WORX WG520 Turbine 600 Review – Turbine Leaf Blowers

WORX WG520 Turbine 600 (corded electric) is just right for the majority of homeowners. Designed to be affordable yet powerful and lightweight, making it easy to easy around the yard. WORX is a company who consistently manufacturers innovative products that consumers can afford.

In this article we review the WORX WG520 Turbine as well as other leaf blowers that we feel are worth your money. Nobody enjoys getting rid of leaves but its inevitable just like the seasons come and go that the leaves on the trees will eventually fall and somebody has to deal with them. Yes, you could always hire someone to do it for you but most people take care of clearing leaves themselves. This article for you, not the rich folks who can afford to get other people to do their dirty work. We should all be so lucky.

WORX WG520 Turbine

No one can dispute that a leaf blower is a fantastic thing to own. We call them leaf blowers but actually, they’re so much more than just that. A leaf blower has 101 uses. Not only are they the best tool to clean up leaves and debris from the yard, but fulfill so many other purposes. Cleaning out the garage or workshop is made much easier with a leaf blower.

In fact, there are many areas around the home where cleaning tasks are made much easier with a leaf blower. They’re also great for cleaning air filters, like those on your vacuum cleaner, air conditioner, and even your car or lawn mower. Want to dry the car quickly after washing it without leaving any streaks? What better way than to blast it with a high-powered leaf blower – effortlessly and efficiently. If you spend time thinking about it, you’ll easily find many other uses for a leaf blower.

VIDEO | See it in Action!  WORX WG520 Turbine 600

Gas-powered leaf blowers are preferred by landscapers and city parks officials who have to clean up large areas with maximum efficiency. For most homeowners, a gas leaf blower is more trouble than it’s worth. Not only are gas leaf blowers much more expensive than electric models, they’re also much heavier and cumbersome to use. You also have the hassle of using gas and oil. Then there’s the noise and fumes to contend with and you need to put some elbow grease into getting them started.

An electric leaf blower starts at the touch of a button, is relatively quiet and really easy to use. You don’t have any unpleasant, toxic emissions and your neighbors won’t be banging down your door to complain about the noise. An electric leaf blower also doesn’t require any maintenance. So, an electric leaf blower cuts out all the fuss and expense that comes with using a gas machine.

A corded electric leaf blower is going to be your most cost effective option. So, the focus of this review is going to be mainly on the Worx WG520 Turbine 600 leaf blower. It’s a wonderfully powerful machine with outstanding efficiency. Best of all, it comes at an incredible price. For around fifty bucks, the Worx WG520 must be the best value for money leaf blower on the market. Not only is it one of the cheapest, but the Worx WG520 is backed by a well-respected brand. For power, ease of use, durability, and affordability, this leaf blower is a winner on every level.

VIDEO | WORX WG520 Turbine | How the technology works

The only drawback to the Worx WG520 is the electric cord. You’re obviously limited to where you can work with it, in that an extension cord can only reach so far. An electric cord can sometimes be a hassle when working in between trees and shrubs, it can become entangled if you’re not too careful. For those of you who find the electric cord to be a problem, we’re also going to include a couple of battery-powered Worx leaf blowers.

For the convenience of the battery, you are going to be paying quite a bit extra. You’re also limited when it comes to working time with a battery – at full power, many battery leaf blowers only give you about 15-minutes before you need to recharge the battery. Though, this problem is easily overcome by acquiring an extra battery or two. Of course, this going to mean paying even more, but that’s the price of cordless versatility.

For many people, the Worx WG520 will make perfect sense. For its price, you’re getting a fantastic piece of machinery. I’d say regardless of its very attractive price tag, the Worx WG520 is a remarkable machine. If your yard isn’t that big that you find the electric cord to be a problem, there’s absolutely no reason why the Worx WG520 shouldn’t be your first choice. Let’s take a look at why I say this.

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WORX WG520 Turbine 600

12 Amp Corded electric, Leaf Blower — 110 MPH / 600 CFM. Weight : 6.4 lbs.

Features:

• TURBINE fan technology delivers forceful, high-capacity air volume
• Up to twice as fast as professional gas blowers
• Variable speed control to quickly clean up your outdoor spaces
• Dynamic airflow design for maximum performance
• Features a Hyper-Stream air nozzle for extra tough conditions
• Cord retainer for hassle-free leaf blowing
• TURBINE fan technology delivers forceful, high-capacity air volume that is up to twice as fast as professional gas blowers
• Dynamic airflow design and Hyper-Stream nozzle for maximum performance, variable speed control to adapt to your outdoor cleaning challenges
• Very lightweight at 6.4 lbs. to easily control with one hand without getting fatigued
• Power cord retainer for hassle-free leaf blowing
• Includes manufacturer’s 3-year warranty

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Worx Turbine WG520.

Overview | Worx Turbine WG520

The inclusion of the word turbine in the name of this leaf blower shouldn’t be overlooked. The turbine design of its fan is a big reason why the Worx WG520 is one of the best electric leaf blowers. This technology has its origins in the design of a jet engine. By utilizing the best airflow technology known, the Worx WG520 Turbine is super-efficient. This means you’re getting the most from the, already powerful, 12A electric motor.

This combination of a powerful and efficient motor combined with a highly effective turbine fan gives you an airspeed of 110 MPH and an astounding volume of 600 CFM. There are some gas-powered leaf blowers that can’t even boast about this kind of performance and this is from an electric leaf blower that weighs only 6.4 LBS.

VIDEO | See how it compares to competitive Leaf Blowers

Not only is the Worx WG520 light enough to hold easily in one hand, but its ergonomic design and slim dimensions (9.6” X 11” X 40”) make it an extremely easy and comfortable tool to use. It has a superb handle design and, being electric, has very little vibration. You can clean for hours with the Worx WG520 and feel absolutely no strain on your hands, arms, or shoulders. To make it easier to work with an electric cord trailing behind you, they’ve included a cord retainer that will prevent it from becoming unplugged or damage the cord when you have to give it a pull.

Controlling all that power is made easy with a variable power control. It’s really easy to pull back on the power when working in a confined space. Then, when you require extra power, perhaps to remove stubborn dirt, you can use the Hyper-Stream nozzle to concentrate the power to a small area, giving it a super-boost of power. I like that the power control doesn’t use a trigger, but rather a knob that you can roll back and forth with your thumb. Machines that use a trigger switch require that you have to hold the trigger continuously whilst working. When you’re using the machine for long periods, your trigger finger starts to cramp up, so you have to release the trigger and stop working for a while to give your finger a break.

Having been thoroughly impressed with every aspect of the Worx WG520, I set out to find out what the view is among the thousands of customers that have bought the machine. The verdict has come back and, I have to say, the Worx WG520 is an outright winner. There isn’t really anything bad to say about this leaf blower. The most common praise that has been showered upon the Worx WG520 is its incredible power, very compact size and low weight. What more do you want from a leaf blower?

You might be thinking, what kind of quality are you getting at such a low price? The touch and feel of the product display a good deal of quality in both materials and workmanship. When it comes to brand reputation, Worx is known for their commitment to building high-quality garden tools at a very affordable price. Their 3-year warranty with very reasonable limitations is a clear indication that the guys at Worx are serious about the reputation they’ve earned. With its only limitation being an electric cord, the Worx WG520 Turbine 600 can easily be considered the best electric leaf blower, even when compared to machines that cost twice as much.

For more information on the Worx Turbine 600 WG520 read the original press release.

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WORX Turbine WG591

56V Battery-powered cordless blower — 125 MPH / 465 CFM. Weight : 8.1 lbs.

Features:

• TURBINE fan technology delivers forceful, high-capacity air volume, Hyper-Stream air nozzle handles extra tough conditions
• Weighs 8.1 lbs., the ergonomic design ensures optimal weight distribution to save on fatigue for those larger tasks
• Variable speed control with TURBO boost
• Can be used with one hand.
• Key-hole shaped cutout on tool lets you hang it on your existing hooks, bolts, or nails
• Powerful 56V MaxLithium battery provides cordless convenience to quickly clean up your outdoor spaces such as decks or patios
• Efficient Brushless Motor for long lasting power
• Multi-speed fan control with TURBO boost
• Features a Hyper-Stream air nozzle for extra tough conditions
• Powerful 56V MaxLithium battery provides cordless convenience to quickly clean up your outdoor spaces such as decks or patios

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the WORX WG591.

Like the Worx WG520, the Turbine WG591 also makes use of their innovative turbine technology, giving you superior performance. Unlike the Worx WG520, this one is not a corded electric model, instead, it uses a 56V lithium-ion battery.

A battery-powered leaf blower won’t usually deliver the same power as corded electric version and this one is no different. While the airspeed is marginally higher than the Worx WG520, the battery-powered WG591 has an airspeed of 125 MPH, the air volume is substantially lower at 465 CFM. So the volume doesn’t fare too well when compared the 12A Worx Turbine WG520 but, when compared to similar battery-powered leaf blowers, this figure is pretty impressive.

VIDEO | See it in Action! — WORX WG591 56V Turbine

While has the same sleek ergonomic design as the Worx WG520, the WG591 is heavier at 8.1 LBS. This another, unavoidable, drawback of using a battery. You’re carrying the extra weight of the battery. Though this is not, by any means, a heavy piece of machinery and I don’t think anyone will have a problem using it – even for extended periods of time.

The 2AH 56V battery should give you anything from 15-minutes to half an hour of working time and it takes 90-minutes to recharge the battery. The amount of time you get from the battery depends, very much, on how you use the leaf blower. It has a very efficient brushless motor that maximizes the time that you get from a battery charge and the variable control with turbo-boost gives you perfect control over the power. Like the Worx WG520, this model also has the easy to use thumb operated power control dial which, in my opinion, is way better than a trigger switch. The turbo boost means that you only use the highest power output for short periods (when you really need it), thereby improving the battery time.

No fumes, no cord, and lightweight. An easy way to keep your yard clean.

The Worx WG591 also has the narrow nozzle attachment, that allows you to concentrate the air when dealing with particularly stubborn dirt. It looks the same as the Worx WG520, with the exception of the battery that attaches to the back of the handle. So it’s of the same great quality and just easy to handle – the position of the battery (behind your hand) means that you’ll hardly notice the extra weight of the battery-powered machine.

You also get the same 3-year warranty as you get with the Worx WG520. It’s an outstanding battery powered leaf blower and the 56V battery is used in quite a few other Worx garden tools so you can use the same battery for all your battery-powered garden tools if go for the same range.

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WORX Turbine WG546

20V Cordless electric, Blower/Sweeper  — 90 mph / 340 CFM. Weight : 5.7 lbs.

Features:

• TURBINE fan technology delivers forceful, high-capacity air volume
• 2-Speed control for versatility to switch between lighter & tougher jobs
• Features a Hyper-Stream air nozzle for extra tough conditions
• Powerful 20V MaxLithium battery provides cordless convenience to quickly clean up your outdoor spaces such as decks or patios
• High capacity air volume with turbine fan technology (340 CFM)
• Lightweight and ergonomic one-hand operation
• Simple tool free assembly. Please refer the User Manual before use.

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Worx Turbine WG546.

Overview

The Worx Turbine WG546 is a very affordable battery leaf blower. If you consider the extra cost of the battery and charger, it isn’t that much more expensive than the Worx WG520.

It is, however, not nearly as powerful as either of two Worx leaf blowers that we’ve already looked. Though, for a small 20V leaf blower, it isn’t all that bad. You’re looking at a maximum airspeed of 90 MPH with a volume of 340 CFM. It’s more compact than the two larger models, measuring 9.5” X 11” X 35.5”. It’s a bit lighter too, weighing only 5.7 LBS.

VIDEO | See the WORX WG546 in Action

Despite using a smaller 20V 2AH battery, you should get a similar working time to the larger battery-powered blower. Probably, a little less though, because the WG546 uses a brushed motor instead of the more efficient brushless motor used on the 56V option. Unlike the Worx WG520 and 591, the smaller leaf blower doesn’t a fully variable speed control.

It has 3 power settings that are controlled by the same, well-designed, control switch. Considering that this machine isn’t as powerful as the other two, you won’t be needing as much control over the power settings, so the 3-speed power switch won’t be any problem when using the machine.

The Worx Turbine WG546 is a fantastic little leaf blower for light to medium duty work. You shouldn’t be comparing the power of this leaf blower to that of Worx WG520 as they are, altogether, in a different class. This is a small and very easy to use machine. The Worx WG546 still holds true to the Worx commitment to affordable quality and has the same 3-year warranty as the other Worx leaf blowers.

Tech Specs:

• Rated Voltage : 20V MAX
• Air Speed : 60/90 mph
• Air Volume : 225/340 cfm
• Charging Time : 5 Hours
• Machine Weight : 5.7 lbs
• Warranty : 3 Years

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WORX TRIVAC WG509

Electric 12 Amp, 3-in-One Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum with Metal Impeller

Features:

• All-in-one design: blower, mulcher & vacuum
• Quickly converts from blower to vacuum mode with the flip of a switch
• Two-stage metal impeller with shredder blade provides an 18:1 mulch ratio
• Electronic variable speed control for corners and heavy debris
• Quick-release button makes cleaning debris as easy as ever
• All-in-one design: blower, mulcher, and yard vacuum with flip-of-a-switch conversion
• Powerful 12-amp motor makes a clean, smell-free, and efficient alternative to gasoline-powered equipment
• Single-handed operation for blower and vacuum modes; angled nose, compact and light weight for comfortable handling
• Metal impeller provides a 18:1 mulch ratio
• Bag capacity: 1.2 bushels

✓  View or download the MANUAL for the WORX TRIVAC WG509.

Overview

In terms input power, the Worx Trivac WG509 compares to the Worx WG520, in that they are both 12A 120V AC corded leaf blowers. The Trivac is, however, a completely different beast. It’s a combination leaf blower, vacuum, and mulcher. Making it the ideal all-in-one composting and cleaning tool.

VIDEO | WORX TRIVAC WG509

*Note : Although this is from an infomercial it’s still a good video that shows you what the Trivac WG509 can do, so ignore their hyperbole and judge it based on what you see. It actually is a well-designed blower, which is why we recommend it.

When used as a leaf blower, it isn’t as powerful the WG520 when it comes to air volume. It has an improved airspeed (210 MPH max), but only moves a volume of 350 CFM.

The real benefit of the Worx WG509 is in its ability to double up as a vacuum with a large collection bag (the bag holds 1.2 bushels). The bag also has a shoulder strap which makes it easier to haul the collected debris as you work. A powerful and durable two-stage steel shredder mulches your garden waste into the perfect composting material, breaking it down to 18 times its original size.

Like the Worx WG520, this machine also has a variable power control and is just as comfortable and easy to use. Changing from blower to vacuum takes no effort on your part as it this done by merely flicking a switch to change its operating mode. The mulcher is also built into the machine and there’s no need to fit any extra attachments.

The tube design on the Trivac is quite a bit more versatile than the one found on the Worx WG520. The WG509 has a nozzle that bends at the bottom and this makes it much easier to reach under hard to reach areas like decks.

The versatile Worx Trivac WG509 is a fantastic tool if you want a leaf blower that assists you in effortlessly composting your garden debris. Like all Worx garden tools, it offers excellent value for money and is built to the same exacting quality standards. It also comes with a 3-year warranty.

This is a very practical accessory that you might want to consider….

WORX WA4054.2 LeafPro

Universal Leaf Collection System

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the WORX WA4054.2 LeafPro.

Features:

• Fits all major leaf blower/vacuum brands to include gas and electric
• Universal: fits all major blower/vac brands – gas and electric
• Designed for no touch, high-capacity leaf collection
• High-flow, ventilated mesh hood adjusts to fit 32-96 gallon round or square trash cans
• Flexible, industrial strength 8-foot hose with up to 16-feet of surrounding reach
• Designed for no touch high capacity leaf collection for all brands and waste cans up to 96 gallon.
• Flexible industrial strength 8 foot hose connector
• Hose Length : 8 feet
• Hose Reach : 16 feet
• Fits (Size of Container) : 32-96 gal
• Includes  : 1 universal fit tube, flexible hose, and hood

Learn more about WORX blowers and other tools by visiting the WORX site.

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Choosing the Best Leaf Blower for Your Needs

When choosing a leaf blower there are few factors that you’ll want to consider. The weight of the machine can influence your decision. A lighter leaf blower will obviously be easier to use and won’t place as much strain on your arms and shoulders when working for longer periods of time. Most leaf blowers have a good handle design, though some are better than others. Mostly, you want to look at the handle position. A handle that’s near the back of the machine, just above the motor is going to provide the best balance and make it much easier and more comfortable to operate.

The quality of your leaf blower is an obvious concern. All electric leaf blowers are made from plastic, this makes them much lighter and, therefore, easier to use. It’s never easy to tell which plastic housings are better than others when they’re new. It’s only over time that you discover cracks developing from the rigors of daily use.

Battery or Electric or Gas? | Battery : BLACK+DECKER LSW60C 60V

My only recommendation here is stick to well-respected brands. Even if you’re paying a bit more for a leaf blower from an established brand, they come with a reputation that they want to protect. If we look at the Worx WG520 and the other models in this review, you can be sure that they are of a high quality standard. They might not be built to same industrial quality as the DeWalt machines, but for domestic use, they’re great. Worx looks at providing quality garden tools for the home user and therefore build their equipment to a standard that will endure this type of use. An industrial grade machine will hold up to more rigorous conditions but will also cost you quite a bit more.

When deciding on what power you want from a leaf blower, the specs may not make too much sense. How many of us know what to make of airspeed in miles per hour (MPH) or air volume in cubic feet per minute (CFM). You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to make sense of this information, once you have a basic understanding of how the leaf blower works.

GAS — Do you need to work away from power? — Husqvarna 125B

If you look at your air volume, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), this tells you how much air the leaf blower is pushing through the nozzle. The volume of air that is produced by the fan will determine how much debris you’ll be moving as you work. A larger volume (higher CFM) will move more debris with each pass.

Your air speed determines how far you’ll be blowing the debris. A high airspeed will blow the debris much further, making it quicker when working in a wide open area. A high airspeed will also be better for moving heavier debris, like wet leaves or snow. High airspeed is not always beneficial. When working in a confined space, you want more control over the debris that you’re blowing and, in these instances, you want a lower airspeed. So if you’re opting for a leaf blower with a high airspeed, infinite (or variable) power control is essential.

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Using an Electric Leaf Blower

An electric leaf blower is a really easy tool to use and, if used correctly, perfectly safe. They are nowhere nearly as complicated to use as gas leaf blowers and you also don’t have as many safety concerns with an electric leaf blower.  With a little supervision, even an eight-year-old kid could use an electric leaf blower. There are few safety issues that must be observed, though.

When using a corded electric leaf blower, there are few things to take into account because of the hazards associated with using 120V power. We’ll cover the use of an electric cord separately in the next section of the article when we discuss extension cords.

Whether you’re using an electric cord or battery-powered leaf blower, your main concern needs to be about debris that can be flying around at pretty high speeds. You should wear eye protection when working with a leaf blower because debris can very easily blow into your eyes.

VIDEO | TIPS — How to Use A Leaf Blower : from Husqvarna

A more powerful leaf blower is capable of blowing small pebbles and other hard items at considerable speed. The Worx WG520 is certainly powerful enough to move quite heavy items at a good speed. This creates its own set of challenges. Pebbles and similar items can crack or break windows and even damage your car. So, when using a leaf blower at high-power, always check  your proximity to items that could be damaged by the flying debris. Also be aware when using a leaf blower around people and pets because you could cause an unwanted injury.

If you’re working in an enclosed area or close to walls, trees or other solid objects, you also need be aware. Hard debris can bounce off your walls and trees when blown at high speed. This could end up injuring you. So, whenever you work in a situation like this, always use the leaf blower at a lower power setting. Rather move the debris away from the hazardous situation slowly and only turn the power up once you’re far enough away so that flying debris won’t bounce back and harm you.

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Using an Electric Extension Cord

I’m sure every reasonably intelligent adult knows the basics of using an extension cord safely. We all know that electricity and water don’t make for a good combination and using an extension cord in wet or damp conditions is dangerous.

We also know that a damaged extension cord with exposed copper wires is extremely dangerous. There are a few things that I should point out that many people aren’t that aware of. One thing, that many of you might already know, is never to repair an extension cord using electrical tape. Electrical tape is not waterproof. So even a slight amount of moisture can work its way through the tape and cause a short circuit or earth leakage.

Recommended Extension with electric tools 12 to 15 Amps.

Electrical tape can also tear very easily. As you use the extension cord around your house or in the garden, it’s going to rub up against walls, furniture, and other objects. This is going wear down the tape, tear it or cause it come loose. Any of these situations will become hazardous.

This next part is very important and I’ve noticed that many people don’t fully understand this, so I’m going to explain it carefully. The amp rating of your extension cord is of vital importance. All extension cords are rated for a maximum current. A light duty extension cord can have a rating as low as 5A and a heavy duty extension cord can go up to 15A. If you look at the two corded electric leaf blowers in this review (the Worx WG520 and WG509), they both have an input current of 12A. This is close to the maximum current rating for a heavy duty extension cord, so it’s important that you understand how this rating works.

When electricity passes through a conductor, heat is generated. The metal used as a conductor, its thickness and the length of the conductor will determine what the resistance is. If the resistance is too high, the heat that is generated will melt the insulation around the wire and cause a short circuit. The most common conductor used in an extension cord is copper, though some (more expensive) cords can use silver. A silver wire doesn’t need to be as thick as a copper wire to conduct the same amount of current over the same distance.

When engineers calculate a safety rating for an extension cord, they consider the gauge (or thickness) of the cable relative to its length. This means that if an extension cord is rated for 15A, it’s for that length of the cable. This is where many people go wrong. If you extend this length by adding another extension cord, your ratio between the thickness of your copper wire and its length is no longer the same. This means that your resistance is higher and the extension cord is no longer safe to use.

The real problem is that the danger isn’t immediately evident. The extension cord isn’t going to melt instantly. Instead, what happens is a gradual deterioration of the insulation inside your extension cord. The insulation around the copper wires become brittle and, over time, cracks develop in the insulation material. The outer casing of the extension cord remains perfectly in tact and you don’t notice the damage that’s being caused.

What makes this situation even more dangerous is that only a small amount of electricity escapes through the cracks in the insulation. This current isn’t enough to cause a short circuit that will cause your circuit breaker to trip. Instead, the electric current creates an arc between the wires in the extension cord. An arc is an electric spark with a very high temperature. It’s a miniature version of the effect of a stick welder. All this is happening inside your extension cord and you’ll be completely unaware of what’s happening until it’s too late.

So while you’re merrily blasting leaves around your garden, using an extension cord that’s longer than it should be, that extension cord is actually a ticking time bomb. At some point, the arc is going to melt through the outer casing of the extension cord and this can, easily, result in an electrical fire.

Fire and injury caused by electrical malfunction are not very common theses days. We have all sorts of safety features in the wiring our homes and the equipment we use. If used properly, you stand absolutely no risk of fire or injury. It’s only when we bend the rules that we could run into trouble – even the best safety features in the world aren’t fool-proof.  So it’s a good idea to be informed of the safety precautions needed when using any electrical appliance, extension cord or adapter. You’ll always get all the safety precautions for your electrical appliances in the user manual and an extension cord will have its maximum amp rating on the packaging and very often printed somewhere on the cord itself.

Learn more about extension cords, by reading : Choosing the Right Outdoor Extension Cord