BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless String Trimmer and Edger, 12 Inch Weed Eater, 2-Speed Control Weed Wacker, 2 Batteries, Charger and Spool Included (LSTE525)

As a woman that was looking for an easier way to do lawncare this year, I opted to buy this because it's light and simple. It has two speeds, one normal and one more powerful. I trimmed grass along my fence mostly, so it cut that with ease. It also cut through thicker weeds well too. I did not experience any weakness in this tool unless the battery was dying. I love that the length is very easily adjustable for use and storage. It also edges pretty well, however, it will use up a lot of the battery. It also can be used with other Black & Decker batteries, so I was able to use my hedger batter with it. I will say, I do think these batteries may be a little weaker than my old ones. Regardless, the product works well and was a great value for the money!

I had the previous model and it lasted a long time. I decided to get another for my in-laws. This isn't anything heavy duty, but it does the job around a normal house. The batteries last about 30-40 minutes which is enough for one house. The string spool is easy to replace and also lasts a few months, if not the whole summer. The length is good for me (5'9"). It's pretty quiet compared to gas and doesn't weight that much. The value is fair. You could go cheaper or more expensive, but I like this quality and power with weight.

This string trimmer works as well as any, I suppose. The two batteries that come with it are small and require recharge too soon. So, I bought a larger off-brand battery that lasts a lot longer. Because the charging takes so long, I recommend that anyone who has significant trimming to do should buy a larger capacity battery. ( I have not looked into whether a fast charger exists for these batteries.) The ability to quickly change from horizontal to vertical trimming position of the "working end" of the trimmer is very convenient. So, basically, this is a good trimmer that comes with small capacity batteries. But, one big flaw for this trimmer (and possibly for other brands as well) is the design of the trigger mechanism. Over time, I noticed that it was getting more and more difficult to press the trigger after having depressed the safety switch. (The safety switch, by the way, is a real pain -- in all of these type tools. There should be a way to bypass it.) The trigger seemed like it was getting hung up, and I had to bang the working end on the ground while trying to depress the trigger in order to get it going. Finally, I could not get the trigger to start the motor, no matter how hard I depressed it. So, I figured I'd take it apart and see what was going on with the switch. Easier said than done. I Googled how to repair the string trimmer, and found a Youtube video that showed how to take a similar model apart. The problem I had was "how to remove the handle" -- which you must do, in order to take it apart. The handle is made of a very resilient plastic that has a slight "give" to it, and you must force it off of the unit. (I had been afraid that it would crack/break if I did that -- but, that is what you have to do.) The video also showed that the plastic trigger mechanism gets worn, so that it cannot allow the lever to travel far enough to push the microswitch. This is the key to the whole problem: The plastic lever gets worn over time. The solution: file the worn area so that it is smooth again. It is a simple fix -- but, it would not happen if the lever were made out of a more durable material. So, there you have it: If you are having trouble with the switch trigger-- look up the Youtube that shows how to fix the trigger. Also, be aware that when you put it back together, the spring that allows you to move the head into the horizontal/vertical positions must be positioned entirely into the "large space" and you will not be able to close the two halves of the unit if that spring is not positioned properly (Trust me: I spent a lot of time trying to get the two halves closed together.)

Safety switch. 1st, I love this weed eater. Lightweight and works for me. I had bought one from a box store and it lasted 5 or more years ? When it quit working I ordered same model from Amazon. Not even a year and the safety switch started to stick or feel hard to push and weed eater would not work. I called Amazon who directed me to B and D. Black and Decker customer service was AMAZING and immediately (after proof of purchase) sent me a new weed eater. I am not sure how long I have had this one but it is doing the same thing. Guessing it has lasted about 6 months. I am on the phone with Black and Decker wish me luck. I hate to go to another brand. I have several B and D batteries, and I really like this model (has the auto feed button). So there must be an issue with the safety switch. If they won't replace guess I will try you tube for repair. Update: B & D trying still not sure if they will replace again. Was on hold a while, then live person then referred to their support site. We will see.

UPDATE Have used this for 2-3 months now. Bought adapter for the WORX batteries to use on the Black & Decker, since my WORX trimmer failed after 3 years. Can trim the whole lawn on one battery and still have charge left! Trimmer also works better. The adapter is on eBay. ********************************** Used this for 1st time today. Batteries were fully charged. Has reasonable torque for a battery powered trimmer, which was better than the WORX trimmer. Had hard time cutting runners on centipede grass. I think if you had Bermuda or Fescue this would be a good trimmer. Not that great on heavier grasses (centipede, St Augustine, etc). Battery died before I could finish my yard. Went thru 2 fully charged batteries. Luckily, I had a battery from another B&D tool that got me almost done. This means it will take multiple days to do my lawn! I like the string feed option on the handle. I will probably use the gas trimmer for heavier areas and this one as a final trim on edging and sidewalks.

I am a fairly patient guy, except when confronted with stupidity. Black and Decker Customer Service provides an ample helping of stupidity. Here’s the story. I purchased this trimmer and it arrived 4 days late. OK, not happy but I can tolerate a late delivery. When I received it I was impatient to use it right away. I live in Wisconsin and I like to prepare my lawn in advance of the first snowfall. I unpacked the unit and placed the battery on the charger, it immediately it began blinking red indicating a bad battery. There were two batteries and the second one had the same problem. Now I had a trimmer I couldn’t use, I didn’t want to return the whole unit, I just wanted replacement batteries. I opened a case with Black and Decker and after compiling and providing the purchase documentation I was notified that they would replace the batteries. They explained that the process would take day or two to complete the return and then it could take up to two weeks before delivery. There were / are other options. They could ship over night or they could offer a replacement through one of their service centers. An easy and logical choice given there is a service center only 3.4 miles away. I called customer service and explained the options and that we have snow in the forecast and I needed to get my work done. This is where their glaring stupidity became even more evident. I explained that there was another, a third option… I could return the entire unit through Amazon and purchase another in which case I would have batteries in 2 or 3 days. They wouldn’t make any accommodation Then to add to the absurdity they asked if I could rate their customer service. This review probably wasn’t what they had in mind but it makes me feel better. If this review leads to even one customer to make a different purchasing decision I will feel appeased. It would be nice to know if anyone with a half a brain at Black and Decker reads these reviews.

You can not compare any cordless trimmer to the capabilities of a gas trimmer. I read many reviews of people complaining that the trimmer wouldn’t cut their field like a gas trimmer... they are correct, it will not. Complaints that this trimmer would not cut through foot tall grass like a gas trimmer ... it will not. This trimmer will not cut grass like a gas trimmer will! This is a trimmer to do finishing work after each mow around landscaping, fences and edging the driveway and curb. It’s light, convenient and powerful to complete the work I just mentioned. The edging option does take a bit of getting used to because the wheel moves freely and there isn’t a guide to keep the unit on the edge of the driveway like the B&D Grasshog, but most definitely manageable. 1 battery lasted 30 minutes which I believe to be reasonable. Again that is to trim grass after each mow, meaning the grass is not taller than 6 inches. I experimented with grass taller than 6 inches and it cuts it well enough but it will reduce the run time of the battery because of the continuous load on the motor. Bottom line... if you are trying to mow a field, or cut through extraordinarily long grass, or trim acres of property you should spend the funds on a gas trimmer. If you are trimming after each mow this IS the product for you. I have not had an issue with the line advance mechanism, but there are complaints about that feature. I highly recommend this product, just determine your needs and compare them to the capabilities of this trimmer before purchasing. Reasonableness will always be a factor in contentment. I hope this helps

I received this tool a couple of days ago and immediately took it out to an over-grown cemetery I'm trying to maintain. I chose the B&D 20 amp model because I already had a B&D chainsaw (best tool I have ever owned, regardless of price) and a reciprocating saw that use the same batteries. I thought about getting the 40 amp model B&D weed whacker, but the reviews seemed to indicate that the performance difference between them was negligible, and not worth the expense of buying a bunch of 40 amp batteries. The weed whacker came with two batteries and a charger, which I thought was nice since so many manufacturers offer the bare tool and you must buy batteries and a charger at additional cost. I have been happy with the other B&D cordless products, and I am happy with this one. Mostly. The cemetery has areas of really overgrown fescue grass, with many thick clumps of grass and tall shoots up to 3 feet. The lower setting on the tool was totally defeated by the grass, but the high torque setting went through the high stuff fairly successfully. I had to swing it back and forth over the same area repeatably to get all the shoots cut, so it was a little tedious. In about and hour and a half I cut the tall grass from a 600 square foot area. I didn't attempt to cut the 5-6 inch tall clumps of grass, but it seems like it will be up to the job, with patience and perseverance. Pros: seems fairly sturdy in build quality, is very light and maneuverable compared to my old gas weed eater, and infinitely easier to start (that's worth a LOT to me). Cons: I used 4 batteries in the hour and a half. Two batteries won't get you much past trimming along walls and around poles in your yard. To cover any substantial area, be prepared to invest in batteries. There was never a threat that the power of this tool might cause me to cut the grass down to bare ground. It's just not that capable. The lightness of the tool really made using it a joy. So, if you adjust your expectations to the tool's limitations, you'll be happy with your purchase. I'd say it's good value for the money. You can certainly spend 2 or 3 times as much as the B&D costs, but if you're not into commercial weed whacking, it's may be hard to justify spending more. So, with 6 batteries on my shelf, it looks like I'm in the B&D 20 amp battery "eco-system" for the foreseeable future.