc Deslauries of Halcyon Hill Wood Products located in Oxford, Connecticut. Furthermore, Marc is a dealer for Hud-Son and had equipment available at his property to demo.

Hud-Son Log Splitters

While Hud-Son is best known for sawmills, I was excited to learn more about the capabilities of some of their professional-grade log splitters. Firewood for home heating is a large industry in the Northeastern United States as well as other parts of the country. Like many homeowners, I process firewood to reduce my heating costs. However, I only have experience with traditional box-beam construction splitters. Box-beam machines are the types of splitters commonly found at home centers and outdoor power equipment shops.

Luckily, we were able to demo two of Hud-Son’s top-of-the-line professional grade log splitters. The Model HDH-5 and Model HDH-6. The HDH in both names stands for “Heavy Duty Hud-Son”.

Hud-Son HDH-5

Specifications

• Hydraulic Pump Size: 22 GPM
• Cycle Time: 8 Seconds
• Max Log Diameter: 20″
• Fuel Tank Size: 15 Gallon
• Wedge: 2 & 4 Way Manual Adjustable (6 Way Available)
• Cylinder Size: 24″ x 4″
• Engine: 14 HP Electric Start Briggs & Stratton
• Log Lift: Hydraulic (Standard Feature)

The HDH-5 features a welded square tubing frame and a V-Trough style splitting area. The body of the trough is built from 1/4″ bent sheet steel. The trough centers the log naturally as it moves forward with the push-block. In addition to this, the HDH-5 features a manually adjustable log lift with options for 4 and 6-way wedges. A hydraulic log lift is a standard feature of this model. The HDH-5 is the core of the Badger Firewood Processor design.

The Badger is one of Hud-Son’s best-selling firewood processors. The splitter portion of the machine is a Hud-Son HDH-5 splitter.

Hud-Son HDH-6

Specifications

• Hydraulic Pump Size: 22 GPM
• Cycle Time: 12 Seconds
• Capacity: Open Design for Large Blocks
• Fuel Tank Size: 15 Gallon
• Wedge: 2 & 4 Way Hydraulic Adjustable (6 Way Available)
• Cylinder Size: 24″ x 5″
• Engine: 23 HP Electric Start Briggs & Stratton
• Log Lift: Hydraulic (Standard Feature)

The HDH-6 is Hud-Son’s largest machine and is outfitted with a 5″ hydraulic cylinder for increased tonnage output. Additionally, the open station design allows for a much larger round of wood to be split. A larger feed table is included for sorting pieces and re-splits. Unlike its little brother, the HDH-6 is built from 3/8″ thick sheet steel. This machine is large and in charge!

The HDH-6 features a fully hydraulic adjustable 6-way wedge. This allows the wedge to be centered on the firewood round for more uniform splits. The 6-way wedge pictured here allows one round of wood to be cut into six pieces in one pass. Also, get a load of the size of that red push-block!

Hud-Son Quality

Hud-Son by and large is a proud American manufacturing company. With that pride in manufacturing comes quality components. The hydraulic system components, frame and body construction, and all other aspects are selected with durability and user serviceability in mind. Conversely, consumer-built log splitters will not stand up to heavy use as well as machines like the HDH-5 and HDH-6. On the contrary, an overbuilt machine like the Hud-Sons mentioned here will withstand daily use and high production work. Moreover, they can be rebuilt and serviced over time to provide generations of service.

Hud-Son Log Splitters Overall Impression

Ultimately this product preview is an overview of two of the professional-grade wood splitter options from Hud-Son Forest Equipment. In the future, Tool Box Buzz will perform an in-depth review of these machines. As well as feature some of the other forestry products that Hud-Son is known for. Overall I was thoroughly impressed with both machines. The HDH-5 represents a feature-rich machine for demanding homeowners or small firewood producers. Whereas the HDH-6 is best suited for full-time commercial production of firewood.

I discussed the quality of both machines throughout the article. With that in mind, quality, capability, and durability do come at a price. An HDH-5 splitter as of March 2024 retails for approximately $11,295.00. While an HDH-6 retails for $19,995.00. Ultimately this is a large sum of money, but is comparable with similarly capable machines from other manufacturers. However, Hud-Son offers other machines for lower price points. If you are interested in a Hud-Son based on the quality discussed here, the Model HDH-4 and Model HW3:16 offer the same quality in smaller and more affordable designs. In contrast, the HW3:16 is a box-beam design that is more comparable to most residential or homeowner machines.

All things considered, Hud-Son offers outstanding options for wood splitters and other forestry products. As a result, if you are interested in purchasing a Hud-Son product visit the Find a Dealer section on their website. Furthermore, if you are in Connecticut or Northeastern United States my friend Marc would be happy to help you find the right Hud-Son for you.

Hud-Son Log Splitters Preview is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Stihl MS 400 C-M Professional Chainsaw Review

MS 400 C-M Chainsaw

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Stihl
Model number: MS 400 C-M
Price: $1,079.99
Power source: Gas Engine
Motor size: 66.8 CC
Weight: 13.44 Lbs. Powerhead

The ToolBoxBuzz Crew has recently focused on primarily battery-powered OPE due to the market push towards those products. However, gas-powered tools still have their place. The chainsaw world is a perfect example of there is no replacement for displacement. I am glad to see Stihl continuing to innovate in the gas-powered world.

Featured and Specifications

• Powerhead Weight: 12.8 Lbs.
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″
• Chain Gauge:  0.050″
• Recommended Bar Lengths: 16″-25″
• Engine Size: 66.8 CC
• Fuel Capacity: 20.3 Oz.
• Bar Oil Capacity: 11 Oz.
• Oiler: Adjustable

Stihl MS 400 C-M Chainsaw Weigth and Balance

Stihl recommends a 20″ bar with this saw, but it can accept anywhere from 16″ up to 25″. I received the saw from Stihl with a 25″ factory ES Light bar. This combination felt balanced and excellent for working from an upright standing position. A longer bar can save your back when cutting wood that is at roughly ground level. During testing, I used a variety of bars and chains, including a 20″ GB Pro titanium bar.

I recorded the weights of the saw as a bare powerhead and with the 25″ and 20″ bars. Due to the variety of configurations available as well as the large degree of user preferences, it is impossible to pick a true do-all configuration. Hopefully, this information helps qualify the manufacturer’s specifications.

Overall the bare powerhead weight of the MS 400 is astounding. It is a very agile and balanced tool in the hand. The magnesium piston creates a mid-sized professional-grade saw that balances better than any other I have used. Additionally, the extra almost 8 CCs of engine displacement makes it more capable with a variety of longer bars than other saws in this class.

Stihl Professional Grade

What separates professional-grade chainsaws from homeowner models? A professional saw is designed with demanding daily use in mind. Furthermore, its internal components can be rebuilt instead of replacing entire units. A Stihl pro-grade saw is rugged enough to be used daily and typically requires very little maintenance. The M-Tronic electronic self-adjusting carburetor compensates for every variable from altitude to chain speed. When an issue does arise, the saw can be plugged into a diagnostic program by a dealer to figure out the problem.

Don’t let all this “pro-grade” talk discourage you if you aren’t a full-time tree care pro. Buying a professional-grade chainsaw as a homeowner or hobbyist is a smart investment. They outlast most consumer saws and offer better performance.

MS 400 C-M Run-time

A chainsaw typically requires several tanks worth of fuel to get broken in. Users will often see a slight increase in cutting power and performance once the saw has a chance to run when brand new from the factory. With electronic carburetor saws like the MS 400 C-M the break-in period allows the saw to compile data for better adjustments and performance.

The 20″ GB Pro Titanium Bar with a factory Stihl chisel chain was used for this test.

After running through about ten tanks of fuel in my sample, I outfitted the MS 400 with a factory sharp chain and fresh fuel. I was able to perform a total of approximately thirty-seven cross cuts, plus some additional trim cuts, through a green sugar maple tree that I had dropped recently. The diameters ranged from 8″ up to 25″. This was performed at one time with minimal breaks or downtime between cuts. Overall I was extremely happy with the amount of production capable on a single tank of fuel.

The capability of the MS 400 is extremely beneficial to professional users. It offers less downtime and better production with a saw that is lighter to carry and consumes less fuel.

Stihl Cutting Performance

As mentioned previously, the MS 400 C-M is lightweight and powerful. The lighter magnesium piston allows the engine to spin up to full chain speed extremely fast. Additionally, the controls on the saw are fast and responsive. I left the adjustable oiler in the full open position during testing and this provided more than adequate lubrication regardless of what length bar I was using. The saw consumes roughly 80% of the bar oil reservoir per tank of fuel.

Noodle cuts were performed to break down these large rounds of white ash wood.

My test cutting was performed on hardwood species native to the Northeastern United States. This included ash, oak, maple, and some other hardwood trees. One of the performance tests I ran was making “noodle” cuts. This is when a saw is used to make a parallel to the grain cut on a large round of wood that is often close in length to the bar on the saw. It is a very demanding cut due to the cutting teeth on the chain having to pull through a full 16″+ of parallel-grained material.

While the MS 400 C-M was capable of doing this with the 25″ bar, it struggled at times. The 20″ bar was the optimal length and there was less resistance when cutting, it also threw beautiful, long, “noodle” chips with ease. While many West Coast users prefer the longer 25″ or even 28″ bars on a saw this size, the 20″ was ideal for my application relative to our native tree species.

Room For Improvement

I am a huge fan of the power and performance that the Stihl MS 400 C-M chainsaw provides. However, during testing, I encountered an issue with the factory OEM felling spikes, or “Dogs” as they are referred to. While processing a large-diameter tree, I made multiple cross-cuts with the 25″ bar and chain where the saw was buried to the nose. A cut like this is where pronounced and aggressive dogs are an important feature. Because the factory OEM dogs are short, the front of the muffler repeatedly came into contact with the wood. I didn’t realize it at first, which caused the muffler to burn the wood and also get debris baked onto the muffler.

Stihl offers longer factory spikes as well as a dual set, but they must be purchased and installed by the user or at a service center. These longer spikes would be a welcomed feature on this saw as a factory option.

Finally, the front handlebar of the MS 400 C-M is made out of plastic. It is nice reinforced plastic, but it is still plastic. I firmly believe that Stihl has tested the compound and found it to be as strong or possibly stronger than metal. However, it just doesn’t feel right and can be flexed when leaned into during cutting. A professional-grade Stihl chainsaw doesn’t feel proper without a metal handlebar.

Overall Impression

The Stihl MS 400 C-M is an impressive professional-grade chainsaw. Overall it packs outstanding power and technology into a lighter-weight and easy-to-use package. I was thoroughly impressed with it during the review process as were all of the tree-care pros that used it with me. It’s not too big, not too small, just right. The Goldilocks of chainsaws if you will. I can’t imagine many lumberjacks wanting to refer to their chainsaw as Goldilocks, but it’s an accurate analogy!

The MS 400 C-M is an excellent option for pro users who want a tool to perform most tasks while reducing operator fatigue and potential injuries. This saw would be right at home in a bucket or attached to a climbing rig. Additionally, it would make a great one-saw solution for serious firewood cutters or landowners. The MS 400 has been overshadowed by its brother the MS 500i and because of that it is often overlooked by pro users.

If you are in the market for a lightweight and dependable chainsaw that will pull a 20-25″ bar all day and ask for seconds, then consider the Stihl MS 400 C-M. As with all Stihl saws, they are only available from your local Stihl dealer. As of February 2024, the MS 400 is available for $1,079.99 with 25″ bar and chain. The price will differ depending on your desired bar and chain length. While more expensive than any saw at a big box store, this is a true professional-grade option that is designed with longevity and an enhanced user experience in mind.

Stihl MS 400 C-M Chainsaw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

DEWALT 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower Review

Model DCSNP2142Y2

DEWALT has just recently entered the rapidly growing cordless snow blower/thrower category with its 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower.  We received the DCSNP2142Y2 Kit which comes with the snow blower, battery charger and 2 FLEXVOLT DCB612 12.0 Ah batteries.  After several very wet and heavy snow storms here in Massachusetts, we can share some feedback and our review of DEWALT’s snow moving contender.

21" 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower

Manufacturer: DEWALT
Model number: DCSNP2142Y2
Price: $999
Power source: 60V FlEXVOLT Battery
Weight: 59lbs Tool Only

Features and Specifications

• 2 way directional powered chute
• 3 Mode power selection – Eco, Normal and Power
• 7″ Steel single stage Auger
• Bright and easy to read LED dashboard showing battery state, power mode, high load indicator and fault indicator
• Twin LED Headlights
• Collapsible handles for storage

Snow Thrower or Snow Blower?

The DEWALT 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower sits in a class that many would call a snow thrower vs. a snow blower.  While this may seem like trivial semantics there is a fairly significant design difference between a single stage snow thrower and a larger two-stage or even three-stage snow blowers.

Single-stage machines like this DEWALT have a single rotating auger that performs double duty in breaking up the snow and throwing up a chute for removal.  They are lighter, have less moving parts and are propelled by the user.

A two-stage snowblower has a dedicated auger for breaking up the snow in the mouth of the machine and passing it up to a second faster spinning impeller that launches the snow out the chute.  These machines are heavy, typically propelled by self driving wheels and can move and throw much more snow than a single stage machine.

Design and User Experience

The DEWALT DCSNP2142 features a single 7″ steel auger that processes the snow and throws is up the chute.  The chute is motorized and can be rotated left and right quickly via two paddle switches mounted on the handle.  The handle features large Power ON and Power Mode buttons that are easy to select even with large gloves or mittens.

An auger activation bar runs along the top of the handle is the same form and function found on legacy push lawn mowers.  The handle is connected to the blower via a metal tube frame assembly that can be loosened to rotate and collapse the handle when not in use for storage.  The main housing is a mix of primarily sturdy plastics and metal reinforcement.

Performance

At the core of the DEWALT 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower is a brushless motor powered by 60V FLEXVOLT batteries.  This kit comes with two DCB612 12.0 Ah batteries.  Note however that these 240 Wh batteries are actually 4.0 Ah batteries when used in a 60V tool.  Only one battery is required to power the blower, but two is recommended for runtime considerations.

The conditions we tested this blower in were about as brutal and nasty as it gets for snow.  Heavy wet snow mixed with slush and hard ice made for a pretty tough test.  At the end of the day we were really impressed!

DEWALT advertises “clear up to 16 parking spaces” and “throw snow up to 40 ft”.  We understand these numbers are under ideal conditions and while we didn’t see numbers resembling that, we were impressed by how long the batteries lasted and how much snow (and water) were moved. With even the hardest packed snow the normal mode was able to ingest and throw the snow >10ft and up to 25 ft.  When MAX power mode was used it made a significant difference in snow throwing performance however it was clear that this put a rapid drain on the batteries.  The blower performed better with a steady flow of snow into the mouth and did not slow down even with a high power load indicator illuminating.

Important to understand is that the wheels are not power driven.  So all the forward movement must be done by the user.  In heavy snow this can require significant force to push the blower through the snow.

The bottom shave plate is grooved likely to help the blower slide along.  This does result in a thin layer of snow being left behind in places.

Price and Value

The DCSNP2142Y2 Kit is currently priced at $999 while the tool only is priced at $699.  As with most cordless tools these days the core performance and resultant cost lies with the batteries.  The kit comes with (2) DCB612 12.0 Ah batteries.  If priced out individually these batteries are currently selling between $300 and $320, totaling >60% of the kit cost.

The real hidden value of the blower and this kit are going to depend on the user.  Users who already own and use other DEWALT 20V and 60V tools may see a huge value in this kit.

Conclusions

The DEWALT 21″ Single-Stage Snow Blower really impressed us with its compact power and ability to chew through even the worst kinds of snow. I have found it light enough to pull up my deck stairs to help clear off my second story deck.  A job that previously was only achieved with back breaking shovel antics. For users that have a small driveway or grounds personnel who need to clear long stretches of sidewalks, this blower could be a goldilocks solution that fits in between shoveling and larger, heavier and more expensive multi-stage blowers.

DEWALT 60V Snow Blower Video Review

DEWALT 60V Snow Blower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress 60V Line Trimmer Model KC100.9

Kress has launched an impressive list of commercial outdoor power equipment here in the US. The new KG100 Commercial 60V Cordless Line Trimmer nicely compliments the Kress 60V 21″ Self-Propelled Mower and Kress 60V Backpack Blower that we’ve recently reviewed. Like the other equipment from Kress that we’ve used this cordless string trimmer is built with the commercial landscaper in mind.

Features and Specifications

• Battery: 60V
• Brushless Motor
• Cutting Speed: 4200/5100/5900 rpm
• Cutting Diameter: 16.5″
• Line Diameter: 0.095″/0.105″ (2.4 / 2.7 mm) nylon line
• Water Protection: IPX4
• Tool Weight (Bare Tool): 9.9 lbs
• Available Batteries: KAC802 60V CyberPack 2Ah or KAC804 4Ah

The Kress line trimmer has been designed with professional landscapers and maintenance crews in mind. The commercial brushless motor delivers 1.2kW of power which is equivalent to a 30cc 2-stroke gas powered trimmer. The trimmer motor can be adjusted with 3 speed settings to maximize power and run-time depending on the application.

It includes a heavy-duty non-flexible steel driveshaft for long term durability. It also includes an aluminum gearhead. The Kress line trimmer has an IPX4 waterproof rating allowing users the ability to work in wet conditions such a rain. In addition, the Quick-load trimmer head includes a 30 foot spool capacity reducing the need to re-string it as often.

The controls are large and easy to use. There is a simple on/off button along with two buttons to increase/decrease the head speed. A large easy to grasp trigger makes for a comfortable operation.

Available Options

We reviewed the basic setup with none of the available options. However, you can purchase separately a harness to help support the weight of the tool (which I honestly think should come standard as this is a pretty heavy trimmer), and you can get battery backpack harness, which can allow you to use an 11 Ah battery for heavy duty use and longer run-time.

You can also purchase a 4″ cutter head and also a knife blade attachment, both sold separately.

Battery Options and Charging

The 60V Kress line trimmer can operate on both of their battery configurations of 4 Ah and 11 Ah. We tested the trimmer using the 4 Ah battery attached to the unit. In order to use an 11 Ah pack you’ll need to buy the battery backpack harness.

The heart of these new Kress Commercial OPE are their 8-Minute CybeSystem batteries. For the serious commercial landscaper they can purchase the CyberTank DC-DC charger. The CyberTank is essential a very large battery, 5040 Wh or 7200 Wh depending on model, that can quickly charge the the smaller 4.0Ah or 11.0Ah multiple times throughout the day. The DC-DC charging is extrememly efficient and fast as the energy requires no conversion and a large amount of power can be transfered from one battery to another quickly. The CyberTank gets charged typically overnight from an AC power source that takes 4-6 hours. This can easily be mounted on a trailer allowing the batteries to be quickly charged in the time it takes to drive to the next jobsite.

These batteries come with a 6 year (commercial use) warranty or 3,000 cycles warranty which is really quite impressive. 3,000 cycles. If you charge that battery once a day, 5 days a week, that’s nearly 23 years!! Obviously they are very sure of this battery platform and stand by it!

Performance

The Kress Commercial 60V Line Trimmer is a beast! It’s a commercial grade tool from top to bottom. Packed with power, great ergonomics and simple controls. It’s well built and comparable to any other professional trimmer I’ve used. I trimmed a very large yard multiple times on the same battery charge. When you consider that 8 minute full charge with this system it’s hard to even worry about run-time, managing a large group of batteries, or the other challenges previous cordless solutions presented.

Cost

Obviously commercial outdoor power equipment is typically expensive and an investment. This new line of Kress equipment is certainly an investment but the long term savings in fuel and maintenance can’t be overlooked. If you’re a professional landscaper there will be some overlap with chargers and batteries. I’m not including the CyberTank Portable Power Station as we’ll have another article focusing on that. Here are the listed prices on what we tested for this stand alone mower.

• Line Trimmer – KC100.9 – $349.99
• KAC840 Dual Port Charger – $779.99
• KAC804 4 Ah CyberPack Battery – $549.99

As a stand alone setup you’d be looking at roughly a $1,700 investment. With the current pricing of fuel this certainly isn’t a terrible proposition along with the warranty that comes with the trimmer and battery.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been reviewing power tools long enough to remember a few huge transitions in our industry. Kress has unlocked a major transition in OPE with this 60V lineup that is sure to revolutionize this industry. This is the real deal and something that will certainly disrupt this sector. Landscapers and professional lawn-care companies, especially ones working in areas that cannot use gasoline powered engines should take this new product seriously. When you combine really good quality with superior engineering you’ve got a winner. Kress has hit a home-run!

Kress Commercial 60V Line Trimmer Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress Commercial 60V 21 Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower KC710.9

Kress 60V 21" Self Propelled Mower

5/5

Manufacturer: Kress
Model number: KC710.9
Price: $799.00
Power source: 60V Li-Ion
Weight: 77 lbs

At the 2022 International Equip Exposition in Louisville KY Kress revealed a robust line-up of commercial outdoor power equipment that promised to change the professional landscaper approach to lawn care. Kress, a long established and well respected tool brand from Germany has now released these new products in the US and we’ve been using them the last several months to get a feel for their offering and more importantly their performance. In this review we are taking a look at their 21″ Self-Propelled 60V Mower.

Features / Specifications

• Brushless Motor
• Voltage: 60 Volts
• Cutting Deck: Reinforced Steel
• Cutting Speed: 2800/3300 rpm
• Cutting Width: 20-5/64 in
• Grass Bag Volume: 2.5 bushels
• Water Protection: IPX4
• Weight: 77 lbs
• Built-in LED Control Panel
• 2-point Height Adjustment
• Deck wear plate & front bumper guard
• Improved air flow deck design & Versatile cutting blades
• Powerful 7 lb-ft of torque provides the force needed for professional cut quality under severe working conditions.
• Variable self-propelled speed, up to 4mph, allows professional landscapers to match cutting speed to cutting conditions for optimal efficiency.
• The heavy-duty differential drive transmission provides exceptional durability while the auto-clutch allows for easy transition from self-propelled operation to push operation.

Build Quality

The very first thing that was noticeable about the Kress mower was it’s weight and sturdy build. The deck on this mower reminds me of old school push mowers that were built to last forever. It has a reinforced steel deck that’s thicker and more robust than many riding mowers have.

The wheels are robust and also heavy duty and provide easy maneuverability. The mower’s 2-point height adjustment is very easy to use and intuitive.

The steel handlebars are also robust and offer several adjustments to provide the most comfort for different user heights and mowing styles. It’s clear from the moment this mower was assembled that it’s been designed for serious commercial use and longevity. I’ve personally reviewed dozens of cordless mowers over the years and not a single mower has been built like this, not even close! For some the 77 lb weight might seem excessive but this machine is built to work.

This mower is also rated with IPX4 waterproofing so the mower can be washed and used in wet weather conditions.

Controls

The controls on the Kress 60V 21″ self-propelled mower are simple and straight forward. The LED control panel provides users with information on the battery levels and blade speed. To use the mower you first push the on/off red button on the lower right, the larger red start button on the lower left starts the blades. The lower black grab bar must be engaged for the mower blades to engage. The upper red grab bar engages the self-propelled wheels. The speed of the wheels is controlled with a lever to the right of the run/walk graphic on the control panel. I found the controls easy to use and well placed.

Battery Options and Charging

The 60V Kress mower can operate on both of their battery configurations of 4 Ah and 11 Ah. I tested this mower with both batteries and found no difference in performance other than run-time and weight. For me the weight doesn’t really matter because of the powerful self-propelled design this mower offers. The top of the mower lifts up allowing a single battery to be installed (either 4 or 11 Ah packs).

The heart of these new Kress Commercial OPE are their 8-Minute CybeSystem batteries. For the serious commercial landscaper they can purchase the CyberTank DC-DC charger. The CyberTank is essential a very large battery, 5040 Wh or 7200 Wh depending on model, that can quickly charge the the smaller 4.0Ah or 11.0Ah multiple times throughout the day. The DC-DC charging is extrememly efficient and fast as the energy requires no conversion and a large amount of power can be transfered from one battery to another quickly. The CyberTank gets charged typically overnight from an AC power source that takes 4-6 hours. This can easily be mounted on a trailer allowing the batteries to be quickly charged in the time it takes to drive to the next jobsite.

Kress also has an AC-DC charging solution with their KAC840 Kress Commercial 30A AC Charger. We tested this unit along with our battery and blower. While the AC charger is not as fast as the 8-minute DC-DC charge, the KAC840 is still able to charge the 11Ah CyberPack battery in under 25 minutes and the 4.0Ah battery in 12.0 Minutes. This is still unbelievably fast compared to other industry leaders.

Performance -Not A Homeowner Cordless Mower!

The million dollar question for these mowers is are they really a commercial grade mower that can replace a gas mower on a landscaping crew? The answer is absolutely! While these mowers are certainly a much larger upfront investment the savings in fuel, maintenance and the added benefits of no fuel storage, no fumes, and less noise make this a very attractive platform to invest in.

I tested this mower in both the mulching mode and bagging mode and it provided the same or better performance that I expect from quality gas mowers. This is a result of DC motors powering the cutting blade which we’ve come to appreciate with the larger cordless mowers. Tall wet grass is no problem for this mower and it churns through it like a walk in the park!

The self-propelled wheels on this mower will literally tow you around the yard and likely pull a small car uphill. It’s hard to quantify the power of this mower in an effective way, but I’d put it up against any gas powered mower under any testing situation.

The steel deck has been specifically designed to increase suction for the bagging option. With 4 different blade options and an optimized deck geometry Kress has created a mower with exceptional grass collection. Combined with a 2.5 bushel bag users can run longer without emptying the bag.

Run-Time

I didn’t do any run-time testing on this beast. The reality is I did a TON of mowing with the 4 Ah pack and never killed it. I did even more with the 11 Ah pack and it didn’t even move off the fully charged icon. Kress is using a new cell type that doesn’t have the heat issues of 18650 and 21700 lithium-ion cells. Because of this they can charge batteries MUCH faster, they can draw more amps without overheating the tool, and ultimately deliver more power at higher rates than the market standard cells. This is VERY obvious from how this mower performed in the field.

Why didn’t I test run-time? It’s a great question and typically that would be a big issue in a cordless tool review. But the reality is that you can mow with this mower and fully charge in 8 minutes! Think about that, an 11 Ah pack charged in 8 minutes, which is likely less time than it takes to drive to the next job! At that point it’s no different that gassing up  your mower between jobs. As tool companies solve the heat issue with batteries and find ways to fully charge them in minutes, the argument of time lost diminishes and cordless tools become a very attractive solution for every industry.

Obviously another consideration is longevity of the batteries. We’ve seen this with many different brands and it’s a real question. For this review we can’t possibly report any information on the longevity of these battery packs. However, from what I’m seeing in the Kress lineup I have a feeling these are very robust packs that will last through many cycles. Rapid charging is typically not great for the long term health of a battery. Despite this, Kress guarantees 3000 life cycles (charge and discharge) on the CyberPack batteries.

These batteries come with a 6 year (commercial use) warranty or 3,000 cycles warranty which is really quite impressive. 3,000 cycles. If you charge that battery once a day, 5 days a week, that’s nearly 23 years!! Obviously they are very sure of this battery platform and stand by it!

Cost

Obviously commercial outdoor power equipment is typically expensive and an investment. This new line of Kress equipment is certainly an investment but the long term savings in fuel and maintenance can’t be overlooked. If you’re a professional landscaper there will be some overlap with chargers and batteries. I’m not including the CyberTank Portable Power Station as we’ll have another article focusing on that. Here are the listed prices on what we tested for this stand alone mower.

• Mower – KC710.9 – $799.99
• KAC840 Dual Port Charger – $779.99
• KAC810 11 Ah CyberPack Battery – $1,399.99

As a stand alone setup you’d be looking at roughly a $3,000 investment. With the current pricing of fuel this certainly isn’t a terrible proposition along with the warranty that comes with the mower and battery.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been reviewing power tools long enough to remember a few huge transitions in our industry. Kress has unlocked a major transition in OPE with this 60V lineup that is sure to revolutionize this industry. This is the real deal and something that will certainly disrupt this sector. Landscapers and professional lawn-care companies, especially ones working in areas that cannot use gasoline powered engines should take this new product seriously. When you combine really good quality with superior engineering you’ve got a winner. Kress has hit a home-run!

Kress Commercial 60V 21 Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress Commercial 60V Cordless Backpack Blower

Kress, a long established and well respected tool brand from Germany made a splash at the 2022 International Equip Exposition with its North American introduction of its Kress Commercial Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) lineup.  There exists an ever-growing pressure in commercial landscaping to switch from traditional gas powered equipment to battery powered alternatives with many local municipalities and even entire states intending to ban certain gas powered landscaping equipment. Kress intends to insert itself directly at the front of the electric powered OPE movement.

At the core of it’s strategy, Kress introduced a brand new and exciting battery platform and charging solution.  The Kress 8-minute CyberSystem has an unprecedented 8 minute charging time from 0 to 100% battery when its DC-DC CyberTank charging solution is used.  The CyberTank is essentially a massive battery and charger that can be transported to the jobsite in a truck or trailer.  The rapid 8 minute charge time means crews can finally rapidly swap battery throughout the day and stay on top of productivity as much as a gas powered platform.

The team here at ToolBoxBuzz has received several of their OPE tools including the Commercial 60 V 16.5” Line Trimmer, the Commercial 60V 21” Self-Propelled Lawn Mower and the Commercial 60V 16” Chainsaw.  Here in this review we are taking a look at the Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower.

Specifications:

• Voltage: 60V MAX, 54V nominal
• Battery Size: 11Ah, 660Wh
• Max Air Speed: 190.1 mph
• Max Air Volume: 899.9 cfm
• Blowing Force: 35 Nm
• IPX4 waterproof rating
• Noise: 62dB at 49 ft
• Weight: 32.2 lbs (Blower and Battery)

Build Quality

Batteries are heavy and OPE manufacturers have a challenging engineering problem with trying to incorporate enough battery power to compete with gas powered tools but also keep overall weight of a tool down.  Oftentimes thinner materials are used and plastic pieces can feel flimsy and delicate.  With the blower and battery weighing in together at 32 lbs,  Kress clearly decided to take the hit on weight in exchange for quality and durability.  The 60V 35N Backpack Blower has thick and durable components from the frame down to the tip of the metal reinforced blower nozzle.

To compensate for the extra weight, the blower incorporates a very well designed harness.  The traditional shoulder straps are there but the bulk of the weight is supported on the hips thanks to a sturdy and comfortable waist belt.  When the blower harness was adjusted appropriately we found the weight to distributed very well and felt very minimal fatigue on the shoulders.

Easy to Operate Controls

The blower has all its controls located on a joystick style tube mounted control grip.  To activate the tool a power button on the grip below the LCD screen needs to be depressed and the grip mounted variable trigger depressed.  The maximum speed can be controlled at 4 different levels with two large + and – buttons.  The final remaining button is a cruise control button that will lock in the current throttle value until pressed again.

The LCD screen icons are simple and show the current battery charge remaining, Bluetooth connected symbol, Cruise Control Enabled symbol and a standard warning triangle.

Performance

The Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower has its performance rating right in the name.  A value that the company is clearly proud of.  This 35 Newton force rating is an indication of the amount of overall thrust and power the airstream coming out of the nozzle can do.  The peak velocity is rated right at 190 miles per hour and a cubic feet per minute (CFM) volume of 890.  This blower is the strongest electric blower on the market and is only outperformed by the largest and loudest premium gas blowers available.

We were very impressed with the power of the blower, oftentimes running at 50-75% throttle to prevent damage to the lawn and landscape.

Battery Run-Time and Performance

At the heart of the Kress Commercial OPE line is their 8-Minute CyberSystem battery.  We tested the blower with the 11Ah CyberPack KAC810.  This 660 Wh battery weighs in at whopping 17 lbs., 2 lbs. heavier than the blower itself.

Below is a chart of the measured stream velocity of the blower over time.  This test was designed to gain an understanding of the battery performance throughout the drain of the battery.  We performed a similar test in this year’s consumer electric blower head to head.  Its important to not only determine how long the battery will power the tool, but also understand what that performance looks like over the course of the battery discharge.  We found that many battery powered OPE tools saw drastic difference in blower performance when comparing the first 20% to the last 20% before the battery drained completely.   For reference the results can be found here,  Best Handheld Blower 2023

The Kress 60V Backpack Blower was mounted with a pitot tube anemometer placed 125mm from the opening in the center of the blower stream.  Power was set to the highest setting and the data was recorded at a 1Hz sample rate. The blower ran for 13 minutes and 20 seconds before cycling off with a low battery indicator.

The graph shows great performance especially when compared to previous blowers tested.  We measured a very slight dip and rebound roughly two thirds of the way through the discharge.   The last minute of performance measured is  >96% of the first minute.  This shows a fantastic level of consistent performance over the drain of the battery.

Charging

The Kress KAC810 has impressive performance when paired with Backpack Blower.  However, discharge performance is only part of the equation when considering the the validity of an OPE battery platform.  The 8-Minute CyberSystem gets its title from the 0 -100% charging time the battery battery platform experiences when using the CyberTank DC-DC charger.  The CyberTank is essential a very large battery, 5040 Wh or 7200 Wh depending on model, that can quickly charge the the smaller 4.0Ah or 11.0Ah multiple times throughout the day.  The DC-DC charging is extremely efficient and fast as the energy requires no conversion and a large amount of power can be transferred from one battery to another quickly.  The CyberTank gets charged typically overnight from an AC power source that takes 4-6 hours.

Kress also has an AC-DC charging solution with their KAC840 Kress Commercial 30A AC Charger.  We tested this unit along with our battery and blower.  While the AC charger is not as fast as the 8-minute DC-DC charge, the KAC840 is still able to charge the 11Ah CyberPack battery in under 25 minutes and the 4.0Ah battery in 12.0 Minutes.  This is still unbelievably fast compared to other industry leaders.  By comparison the 11Ah Cyber Pack is 660 Wh and the new Milwaukee MX Forge 8.0 Ah Battery is 576 Wh.  The new Milwaukee Supercharger can charge that battery in 45 minutes compared to the Kress at just 25 minutes!

Rapid charging is typically not great for the long term health of a battery.  Despite this, Kress guarantees 3000 life cycles (charge and discharge) on the CyberPack batteries.

Pricing and investment

The Kress 60V Commercial OPE lineup is truly impressive with an unbelievable power system at its core.  The tools and their battery system really impressed the ToolBoxBuzz crew.  The products are intended for lawn-care professionals looking to invest in a longterm battery powered solution. As a result, the cost of the Kress Commercial line, particularly the batteries and chargers is steep. The Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower is currently prices at $499.99.  The KAC810 11 Ah CyberPack battery is $1,399.99 and the KAC840 30A AC Charger is $779.99.  To see the true potential of the 8-Minute charging capability, the 5 kWh CyberTank Portable Power Station can be purchased for $10,499.99.

The full Kress Commercial Lineup and current pricing can all be found here at  https://www.kress.com/en-us/8-minute-cybersystem/

To protect the investment in Kress Commercial system, Kress offers a tiered Warranty system depending on the equipment and use. Most tools see a 2 or 3 year warranty while the batteries have an extensive 6 year or 3000 cycle warranty.

To help determine if this investment is right for you, Kress offers a Return on Investment (ROI) calculator that can be found here. https://www.kress.com/en-us/roi-calculator/

Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

RYOBI 40v Cordless 4 Gallon Backpack Sprayer Kit – Model RY40301VNM

RYOBI 40V Backpack Sprayer

4/5

Manufacturer: RYOBI
Model number: RY40301
Price: $219.00
Power source: 40v
Weight: 13.8 Lbs

Get More Done in Less Time – No Need to Stop and Pump Up The Sprayer – Battery Powered Time Saver!

RYOBI continues to impress the Tool Box Buzz crew with its outdoor power equipment [OPE] lineup. From their 18v products, 40v line of OPE, and recently the 80v Zero-Turn Mower we just reviewed.

Out of the Box | Assembly

There were some assembly steps necessary when the RYOBI backpack sprayer was delivered. The spray wand needed to be put together and the 2.0Ah battery needed to be charged. The trigger handle, which was already connected to the hose, needed to be connected to the spray wand. You are now prepared to begin working after completing these two stages.

RYOBI 40V Backpack Sprayer

The RYOBI 40V Cordless Battery 4 Gal. Backpack Sprayer comes in a kit form (RY40301VNM) or as a bare-tool (RY40301BTL)

RYOBI MFG Specifications

• No pumping required
• Variable pressure dial 
• 4 nozzles
  – Adjustable
  – Flat Fan
  – Shower Head
  – Dual Head
• Translucent tank for easy fluid level reference
• Gravity-fed design – no wasted chemicals
• Comfortable backpack design with padded and adjustable shoulder straps

RY40301VNM Kit Components

• 40V Backpack Sprayer ( RY40301BTL )
• 40V 2.0Ah Battery (OP40204)
• Charger (OP404)
• 4 Nozzles
  – Adjustable
  – Flat Fan
  – Shower Head
  – Dual Head

Backpack Sprayer Tank |Features

Gravity Fed Tank Design

The gravity-fed tank’s design eliminates the problem of wasted fluid. On the right and left sides, fluid is pulled from the lowest position.

Fluid Level Indicators

There are two fluid level indicator scales on the tank. On the left side, there is a Gallon scale from 1-4.

The backpack sprayer also has a metric scale on the right side from 5, 10, and 15L markings. We felt that maybe highlighting the number would be easier on the eyes of the user and weren’t sure where exactly the line indicates the level.

Labor Free Benefits

As we mentioned before, one of the major benefits of cordless sprayers is the ability to avoid any manual hand-pumping.  Having to manually pump to build up the pressure to spray is time consuming, especially if you have a large amount of area to cover.

We find delight in preventing user fatigue while maintaining a good performance throughout your spraying job.

Speed Control Knob

On the lower left side of the cordless backpack sprayer, there is a speed control knob. You may adjust the speed for particular applications with the variable speed knob, which has a range of OFF to maximum PSI. Maximum speed enables 90 PSI of pressure, which quickly releases the substance.

Auto Lock Trigger

The RYOBI RY40301 has a yellow trigger lock switch located on the trigger handle allowing for a constant stream if desired. To activate what we would call “cruise control” pull the trigger lever and flip the yellow switch

To activate what we would call “cruise control” press the trigger lever and flip the yellow switch back. This will lock in the lever. Flip the lever back forward and it releases the lever and you are back to controlling the flow. 

Comfort Backpack Straps

There is a comfortable backpack design with padded and adjustable shoulder straps allowing you to spray around the yard comfortably. The straps have multiple points that you can adjust to achieve the most comfortable position for the user.

There is a middle chest buckle preventing the straps from falling off your shoulders.

Run-Time

RYOBI claims that you can spray 200 gallons per charge on a 2.0Ah battery. During our testing and evaluation, we flowed 50+ gallons of pesticide and herbicide. We also flowed roughly 20+ gallons of water through the tank just cleaning it out in between uses. We did not notice any decrease in power throughout our spraying and the indicator light on the battery was at 2 bars.

Think about the amount of pumping required for 200 one-gallon containers. Additionally, the time saved by using a 4-gallon tank rather than stopping to fill a 1-gallon container.

Overall Impressions

Whether you are a simple DIY homeowner or a professional landscaper, the RYOBI RY40301 Cordless Backpack Sprayer is one of those pieces of equipment that just makes sense to have. If you are on the RYOBI 40v platform then it is definitely worth the purchase. Sold in a kit for $219.00.

As general contractors, we receive requests for a wide variety of tasks. This RYOBI 40v 4-gallon cordless backpack sprayer will allow you to efficiently flow products, such as insecticides on the foundations of houses or herbicides to kill undesired vegetation.

With the RYOBI 40V 4 Gal. Cordless Backpack Sprayer, you can complete the task at hand without ever having to pump anything.

The Ryobi 40V Cordless Backpack Sprayer is a Great Addition To Anyone’s Yard Care Tool Collection

RYOBI 40V 40Gallon Backpack Sprayer Video Review

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RYOBI 40v Cordless 4 Gallon Backpack Sprayer Kit Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz