I use a keene puffer and it seems to do well for 2 guys. My wife and I have a good time with it and it does get Gold with out a lot of noise

I use a keene puffer and it seems to do well for 2 guys. My wife and I have a good time with it and it does get Gold with out a lot of noise

i know a lot of people who use the puffer and as me and many others who use the blower it is up to what you want .noise is some conseration as well .and both do good .i would see if I could see both in operation before buying .

For starting out and sampling: Puffer
For running true pay dirt: Blower

IMO puffers make better smaller mobile for walking around sampling, but to actually move a decent amount of material (Tons) you need a blower. One ton is about 35 full five gallon buckets. The amount of times we have actually moved that much dirt is few and far between, but we're still looking for that piece of dirt that will pay. I'm also not a fan of electric, because when I've tried to move material, the batteries don't last that long, and solar requires way too many panels.

I bought the puffer because it was all I could afford at the time. Most of the time Its just me shoveling and yes I can overload it but I do get gold. I would love a blower with a 4 stroke engine, they do not play on my nerves like a 2 stroke blower motor. If I ever found a super deal I would buy one. With my puffer I am still in the game. My tailing piles are just as big as blower piles so I don't have any regrets on what I bought. Its more than just a sampling machine to me. I would recommend a blower as a first machine If you can afford it. I use a small car battery and it will last all day on my puffer.