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How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

theatlantic.com

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Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#181

Post by quantum_magpie »

ars wrote: post #52
HarryHirsch wrote: post #8

What is wrong with using a rake to pick up leaves? Leafblowers are loud, dirty, they raise huge clouds of dust, they stink of gasoline, and at the end of the day, blowing leaves into a pile isn't even faster than raking them together. Using a leafblower is a sign of entitled loutishness.

A rake only works on grass. But if you have taller bushes and other types of plants it's pretty much impossible with anything else except a leafblower. Also, good luck raking on the side a small, but steep, hill - you can't even stand on the hill without lots of pain and damaging the surface. But you can use a leafblower from the top. i.e. just because you have a limited experience in the world, doesn't mean others d…

You can rake from the bottom then, downhill. The reach of a rake, foot-to-rake is ~4 meters, that's as far as a leafblower goes too.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#182

Post by spankalee »

snarfy wrote: post #176
Pfhreak wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you're lucky they still make the battery, but it costs as much a whole new tool. Aren't most companies working on a standardized battery (at least within their brand) so you can swap batteries between your drill, blower, trimmer, etc? It would seem that if that's the case, changing battery form factors would be a real bad idea.

(within their brand) That's the kicker. I have DeWalt, Makita, and Rigid brand electric tools. They all have different, incompatible (yet same voltage/amp) batteries and chargers, each costing as much as the tool. At least gas goes in any gas tool. I'd rather they be regulations on the amount of pollution (both air and noise) allowed.

I'm fine with regulation as long as zero is the amount of CO2 pollution allowed. We need to be in crisis mode now.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#183

Post by paleogizmo »

myself248 wrote: post #30
Datenstrom wrote: post #13

A few weeks ago I saw someone leaf blowing snow on the sidewalk in Alexandria, or at least trying to. One of the most absurd things I've ever seen.

I've done it. When we get a dusting of light powder and the pavement isn't warm enough to melt the base layer, it's totally fair game for blowing. As long as I'm using a warm battery that's been in the house, the blower makes quick work of it.

In this case a stiff-bristled 24" push broom works quite well and is cheap, easy and quiet if your driveway isn't too long.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#184

Post by cheesymuffin »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #21
HarryHirsch wrote: post #8

What is wrong with using a rake to pick up leaves? Leafblowers are loud, dirty, they raise huge clouds of dust, they stink of gasoline, and at the end of the day, blowing leaves into a pile isn't even faster than raking them together. Using a leafblower is a sign of entitled loutishness.

> Using a leafblower is a sign of entitled loutishness. You were fine up until here. Insulting people for wanting to use an easier option isn't a great look.

Alright, we'll fight the leaf blowers, and you'll fight people making us feel bad on the internet. Planeteers, let our powers combine!

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#185

Post by perilunar »

ben-schaaf wrote: post #177
perilunar wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Making cells removable isn’t economic I disagree. Until relatively recently all battery powered devices had removable batteries, which is why we have standard battery sizes in the first place. Welded and sealed proprietary battery packs are a backward step.

The keyword here is "cell", not pack. I have never seen individual cells being removable. Imagine the increased complexity/cost and decreased reliability if each of the 6 cells in a standard car batter was individually replaceable.

> I have never seen individual cells being removable

Sure you have. Any device with removable single-cell 'batteries' has removable cells.

> Imagine the increased complexity/cost and decreased reliability if each of the 6 cells in a standard car batter was individually replaceable.

Car batteries are already removable and replaceable, and come in standard sizes, which is precisely the point.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#186

Post by nate_meurer »

sjwright wrote: post #169
nate_meurer wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. My Ego battery-powered leaf blower is one of my favorite tools. I use it to clean all around the outside of my house, especially the porches. In just a few minutes it will scour the dirt and cobwebs from every nook and crack, and it blows the dirt right out the thin outdoor carpet that covers my porch. It will clean my outdoor shelves of dust and grime, as long as I stand back far enough so that it doesn't ta…

Best part about electric blowers is you can use them inside safely. I love using my ego leaf blower for spring cleaning the wardrobes, and it’s a brilliant way to shift all the mess and crud from under your car seats. Love my Ego tools. Bought the mower because I wanted to be able to stow it vertically for space.

Yes! This is my favorite way to dust. On a windy day I'll open some windows to allow a cross-breeze, and then blast my shit with the blower. I have to mind my distance, and be careful to secure lighter objects. It makes quick work of floors, under furniture if there's at least a little space, and my shelves full of bins.

You and I are now friends.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#187

Post by giardini »

burfog wrote: post #135
jakobegger wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would make them too heavy. Two stroke engines have a great power to weight ratio, which is pretty much the only reason that they are used.

It's fine. Even my weed trimmer is 4-stroke. Aircraft engines, which really need to have a great power to weight ratio, are normally 4-stroke. For small things, the only place that seems to justify 2-stroke is a chainsaw. This is partly because weight matters much more, and partly because a chainsaw is held at many different angles. Oil flow in a 4-stroke engine is difficult when you can't rely on gravity going in an…

That's a great idea! Now if you'll just design an inexpensive turbine that won't fly apart catastrophically at 10,000-50,000 rpm, twist your hand off due to gyroscopic forces, and is easy-to-start w/o first spinning up to 5,000 rpm, we're set to go!

Best bet: electric corded (120 Volts AC) leaf blowers: cheap, powerful, reliable, light and easy to maintain. No danger of battery fire/explosion due to abuse/age.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#188

Post by lurquer »

fiblye wrote: post #151
lurquer wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Billions of people are picking up leaves? The total area of ‘yards’ where leaves are picked up is so utterly insignificant that I wonder if you have ever been outside. In any case, the article is about D.C. and, regrettably, there will never be a shortage of worms in the capitol.

Have you ever looked at any sort of public grounds? Because your home isn’t the only place on earth with leaves and I don’t know where you got the idea. Public parks, office perimeters, college campuses, busy roadsides, and yes, home lawns are all locations where people gather up leaves to burn them or send them off to the garbage. These are spaces in which billions of people spend all day and expect to be “cleaned”…

You clearly live in an urban area. You can see them on maps represented as little dots. Sometimes little blobs. All the other 'empty' parts of the map? Well, this may come as a surprise, but it consists of millions of acres of forests, trees, and wilderness.

You could nuke every city in America and the 'worm' population wouldn't even notice.

It's amusingly myopic to worry about the leaves in an urban area where, most likely, all the trees have been cut down and replaced with buildings and asphalt. Real honestly, nobody cares what the soil is like in an urban/suburban area as (a) the 'soil' was most likely carted in from somewhere else to begin with and (b) the plants and trees one finds in a suburban/urban area aren't native anyway.

I really don't care about the leaves or lack thereof on your 'college campus.' But, I find it astounding that, very often on HN, there is this absolute lack of awareness of how BIG this country and is. Some posts come across as if the author's only interaction with the 'real world' is watching BBC nature documentaries and picnicking in the 'public park.' No offense intended.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#189

Post by grecy »

crushcrashcrush wrote: post #99
cma wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe they could have required them to have catalytic converters.

Get too hot for use on a device like a leaf blower. Also would add non-negligible costs.

> Also would add non-negligible costs.

Well, yes. Doing things that are good for the environment and our health is going to cost more money than not doing those things.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#190

Post by simcop2387 »

giardini wrote: post #187
burfog wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's fine. Even my weed trimmer is 4-stroke. Aircraft engines, which really need to have a great power to weight ratio, are normally 4-stroke. For small things, the only place that seems to justify 2-stroke is a chainsaw. This is partly because weight matters much more, and partly because a chainsaw is held at many different angles. Oil flow in a 4-stroke engine is difficult when you can't rely on gravity going in an…

That's a great idea! Now if you'll just design an inexpensive turbine that won't fly apart catastrophically at 10,000-50,000 rpm, twist your hand off due to gyroscopic forces, and is easy-to-start w/o first spinning up to 5,000 rpm, we're set to go! Best bet: electric corded (120 Volts AC) leaf blowers: cheap, powerful, reliable, light and easy to maintain. No danger of battery fire/explosion due to abuse/age.

The startup issue might be mostly solved these days with cheap lithium batteries and brushless dc motors. That said you still have the turbine issue and the fact that it'll be much much louder.
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