The Black & Decker HedgeHog NHT518 cordless hedge trimmer is among the best of all the cordless hedge trimmers available, but it can't compete with corded electric or gas units. It's a very good hedge trimmer within the inherent limitations of a cordless unit.

The NHT518 runs 22-inch dual-action blades with an 18-volt rechargeable battery. A full charge on the battery should provide power for up to 40 minutes of run time. Black & Decker says that translates to up to 1200 square feet of trimming per charge. The blades move at 2800 cutting strokes per minute to cut branches up to 7/16-inch. The NHT518 weights just 6.4 pounds.

We found the cordless Black & Decker NHT518 to be a surprisingly capable hedge trimmer for small jobs. We didn't ask it to cut branches of 7/16-inch as the manufacturer says it will do, but we did cut approximately 1/4-inch branches with ease. We also found the unit handy for cutting back flowers that were past their prime. It zipped right through them. The unit did not vibrate excessively and it gave us a clean cut. It seems nicely balanced and handled well.

The Black & Decker cordless NHT518 comes fully assembled and includes a battery charger that may interchange with some of your other Black & Decker cordless power tools. Be sure you follow the instructions for charging the battery in order to get the best use from it. If you don't already have another battery that will fit this unit, you might want to pick up an extra one to double your run time -- this way you will have a fully charged battery at all times.

The Black & Decker NHT518 will be just the right hedge trimmer for some homeowners. If you want a fully portable trimmer for light chores around the yard, consider this model. Just don't ask it to outperform its capability.


Pros: Battery may interchange with other B & D products, fully portable
Cons: Limited run time, limited power, limited cutting capacity