The Artisan V60 60-Volt Max cordless blower comes from a long line of Craftsman tools.

In 1988, my dad gave me the most useful gift ever: a set of Craftsman tools. I still value that set of socket wrenches and screwdrivers (minus a couple of pieces that got consumed by the garage throughout different jobs).

Craftsman brings an iconic name that has meant quality and value since 1927. Up until recently, I ‘d never ever owned a Craftsman power tool. How would the Craftsman name hold up to other power brands in performance? I couldn’t wait to discover.

REQUIREMENTS
Recommended Area: Up to 1/4 acre
Air Velocity: 110 MPH
Volume of Air Moved (CFM): 600
Battery Type: V60 MAX 2.5 AH Lithium-Ion battery (consisted of), compatible with all other Craftsman V60 battery-operated tools
Optimum Charging Temp.: 65– 750 F.
Battery Charger: V60 MAX fast-charge charger (consisted of).
Charging Time: Approximately 75 minutes.
Weight:6 pounds (about 10.2 pounds with battery set up).
Speed Options: 2 speeds (low and high).
Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes on LO speed; 11 minutes on HI speed.
Motor: Brushless.
Extra Features: part of the VersaTrack Organization system (tested in a later review).

BEGINNING.
The tool showed up rapidly and in excellent shape, thanks to the fitted cardboard box holding parts securely in place. Consisted of were the blower, blower tube, battery and battery charger, and guidelines.

Charging the Battery– Do This First.
Charging the 60V battery is an easy operation. Plug the system into the electrical outlet. Then move the battery into place. It will take about 75 minutes to fully charge (less for the very first charge because the battery comes partly charged).

The light will flash green while charging. When the battery reveals a solid green light, it’s fully charged and prepared to go.

The instructions specify that the Lithium-Ion battery ought to be charged in temperature levels ranging from 65-750 F for the very best battery life (to put it simply, charge it inside). And do not charge the battery in temperature levels below 400 F.

For more information about Li-Ion batteries, see our short article covering the regularly asked questions about the Li-Ion batteries utilized in yard and garden tools.

Very Simple Assembly.
As soon as I got the battery charging, I turned to putting together the Craftsman blower. As a rule, I scanned the guidelines. I need not have actually bothered; it’s created like a basic puzzle.

Get rid of the cardboard filler from the motor opening, align the notches on the tube to the blower body, and push till it “clicks.” If you wish to even more secure television, you can add a number of screws to keep the blower tube in place.

Once the battery is completely charged, slide it into place on the blower until you hear it “click.”.

I wish all tools were this basic to set up!

SECURITY.
The Craftsman blower is capable of moving air at 110 MPH.

If you were hit with a 110 mph fast ball, the effect would make your body take off! I’m not stating that the Craftsman blower can be used to release quick balls for batting practice, however just understand that it will move anything in its course at an amazing speed.

So, yes, take precautions when utilizing the blower. Similar to in gun safety, do not point the working end of the blower at anything you do not mean to kill … or injured. Secure your feet with close-toed shoes since they will be in the maelstrom of little rocks kicked up. And use eye protection to keep debris from harming your eyes (such as these stylish security sunglasses from Wiley-X).

Beginning the Blower.
If I handed this blower to a 6-year-old child (which I wouldn’t advise doing), that child would have no problem finding out the basic operation.

The system has two function levers: a trigger for ON/OFF, and a slide for LO/HI. The trigger squeezes easily and naturally by merely picking up the system, and the power mode switch remains in easy reach to alter speeds on the go.

The blower likewise has a “cruise control” function so you don’t need to constantly squeeze the trigger to keep it blowing air.

Running the Blower.
When I went out to put the blower through its speeds, I didn’t discover that the blower didn’t included a shoulder sling. It dawned on me: it doesn’t need one. It weighs a little more than a 2-liter bottle of soda, but it’s much better well balanced and easy to bring.

For contrast, I have actually evaluated 120V blowers that weigh just 9.5 lbs. to as much as 23 pounds! At 5.6 pounds, this is the lightest full-sized blower I’ve ever held in my hands.

However I questioned if that lightweight would jeopardize efficiency. The brief answer: not a bit!

I tested the Craftsman V60 cordless blower on three blowing applications: over pavement, over brush/grass, and over gravel.

Blowing over pavement.
It’s spring in North Carolina, so instead of leaves I have mulch and particles that runs off my mulch piles during rainstorms. I took a quick pass with the Craftsman blower along my driveway and the frontage roadway where I had actually recently used the outstanding Craftsman V60 cordless trimmer.

The outcomes promote themselves.

Blowing over grass/brush.
While pavement provides little friction, it’s far more tough to move leaves over lawn, plants, bushes, and brush.

Since I had no leaves and no grass clippings to blow thanks to the Yard Force self-propelled lawn mower with the bag attached, I headed out in the woods to a patch of pine needles and cones.

While my photographer took a break, I had a go at moving pine needles and other particles from a trail in my woods. Wow. Just reducing the suggestion of the blower towards the ground sent out pine needles, pinecones and sweet gum balls flying.

Blowing over gravel/rocks.
I have decorative gravel around my koi pond. Sadly, I likewise have numerous pine and sweet gum trees hanging above the gravel. So I spend a great deal of time clearing off the gravel so my pond looks less like an abandoned car park.

I have other blowers that I bring out about every 2 weeks to keep up on particles as it falls. But I now have a new favorite. Even my heaviest (and most durable) blower moves only 540 CFMs; the Craftsman moves 600!

Remember I mentioned that the Craftsman moves air at 110 mph? CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute), however, shows how much air a blower blows out in a minute.

I’ve checked blowers that move air at 140mph, a speed I’ve reached just a number of times in a car. That’s incredibly fast. However that very same unit moves just 540 CFMs. Speed is important, however speed alone does not mean piece de resistance. Take a look at the CFMs, the other part of the story that tells you how much air volume the blower is pressing.

The essential concern is, “How did it work over gravel?”.

Magic. Seriously. Using a system with more mph and less CFMs, the particles tended to stay stuck in the crags of the rocks. However the Craftsman moved enough air to displace the debris and tidy the gravel surface area WITHOUT REMOVING THE GRAVEL!