Briggs & Stratton 3300 PSI Pressure Washer Review
Many of the tools we review at PTR end up being tested and used on inner city work projects. This is because several of the writers are involved in Parker Street Ministries, a downtown non-profit organization focused on neighborhood revitalization and restoration. We also just enjoy being able to give back to the community. When […]
Briggs & Stratton Amplifi Hose Powering System Review
Briggs & Stratton is a name I’ve often associated with high-power, reliable outdoor tools, but their new Amplifi Hose Powering System is a nice hybrid product that is useful for all manner of tasks. The electric pump is hidden within the base of the attractive hose container and turns your household garden hose into a […]
Craftsman Long Handle Digging Shovels
Craftsman’s new Long Handle and the matching D-Handle Digging Shovels are made in the USA. The new shovels, branded by Craftsman (and available at Sears and Kmart), feature Powerstep plates which give you tons of room and lots of leverage for using your boots to really dig in deep, even in compacted soil. The round point blade also feature a nice serrated edge for when you want to rock it back and forth to really saw through tough material.
ECHO PB-770T Backpack Blower Review
I’ve used several blowers in the past, each with its strengths and weaknesses. You start to really form opinions and get predisposed to liking one format over another. In my job, its important to put my personal preferences aside and look to what the product manager and designers intended. With the ECHO PB-770T Backpack Blower, this is a tool that the company intended to perform well as a portable blower with extended run-time and the ability to power a small aircraft or sailboat… near as we can tell, mind you. ECHO’s PC-770T Backpack Blower is so powerful you will never have to worry about bending down to dislodge something that’s sticking a bit, or getting enough air power to handle damp or wet grass. If it’s in the way, it’s going to move. If you tend to use small, compact hand held blowers – stop reading now… you will be forever ruined into spending more money for the real deal.
ECHO PE-280 Edger Review
Lawn care is of utmost importance in my neighborhood – at least it is if you want to avoid the nasty stares and angry looks of neighbors tired of wild grass and haphazard edging. Professionals know this – and so do consumers. Echo’s PE-280 Perfect Edge Edger seems to go mostly after the former group, with its 28.1cc engine and pro features that take edging a step beyond the products designed solely for the casual homeowner. What the PE-280 does is provide plenty of power in a lightweight package – and then gives you the features you need, and nothing you don’t. It’s a pro-level product for sure, but with a 5-year consumer warranty, serious lawn-nazi’s are going to have a hard time passing it up.
ECHO HC-165 24" Hedge Trimmer Review
ECHO is known for its excellent outdoor equipment that caters to both professionals and consumers. Now, the new HC-165 gas-powered Hedge Trimmer proves itself to be a pro-quality product with features that are the perfect blend of convenient and unobtrusive. With a 5-position rotating handle, the HC-165 Hedge Trimmer is one of the most ergonomic trimmers we’ve used. That translates into more cutting, with less time adjusting your position to angle the blade. Want to make a left-handed vertical cut? No problem. We also found that the blades were quite sharp – and stayed that way. And the i-30 starter cranked the trimmer up after just a few pulls. The HC-165 is also quite portable and easy to carry – plus, it stores over 16 oz of fuel so you spend more time cutting and less re-filling the tank.
Echo CS-400 Chainsaw Review
Reviewing a chainsaw can be a little tricky because we have found that people treat chainsaws and their brands like they do their vehicles. Ford hates Chevy, Dodge is better than Toyota… you get the idea. When we agreed to review the ECHO CS-400 18″ Chainsaw it was with the knowledge that we were going to put it into the hands of some guys who had years and years of professional tree trimming under their belts. The trouble was, they both used a competing brand. With a predisposition towards bias – because that’s just how we operate as humans – I submitted my product to them for use and tagged along to try it out alongside them, hoping to provide any necessary “balance” to their biased opinions. Turned out I got worked up over nothing… and they were downright surprised at how well the ECHO performed. One of them was quoted as saying: “this is the best chainsaw I’ve ever used that wasn’t touting itself as a pro-only model”. Not bad… not bad at all.
Recharge 36V Cordless Riding Lawnmower Preview
The G1-RM10 Recharge Mower has been under development for over 3 years. The 36V battery-powered riding lawn mower delivers up to three hours of continuous cutting and driving – and all this without gas, oil, or emissions. What’s really impressive is that the mower sports a fairly compact size, easy maneuverability, adjustable cutting height, and a large (3 bushel) grass catcher. The Recharge Mower seems perfectly suited for just about every lawn. On top of that, it’s actually pretty ergonomic, so it’s also great for those who may have physical disabilities (it has an easy-access seat). Now the people behind the Recharge Mower wee going for the “truly” green mower. The Recharge uses three eco-friendly electric motors and, of course, it emits absolutely no carbon emissions.