Black & Decker NHT524 Cordless Hedge Trimmer

This is a good homeowner-quality hedge trimmer. It’s not designed to be a commercial tool, nor is it priced in that category….there are other choices if you need to spend three hours a day trimming hedges. All-in-all, though, I like it.

The Black & Decker NHT524 Cordless Hedge Trimmer is a dual-action tool designed to help you create and maintain a perfectly manicured yard. Powered by a long-lasting 24-volt battery, the NHT524 combines unmatched power with the ease of cordless operation, so you can prune and shape your shrubs and hedges like a pro.

the NHT524 delivers a high level of cutting performance without the hassles of gas, oil, or pull cords. It comes equipped with a long-lasting 24-volt battery pack with a powerful motor, and a high-performance blade to expertly trim the plants throughout your yard.

The 24-inch extended-reach blades make fast work of large shrubs and hedges, the NHT524 offers an array of environmental advantages. Unlike gas-powered engines that produce a total of over one million tons of polluting air emissions a year, the NHT524 is much lighter, starts easier, and has lower operating costs than traditional gas-powered models.

Pros:
- 24″ blade provides extra reach over most other trimmers. Even the corded and gas powered units are mostly in the 18-22″ range.
- The 24 volt battery should provide (at least theoretically) more power than the 18 volt versions. Being battery powered, you have, of course, unlimited portability.
- Well balanced and easy to hold. This is obviously important if you’re going to use it for any length of time.
- A 3/4″ branch will fit between the teeth. Anything larger and you need a good pair of loppers.
- Being bright orange, it’s almost impossible to accidentally leave it outside.

Cons:
- Only one battery is included with the trimmer. Fully charged, it lasted for roughly 20 minutes of cutting time.
- The standard charger takes NINE HOURS to charge the battery.
- The battery is Nickel Cadmium, not Nickel Metal Hydride, or a lighter weight, higher energy-density Li-ion battery. NiCd batteries have a fairly rapid self-discharge cycle…just sitting on a shelf, a fully charged cell will lose a significant amount of charge in a couple of months. They also suffer from a significant memory effect. If you repeatedly only partially discharge the battery, it’ll eventually lose the ability to retain a full charge.
- A spare battery and a high-speed two-hour charger are available, but basically double the initial cost.
- The blade cover works, but it’s thin floppy vinyl. I doubt it cost over 5 cents to make.

What’s in the Box
Black & Decker NHT524 Cordless Hedge Trimmer; 24-volt battery; charger; and manual.

It was really a toss-up to give this three or four stars. The battery is clearly its weak point. My standards for tools are pretty high. As I said at the beginning, this isn’t designed for heavy-duty use; rather it’s targeted at homeowners. And from that perspective, it’s pretty good. It’s certainly fine for my needs.