Price: $167.06
Manufacturer: Flowtron
The Ultimate Mulcher quickly recycles yard and garden waste into nutrient rich mulch, solving the disposal problem. It can reduce leaves, pine neddles, grass clippings and even paper, wet or dry, from 11 bags into only 1. The mulcher is constructed of steel and rugged high-density polythylene for long life and easy maintenance, has a powerful 8.0 amp (at peak) thermally protected universal motor with overload protection, and runs on an ordinary household current. Please note, this mulcher is NOT designed for sticks, twigs or branches. Moderate assembly required. It features: A. Coarse to Fine Shredding Adjustment- special settings for pine needles, thatch, and grass clippings B. Convenient Built-in Storage Compartment- holds replacement cutting lines, gloves, safety glasses, etc. C. Special Tilt Adjustment- rotates 180 degrees for compact storage D. Elastic Bungee Cord- holds leaf-bag firmly in place .
Information
- Amazon Sales Rank: #5531 in Home Improvement
- Brand: Flowtron
- Model: LE-900
- 1-bushel electric leaf shredder; special positions for grass, thatch, pine needles
- 5 amp motor (8 amp max), 21-inch hopper; reduces 11 bags of leaves to 1 bag
- Light, rugged polyethylene funnel and housing; some assembly required
- 36 heavy-duty cutting lines and legs included
- 17 pounds; limited one-year warranty
Product Reviews
Flowtron’s LE-900 Leaf-Eater Mulcher/Shredder quickly recycles yard and garden waste into nutrient-rich mulch that's ready to be disposed of or reprocessed into compost. Powered by regular household current and featuring special positions for leaves (coarse to fine), grass, thatch, and pine needles, this handy tool reduces 11 bags of leaves to just one bag, saving money on expensive trash bags and trash pickup.
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The patented design features double heavy-duty cutting lines for reliable performance. View larger. |
The Leaf-Eater quickly and easily reduces wet or dry yard waste into nutrient-rich mulch that you can use. View larger. |
An easy-to-read, sliding control lever lets you pick the right setting for each task. View larger. |
Just Shred and Spread For a Beautiful YardTransform your yard into a showplace, without all the sweat and strain. With the help of its extra-large, 21-inch-diameter funnel, the Leaf-Eater effortlessly reduces wet or dry yard waste--including rain-soaked leaves and grass clippings--into nutrient-rich mulch or compost that you can reuse right in your flowerbeds or vegetable garden. With this efficient tool, creating a great yard is as simple as shredding and spreading!
Two-Step Process Shreds and Mulches
This system utilizes a two-step process that shreds and then mulches for fast cleanup and maximum waste reduction. Simply feed double handfuls of material into the hopper and watch the Leaf-Eater do all the work.
Patented Design and Powerful Motor Shred Debris Fast
Thanks to its patented design, double heavy-duty cutting lines, and powerful universal motor with circuit breaker and reset button for overload protection, the Leaf-Eater shreds wet or dry leaves, thatch, grass clippings, pine needles, and even paper as fast as you can load them.
Use the elastic bungee cord to hold your leaf bag in place, or place the Leaf-Eater atop your trash container (with a leaf bag inside) for mess-free disposal. Additionally, the Leaf-Eater's adjustable pressure knobs allow positioning of the hopper to any angle for easier loading; the hopper also rotates 180 degrees for compact storage.
Range of Shredding Adjustments for Flexibility
The Leaf-Eater offers the convenience of a range of shredding adjustments from coarse to fine--up to 30:1 particle size-reduction. A sliding control lever that’s easy to read allows you to choose the right setting for the job.
Lightweight Design and Built-In Carrying Handles for Easy Portability
Lightweight at just 17 pounds, the Leaf-Eater features a rugged, high-density polyethylene funnel and housing, as well as steel leg construction for long life and easy maintenance. And for true portability, built-in carrying handles allow this unit to go where you go.
Quick and Easy Assembly Right Out of the Box
Out of the box, the Leaf-Eater is a snap to put together in minutes; you'll only need a #2 Phillips-head screwdriver. Maintenance is equally effortless thanks to the removable motor intake filter--just remove and clean periodically. The Leaf-Eater also features a convenient built-in storage compartment to hold replacement cutting lines, gloves, and safety glasses.
Dimensions and Warranty Information
The LE-900 Leaf-Eater measures 19.5 x 19.5 x 23.0 inches (WxHxD) and comes with legs, 36 heavy-duty cutting lines, and a full, one-year warranty.
About Flowtron
Family-owned since its start in 1920, Armatron International began operations as a manufacturer of automobile radios. After more than 50 years in that field, Armatron became recognized through its Flowtron division as a worldwide leader in outdoor products. Today, Flowtron designs, develops, manufactures, and sells a select line of lawn and garden products that are distributed to major retailers in the US and Canada, as well as to foreign markets all over the world. The company is proud that all of its products are made in the US: in Malden, Massachusetts, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
What’s in the Box
Two funnel halves, one housing assembly, two legs, one hardware package, 36 cutting lines, and owner’s manual.
From the Manufacturer
Mulching or composting leaves, wet or dry, will never be any easier! The versatile design of this thermally protected machine runs on household current. It has a one bushel hopper capacity and it can be adjusted from coarse (8 to 1) to fine (30 to 1) particle size reduction. It can be used on a trash container with a bag inside for easy disposal or free standing on included legs. It flips over inside the legs for compact storage. Reduce the endless job of bagging leaves ... or eliminate it all together by naturally nourishing your lawn and garden. As fast as you can load it, Flowtron's patented Leaf-Eater Plus shreds wet or dry leaves, grass clippings - even pine needles - into nutrient-rich mulch or compost. Portable, flexible unit goes anywhere you need it and fine, medium and coarse output settings suit every application. The Flowtron Leaf-Eater Plus stands alone or can be placed atop a trash barrel for efficient disposal. Runs on ordinary household current. 24 cutting lines included.
Great product if you understand its limitations
This is a leaf shredder - not a mulcher. It is a sting trimmer inverted with a funnel on top. I used this to shred all my fall leaves - works great. My wife would load them and I would give it a bit of a stir with a stick. Shaking the unit back and forth will get small sticks to fall through without killing the strings.
Don't abuse it and it will work great. Forget what its purpose is and you will get grumpy and write negative reviews on Amazon. Leaf mulch went well on our beds, some of our plants didn't even die back - they were nice and toasty warm under their 4 inch blanket of shredded leaves. Just had to play the guessing game of when to remove some of the mulch to let the plants grow. Too soon and the spring frost will get them. Too late and they will end up stringy. I love my shredder. My in-laws will be getting one soon.
Just remember the key words here....."light duty".....!
My Flowtron was delivered very promptly. After reading the reviews and actually glancing briefly at the operation manual, I jumped right in on the assembly. It's not the easiest thingy I've ever put together but it's still not as bad as a bicycle or a swing set. Anyway, I decided to add a few 1/8" pop rivets w/ back-up washers to the funnel where it joins together and this seems to have helped keep it together. The stand did not work for me, I put the whole contraption on top of a large municipal garbage can on wheels and just dump the mulch around the yard. I change the strings after each can full, it only takes a minute and no tools are needed. Don't forget to clean the air filter by beating it up against the nearest downwind tree. The replacement strings ("blades"?) don't have to be purchased from Flowtron, just use any trimmer line with the correct diameter (.080 I think). (HINT: two strands of .040 work just as good as a single strand of .080). Anyway, the unit performs like a champ as long as you don't try to push it too far. I had no problems whatsoever with it. If you overload it by jamming too much at one time down it's throat or putting pine cones or large twings into it, it will surely bust something. Use as much protective equipment as you can jam on your body...I used a top quality respirator (not a cheap paper dust mask), the whole operation is very dusty. I also used ear plugs and gloves. Eye protection is an absolute must, the machine throws out lots of debris.
I really like this little machine, it beats the heck out of expensive clear leaf bags and the resulting mulch is free. My wife did most of the raking and I took care of the dusty, noisy part. I would say go ahead and get one but remember it's limitations and take it slowly until you get the hang of it.
Good electric motor, but flimsy and dangerous
The funnel does not fit properly, simple as that. Motor is strong and chomps leaves, but it tends to get clogged. Your instinct is to clear the mess w/ your hand, bad idead.
I would only recommend this unit for a 1/3 acre lot w/ maple or other soft leaves.
Plastic "blades" are easy to change.
You definitely need ear protection and a good dust mask to operate.
I will use this item cautiously, but in hind site, I would not have bought it. Terrible w/ oak leaves.
Also storage space is a hog for what it does.
