An Easy to Use Hedge Trimmer

Keeping hedges and bushes looking their best can take a great deal of time, particularly if you use a pair of manual hedge clippers. So I was particularly interested in a new electric hedge trimmer that I received, the Weed Eater HT2400. This beauty has a 24-inch cutting blade on it that takes much of the work out of keeping those hedges and bushes looking their best.

(For more information on the Weed Eater HT2400, visit the manufacturer's website at http://www.weedeater.com.)

Unpacking the HT2400 was easy, but the box isn't really designed for after-opening storage of the unit. The trimmer seems a little front-heavy; I suspect that the balance of motor-to-blade is more equal in the shorter HT1700. (That unit has a blade that is seven inches shorter.) Even so, the unit was not overly cumbersome to use, weighing in at less than seven pounds.

The 2.8 amp motor on the HT2400 delivered plenty of power for my trimming jobs. It wasn't a particularly quiet unit, but it wasn't loud enough that I required any hearing protection. (My iPod was cranking out more sound than what the HT2400 did, so it didn't concern me too much.)

Because of the two-foot length of the cutting blade I was able to easily trim the tops of most of our shrubs in a single pass. Just like a large mower deck means you can mow your lawn faster, a longer cutting blade on a hedge trimmer makes quicker work of trimming the bushes.

I like the overall design of the unit. Particularly thoughtful was the clear plastic used for the hand guard. This allowed me to see the full length of the blade without having to look around the guard; instead I could just look through it.

Another nice feature is what Weed Eater refers to as a "cord retainer." This is nothing but a "hook" built into the bottom of the handle around which you can loop your extension cord so that the connection to the trimmer doesn't come undone. For those experienced in using electric-powered yard equipment, you'll probably be just as satisfied if you simply loop a knot in the cord when you plug it in.

With its hardened-steel blades, the HT2400 is supposed to be able to cut through branches up to 3/4 of an inch thick. I didn't feel comfortable trimming branches that thick, but I did have no problem with those about half that thick. (I suspect that the success you have in cutting thicker branches will depend on the characteristics of the branch you are cutting—specifically, how "woody" is it?)

You can find the HT2400 for just under $70 at several online stores. It is a nice unit that should give years of reliable service, provided you take care of it correctly. For instance, you should remember to lightly oil the cutting blades and hang the unit up so the cutting blade doesn't get stepped on.