reviewer
DrWho
CA

Sturdy Beast

4 star rating


FEB
13
2009
Before I bought this model I bought a Craftsman push-sweeper, hand-operated and I think 26 inches wide. It worked really, really well. Picked up wet pine needles, quite substantial twigs, big old pine cones, other leaves. The only thing it struggled with was little Eucalyptus seed pods, which are a similar size to acorns. That hand model was great, but too much work for a 2 acre lot. So I bought this big boy. It's basic operation is similar to the hand model, except you tow it, and it's much easier to empty. The construction is much sturdier, heavier, which is ok because you don't have to work it by hand. Going back to the hand model, I think it worked so well because you could subtly adjust the height as you pushed it along, sensing when the bristles were too high or low and adjusting on the fly. With the tractor model you have to make adjustments entirely in advance, and I'm not good or patient enough to get it working quite as well. Another relative disadvantage is that the wide track doesn't work too well on a changing slope. The middle section can come right off the ground or hit down too hard. Those objections aside, it works pretty well. It would be hard to get the same fine finish as with the hand model, but you'll get the bulk of a heavy layer up with relative ease. It may take several passes instead of one or two, but those passes will be so much easier. I still can't figure out a way to get those eucalyptus pods up. Maybe I need a blower/vac. In conclusion, I think the hand push model would be better (and cheaper and more environmentally friendly) for a small lawn, maybe up to half an acre. This tow model is good for a bigger lawn, but if you're a neat freak you will need some other tool for odd corners and leftovers. Now, why did no-one tell me when I bought 2 acres that it was going to be so "special"!?



I_thumb_up Craftsman 42 in. High Speed Sweeper is recommended by DrWho

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about DrWho’s Review

 


5 star rating
"Much better than expected."
More Craftsman 42 in. High Speed Sweeper reviews
Buy it on Sears.com for $299.99
1 star rating
"Avoid this sweeper!"


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