Features

• Mower measures 35 by 26 by 12-1/2 inches and weighs 50 pounds
• Fully-automated lawn mower with docking station; can mow lawn as large as 16,000 square feet
• Program like an alarm clock, so starts at pre-set times, or run using a manual controller
• 5-1/2-horsepower engine; blade speed of 5,800 rpm
• Patented Triple-Chamber Mulching System; touch-sensitive bumpers; theft-deterrent system

Amazon.com Review

Black & Decker's Grass Hog offers the convenience of cordless power without the mess of fuel. Requiring virtually no tune-ups and no fussing with gasoline and oil mixtures, the Grass Hog gives you quiet, reliable, maintenance-free power at the flip of a switch. True, battery power doesn't measure up to the strength of a gas engine, but maybe you don't need all that power (and pollution) anyway.

This trimmer takes just a few minutes to put together, and its durable construction--backed by Black & Decker's two-year warranty--is immediately obvious. With a 12-inch cutting path--the largest of any battery-powered trimmer--the Grass Hog works quickly. It is limited to light-duty cutting of grass and foliage but can handle most homeowners' needs for weekend weed whacking. The straight-shaft design lets you easily reach under decks and stairs, and the adjustable handles offer a comfortable grip. The auto feed spool releases trimmer line as it's needed, with no tapping of the spool head required. The edger feature is easy to engage and does a decent job of cleaning up around paving stones and concrete, although it's not as powerful as gas and corded electric models when cutting extensive edges along walkways and driveways.

Weighing over 10 pounds, the Grass Hog may be a bit heavy for some users, but for small, light-duty jobs, most homeowners should find it to be quite manageable. As with all power equipment, trimmers must be handled with caution. Be sure to wear hand, eye, and foot protection when operating this serious piece of equipment. --Michelle McSweeney ... Read more

Features

• 30 day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and full two-year warranty
• Cordless convenience-requires no gas, oil or tune-ups
• Automatic Feed Spool (AFS) releases line as needed-no bumping required
• Groom'N'Edge button rotates 180-degrees for convert from trimming to edging
• 12-inch cut path-largest of any cordless electric string trimmer, get more done in less time

Reviews (85)

Very good; just a little heavy & runtime is short if edging
This does a good job of trimming and edging. I have used a corded Toro trimmer and I have to say that the cordless convenience more than makes up for the fact that this is quite a bit heavier than the corded models. Run time for trimming is about 30 minutes if not held on constantly. However, the run time when edging is very short, probably about 10-15 minutes. It does a good job edging, but it takes a little longer than a dedicated edger and does not cut quite as deeply or as narrow a swath. But the steel guide makes it fairly easy. I have found you will be pretty worn out because of its weight by the time the battery runs down anyway, so it's time for a break. In about an hour, it will charge back to about 1/4 capacity after being fully drained; 1/2 after about 2 hrs and maybe 2/3 after 3 hours. Then the charging slows down a bit (takes about 12 hrs to get close to capacity. After that, the green light comes on to let you know it is trickle charging the battery.
...

The assembly was straight-forward, just a few screws to attach the guard to the bottom. During operation, it is a little noisy, but I think it helps a bit if you get the screws on tightly enough to keep the guard from rattling. Overall, it can cut well and requires no bumping to release the string. When edging, I did notice that the edger does a better job once a new section of string is released. I think that is because it is a bit longer and can cut deeper into the dirt.

Very convenient tool for suburban trimming.
I have owned my Grass Hog for over a year now...and still love it. It offers the best features of gas-powered and electric trimmers. First, no gas to buy, no oil to mix, no plugs to foul, no noise and vibration and no trying to get the engine started plus no need to fuss with dragging an electric cord around. The battery sits where a gas-powered engine would normally reside -- this balances the trimmer making it easier to use than traditional corded models. The auto-feed system works great and the string is easy to replace. The rotating head makes edging easy.

I have a 3/4 acre corner lot with a fence, a sidewalk around two sides and a great deal of stone edging around trees. I can easily trim the entire yard on one charge. When I hang up the trimmer, it recharges and remains charged until needed again...very cool.

There are a few places where this trimmer may not be well-suited. It does not have the power of high-end gas models. This limits its usefulness in heavy weeds and underbrush. It has plenty of power for the average suburban yard but trimming hay from around horse-farm fences would be about its upper limit. It also would not work for a lawn-care service as it has to recharge for several hours once the battery drains.

For the average suburban lawn, this is the way to go. Mine has never failed to please!

It's been 4 years of good use
Four years have gone by and the motor died. The battery would last about 10 minutes and that's it. I plan on buying the new 18 volt model and will try the other person from Austin recommendation, charge indoors. This trimmer will not do an entire yard at once so if that is your mission look elsewhere. I plan to get the new one because it's emission free. The foul emissions from my borrowed gas trimmer is sickening. The construction design could definitely be better.

It's going back to the store!
I need something that last more then 15 minutes. Black & Decker, you have let me down!

3rd year, still fine
This is an extremely convenient trimmer. Ours still runs about 40 min before needing a recharge, and it feeds perfectly. I refilled the string dispenser last year with no problem. It is a little difficult & awkward to get the battery pack off the handle. It is not really designed for female-sized hands. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What sets this trimmer apart from the pack is its clever AFS line-feed system. It automatically senses when more line is needed and feeds it in fractional increments without bumping through centrifugal force. The spool is surprisingly easy to replace, too. When you’re done trimming, convert the unit to an edger by rotating the Groom 'N' Edge head 180 degrees in just a few seconds.Unlike other trimmers, this one has an auxiliary handle that adjusts to the user’s height. A sturdy guard protects you from flying debris, a good thing because the motor keeps the string moving at 11,800 rpm. The flip-down edge guide makes edging a snap. The 12-volt battery will charge overnight in the wall-mount stand. Relatively light at 10 pounds, it’s a great dual-purpose tool for the homeowner.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Includes 12V 9" trimmer/edger, charger, battery, and wall mount bracket
• Automatic Feed System, no bumping required
• Groom N' Edge head converts from trimming to edging
• Cordless trimmer eliminates the hassle of extension cords
• Adjustable auxiliary handle adjusts to user's height

Reviews (5)

Great Value
I recently purchased this grass trimmer from Amazon.com. I wanted a cordless model so I did not have to bother with gas or lugging a plug around the yard. I received it very quickly and was able to pull it out of the box and have it ready for it's first charge in about 10 minutes.

I used it last night for the first time and was very happy with it. I needed it primarily to remove the grass/weed growth (that that our mower can't reach), that was climbing up the fence separating my and my neighbor's yards as well as the weeds that grow around our garage. It worked perfectly. I had some grass/weeds near the fences that was at least 12 inches in height and it blasted right through it. It never got stuck or jammed. I probably cleared about 150 -200 feet of fence that had grass and weeds climbing up.

I did try to use it on a section of dense pulpy weeds near a corner of our yard where the grass meets concrete. The weeds are very low to the ground and have very thick stems. It did not work so great on these but I think it is due to the thickness and density of the weed growth. I wound up just pulling them up out of the ground (this was even hard to do). But, since I bought it for purposes of removing the grass/growth along the fences on my property, it works wonderfully.

The only drawback is it does get heavy after using for a while, but the helper handle is a great plus. Since I don't need to use it for excessive lengths of time, that is something I can live with. I would recommend this trimmer.

Don't do it!
I would like to update my last review of this machine...

After less than a full season using this "toy" I now realize how cheap this thing is. I have spent more time "re-threading" the spool after the string wears down to nothing or more often than not, breaks off, than I have trimming. You only end up with about 3" of string during the lightest of trimming. And now the lower bearing in the motor is worn out. I guess I'll strip the battery out of it and trash the rest.
If you need to trim anything but the LIGHTEST of grasses, this machine is not of any value to you.
And, customer support from Black &Decker is nothing more than a bunch of form letters... and they are automatic and have nothing to do with your queries.
I was poised and ready to purchase their cordless mower, but with the experience I have had (or lack of) with their "customer support" and the quality of this product, I have purchased another brand.

AFS is a disappointment..
I really like going cordless and gasless with this trimmer, but the "auto feed" system is very poor. Most of the time the user actually only gets about three inches of trimming cord to use. Too bad they don't offer a "bump-feed" system, that would make it a great machine!

I'll keep it ...
I like this trimmer. It's a little heavy on the fore arm if you have 10 minutes or more of trimming to do. It does a very good job of taking care of lighter trimming.

I was hoping it would power through 6 to 8 inch high wet grass that accummulates under the 5 spruces I have - no such luck. It seems to have too much build up of grass on the guard, lack power and trim line strength to do that job. I have been using a 10" with the electric cord and heavier trim line and hope I wouldn't need to use it.

However, the cordless trimmer makes it a lot faster to do the trimming and easier to keep up with the 1/2 acre yard work. So maybe the dense grass problem won't occur.

The verdit is out on the auto feed as it seemed to chew up the .065 trim line very easily especially around tree bases. This makes the operator haver to exercise more care. However, the auto feeder seems to work flawlessly.

I haven't used the edger feature, nor would I as I have a lot of edging to do.

For normal trimming the CST1000 powers its way through. It sure beats lugging 100 to 150 feet of cord around.

One more thing. The unit handle was damaged in shipping. Two plastic mounting posts broke off inside the handle. The handle halfs, while not showing damage, would easily separate. The exterior screws that fasten the two halfs could not hold the halfs together. It appears that the problem is in the Black and Decker box as it does not seem to protect the handle from the weight of the battery.

A very nice product.
I have been using this trimmer for about six weeks and I'm happy with it. I had an inexpensive electric trimmer, but I wanted freedom from cords. At first I considered buying a gas trimmer until I realized that was ridiculous since I'd be using it to trim a property less than one-quarter acre. I also didn't like the fact that the gas trimmers all had wide cutting paths. That is an advantage only if you are cutting grass rather than just trimming grass around a wall, shrub, flower bed, pole etc. A comparably powered trimmer with a larger cutting path isn't going to trim grass any faster since you're really only using the tip of the line to cut the grass. This trimmer has a smaller cut path so you can trim in and around tight areas, and do so without accidentally cutting something you don't want cut (like flowers). I think the power of this model is very good but according to Consumer Report, some cordless trimmers aren't as powerful as electric models. If you are a power freak you probably will want a gas trimmer.

Black and Decker makes another cordless model (Grass Hog) with a 12" cutting path. Frankly, I think this (9-inch) model is a better choice because it operates at a higher rpm. That means the tip of the line is moving at a higher speed. Taking into account the circumference of a 12" and 9" circle as well as the rpm of both models (6,800 for the 12" and 11,800 for the 9"), I calculated the "tip speed" of this model at 316 mph while the 12" cordless model is only 243mph. Although I haven't used the 12" model I assume this one cuts better for that reason.

It also performs nicely as a light edger. Switching from trimming to edging takes just seconds. It's really a great feature. It's so convenient having an edger at hand that I edge much more than I used to.

One thing I don't like about the trimmer is the auto feed system. I don't like not being able to feed new line whenever I want. New line is fed only when the existing line has been considerably shortened from use. Also, when the line frays and splits (as it often does) you either have to wait until the auto feed kicks in or trim the line with scissors. I carry a small pair with me and occasionally cut the line when it gets frayed. You can probably also use nail clippers.

Cordless trimmers are heavier than electric models and some of the lighter gas models. They are better balanced (than electrics) though and more comfortable to use in that respect. The weight is near your hands as opposed to being at the front. I find it more comfortable to hold this trimmer than some of the lighter electric models I picked up in the stores.

Most of all, what makes this trimmer great is the fact that it's cordless. You just can't beat the convenience.

Shop no further, Amazon's price is excellent. I didn't get it any cheaper and I bought mine at a huge retailer who is known for great prices (you know who they are).

Pros

- cordless!
- well balanced
- smaller cutting path
is advantageous for trimming tight areas
- switches quickly to an edger

Cons

- Auto feed system
- weight ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Ever find yourself in a situation where a hand tool is not enough, but a full-size power tool is too much? Black & Decker's cordless grass shear is just what you need for detail work around flower beds, trees, fences, retaining walls--you name it. Modeled along the lines of sheep-shearing clippers, the quiet buzzing of this little machine will give your grass a safe trim without knocking down your prized petunias. We found it to be especially useful in small, delicate, or difficult-to-reach areas, such as around bushes, vines, and ornamental grasses. Note that this model was not designed for large or lengthy jobs: the battery charge lasts only up to 35 minutes, and the 3-inch shearing blades will not cover ground as efficiently as the spinning line of a string trimmer. Although the unit is extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver, it does require that you keep the trigger pressed to engage the blades, which can cause hand fatigue after about 15 minutes of constant use. A safety latch prevents accidental start-up. --Michelle McSweeney ... Read more

Features

• 30 day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and full two-year warranty
• Cordless convenience
• 3-inch machine sharpened blade
• Safety lock off switch
• 3.6 volts-will trim up to 35 minutes on a single charge

Reviews (14)

You get what you pay for.
I can't say that this is the best grass shear made.
When fully charged, it will run for about 30-45
minutes before the charge is lost. It takes quite
a long time to charge this baby up.

The quality on the handheld unit it pretty good. The
long-handle accessory is just fine also. I don't like
the way they both connector together. Seems like it could
be trouble over time.

We have a yard that is close to 3/4 of an acre, with lots
of flower beds, trees, and things to trim around. Honestly
this is not the unit for us, but my wife wanted a rechargeable,
and there are not many out there.

It works. It gets the job done if you are patient. But there
could be improvements made.

To get 5 stars, the battery life should be longer, quicker
to recharge, and the connector for the long handle should be
more secure.

Black & Decker Grass Shear
This item is very good if you have a small lawn and want to keep it neatly edged. If you have a large lawn, a string trimmer might be more appropriate, due to the fact that the shear may run out of charge before you are finished, and a string trimmer is a lot faster.

The shear is light enough to handle and does not wiggle around when cutting. The switch is a little hard to turn on but is probably engineered that way for safety. The blades cut the grass cleanly, and if they jam from the grass being too thick, they unjam easily. The blades last longer and cut better if you wipe off the grass sap between uses, and oil them lightly, as the manual instructs.

For a small area where you might ordinarily use hand clippers, this is a great little tool that saves a lot of time and keeps your hand from getting blistered. For me it was well worth the price--a great tool where hand clippers are not enough, but a string trimmer is overkill.

Batteries
I have used the clippers for many years and I want to replace the batteries. I have a GS300 clipper not the GS500 and would like to be able to order batteries to replace the ones that no longer will take a charge. How may I order new bateries for the GS300 grass clipper? Thank you, WL Bourgeois

good tool
All it needs is to recognize flowers from the weeds.

Great things in small packages
I had one that was lost in a house fire some years ago,and I havn't had another one since,until the other day I thought about B&D grass shears how convenent they was!so here I am getting my secound one,I'm glad they still make them. I have grass that grows under the stairs on my deck they would work great on that,since you can't get to it with a mower or string trimmer! ... Read more

Features

• 30 day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and full two-year warranty
• Cordless convenience
• 6-inch machine sharpened blade
• Safety lock off switch
• 6-volt battery-will cut up to 250 square feet per charge

Reviews (11)

Cordless Electric Shrub Pruner
We purchased this item recently for our large yard. We have a wide array of shrubs and ground covers. The shrubber did an excellent job shaping overgrown shrubs and trimming woody rosemary ground cover. It worked equally well removing spent flowerheads from perenials. The shrubber is lightweight yet powerfull and was easy to manuver and control even on hilly locations and hard to reach corners. The lock off switch that assures that the power is off is an important safety feature. We are purchasing a second "Black & Decker Shrubber" so my husband and I don't have to fight over the one we already have. Speeds up pruning and avoids sore hands and wrists from too much manual trimming. Great gardening tool--highly recommended!

Shrubbers and plants come in different sizes...
If you have bought one of these items and don't like it, that's probably why. You have to buy tools based on the type of job and outcome expectations. Your job requires a larger size trimmer.

I'm a big fan of Black & Decker. They've been making affordable and quality products for decades. The 6" cordless shrubber I just bought is no exception. However, you need to buy tools that fit the job. No tool does everything. That said, this shrubber is good for small plants, ground covers, and shrubs with thin stems and branches. I've used it on Azaleas, miniature Gardenias, English Ivy, and other assorted small stem shrubs. On a few of my shrubs, the stalk is a bit big for the tool I bought, so it gets stuck and you have to pull out the stem or branch. But applied correctly, it works well and holds a charge for longer than I expected.

good for branches up to 1/8" thick, not good on grass
It is just not good on grass even though photos on the box show use in
that situation -- doesn't slice but rather chomps through the area and
just will not cut through grass. So, the long handled attachment
accessory with wheels (for trimming and edging) is not useful. The
long handled attachment also is not balanced so even though you have
more reach for taller bushes or areas closer to the ground, you have
to torque both wrists to swing the trimmer around.

However on shrubbery, it shaves well. Think of how you use a hair
trimmer - that is how it trims bushes and shrubs.

It's lightweight and not intimidating as a gas powered model -- my
wife can use it without feeling scared.

Good for the Size
After having used my parents' 2 foot shrubber, and not knowing much about shrubbers, I purchased this one thinking a rechargeable one would beat their plug-in variety. While the cordlessness is a great feature and the thing has an impressive life, I was surprised by the size of this thing. I guess I should've paid more attention to the 6-inch blade description rather than the rechargeable feature. It works great for small shrubs here and there, but for a 7 foot tall bush in the back yard, it is simply adequate. So just be sure you buy the right sized blade. Otherwise, I highly recommend this.

Lovely little machine
I admit that I don't generally like things with large whirring, sharp blades, but this little guy is light weight, handles well to cut only those plants that need cutting, unlike my very indescriminate weed whacker.

I didn't find the switch too stiff. You do have to put an effort into keeping it down, but that is a safety feature - if you slip, or your hand slips, you won't end up with 'shubbered' fingers. If it is too stiff when you get it, just open up the button and either shorten or compress the spring, but don't tape it down!

For two blissful nights I went out and cut down spent poppies, delphiniums and penstemon(with big tough stems), it cut like a hot knife through butter, to the extent that even my sister (who doesn't venture into the garden normally), wanted a go. The battery lasted considerably longer than half an hour.

Unfortunately, my puppy ate the recharger (the puppy is fine, he discovered the delicacy on the floor where I'd dropped it on the way to the tool cupboard)...I am trying to get a replacement but the customer service at Black and Decker is leaving a bit to be desired (the online parts ordering decided my credit card does not exist and keeps asking me to re enter it), so that's where it loses a star! ... Read more

Features

• Uses 18-volt battery (not included)
• Can be used as a blower or as a vacuum with dust bag attached
• Up to 9.5 minutes of continuous operation from a single charge at high speed
• High performance "Makita" motor
• Variable speed (0-18,000 RPM) for controlled operation

Reviews (5)

Battery charger issue
I recently purchased this blower and the separate ...battery you need, but have yet to use it because I have had trouble finding an 18v battery charger. Amazon doesn't have one as a separate product, nor [do local stores](18 volt chargers are rare items, I am told). I wound up ordering a new Makita 18 volt 1/2" drill kit with two batteries and a charger for about $209 (not much more than the price of two batteries). A reconditioned drill kit would be even better, as recommended in another review here, but when I looked Amazon no longer carried this item.

Point is, think about how you are going to buy your batteries (cheaper in a kit) and where you will get a charger if not in a kit.

I give it 5 stars because I assume it is a great product, and the review system requires a stars to be selected.

A convenient light duty blower.
I bought this blower because I wanted to clean off my driveway without the hassle of plugging in my larger electric blower. I've owned it for about a year now.

The first thing that you notice about this blower is that it's much smaller than it looks in the photos. It's closer in size to your hand saw than it is to a standard leaf blower.

This has it's advantages and disadvantages. It's easy to set up, just twist the nozzle onto the front and plug the battery in the handle and you're ready to go. If you have a small outdoor job like blowing leaves or twigs off your front porch it works great. But being physically smaller in size than other blowers you don't move nearly the volume of air as a full size blower and sometimes you need to bend over and "push" the debris around with the air stream. The trigger style variable speed switch is great in that it allows you to dust off items that wouldn't survive a more powerful blast. It would be great for jobs like blowing sawdust out of your shop area as you could lightly dust the shelves and then sweep the floors full blast.

Even with an 18 volt battery the Makita doesn't have enough power to do the big jobs or work well on grassy surfaces. Even a large driveway would be a strain as it would require too much bending over and you would probably run out of power before you were done.

This blower is for hard surfaces and small jobs. In this role it is a mini powerhouse. It's build quality is high and it is light weight. It's designed for those "in between" size jobs.

It might even make a good blow dryer for a wet dog.

In summary, do NOT purchase this blower for regular yard work. Buy a full size.

DO purchase this blower for jobs of convenience and you will enjoy it. It is well built and nice to have when you're willing to start a five minute job but not a 20 minute one. :^)

Update: Dec 5, 2002 This morning I used the blower to blow off the powder snow that fell on my vehicle overnight. It took less than a minute and I didn't get my hands snowy just before I had to leave for work. Because you can whip this blower out quickly, there are a lot of different things that you can use it for that you might not think of otherwise.

Great little toy !!!
This Makita blower is fantastic. It has a variable speed switch that sets the blower from low to high. Don't get me wrong, you can't blow a whole yard clean, etc...I would recommend the 18 volt because you will get about 12 minutes of full blower time with it before you have to re-charge the battery. The lower voltage models will give you less time before the battery runs out. It is rather expensive ..,, but it is worth every penny. I use it to blow the bed of my pick-up truck clean and to blow the debris out of our gardens. It also has a suction feature for quick vacuum jobs, etc..., and a bag to hold the debris in. Let's just say, it gets small jobs done fast !!! This little gem is environmentally friendly, not too noisy and there are no electric cords to worry about. It surpasses broom clean-up by 101% !!! Once again Makita proves to be the best !!!

A much better blower than expected
I read the only previously written review before I purchased this blower and I almost didn't buy it. However, it seemed to be the best available alternative. I was very happy that I did.
I use it around the patio and pool and it works very well. You'll need a battery and charger. Hint: buy the factory reconditioned 18 volt 1/2 inch drill for only a few dollars more
than the battery and charger. You'll get the drill, a charger and two batteries.

Weak -- at best
This "tool" comes without a battery or charger. What's more, there appears to be no way to order a battery for it.

Got sawdust on a workbench? This thing would *probably* work okay.

Got leaves in your front yard? Get a real tool instead. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

We've always hated to trim hedges, but that might be because wenever had our hands on Black & Decker's new Hedge Hog cordless trimmer.It's light, hungry, and powerful--and did we mention cordless? Its14.4-volt battery will hold a charge for 40 minutes (who really wantsto labor longer than that anyway?) and recharges in three hours. At agood clip, you can cover 1,000 square feet on a single charge. Therubber grips feel good in hand and cut vibration to nearly nothing. Itweighs in at 6 pounds but feels lighter. A nice plus: The battery isinterchangeable with Black and Decker's other Firestorm tools. Thisone's a winner. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Rubber grip surfaces provided comfort and control
• Trims up to 1000 square feet of hedge on a single charge
• Hardened steel, dual-action, 20-inch blades cut smoothly at 2,800 spm
• Runs off 14.4 Volt FireStorm battery (included)
• 7/16-inch cutting capacity is perfect for green growth

Reviews (13)

This is a must buy for landscaping
I am so pleased with the performance of this hedge trimmer. It's very easy to operate, relatively light weight, and very practical. My older brother owns and operates a commercial landscaping company, so I've been exposed to some of the most expensive commercial quality equipment the market offers. I can honestly say that this hedge trimmer works every bit as well as a high dollar gas powered trimmer. I had concerns that the battery life of this product (though very good) was not enough for larger projects. At least in my first effort, I found this not be the case. It worked well and never even hinted at power loss. Add to this the quick charge up of the battery and the attractive appearance, and you've got the perfect tool for your personal landscaping needs. Don't get me wrong, this item will probably not be effective for commercial landscapers. I doubt it would have the battery power for all day usage, but for the gardener of conscience, this little guy provides convenient polution free trimming that's hard to beat.

Roam where you want to...
Black & Decker's "Hog" series are very popular, inexpensive power tools. Some work well, while others are merely average. The CHT500 22" Hedge Hog is definitely the former.

Pros:

1) Exceptionally light. Six pounds, but feels like two.

2) Long cutting bar for the weight.

3) Outstanding balance. The battery's position is perfect. The great balance makes the unit feel lighter than it is.

4) It's cordless! Not worrying about nicking/cutting your power cords as you maneuver around makes a tremendous difference.

5) Good battery life of about forty minutes. If you own any other 14.4 volt B&D products, this is a great addition to the arsenal and you can always use the other tools' batteries in this one. Keep a few charged and you can go for a long while.

6) Maintains cutting power even as the battery drains. The unit will cut to the absolute bitter end.

7) The motor really torques. Plenty of power to tear through shrubbery, even for a battery-powered unit.

8) Very quiet, even for an electric model.

9) Good value for the money.

Cons:

1) Iffy "on" mechanism. You push a spring-loaded switch forward and squeeze a hand-sized trigger at the same time. But the switch catches if the handle is not squeezed fully. A bit awkward and cheap feeling.

2) Hand guard design has some minor issues. It's effective, but despite being translucent it blocks a portion of the view of the cutting bar, while also extending far over the bar. This makes the bar seem shorter than it is. There is a good six inches or more close to the unit's body that you tend to forget about. That's how accidents happen.

3) Feels so light it makes you wonder how durable it is. Only time can tell here.

4) Not always a "one pass" trimmer. Keep in mind that this is a light to medium duty trimmer. While it does work well, you will still have to do a few passes over particularly dense shrubbery.

In summary, I am very happy with the CHT500. It does everything I want and the lack of cord enables me to wander my acreage with impunity, striking fear in the heartwood of bushes therein.

Highly recommended.

Good for the $$
First off I found it to be a great hedge trimmer for the $$ buck. Pretty well made and despite what "one" person wrote in another review it "does" seem to fit all the 14v firestorm tools I found at a leading hardware store.If you don't want to deal with a cord, or another gas powered tool I would BUY it!

False advertising: The American way?
I'm looking for a hedge trimmer to replace my venerable Black & Decker 16" corded electric hedge trimmer. When I saw this B&D cordless hedge trimmer (CHT500) advertised "Removable 14.4v FireStorm battery interchanges with other 14.4v FireStorm products," I thought it would be perfect because I also own a B&D 14.4 volt FireStorm cordless drill. I already have two battery packs for my drill, so three packs would provide ample power to trim my back hedges and bushes in front. I researched the trimmer on B&D's Web site, but it had a number of contradictions. (22" blade and 24" blade advertised on the same page--it has a 22" blade. 14.4v and 18.0v advertised on the same page--it's 14.4v. Maybe that's why I didn't believe it when it listed the PS140 battery under Accessories.) I ordered it from Amazon.com and even with free Super Saver Shipping, it arrived in only three days!

Imagine my irritation (and vocabulary) when I saw the battery was, in fact, nothing like the batteries for my 14.4v FireStorm cordless drill! The trimmer uses a PS140 Type 3 (push-in) and the drill uses an FSB14 (slide-on). They're nothing alike (except for being 14.4v.

The instructions state that the battery is shipped in a run-down condition, not a fully-discharged condition, so it only requires a 3-hour charge. I charged it for three hours, and, Saturday morning, I went outside and fired it up. It cut great! Having no cord is great! Unfortunately, it died after a mere 15 minutes. (Their Web site says its charge lasts 40 minutes.) Well, at least I got one bush done. Too bad I have five more bushes and about ninety feet of honeysuckles to trim. Now you can see why I liked the idea of three battery packs.

I thought that maybe the instructions are wrong and it actually shipped fully-discharged (which requires an 8-hour charge), so I charged it for eight hours. Sunday morning, I went out to tackle the rest of the hedges. I was outside for 45 minutes before it died. If I'm generous, it ran for the advertised 40 minutes, and I was able to do four evergreen bushes and part of an I-don't-know-what-it-is bush, but I had to finish up with my electric trimmer. I still haven't gotten to the honeysuckles.

My wife drove to the local B&D location and returned it. They accepted it without a problem. We'll see how quickly B&D sends me a check.

I've since bought the corded electric 24" Hedge Hog trimmer (HS2400). Read my review of it to see if I can avoid cutting the extension cord...

CHT500 summary:
Cuts well, even 3/8" woody branches.
Sometimes you need multiple passes--as with any trimmer.
I like the design and the balance.
The handles are comfortable and easy to use horizontally and vertically.
Includes a vinyl blade sheath (which the HS2400 does not--why?).
Cuts about twenty feet of 3-foot tall evergreen bushes in a single charge.
If you want more than 40 minutes of runtime, buy an electric trimmer.

Fatal flaw of all Black and Decker 14.4V tools...
Worked pretty good for a cordless hedge trimmer. Maybe not as well as a plug-in trimmer but it's worth it not to have to mess with the cord...
Unfortunately, like all 14.4V Black and Decker tools, once the battery charger goes, the tool is worthless!!!
You cannot get a replacement charger!
In fact the only reason I bought this tool was for the charger to replace the one for my FireStorm tools.

When will Black and Decker/Dwalt wake up and sell just replacement chargers, or even a replacement charger/battery combo??

Until it happens, I'm done with their tools, and their website ... for service too..... ... Read more

Features

• Includes long nozzle, and dust bag
• Compact and lightweight only 4.0 pounds
• Max air velocity of 114 MPH
• Variable speed control dial allows maximum speed to be set between 0 - 16,000 RPM
• Two tools in one; easily converts to a vacuum for reaching confined areas

Reviews (1)

Great Tool
I do alot of masonery cutting and tool is great for blowing out all of the dust. I just ordered a new one because the one that have is 12 years old and I use the hell out of it. I figure it has to die eventually. Compact and extremely handy, your be amazed at how many uses you'll find for it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

While mowing the lawn may never be considered a recreational activity, this rear bag mower from Black & Decker makes the chore as close to fun as it will ever get. With its 24-volt battery, which delivers 5-horsepower gas equivalent at peak torque, this cordless electric mower represents the top of Black & Decker's line of lawn mowing products. During our field tests, this orange powerhouse stood out above other mowers for ease of use and performance. Its versatile operation allowed us to mulch, bag, or expel the debris from its 19-inch cutting path. Switching between the three methods was as easy as removing the catch bag and the mulch plug--easily performed tasks when the mower is not running.

The most obvious difference between the new generation of electric mowers and the heavier gas-powered mowers of yore is the start-up. The ease with which this mower starts is almost stupefying. Simply pull and hold the thin handle lever, then pull the ignition lever, and presto!--the engine is running. To minimize safety risks to young children, a removable safety key must be inserted prior to starting the mower.

Once started, this mower runs like a dream and is much quieter than older gas-powered models. In addition to the lack of noise, vibrations were also dampened by the cushioned handgrips, a feature that makes mowing a much more comfortable experience. Another innovation is the method by which the mower is raised and lowered. Where once it was necessary to adjust each wheel individually, the height of the mowing platform is now controlled by a single squeeze of a single lever, which allows for seven positions from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches. While this mower is much lighter than a gas mower, we did find that this Black & Decker cordless model, weighing in at 76 pounds, is heavier than its corded relatives.

The only disadvantage this machine seems to have is in the power department. While there were no serious problems during our field test, it was necessary to slow down or go back over thicker sections of grass in order to make a completely clean cut. This cordless model also requires a substantial charging time when first out of the box: the manufacturer suggests at least a 16-hour period initially in order to get peak performance and maximum run time. According to Black & Decker, the battery will be 70% energized with four hours of charging. When fully juiced, this mower can be expected to cut between 1/2 and 1/3 of an acre per charge. Though the charge is one aspect that needs to be considered when deciding whether to purchase a corded or a rechargeable mower, we found the added maneuverability of the cordless over the corded model far outweighs the inconvenience of charge times.

When you've finished mowing, the handles fold back, making it easier to store this mower in a tight garage or shed. It comes with a 30-day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and a manufacturer's full two-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Convertible mulcher/rear bagger
• Cuts up to 1/2-acre losts on one charge
• One touch height adjustment (1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches)
• Lifetime 19-inch 3-in-1 deck
• 30 day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and full two-year warranty

Amazon.com Review

This quiet, clean-running cordless tool is ideal for anyone who needs to clip tall, awkwardly-sited, or hard-to-reach hedges and shrubs. It effectively trims to a height of ten feet, thanks to two interlocking components that form an extended pole shape. The hardened, machined steel 18-inch cutting blade is exceptionally durable and features dual action to minimize vibration and increase user comfort. The 180-degree pivoting head adjusts to five different positions for hedges both high and low and effectively trims branches up to 7/16-inch in diameter. A powerful 18-volt NiCad battery provides 2400 revolutions per minute and runs the trimmer for up to 50 minutes between charges, as well as starting up effortlessly with the press of a trigger. (A locking switch enhances safety by preventing accidental starts.) Without a cumbersome electrical cord to drag around, even big jobs feel easier, and there are never any oil, gas, or tune-ups needed.

The unit assembles and disassembles in seconds using locking collars to join the power end to the cutting head. A carry bag allows for easy transport and storage at home or to professional worksites. Also included are a battery charger and blade cover for increased storage safety. This trimmer is covered by a two-year warranty in addition to a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. It weighs just over eight pounds and measures 78 inches long when put together. --Mary Park ... Read more

Features

• Includes trimmer, battery, charger, carry bag, and blade cover
• Weighs 8.1 pounds; measures 78 inches long when assembled; 2-year warranty
• Quiet, clean-running cordless trimmer for hedges and shrubs up to 10 feet tall
• Hardened, machined steel cutting blade with smooth dual action; cuts branches up to 7/16-inch in diameter
• 18-volt NiCad battery runs 50 minutes between charges

Features

• Upgradeable to RL1000 with programmable docking station
• Automatic mower cuts the lawn while the user relaxes on the porch
• Cuts up to 10,800 square feet on a single 24-hour charge
• Onboard sensor and bumper avoids obstacles and navigates slopes
• Built-in child safety lock; 5,800 rpm blade speed and powerful mulcher

Reviews (2)

Takes A Little Getting Used To
We have a challenging yard, sloped uneven ground and oddly shaped with a big side yard. I've divided the yard into 2 zones and I still can't get a complete job with a single battery pack. This weekend I'll chop it up into 3 zones to try to improve efficiency. I've also ordered a rapid charger and spare battery. For $1,200 you would think the rapid charger would be standard.

Laying the perimeter wire is a real bear of a job. The mower does a nice job cutting. The multiple sharp blades is like an electric razor and the yard looks shaved instead of cut.

Overall, we're not thrilled. Sure creates a stir in the neighborhood, though. Lots of stares as the mower merrily purrs along.

By Golly, It Works
My paid lawn care service bailed out on me and left me high and dry with no mower and a lawn that was beginning to look like a hayfield. I added up the money I paid others to mow my lawn last year, and decided that if the Robomower worked, and lasted 1-1/2 years, I'd be even, and wouldn't have to give up my evenings after work and brave the mosquitoes and black flies.

I love it. I'm stretching its capabilities in terms of lawn size and inclines, but the little thing just keeps chugging along. I have it set to high clearance and a high cut, and it is handling my very uneven lawn with no problems. It took two mows per zone to transform my badly overgrown lot into a groomed lawn. The cut is good, just like my riding-mower or push-mower neighbors' except without the lines. The Robomower mulches beautifully, leaving no evidence of clippings on top of the grass.

I start the mower when I get home from work. While it mows, I'm inside doing all the other evening chores, and then relaxing. It keeps on mowing after the sun goes down, and it's so quiet that you won't disturb the neighbors if it finishes up at 10 PM. (Just remember to bring a flashlight to find where it has stopped when it is time to bring it in!)

While you can just set it up and go, to get the best cut be prepared to spend a little time optimizing things after you've seen it run a couple times: adjusting the perimeter wire, and changing zone configurations if you need to. I started out with two zones, but changed to three, given the size(10,000 sq ft+) and irregular shape of my lawn. I may get the optional fast charger so I can mow more than one zone per day.

Side effect: You will get passers-by stopping to stare and chat. It is a definite conversation starter. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Robomower is convenient, easy, robotic, and clean--and it's a great conversation piece. It's no lightweight; in fact, it takes two people to remove the machine from the box when it arrives. Although the mower isn't complicated to operate, getting the system set up in your yard can take most of an afternoon. However, the included instructional video and well-written manual make the job easier. The biggest part of the task is stringing the perimeter wire around your yard, marking the boundaries the Robomower is to stay within. When it's mowing, the machine senses the perimeter wire and uses three mulching blades to cut down everything inside the wire. The mulching blades mean you don't need to bag or rake.

The Robomower's safety features eliminate any chance of the evil-robot-run-amok outcome. It won't run at all if it's flipped over with the blades exposed. Likewise, it turns tail and backs off if its soft 360-degree bumpers encounter any foreign object (like a pet or toy or favorite rose bush). It's quiet compared to other lawn mowers, but because it takes longer to get the job done than a human with a walk-behind mower, what noise there is lasts longer. The mower works best on level yards smaller than 3,200 square feet, with the grass reasonably tame to begin with. It does not work well on hilly or overgrown yards. While it takes a full day to recharge the battery, it a full charge is enough to mow most lawns. All in all, the Robomower is ideal for those of us who always feel like there's something better to do with a weekend afternoon than lawn mowing, or for people with disabilities. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• Runs on rechargeable battery--eliminates the need for oil and gas
• Mows 2,500 - 3,200 square feet on a single charge
• Features a 21-inch mowing radius
• Includes built-in safety features, manual remote controller, and instructional video

Reviews (30)

Mows Your Lawn While You Giggle
My Robomower does indeed do what is is advertised to do. I installed the 16-gauge, single-strand perimeter wire as instructed. It took a lot of pegs (all 200, in fact) to hold down the wire on my uneven bermuda grass lawns. I charged up the mower, and set it loose.

I was actually giggling as it ran around the perimeter wire, then proceeded to mow my lawn while I sipped on an ice-cold soda in the shade.

At first glance the robomower seems to be a little on the cheap side. But I think Friendly Robotics spent the money where it does the most good--the motors. This thing was able to motor out of some pretty uneven spots on my lawns. Battery life was better than advertised, but this may be due to the relatively small size of my lawns because the mower makes a lot of stops to change direction.

The user interface is well thought-out, and the user manual and video provided with the mower make set up straight forward. I think anyone capable of programming a VCR would have no trouble setting up the robomower.

My only criticisms so far are: 1) It would be nice if the perimeter switch were weatherproof so you could leave it outside; 2) A "pigtail" of heavier wire or more heavily insulated wire going between the perimeter wire and switch would make it less likely to get eaten by a string trimmer, and 3) a more sophisticated charger, that could switch between fast and trickle charge, would be nice. I think a charger like this is available from the company.

These are pretty minor gripes. All in all, it performs as advertised. And hey, when was the last time you giggled while somebody else (or something else) mowed your lawn?

ONE YEAR UPDATE

I've owned Robe (my cute little name for it) for a year now. Here's the scoop:

Problems: Only one. One wire in the pigtail coming from the controller pulled out. I fixed it in 5 minutes with my soldering iron. Oh the joy of being a boy.

What have I learned? Battery life has remained the same over the course of the year. Robe does not like mowing wet grass, and is more likely to get stuck on my bumpy Bermuda grass lawn if he tries to mow early in the morning. However, since neither Robe nor I are "morning people," this is seldom a problem. Robe does not like long grass--when I go three weeks between mowing, especially if the grass is wet, Robe is a little more likely to get stuck. However, these are pretty paltry complaints. I have spent much time watching the little mushroom roam my lawn trying to figure out its behavior. I am very impressed with its programming. If it is mowing the edge, for example, and it gets stuck, it will often back up, motor into the main lawn area, and automatically go into regular mowing mode. When it gets stuck in the middle of the lawn, it will try to go back and forth, or turn, to unstick itself. Pretty impressive. I usually plan on watching Robe while it does the edge--this is when it is most likely to encounter an obstacle. Robe's mushroom shape helps it motor under shrubs to get the edge of a lawn where you would have trouble with a normal lawnmower. I try to work in the yard when Robe is at work in case he gets stuck, but if I mow my lawns every week he might get stuck one in three times or less. I will usually check on him after an hour or so, and if he is stuck it is no problem to restart him. He probably wouldn't get stuck at all if I really took care of my yard, but that is another story. Robe is at least as smart as my cat Bigz, and a lot more useful. I am completely satisfied with this product after using it for a year.

It is great, but !!!!!
I have the robomower for a period of 10 months. I have St. Agustin grass and I live in a corner lot. It is not big but has oddly shapes in the front yard (Here is where I have problems).

It worked excellent last year in fall and this year in spring. This year I have been following advise how to get a better lawn in Texas so when summer temperature reached 85 or more degrees I changed the cut height to the 3" set (This is the recomended height for summer) the robomower is doing a poor job.

I have the new mower with traction weels but it is not enough it slip very often and I have to follow it everywhere to be ready when get stucked in one spot.

I have some slops nothing big but if you add the high grass and the slopes the battery started to drain to soon. In only takes 45 minutes to one hour to the robo mower experience problems. It barely moves.

The other problem is the shape of my front yard the robomower can not handle it and I have to do it mannualy. (Wich is not fun with the Texas heat and mosquitos). The manual control is good is you do not have to turn often.

In the back yard the story is different (and is double the sizes of my front yard). The only thing I have to do is press the green button and relax (maybe it will stuck once or twice in 1 1/2 hour work, not big deal. I have only to push it a little to make it advance so this is a very small inconvenience and I can say I get a 100% satisfaction in my back Yard.)

When I bought the robomower I got 60 days money back guarantee to test the robot to see if suits my land. I did it but I strongly suggest to buy it when you are ready to test the robomower in the most severe conditions. It worked fine in fall but not in summer time with 3" St. Agustin grass.

The company is working aggressively to fix problems (They replaced my robot for a new one with the traction whells) but I would suggest to test it, test it, and finally test it.

I would say it is not a completly robomower problem because my yard is to blame too (my front yard it is the most healthy and green in my neighbor, so it is very thick and dense).

It is a great invention and I am looking forward to see the robovacuum this year.

Its perfect, you will love it.
After reading a lot of reviews for this product, I decided to adquire it. It has been 8 months after I got it, and it has worked perfectly. The only problem I have notieced is that if you have a new lawn, and the lawn is bumpy, the final cut won't look smooth.
I know if I level my yard, it will look better.
After wiring the perimeter, and you test the robot the first time, modify everything to cut as much you can from the border near the walls and obstacles. If you can buy the RL800 will be better, because it has a build in password, as I understood. So no body will be able to use it if it is stolen.

So relaxing!!!
Simple to install and runs like a dream! All my male neighbors are envious! I drink lemonade and they sweat!

A Must-Have
My family purchased this mower for my dad's 50th birthday, and it really is a dream come true for him! Everything about the mower is simple, from laying the perimeter wire to charging the mower. We charged the mower for approximately one hour before using it, and it had enough juice to do the entire backyard. The mower gets all the way to the edge of the yard if you lay the wire correctly, and once it is going you have all this time to do other things, like wash the car, or swim! I highly recommend this. We have had no problems with it whatsoever. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Early Adopters Pick: May 2003. The first fully robotic lawnmower that can learn parts of your yard.

The Robomower is convenient, easy, robotic, and clean--and it transforms the world of yard work! Set up (once), turn on, and the Robomower cuts the grass on almost any surface--all by itself. Getting the system set up in your yard can take most of an afternoon, but the well-written manual makes the job easier. The biggest part of the set-up task is stringing the perimeter wire around your yard, marking the boundaries the Robomower will stay within. Once you're set, and the mower is on, the machine simply senses the perimeter wire and uses three mulching blades to cut down everything inside the wire. Thanks to the onboard computer, the Robomower can even learn parts of your yard as it mows, making it quicker next time. The mower is quiet, automatic, and the mulching blades mean that when it's done you don't need to bag or rake.

The Robomower is outfitted with safety features. It won't run at all if it's flipped over with the blades exposed. Likewise, it turns tail and backs off if its soft 360-degree bumpers encounter any foreign object (like a pet or toy or favorite rose bush). A theft deterrent system keeps the unit safe. The Robomower is very quiet compared to other lawn mowers, although because it takes longer to get the job done than a human with a walk-behind mower, what noise there is lasts longer. The mower works best on level yards smaller than 3,200 square feet, with the grass reasonably tame to begin with. It does not work well on hilly or overgrown yards. While it takes a full day to recharge the battery, a full charge is enough to mow most lawns. (The mower is definitely no lightweight, either; it takes two people to remove the machine from the box when it arrives.) The Robomower is definitely a smart idea for folks with physical conditions that make strenuous activities like mowing difficult, but it's also a great product for anyone who feels like there's always something better to do with a weekend afternoon than lawn mowing. Rechargeable power pack comes included.--Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• No need to worry about theft with the new theft deterrent system
• Runs on rechargeable power pack--eliminates the need for oil and gas
• Press one button and mower starts working, you are not needed on the lawn while it operates
• An excellent mulcher, so you won't need to collect and bag any grass clippings
• Loaded with built-in safety features to protect children and pets

Reviews (32)

RoboMower Exceeded My Expectations
The last time I bought a product this life-changing was the original IBM PC in 1983. RoboMower makes you feel like you've entered a new era, where those Jetsons episodes we watched as kids have finally come true. The first time your robot mows your lawn is like using your first dishwasher, microwave, etc. How did we ever live without this thing?

RoboMower erased all my fears. Would it take too long to mow since it would cut a random pattern? No, RoboMower methodically cut my almost-square front lawn row by row, just like I would have done. Would it lack enough power to cut front and back lawns, about 600 feet of perimeter? No, it can do both on one battery charge! Would I need the rapid charger? No, charging over night works OK since it cuts faster than I expected. Could it handle my still wet grass without clogging? Yes, it cut fine with no grass build-up under the blade areas. Could it handle the slope in my back yard? No problem!

Things the manual didn't tell me that I wish it had:
1) On sweeping curves the wire needs to be placed closer than the supplied ruler and instructions indicate. I moved it 3-4' closer to the edge, otherwise the RoboMower makes turns too wide. The tighter the turn the closer the wire needs to be. Plan on tweaking wires on curves a lot when testing!
2) When you place the wire down the first time, lightly place the stakes, as I found I moved about one in three. When you move one, at that point you'll have either too much slack or not enough. To adjust slack you'll need to pull the wire through many stakes. Don't expect to tug wire through several stakes at once ' the insulation will split on a snug stake and you'll have a bare spot! Carefully work slack under each stake. Be sure to leave enough spare wire at BOTH ends of your loop so you can provide slack on either side as needed. If only one side has extra wire, you may have to pull slack through almost all your stakes.
3) You want stakes loose when testing to adjust slack, but if you leave the wire too high off the ground and turn the blades on by mistake you'll cut the wire.
4) When I first tested, over a straight stretch of 30 feet I tried just one stake at each end, pulling the wire taught to the ground. That didn't work ' the mower can still swish the wire left or right an inch or two and not run the course you intended to test. You'll need the wire snug enough so the mower can't shift it. A stake every 10 feet or so solves that.
5) None of the literature or their website tells you RoboMower comes with only two perimeter wire connectors so you can create only two zones. If you need more you need to order the connector accessory kit.
6) You may need more wire than you think. I had carefully precalculated I would need only 450 feet, so I didn't buy extra wire from Amazon in advance. Turns out on mowing day the 500 foot roll wasn't enough (curves gobble up wire!) so I was running around town searching for more. I tried Sears who sells RoboMower but has no wire. Sears sent me to Home Depot saying any 18-22 gauge copper wire would work. Well, HD doesn't have wire that small!. I finally found it at the Hoover Store, since Hoover stores service RoboMower (and will soon sell the to-be-announced Friendly Robotics Vacuum.)

My front yard is 1800 feet, almost a rectangle with three sweeping curves. RoboMower cuts that in 35 minutes row-by-row from house to curb, like I would in one pass, in a methodical manor perpendicular to the street leaving no uncut areas between rows. But the mowing pattern it uses on my 3600-foot rear yard is quite different. First it cuts at a 45-degree angle leaving uncut areas between the rows it cuts. When done with this first pass, it shifts 90-degrees to cut across the first rows, catching some uncut spaces but not all. Then it shifts again, hoping to catch more uncut areas. This behavior means some areas are cut repeatedly so it needs about two hours to mow the rear yard.

Mowing efficiency has a lot to do with where you train it to leave the edge to start mowing inside. When it starts mowing, it seems to ponder about what kind of area it is within. If started in a small leg off your main lawn and it keeps bumping the wire time and again after a short distance, it does into a different behavior than if it starts within a very large area and encounters the wire infrequently. However it starts seems to be how it will continue to mow, seemingly choosing the pattern it thinks fits what it first encountered. So, I'm experimenting with the 'learn perimeter' function to teach it exactly how far to trim the edge before turning inside the lawn. My theory is if I start the mower in the same spot each time, and teach it to leave edge trimming in the correct place, it will always choose the better pattern for my lawn. If you start it in a different spot each time it may mow less efficiently at times. So, like a child, RoboMower needs a little advice.

I'd rate this among the most fabulous purchases of my lifetime. The biggest problems: feeling guilty because you're doing no work and dealing with your neighbors who stop to watch you watching your mower at work.

Joy on so many levels
I'm enthusiastically recommending this mower to all my friends.

My yard is 1/2 acre and the robomower completely handles it with no problems. It's got large wheels with aggressive tread so it can deal with pretty much any reasonable obstacles and slopes you can throw at it. For me it even handles being driven to and from where I store it across a section of river rock (golf ball sized) landscaping to get to the yard. I'm also pleasantly surprised at how efficient it is at covering the whole yard. I shelled out nearly $200 for the extra battery and fast charger; I'm glad I did though, because when the weekend comes around after a rainy week, it would be a bummer to be only able to cut one zone per day. You can tune the wire location so that there is an inch or less of trimming necessary, but it takes a few iterations. If you want to minimize trimming, throw away the "Roboruler" guide they provide; it's very conservative about the obstacles and leaves a lot of grass.
It's quiet enough to run it at night unless you live in a very quiet neighborhood and everyone's windows are open.

Minor disappointments:
-The accessories are expensive.
-They should include at least 3 wire connectors instead of 2.
-It's slower than walking speed when joysticking it around from one area to another.
-You have to peg the wire down more often than they say in order to keep it from getting lifted up and moved and/or cut by the mower (every 3-5 feet). (Buy extra pegs) To really dial in the setup, expect to spend 2-3 times as long as it takes to mow once.
-The wire is BRIGHT green, so it's still pretty visible a week after pegging it down. I may bury it in selected parts of the yard, but I'll wait to see if the grass covers it better later.

But those are really just nits that pale in comparison to the joy of turning on the mower and then spending fun time with the family. No other product I own gives me back hours of my life.

Good Idea - Bad Service
Sure, works great, makes mowing easy for any standard lawn... but good luck getting service when the mower stops working.

2 years ago the easiest way to get the RL500 Robomower was to buy direct from the Friendly Robotics USA rep (Friendly Robotics is actually an Israeli company even though they tried hard to hide that fact with the US sales office). Back then Friendly was well represented in the US with a full sales and support team. The prices weren't bad either, so I decided to buy direct. After all, what better support could you get than direct from the manufacturer. What a mistake that turned out to be.

Last week - exactly 45 days after the warranty expired, the drive motor for the left wheel stopped working. My first response, call the US sales office where I purchase the item. Guess what? The US operation is all but dissolved. If you want to become a distributor, no problem, they'll take the call. If you need support, you get a pre-recorded message telling you in much more words, "get lost". I tried their suggestion of looking for a local dealer for service. There are no local dealers, unless you consider a 3-hour drive in each direction local.

I write to support, now for the third time and what does the "Friendly" sales person suggest? Ship the 38 pound mower to another state for service with a company that wants nothing to do with me. Can't say I blame them, after all I didn't buy the mower there.

So I start calling around and here is what I found for a $700 Robomower repair: Shipping to another state: $40 via FedX Ground Dealer requires I pay return frieght: $50 Diagnostic time: $60 regardless of problem Repair Estimate: $100-$150 labor Parts Estimate: $80 drive motor
Total Repair Estimate: $380

I can buy a new mower for way less than that and have enough cash left to pay the local kids $15/week for the next 10 weeks to mow the lawn!

slipping wheels + heavy battery + sore thumb = bad idea!
I freely admit that I am a geek, and I reveled at the idea of having a robotic lawn mower. What I did not realize (until wasting the money) is that your lawn must be perfect in order for the Robomower to work perfectly. By perfect, I mean, it must be very shallow, with no significant root system (e.g. St. Augustine sod does *not* work well with this!), and your lawn must be *very* level.

Our first experiences with the Robomower was after the first full day of laying out the perimeter wire (which was eventually pulled up by the grass and cut by the mower!) - yes, it took a day, and we have a small backyard! The mower proceeded to get stuck anywhere there was a bump in the lawn. We figured that since this was a new lawn, it would eventually smooth over and no problem! Wrong! The wheels are plastic, not knobby rubber, so it cannot grip into grass of any significant height. Therefore, the wheels spin, and your mower will sit in one place, doing nothing. Also, the programming meant that it continually tried to go back and forth through the side lawn between us and our neighbor - the short length! It would go 3 feet, turn, go back 3 feet, turn, etc. This alone took 45 minutes, especially since it kept spinning its wheels or getting stuck in the "hill" at the seam of our lawns.

When we called "Friendly" Robotics to complain, they told us we got an old model, and that we should send the whole mower (which would cost us $75 in shipping) _AND_ $299 more (for the upgrade), so they could add knobby tires and update the software. This still does not make it work any better.

Until recently, we were just using the Nintendo controller to mow our yard manually (still pushing it forward over bumps or when the tires spin; still pushing it down to make sure it cut the level we want), which always gave us cramped thumbs and claw-like hands after taking 1.5 hours to mow a small yard. My wife and I decided we would just work this way until we ran it into the ground and had saved enough money to get a real mower. Well, after less than 2 years, the battery now refuses to charge past 10 minutes worth of real use.

To sum up:
- The mower and battery are far too heavy for shipping to the company for any repairs
- the tires slip and don't grip, even on dry grass
- the mowing algorithm is massively inefficient
- the manual control is carpal tunnel waiting to happen
- the battery life is minimal
- the yard looks better if I cut it with a weed wacker

We basically hate this mower and recommend no one buy from them ever again!

Can't Recommend It Enough
I purchased the RL-500 three years ago. I am soooo happy with it and can only imagine that the newer models are even better. As far as battery life, it mows for about 3-4 hours on one charge and can cut most of our 3/4 acre yard in one afternoon. I use it about twice a week or as necessary and it does a GREAT job. I highly recommend the rapid charger though if you have a large yard. It takes a full 24 hours to charge without it. (Cars actually stop and back up to watch it, it't too fun!) ... Read more

Features

• Includes 12V 9" trimmer/edger, charger, battery, and wall mount bracket
• Automatic Feed System, no bumping required
• Groom N' Edge head converts from trimming to edging
• Cordless trimmer eliminates the hassle of extension cords
• Adjustable auxiliary handle adjusts to user's height

Reviews (3)

Small and Mighty
This Lightweight trimmer is easy to carry around, and does an excellent job.
A Charge seems to last forever. I Mow with a push reel mower, and the occasional long bit is left behind. I just follow up with this, and the lawn looks great! It is quiet and easy on the environment too.

underpowered for any real application
I wanted an electric string trimmer because I don't like the noise of a gas powered trimmer. A cordless trimmer appealed to me because I don't have to haul 100 feet of extension cord to use it.

Even though my yard is very small (1/4 acre) and I have nothing but grass to trim along the house and fence, this trimmer was far too under-powered. It simply wouldn't cut grass efficiently. I also found the automatic string feed to be unreliable...I would always end up with about 1 inch of string and I would have to tap it against the ground to try to get it to feed. Also, I found the unit uncomfortable to use - it's poorly balanced due to the heavy battery.

This season I broke down and replaced the cordless trimmer with a small 25cc gas powered unit. It is very noisy, but it gets the job quicker, easier, and better.

Unless you have a complete phobia of gas powered trimmers, I would not recommend this tool.

Great Purchase
I bought the reconditioned trimmer and absolutely love it! Itwas an huge extra bonus saving so much money over a new one. It came in the original box, manual included. Spankin' clean and works fantastic! A little heavy to lift, but so well balanced that when you use it, the weight is not a problem. Very quiet also. ... Read more

Features

• One year warranty
• Cordless convenience-requires no gas, oil or tune-ups
• Automatic Feed Spool (AFS) releases line as needed-no bumping required
• Groom'N'Edge button rotates 180-degrees for convert from trimming to edging
• 12-inch cut path-largest of any cordless electric string trimmer, get more done in less time

Features

• One year warranty
• Cordless convenience
• 3-inch machine sharpened blade
• Safety lock off switch
• 3.6 volts-will trim up to 35 minutes on a single charge

Features

• Factory reconditioned to perform like new!
• 100% automated--the iMow operates entirely by itself
• 21-inch mulching deck uses three mulching blades
• 360-degree safety bumpers reverse the mower on contact
• Mow up to 5,000 square feet of lawn

Reviews (2)

A Really Practical High-Tech Toy... I mean Tool!
I asked for this Imow as a Father's Day gift. Wife was skeptical at first but she went along. It took some time to install the wire boundary for the whole yard but the mower worked quite well. Wife is impressed enough to consider getting one for her dad - maybe next year Father's Day.

The whole box weighs around 100 lbs so be really sure that you want and can use it as shipping to you is free but returning freight won't be.

Before you buy, go get a copy of the user manual from the manufacturer .. and verify that your yard terrain is within specs. Then do some paper layouts of the mowing plots. The thing uses a zigzag pattern to cover the area. You want to avoid bottlenecks/strait-like areas to allow it to traverse the plot. I found it more efficient to break a large block into smaller plots as the zigzags overlap with shorter distance between boundaries. My yard totals about 10000 sq ft with 4 plots. The smallest takes about 40 min., the largest 100 mins. With those work durations, it fully recharges overnight.

It is kind of fun to watch as it follows the boundary wire during the edge mode (very precise turning). The mowing is a triangular zigzag. Not entirely random though, I noticed it seems to track obstacles that it bumps into and maneuvers to avoid that area later on (my firmware is rev 3.2...) In any case, the pattern looks inefficient compared to the path a person would do. Just let the thing work and with enough time the grass becomes even. A couple trial runs and you can determine the correct time for each plot.

On dry days with long enough grass, I let it loose on a plot as I return from work. It is very quiet and can hang out thru dusk and night time w/o risk of West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and other nice effects of mosquito bites. And holy cow, I get to do other things on the weekend!

Finally, automation gets to the yard! I guess my son will have to do part-time web authoring for spending money in the future...

IMOW is our new pal!
Well, first off, my wife thought this was crazy. Sometime in the shopping process I did too. I mean, is it *that* hard to mow your own freakin' grass?

I grew up in Florida, where lawnmowing is an ugly chore, in 100% humidity, with sticky, hot grass all over your shoes, legs, etc.
Bad lawnmowing memories.
Now that I needed to buy a lawnmower of my own, I had always wanted to pick up one of those Freindly Robotics robomowers... When I saw Toro private-lable these things, give them a bigger battery, and then the prices kept falling, and then they had the refurbs even cheaper... I thought, heck, why not do it?

Report that I'm pretty pleased. I started the thing in the dusk, so I wouldn't be embarrassed by neighbors seeing this thing eat my flowerbeds, or small children if things went terribly wrong. Ended up with my wife and I with big silly grins as IMOW just ate our grass while we watched it (or tried not to watch it and look cool while the neighbors gawked and found excuses to come over and watch it - we're meeting a lot more neighbors now) The kids like IMOW ("Daddy, IMOW likes to mow ALL BY HIMSELF!") and so do I.
The down side is that there aren't quite enough pegs, especially if you have lots of obstacles that need the guide wire navigated around. The refurb didn't ship with a video or charger, I am assuming Toro will make good on parts if you didn't get everything in the 'open box specials' though.
If you have a relatively flat, square lawn free of lawn gnomes and junk, you are a prime hassle-free IMOW candidate.
Hey, go for it. It's a cool little mower. ... Read more

Features

• Compact and well balanced with an ergonomic handle for easy and comfortable handling
• Can be used as a blower or as a vacuum with dust bag attached
• Up to 5 Minutes of continuous operation from a single charge at high speed
• High performance "Makita" motor lasts up to 5 times longer
• Variable speed (0-18,000 RPM) for controlled operation

Features

• Utilizes 14.4V battery for powerful performance
• Can be used as a blower or as a vacuum with dust bag attached
• Up to 7 minutes of continuous operation from a single charge at high speed
• 14.4-volt battery (not included)
• One-year warranty

Reviews (2)

Handy little blower.
It works great.I use it everywhere: workshop, house, truck, yard.It produces a strong amount of air that can quickly clean out the workshop, or truck bed.The vacuum part works great also, but I mainly use it as a blower. A longer run time would be great, but I'm very satisfied with this tool.

compact, powerful, incomplete
This is the only battery powered blower on the market since "Weedeater" and "Black & Decker" discontinued theirs.The description is a lie.It does not come with the 14.4V battery so you are out another $34 for that and if you don't have a charger, add $60 making it a pricey little gadget. ... Read more

Features

• Compact and lightweight (3.5 lbs.) for easy handling and reduced operator fatigue
• Utilizes 7.2V battery for 40 minutes of operation on a single charge
• For easy trimming of hedges, light shrubbery and brush
• Automatic lock-off switch helps prevent accidental starts
• 11-3/4" cutting length and 950 strokes per minute

Reviews (1)

Why Not Tell The Voltage?
If the battery and charger are sold separately, there may be customers that have both. Please state the voltage, ... Read more