When it comes to string trimmers, BLACK+DECKER is one of the go-to brands for high-quality, ultra-convenience models. Today, we’re going to take a look at four of B+D’s string trimmers. They’re all lightweight and easy to use, so which of them should you use to whack weeds on your yard out of existence?
BLACK+DECKER LSTE523
Cordless + 20V Battery
In this comparison guide, we’ll start and end off with B+D’s cordless string trimmers. This model uses a 20V battery pack (compatible with every other B+D power tool in the 20V family) that holds onto quite a charge. Each charge supplies the tool with up to 40 minutes of continuous weed-whacking to ensure even the largest yards are fully trimmed and edged after mowing.
2-Speed Control
The LSTE523 offers two whacking speeds of 5500 and 7200 RPM. Running each speed continuously without switching gears, you can get up between 25 and 40 minutes of work before the battery needs a full 4-hour rest to charge. Speed control lets use only as much power as necessary for the detailing task on hand.
Adjustable Height and Handle
The LSTE523 wouldn’t be a B+D string trimmer if you couldn’t adjust the height of the shaft and the position of the handle. The shaft can be extended or retracted to suit a wide range of users, both tall and short, while the handle can be angled to improve comfort and accuracy.
BLACK+DECKER ST8600
5-amp Motor
Corded string trimmers don’t have the benefit of ultimate portability, but they are considerably more powerful. For instance, the ST8600 is sporting a 5-amp motor that has a peak whacking speed of 7700RPM. If the first couple of thousand whacks don’t split the offending weeds, the next several thousand will.
POWERDRIVE Transmission
With older string trimmers, oftentimes you’ll notice a significant drop in power and cutting speed as longer you work. This is typically caused by heavy grass and weed loads bogging down the string and preventing it from slicing flora into a million pieces, but with B+D’s POWERDRIVE technology, this will not happen since the motor will automatically kick into overdrive.
Convertible Trimmer to Edger
Another feature that’s shared across these four B+D string trimmers is convertibility. The shaft and head can be rotated up to 90° to make trimming along the edge of sidewalks and pathways. There’s even a tiny wheel that you can rest on the ground to guide the tool’s head to make detailing jobs a heck of a lot easier on shoulders and entire arm.
BLACK+DECKER BESTA510
6.5-amp Motor
If you thought a 5-amp motor was heavy-duty, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The B+D BESTA510 is packing a beefy 6.5-amp motor that has a maximum unloaded cutting speed of 8000 RPM. POWERDRIVE prevents this tool from becoming bogged down, even in the grassiest, weediest parts of your yard.
38-foot Cord with Retention System
We’d advise you invest in an outdoor-safe extension cord at the right gauge to increase your radius of movement to a hundred feet or so, depending on the size of your yard. The excellent thing about these tools is that they have a cord retention system that prevents these guys from becoming unplugged.
Autofeed System
We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about these tools’ autofeed system. An advanced internal system inside of these string trimmers automatically feeds string to the tool whenever it runs short. Since it completely eliminates the bumping process, you don’t run the risk of damaging the head.
BLACK+DECKER LST140C
Cordless + 40V Battery
The final B+D string trimmer is the cordless LST140C that uses a 40V rechargeable battery pack. Generally speaking, when comparing two cordless tools side-by-side, the higher the voltage rating, the more powerful the tool. So even though its cutting speed peaks at “only” 6500 RPM, each rotation of the string delivers a heavier blow to make lawn detailing jobs go by in a snap.
25-minute Runtime, 3-hour Charging
As a cordless tool, the amount of work you can get done is dependent on how much of a charge the battery can hold. The LST140C’s 40V battery pack can provide up to 25 minutes of nonstop trimming and edging. From 0 to 100, it’ll take three hours of resting in the charging dock.
6.4-pound Build
The total weight of the LST140C is just 6.4 pounds. Compared to the other tools, this is actually the weightiest of them all by more than a pound. That said, there’s absolutely no way this tool can be considered anything except lightweight!
Verdict: Which BLACK+DECKER String Trimmer Should I Get?
Choosing between string trimmers of the same brand can be a challenge since they share so many features. With adjustable height, convertibility, POWERDRIVE, and powerful motors, the only consideration you need to make is whether you want the comfort of portability (cordless) or uninterrupted trimming (corded). We would recommend any of these string trimmers to anybody at any time—they’re just that great!
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
