BLACK+DECKER40V MAX* Cordless Hard-Surface Sweeper with POWERCOMMAND (LSW36)

I bought this sweeper as part of upgrading all my yard tools from 18V to the 36V system.The sweeping function of this unit is really about the same as the 18V unit, as far as strength/utility. The upside though, is that the 36V lithium ion system runs the same whether the battery is full or 3/4 empty, unlike the old ni-cad system, and lasts about twice as long. That's the real shiney part of this sweeper over the 18V sweeper, the packs aren't much larger/heavier, but they have a LOT of power reserve.The vacuum function works as advertised, I was able to remove the intake, swap on the tubes, and vacuum up my garage without blowing debris everywhere. The impeller withstood small metal screws and such without failing, and it mulches up leaves and such, and has a zippered bag for dumping out later. The big tube for the vacuum locks into the intake without any additional support, so feels a bit flimsy, but worked fine.This sweeper, like the old one, is a bit short for a tall guy... there's not a lot of power, so you want the intake close to the ground, and it's obviously modeled for someone shorter than 6'0".There's a minor design flaw versus the older unit, the intake is now on the side (to better support the vacuum function), and because it's on the side, it'll suck in any looser clothing, such as the t-shirt and cargo shorts I usually wear, and block the intake. It's on the left too, so unless you're holding it in the left hand, you gotta watch out for it.Overall, very happy with the sweeper, mostly because of the increased power reserve, and of course the 36V system works fantastic for the string-trimmer & hedge-trimmer tools, which I'll review later on.

After I ordered it, I began using it and within a few minutes it stopped and would not go again. I reported it and they replaced it. Now after not using it during the winter, I started using it again. For a couple of battery charges it was fine. Then yesterday I tried and could not get it to go. The unit is almost like new. I've tried disassembling and re assembling as instructed, but to no avail. I VERY disappointed as I like the unit and would use it often. The battery is fully charged but it still won't start.

I bought this because I already had a string trimmer that used the same battery. I figured it was worth a shot. The sweeper is fairly light and easy to maneuver. I bought it more for the vacuum mode, which works well. It's not as powerful a vacuum as others on the market, but it does well enough on hard surfaces. The blowing mode is ok. I think I'd like it to have a little more force, especially to blow leaves on grass, but it's definitely got enough power to be useful. This does use the battery in about 2 hours, so be sure to charge the battery before using. Also, I'd say this is best for a smallish yard, and works better when the leaves are dry.

Great vacuum and blower combo. Great for paver driveways or patios

Its okay for light work. For fairness, I replaced a 210mph gas powers (2-stroke) blower with this 120mph electric. I bought this one b/c I had the B&D weed eater and hedge trimmer (both are awesome!). Expected the same out of this but had some reservations after reading the reviews about how under powered it is. Those reviews are true. It works okay. Would I order it again? I don't know, maybe. While it has less power than I'm use to, it does do a decent job. After cutting/trimming, it does blow off the debris easily. I love the convenience of having a battery powered, quiet, and lightweight blower. I also like that starting/stopping is super easy (when I pause when blowing to move chairs, grill, etc). The battery last for awhile (I'd guess 30+ minutes...I haven't run it completely out yet). I have one battery. Yesterday I trimmer for 20 minutes or so then put the battery back on the charger with 1 bar remaining, mowed for 30 min, then grabbed the battery off the charger (same battery), and blew for 20-25 minutes. I'd probably get the blower again but I wish B&D had a stronger blower.

My neighbor has a large Eucalyptus tree that drops leaves on my patio year-round. Worst of all, all Eucalyptus trees in this part of Southern California are infected with psyllids, a pest that causes constant leaf drop and the leaves are covered in a sticky substance that turns each one into two-sided tape. I'm in my late seventies and don't have the stamina to keep my patio constantly leaf-free. I upgraded from a standard B&D battery-powered blower to this combo. Assembly was easy and in less than an hour it cleaned up a week's worth of debris. The blower is strong enough to move even the stickiest of leaves and the vacuum quickly mulches and deposits them into a bag that can be emptied into the green trash barrel. I do find it heavy at my age, but I can still devote a good hour to my daily cleaning regimen. Initially, I thought the bag might be on the small side and would require frequent emptying; thus far, that has not been the case and I have been able to clear significant piles of leaves and debris. I use the same 40V battery that came with my B&D trimmer (another back saver) and have consistently used it for 1 hour before it starts to wane. Bottom line: performed beyond my expectations and is an excellent value.