Customer Reviews

Black & Decker 12-Inch 3.5-AMP Electric Bump Feed String Trimmer and Edger ST4500

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

For a 12" trimmer, it is light and has enough power.
The head is easily reversed (pushbutton) for edge trimming.
The only letdown, it uses 1.65 mm string instead of the better 2 mm heavy duty line from WeedEater.
The trimmer will use up the thin line in a hurry.:-( You have to enlarge the string retainer hole in the spool slightly in order to be able to fit the slightly thicker string. But that is easy.
They say in the owners manual it will overheat the motor if you use a bigger diameter string.
But it will run powerfully, even with the 2 mm string and it does not overheat either.
As long as you realize the limitations of a 12" trimmer, it works just fine.
BTW, the 2 year warranty is not bad either.

The B&D trimmer has worked well for light trimming of grass and weeds around my house. It is lightweight and it is easy to replace the string. The unit is a little awkward to use in edge mode, particularly when you need to bump the unit to feed more string. Overall it has been reliable and done everything I've needed it to do.

This guy is lightweight, easy to use, and quiet with more than enough power for trimming, edging, and even light landscaping. The rotating head is a priceless feature.

Big selling points are its reliability (I've had a previous generation of this model for years with nary a glitch) and its attactive price. In addition, the string spool replacement is easy to install and is available everywhere (no small feature when you suddenly run out late on a Sunday afternoon).

The only complaint I have with my model is its occasional tendency to disconnect from the power cord during more exuberant edging. I see that the newest model has a cord retention feature, so this minor problem may be solved.

Just about everthing on this item that is plastic has cracked and broken. I do not mistreat my tools and am disappointed with the quality of this item

This item is exactly as described. It is very lightweight and easy to
use. It easily doubles as a trimmer or edger. Very easy to rewind your
own line, saving lots of money. If I had it to do over again, I would
buy exactly the same one.

B&D will not provide instructions on-line for rewinding the spool. They will only tell you how to buy new spools. Their own spools have a "REWIND LINE" directional arrow...but this is a single line spool and they don't tell you which of the four holes or two anchor notches to use, or the manner in which to secure the line.

Can't call them...they work bankers hours Mon-Fri...useless for the average weekend warrior. I certainly don't do yardwork in the middle of the workday. Nor would my employer appreciate my use of the phone for weed whacking advice.

I am forced to go to the local hardware store and buy a new spool and do the detective work myself. This seems a bit selfish of B&D. ..withholding the information just so they can sell new spools.

Also, after three uses, the string guard broke off. Now, there is nothing to keep the proper distance from walls, shrubs, trees, etc. So the string breaks faster. But at least B&D will sell you a new spool!

Recommendation: tell B&D to post a manual on-line, and give honest information to customers. Otherwise, I'll spend the extra money to buy a brand that cares about customer service more than the upsell.

With spring approaching, gas prices being high, and my arms sore from attempting to pick up the gas weed eater... let alone start it... I found this on Amazon for $32 and free shipping. And I love it!

Very lightweight and simple to use. It's not obnoxiously loud. I'm trimming around sandboxes, wooden beams, bricks, decking, lots of pea gravel and some big weeds. Heck, I even cut a few patches of grass with it. I'm also throwing it down in the grass when I'm done. And I don't clean it off.

And it still made it through the summer without missing a beat. Worked wonderfully and simply. Exactly what I wanted. No more waiting for hubby to do it, I have my own yard tool that fits me just fine!

this trimmer is very light and gets very close to the weed you want to trim...much much better than the Craftmen stuff from Sears, which is head heavy and bulky...AND short lived! BUT...the bumper head wears down quickly, which makes string feeding unreliable. That means you have to manually remove the cap and adjust. Solution: Get a new bumper head reel when it worn.

I purchased this edger a few years ago. It seemed to work fine at first but, the only issue I have with it is the string. When the last of the string is gone, you have to take a spool of string purchased and pull enough string for this edger and wrap around the spool. The problem is that when you place the cap back on to keep the spool in place, it sometimes pops off when you press the trigger. Once or twice the spool cap popped off and struck me in the face. It was a good thing I was wearing eye and face protection. Don't ever operate one of these edgers without face protection. When the strong hits rocks they go flying. I always tell my wife to make sure our daughter is no where around when I'm operating this devise and that includes my wife too! I ended up buying a gas powered one made by Craftsman.

I bought this product after reading the reviews for it--and also because my husband and I are tending to buy all-electric garden products now.

We find the gas-pull start products both exceptionally hard to start, as well as noisy.

For me, this Black and Decker does the trick. I have used it almost every day since I acquired it about a month ago--and am really glad I bought it.

If you know the landscape of your yard and take your time, this product will do what it promises.
However, if you wish to chop through thick, hard woody branches--this is not the product for you.

Follow the product's manual, wear eye protection and take your time and know the landscape of your garden--and you should do just fine.

The only down side I have found with this product is the "bump" feature which is supposed to extend the trimming line out to the right cutting length. I have trouble with that feature--(and always have had trouble with the same feature on other "string-bump" trimmers which I have owned previously--but maybe that's just me). I find the "bump" feature works best on a hard surface.

But, all in all, I am very pleased with this product--and its price.