Leaf Blower In Grain Bin?

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I'm wondering if a leaf blower works well in cleaning up the last bit of grain in a bin?  I use a broom and get along alright, but a blower might be faster and more throrough if it works OK.

Can anyone give me your ideas on size and capacity?  Gas or electric?  Any tips or suggestions?

TIA

[Shaggy98]

I'm just guessing, but I would think the blower would blow grain here, there and everywhere. I use a gas powered leaf blower around the yard and it has 200+MPH air delivery, and my blower isn't a high dollar fancy one. I would think a broom would work better, but I'm only guessing. I will add that a leaf blower works great for cleaning a shop floor if you've got large doors on each end that can be opened to let the wind blow through and push the dust out one end or the other.

[buckfarmer]

Not sure about in the bin but I've blown snow off the top of some wagons left out one night. If you reved it all the way up it would move the corn. About half throttle on a mid size Stihl combi blower, was about right to get rid of the snow and not move the corn.

[Shaggy98]

Speaking of snow, just saw some weekend weather models that are forecasting 12"+ snow fall in portions of Northern Nebraska and South Dakota. This can't be good news for those waiting to get crops out of the field.

[buckfarmer]

The best use for a leaf blower I've found is to "supercharge" a burning brush pile or stump. A pile that may take a day can be burned in just a few hours with the help of lots of air.

[ECIN]

Yes Jim it sure will ! I started doing it about 5 years ago - what took hours I do in minutes - I just keep blowing it to the other side then slow down on the gas to naorrow it up then use the broom to do a quick finish up - broom it in the well .

One word of warning -- IT CAN GET VERY DUSTY ! - Wear  a good mask ! and gooles

[kraft-t]

Idle your grain vac down and blow the grain towards the nozzle.Also handy to blow trash off the combine and leave it in the field.

[buckfarmer]

After first fill on one bin I told the kid that works for me to try blowing it out. He said it worked but after a few minutes the noise and concussion, even with ear muffs, was more than he could stand. Said he finished with a broom and that would be a tool of choice from now on.

[DougUphoff]

What about grain dust explosion sparked from motor

[trapperjon]

hi jim, i used to use a gas powered leaf blower but gave  up trying to get it started all the time. now i use a electric one and it is much easier. we dont broom very much just scoop and blow. it gets it much cleaner.