ManikBhai

I've always used a conventional chipper/shredder to mulch leaves. Mine broke and I'm going to replace it. The new leaf vacuums (the big rolling monsters that Sears sells for $500+) sound good. How well do they work with a LOT of leaves. We have 80 year old trees and get buried.

With a pump. There are a number of different kinds, but all have the property that an intake chamber is caused to enlarge, then shut off with a valve, and the chamber is then compressed and the gas in it vented to the atmosphere. For high vacuums, a metal strip may be evaporated, and the metal vapor tends to trap gas molecules. A laboratory vacuum pump can be had from supply houses for a few hundred dollars.

My vacuum cleaner is not picking things up well. I have a new bag in it. I'm wondering if it needs a new belt, it hasn't had a new one since we bought it about 4 years ago. How often do vacuums need a new belt? Is there another part of the vacuum that may need cleaned or repaired to help it work better?

I used to do this about 10 years ago. I started out with a Spirit 1 which is a fairly small but powerful (and noisy) machine. Back then it cost me £600 and came with some basic attachments. If you needed an attachment for doing staris and so on these were readily available (about £50 per attachment).
I got most of my work from leaflet drops (about 2% hit ratio) and ads in shop windows and a big sticker on the car. I did get a lot of recommendations which was nice.
It IS hard work - on your hands and knees scrubbing away (the machine only does so much). The money can be good though if you have enough work.

its really cool! Its funny that you mention it because it was raining here and I got all wet, like my hair and stuff... so I went into this really nice restaurant and they had it.. so I was drying my jacket and my hair.. hahaha.. I don't know if thats crazy.. but I don't care because that thing is soo cool