good idea, but limited trimmerNovember 29, 2009 draw K 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This trimmer - does not extend - it is basically a trimmer on a non-extendable pole. This makes it pretty usless in tight spots. It's balance is off, and the trimmer can not be used without the attached pole - it would have been simple to make it convert to a small trimmer (less the long pole). I like the convience of a cordless trimmer, and the trimmer does its job. I just think this product could be so much better. Pass on this until they do some redesign.
NO CORDS!!!!!November 17, 2009 S. A. Unen(Sunny South Florida) This cordless hedge trimmer is totally wonderful. No cords and the 18V battery stays charged for a long time. So easy, no electrical cords, no gasoline.........should had this for myslef years ago. Makes life so much easier.
Not perfect, but pretty good and you can make it longerNovember 9, 2009 B. Parsons I bought this device a few weeks ago and used it today for the first time. I bought it with a specific task in mind - a 15ft tall Japanese Maple in my front yard. I've trimmed this tree every year while precariously balanced on the top of a ladder and have always had visions of a long fall to the ground. I was quite dismayed when I first opened the box and figured out what others have mentioned, the working length of this tool is grossly misrepresented. B&D says "10ft reach" and they really mean that the average person standing on the ground can hold this thing up to reach to a maximum height of about 10ft. It is 6.5ft long, no more, no less. Given the task I had in mind, I was about to return it when I decided to see if there was a way to extend the reach. I did some poking around looking for B&D spare parts and found a middle extension pole for the similar B&D pruning saw. It can be ordered from the B&D spare parts supplier DeWALT ServiceNET ([...]), part number 622892-00. I ordered this pole and found when it arrived that the uphill end is a little different than hole it fits into on the end of the hedge trimmer, but a couple of minutes with a Dremel corrected that. By flattening a 1/2' x 1-1/5" area on the extension piece, everything assembled well and worked fine. I'm sure that this raises certain warranty issues, and there's probably a reason that B&D didn't make the pole to be used in this way, but I was not to be dissuaded. I now have trimmer that actually is 10ft long.
Actually using the tool went pretty well. The tool is no featherweight, and I'm sure that some NASA engineerng could make the business end lighter (and likely more expensive). Holding anything up in the air like that takes no small amount of upper body strength, even more so when you extend it. The battery still had plenty of oomph after I was done with the tree, and while I wasn't off the ladder completely, I didn't feel like I was a short breath away from an ambulance ride.
B&D Batt Pole TrimmerNovember 1, 2009 H. Andreuccetti(California) This product exceeded my expectations. I now use it in situations where a standard hedge trimmer is used. I fin it easier to use. The length of the pole is proper for trimming most hedges tha in the past required a ladder to reach the top. Now, I can stand on the ground and reach the upper reaches. It does require some arm strength though the weigh tis balanced with the battery in the handle.
B+D Cordless Pole TrimmerOctober 26, 2009 B. Naylor(Mobile, AL USA) After a short learning curve this trimmer made short work of my tall bushes. The only negative I experienced was the weight and balance when trimming at the maximum reach. Heavy use of this item will give a great upper-body workout.Black & Decker NPT318 18-Volt Cordless Electric Pole Hedge Trimmer
