I was previously using all gas powered yard tools, blower, hedge trimmer, string trimmer, great products but loud, smelly and sometimes difficult to start. I had been looking at electric powered products to get rid of those trips to the gas station, however, pulling an electrical cord around my yard did not appeal to me at all. Then i came across this kit on amazon. The Black & Decker is a good one IMO so i took a chance and ordered from amazon.
I have been highly satisfied the battery power last well enough on my 12,000 square foot lot. The tool are nice and quiet and i can do my yard work early in the morning without disturbing the neighbors. I must say all 3 products work great for their intended purpose. The bonus IMO is the batter charger mount that can charge all three included batteries at the same time. Also, the mountable storage station is great and makes storing the equipment easy. My father came over and was hooked on these and placed an order the next day, great products at a great price from amazon what could be better, lol.......
**UPDATE**04/17/2010
Im still using this same equipment right at 5 YEARS! later and they work great. Im still using 2 of the 3 B&D batteries that I purchased for the set. I was just searching for new batteries and could not believe its been 5 years that this equipment and batteries have lasted, well worth the money for the quality and ease of use. Black & Decker CCC3000 18-Volt Cordless Electric Lawncare Center
UPDATE: I've owned this set for over 2 1/2 years now, and I only like it more. I've seen no drop off in battery power, and I find more uses for the blower than I would have thought. It's great for blowing sawdust out of my garage and I even use it to help dry my car after I wash it. The weed wacker continues to function like a champ, and the pruner, though rarely used, works great. There's nothing like cordless electric for convenience!
More than a few reviewers have complained about short run times with these tools. I have no such complaints. In fact, I find that one charge on one battery is enough to edge and weed-whack my front and back yards and trim my hedges.
A lot of people don't seem to understand that in places where people want to live yards are getting smaller and smaller. In San Diego, in a subdivision built 25 years ago, my front and back yards combined are about 1500 square feet. My friend just bought a new luxury home in San Diego that has a "postage stamp" front yard. There isn't even enough room to park a Camry on his grass.
Another friend in Tennessee recently purchased a multi-thousand dollar commercial lawn mower with a 52" cutting path to mow the grass on his property. This set is perfect for most San Diego lawns (and even those that are a fair bit larger), but it's not going to be nearly as suitable to a backwoods Tennessee lot.
Before you buy these, think. The larger your yard, the less suitable you'll find these. So if your property is much larger than the average subdivision lot, these probably aren't for you. And it's just common sense that the larger your lot is, the more batteries you'll need. If you have a larger yard, don't buy the set and then whine about having to switch out batteries. These aren't made for your two acre property in the sticks!
As you would expect, the blower does not rival the performance of a corded model. But it blows hard enough for most lawn care needs (it will move grass clippings and loose dirt). The weed whacker (string trimmer) is great. The head pivots for edging and the automatic line feed system works great.
The hedge trimmer is even better. I have a much smaller rechargeable Black and Decker hedge trimmer with an internal battery pack. I use it for most of my shrubs because it is lighter and more maneuverable. I only use the one included with this kit on a few larger hedges, and it performs well.
I had been using corded electric tools, but the cords were always such a hassle that I found myself putting off yard work. Gas tools would be overkill. They require too much maintenance and I don't want to store gasoline. These cordless tools are the perfect compromise. I'm just sorry that I didn't buy them sooner.
There is a noticeable difference in the power between my corded and cordless tools. While operating, the corded tools seem to operate at a higer speed and with more torque.
The most noticeable difference between the corded and cordless tools is the much reduced airflow speed with the cordless blower. As to the other tools, I suspect that if I went to clear some particularly thick weeds the cordless string trimmer might bog down. I similarly suspect that the hedge trimmer might bog down if I was trimming thick branches with it. So I'm keeping my corded tools for those rare occasions that I might need them.'
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