There are four red indicator lights on the battery – not the charger – to indicate the state of charge. The fan on the DC18RC charger makes a low hum and battery charge took one and a half hours. We managed 14 minutes run-time on low speed. For more time you can invest in bigger-capacity batteries – although, if you have yourself a collection of Makita tools, then you can just swap out the battery as you go, too. Lightweight, easy to use cordless leaf blower from Makita has been designed with the end user in mind. Featuring a long nozzle with a curved flat end and ergonomic rubberised soft grip handle which perfectly fits into your hand. This leaf blower has 3 speed settings; high, medium and low which is easy to set depending on the debris which needs to be moved from one area to another. Mulching blades - Metal blades are tougher than plastic, as well as more durable, so are the preferable choice.

Makita DUB183Z Review | Trusted Reviews Makita DUB183Z Review | Trusted Reviews

Performance: Focussed on the power and air flow control, plus run and charge time (where applicable). Equipped with Battery protection circuit - designed to protect the battery from damages due to overdischarge, high temperature or overload current Equipped with Battery protection circuit: designed to protect the battery from damages due to overdischarge, high temperature or overload currentThe air volume is far less than the other blowers in the trial and really shows in the Makita 183Z’s ability to shift leaves. On full power, the blower easily lifted damp leaves over a 4-inch kerb on my drive, but it took a slow five minutes to clear them off 40 square metres of grass. As a result of the low volume of air, it takes longer for the Makita DUB183Z to do its work, but it’s still quite a powerful compact machine. Why buy the Makita DUB183Z? When you switch on the leaf blower the sound resembles a hairdryer, and even on the top setting it only reaches “crazy hairdryer” in volume. This helps if you don’t want to annoy close neighbours. The controls couldn’t be simpler, and this is one of the nicest things about the machine. It’s also very light, compact and well-balanced, and when held in the hand the curved nozzle is almost horizontal to the ground, so it’s at the perfect angle for wafting leaves along.

MAKITA DUB186Z 18V Cordless Leaf Blower review

And leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums aren't just for autumn, they come into their own at other times of the year too, making light work of tidying up after pruning or lifting unsightly debris that gathers on paths and in corners.Whatever the season, stay safe and wear protective glasses and ear defenders while using them. The Makita DUB186 18v LXT cordless leaf blower follows on from the popular DUB183 model, but provides approximately 20% more power from the same form. The DUB186's long leaf blower nozzle makes it ideal for clearing gardens and pathways. It has 3 air volume settings, and a variable speed that can be changed at the push of a button. With a maximum air velocity of 244.87km/h and a maximum air volume of 3.2m³/min, this blower is a powerful tool to keep your garden and pathways looking clean and clear. Plus, it's lightweight - weighing only 2.1kg with a battery, it's easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to carry. When powered with a BL1850B 5.0Ah battery, the blower will last for a runtime of 2 hours.Variable speed controls - air speed, measured by metres per second or kilometers per hour), and airflow (measured by cubic meters per hour). Dry leaves are light and easy to shift, but wet, compacted leaves and other debris will need more power. Variable speed control is a useful feature as it allows you to change the speed and power depending on where you’re working – you’ll want to be gentle around plants whereas more oomph will help on lawns. The Makita DUB185 features variable speed control by trigger and 3 air volume settings: Low, Medium, High. Ideal for removing leaves, dirt and sawdust. The air speed can be individually adjusted in three stages. An air flow of 98 m/s is generated. The air volume is 192 m 3 /h. Can also be converted into a vacuum with an optional dust bag. Nozzle size – in general, the narrower the better, as the air flow is more concentrated, giving more control when it comes to corralling the leaves into a pile. Collection bag - While not essential, a waterproof collection bag makes things a lot more comfortable if you’re working in wet weather, as it prevents moisture from soggy leaves dripping through the bag and onto your legs.

Makita DUB186Z 18V Li-Ion LXT Cordless Blower - Screwfix

Ease of use: Looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, any storage features and, where relevant, the battery charge time. On the lowest setting, the Makita DUB183Z can barely move a piece of tissue paper over a floor, so this would make it ideal for blowing light dust across a workshop floor. Its variable-speed trigger means it’s useful for any tasks requiring steady, gentle power, such as clearing grass clippings off a path. Designed to run with very little noise pollution and 0 harmful emissions to make working around this machine more comfortable and making it more neighbor friendly. To start, simply push the button and use the trigger to control the speed of air.