HD sells a very good Toro with metal blades. Even though it's only marigolds, get the one with the metal blades. $79.00 bucks or so......hope this helps......m

Walli, that is huge help. Thank you! Since posting the above, I have been researching and reading lots of reviews on Amazon. It quickly became apparent that models that use plastic string are no good. There is review after review from users saying they had to constantly replace/reload the string after only a couple handful of leaves. Many said they spent more time replacing the string than shredding leaves! One person even tried heavier gauge plastic string, and after that, metal wire, with no better results. So your recommendation of one with metal blades - and telling me where I can get it - is reading my mind!

Haha... marigolds... I have magnolia leaves. They are like banana peels ... all over the place ... and bit firmer/tougher than oak leaves or marigolds... so yeah, a metal blade is perfect.

Ok, I went to the Home Depot website. I could only find three Toro models. The all sell for $56-$57 (one is $1 more than the other two). I ran a comparison of all three but the cutting mechanism (a metal blade, plastic string or whatever) is not included in the Specifications, so I have no way of telling which one might be the one you recommend. The models that were shown are Toro electric #51574, #51602 and #51592. Are any of those the one you recommend? If not, would you please let me know the model number of the one you like?

Thanks so much! I greatly appreciate it!

Carol

I found it! It is Model 51609 - Toro Ultra 235 mph Electric Ultra Leaf Blower/Vac, $74.99 - not listed on The Home Depot website as a shredder, so it didn't come up in the search... but it is a shredder! Under the description, "It is the only Toro electric blower vac to offer a rugged metal impeller..."

I have it linked on The Home Depot page below and here is the Toro website link:
http://www.toro.com/en-us/homeowner/yard-tools/blowers-vacs/pages/model.aspx?pid=ultra-blower-vac-51609

There are no customer reviews of the product on THD or Toro websites. There are 447 reviews on Amazon and people seem to LOVE it! Yay!
http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51609-Variable-Speed-Electric-Impeller/product-reviews/B007POATV4/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

I need to make sure that I can drop in the leaves or easily vaccum them up but I think I know what I am going to buy. Thanks again, Walli! :)

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Model 51609 - Toro Ultra 235 mph Electric Ultra Leaf Blower/Vac

Try it out. HD will always take it back if it doesn't work for your application.

I agree about the metal blades. Small sticks are always there among the leaves. I bought one with plastic blades and returned it to Lowe's and paid $20 more for the metal blades. Works great.

I love my leaf blower Toro

Do you have the one mentioned above? I'm looking for one too.

Jane

Toro and Worx are definitely two of the brands that you should take into consideration.

Hi

I am looking for one as well. Let me know how it works out!

Thanks

I know this is an old post but I just found a Toro Ultra Blower on craigslist and have already mulched 4 bags full of leaves. Works great!

Harry

Thanks. How big are the bags?

I have oak trees and a Loquat which sheds leaves continuously and they are thick leaves which take forever to break down. I'd like to shred them and the oak leaves but some of the blowers seem to have small bags which you'd have to empty constantly.

Jane

http://m.homedepot.com/p/BLACK-DECKER-Leaf-Collection-System-Attachment-for-Leaf-Blower-Vacuum-BV-006/202045620?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D28I-PortableOutdoorPower%7c&gclid=Cj0KEQjwsO6-BRDRy8bsxfiV2bkBEiQAF8EzKFIjylpXwV8vdaVwwtAIDABM5rB7hNZlN_FBm5L9EIcaAok18P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Above is an example of attachments they have so you can mulch into your trash can!

The link is just photos. It doesn't say anything about shredding the leaves. I am looking for a shredder.

Jane

Yea, it is an accessory for your shredder if you need something larger than the bag it comes with. I saw you were questioning small bags/ having to empty often. This would be a solution.

The link is to home depot, it is the black & decker version which is 29 bucks. It is their mobile site so maybe that is why it is coming up as just photos, for me it comes up as the product description, reviews, and ordering.