Cleaning up leaves, grass clippings, and yard debris takes a long time if you have to rake it all by hand. Then again, not everyone appreciates the noise and stink of a gas blower. But there is another way. Let’s take a look at these two electric leaf blower/vacuums from WORX and see which one will be the best solution for you.
WORX WG505 Electric TriVac Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum
As WORX points out, the WG505 weighs about as much as a gallon of milk, but it’s balanced, so it feels easy to control with just one hand.It’s quiet to use, running at just 70dB. You don’t need to wear ear plugs, and you can have a conversation while operating it.
The blower has adjustable air speed from 75 to 210mph. There is a knob mounted on the barrel that controls it. Clean up the flower beds without damaging the plants, and move wet leaves, too. Round up all the debris, then attach the bag and flip the switch to vacuum.
The vacuum is strong, moving up to 350 cubic-feet-per-minute of air. Translation: it sucks up to 14 gallons per minute. It comes with a nylon collection bag that has a shoulder strap that makes it less of a burden to carry while vacuuming. The bag holds just over a bushel, but keep in mind that’s a bushel of mulched material. It’s going to be compact, so the bag gets heavy.(As a reference–a bushel of un-mulched grass weighs 14 pounds.) If the suction goes down too much, empty the bag, because that’s where the air is being drawn into the vacuum.
The mulching happens automatically with the vacuuming. It works at a ratio of 16:1. This means sixteen times more debris fits into just one bag. See what I mean about it getting heavy? (For even more mulching power, see the WG509 below.)
A metal impeller does the mulching. It grinds up what is sucked up by the vacuum before it hits the bag. If there is a jam, just turn off the motor and pop open the blower. No tools are needed. The tube comes off easily, too, for cleaning or storage. The tube is angled, so it goes under cars and porches without the user having to bend over.
More features of the WORX WG505
- WORX offers a 2-year limited warranty
- Weighs 8.6 pounds
- 12Amp electric motor
- Not recommended to use more than 150 feet of extension cord
WORX WG509 Electric TriVac Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum
The main difference between the WG509 here and the WG505 above is that this model is a mulching monster! It works at a ratio of 18:1. Yes, that means it holds the equivalent of 18 bags of debris cut down into little bits in just one bag. It works this miracle with an additional part: a metal shredder blade. The blade first shreds debris, then the impeller behind it mulches it down even tinier.
The WG509 also comes with a nylon collection bag with shoulder strap. It sucks up to 14 gallons a minute, or 350cfm, in vacuum mode. If the suction seems weak, it’s time to empty the collection bag.
Switching back to blower mode is simple—just pop off the collection bag and flip the lever. Control the air speed with a dial on the handle (instead of a knob on the barrel like the WG505). It goes from a “gentle” 75mph up to over hurricane-force wind at 210mph. The angled tube cuts down on having to bend over to clear under porches and cars.
More features of the WORX WG509
- WORX offers a 3-year limited warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
- Weighs 9.3 pounds, heavier than the WG505
- 12Amp electric motor
- Not recommended to use over 150 feet of extension cord
Recommendation
If you are making use of mulch, the WG509 is the one to get. The smaller bits that it produces degrade even faster in compost piles and on the lawn. The offset is that it’s almost a pound heavier than the WG505. That could make a difference if you have a lot of yard to clear.
If you would like to keep your blower/vac lightweight, get the WG505. It’s quiet, simple to use, and it gets the job done.
Click here to purchase WORX WG505 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase WORX WG509 on Amazon!