604640 Disclosed is a portable hand-held blower for the gathering or removal of garden waste. The hand-held blower comprises a power source or petrol engine having an axis of rotation, a fan mounted on the power source to be driven thereby and located within a housing. The housing has an array of inlet apertures and a single main exit, a handle atop the housing and mounted substantially above the centre of gravity of the blower. The main exit has a generally S-shaped configuration to substantially align the path of air exiting the blower with the handle to prevent a torque being experienced by an operator holding the handle in use, and the fan being moulded in a single piece from substantially rigid material. The fan comprises a generally flat disc each quadrant thereof having a plurality of generally radially extending blades which all extend on the same side of the disc, and all are rearwardly swept relative to the intended direction of rotation of the disc. All fan blades extend to a predetermined height above a plane passing through the disc and substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and the blades are tilted transversely and in the direction of rotation of the fan either as a consequence of the manufacture of the blades, or as a consequence of the forces created by the operational rotational speed of the fan. Each transversely tilted blade and its adjacent portion of the disc in front of each the blade forms an air scoop for the fan. The forces also flex the adjacent portions of the disc in front of each the blade and each the flexed portion of the disc contributes to the corresponding the air scoop.
