Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48969 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Black & Decker
• Model: HS2400
• Dimensions: 38.13" h x 8.25" w x 9.50" l, 8.50 pounds

Features

• Patented blade design for fast, dual-action cutting of branches up to 3/4-inch in diameter
• 24-inch blades made from pre-hardened steel offer superior durability and reach for trimming larger hedges
• 3.0 Amp motor delivers consistent power for safe, dependable operation
• Reduced vibration, soft grips, and well-balanced body for improved user comfort and more precise handling
• Weighs 6.2 pounds; backed by a 2-year manufacturer warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Leave no hedge untrimmed: the 24-inch Hedge Hog eats up branches up to 3/4-inch thick without blinking. The dual-action blades work smoothly and quickly with less vibration, which is further softened by the full-sized, three-sided soft-grip comfort handle. A lock-on switch prevents trigger-finger fatigue, and the lock-off eliminates accidental starting. Electric power is environmentally friendly and quieter, too, plus it's always ready when you are. The super-long reach of the 24-inch dual blades is a nice switch from the shorter varieties, meaning less dangerous reaching for the user. No assembly is needed: open the box, plug it in, and trim. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste

The Black & Decker Hedge Hog dual action hedge trimmer with extra long blades is especially useful on taller and wider hedges and shrubs, with a patented blade design strong enough to cut through branches up to 3/4 inch thick and featuring dual action (both blades move) for faster cutting and 40 percent less vibration for comfort. This hedge trimmer also features a powerful 3.0 Amp motor; a lightweight 6.4-pound construction; a full-sized, three-sided handle for added comfort and control; and extra long 24-inch pre-hardened steel blades for extended reach, even cutting, and long-lasting sharpness. Built with a lock-on switch for continuous running, a lock-off switch to prevent accidental starting, and a built-in cord retention system to avoid accidental unplugging, this convenient hedge trimmer comes fully assembled and is backed by a 2-year warranty.

Amazon.com
Leave no hedge untrimmed: The 24-inch Hedge Hog eats up branches up to 3/4-inch thick without blinking. The dual-action blades work smoothly and quickly with less vibration, further dampened by the full-sized, three-sided soft-grip comfort handle. A lock-on switch prevents trigger-finger fatigue, and the lock-off eliminates accidental starting. Electric power is environmentally friendly and quieter, too, plus it’s always ready when you are. The super long reach of the 24-inch dual blades is a nice switch from shorter varieties, meaning less dangerous reaching for the user. No assembly is needed: Open the box, plug it in, and trim.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste

Amazon.com Product Description
The Black & Decker Hedge Hog HS2400 Hedge Trimmer is a precise, well-balanced tool that's up to the task of keeping hedges and shrubbery neatly groomed. This trimmer features dual-action blades that provide fast cutting with reduced vibration for increased user comfort, and these blades are crafted from pre-hardened, rust-resistant steel for superior durability, so you can feel comfortable slicing through branches up to 3/4-inch in diameter. Additionally, the extended reach provided by these 24-inch blades allows you to shape larger bushes safely. Behind the cutting power of this hedge trimmer is a powerful 3.0 Amp motor. Lightweight at just 6.2 pounds and offering a full-size three-sided handle with a soft grip and intuitively placed trigger, this tool is designed to keep you comfortable and in full control. The HS2400 also offers a lock-on switch, a lock-off switch, and a built-in cord retention system that prevents your extension cord from coming unplugged as you work. Plus with corded power, you never have to worry about tricky pull starts, mixing gas and oil, or dead batteries. This tool is backed by a 2-year warranty.

Customer Reviews

Cuts thick woody bushes like they were butter!
I bought the B&D HS2400 electric hedge trimmer after a fiasco with B&D's CHT500 cordless trimmer. (See my review of it.) It's already assembled, so there's nothing more to do besides remove it from the box and plug it in.

The handle is comfortable and easy to hold both horizontally and vertically. Its good balance makes it very easy to handle. The trigger is large and easy to depress. The lock is a bit difficult to engage, and I find it easier to just hold the trigger down.

But, this trimmer really shines when it comes to cutting. I have about 100 feet of honeysuckle bushes that grow to be about eight feet tall every year. They're incredibly woody and difficult for smaller trimmers to cut. The first thing I did with the HS2400 was to sweep it across the honeysuckles about five feet off the ground. It cut through them like butter. The dual-action blades virtually eliminate vibration, and I easily guided the trimmer through the bushes. The 24" blade reduces the amount of time you spend trimming as well as helping you make a straighter cut. The trimmer worked equally well on the front sides. I cut through those bushes faster than my kids could stack the branches. My wife was cutting the front sides with our old B&D 16" trimmer and it was faster for me to just do the whole thing with the HS2400.

Black & Decker states that the trimmer can cut up to 3/4" branches, and it does that with ease. Most trimmers struggle when they reach their maximum capacity, but the HS2400 just lops them right off. If you don't hold the trimmer steady, a few branches might be a bit ragged at the ends, but it's easy to trim them again to clean up the edge.

The hook that holds the extension cord to prevent it from being yanked out of the pigtail is a bit small and the opening a bit tight. I'd like a slightly larger opening and a larger hook, but it holds the cord. In about three hours of use, it only fell out once. It would be easy enough to use a small PVC cable tie or rubber band to improvise a different way of securing it, but I don't think it's worth the effort.

Please keep the extension cord in mind when using an electric trimmer. Buy a bright orange or yellow cord. In my opinion, despite their neon color, the bright green ones are less noticeable in bushes and grass. Also, buy twice as much cord as you think you'll need. You want to have about fifteen feet of cord next to you, and patio furniture, trees, and other obstacles inevitably reduce the amount you have available. Spending an extra two dollars for another fifty feet will ensure that you don't have to worry about your extension cord. Plus, you'll be especially glad of the extra length if you have to trim the other side of a hedge. Trust me--my old fifty foot cord has two sets of electrical tape where my old trimmer bit through it because it was too difficult to manage a shorter cord.

Update: I finished the hedges today and, although I was careful not to hit my chain link fence, I didn't notice a bean plant holder. The trimmer doesn't cut through 1/8" steel rod. In fact, it torqued one of the teeth so badly that the blade is ruined. My fault. I'll see if it can be repaired cheaply enough, but if it can't, I'll buy another one. That's how much I like this trimmer.

HS2400 summary:
Cuts incredibly well, even 3/4" woody branches (but not steel)
You rarely need multiple passes.
Well-designed and balanced.
Easy to maneuver. No vibration.
Comfortable handles and easy to use horizontally and vertically.
No vinyl blade sheath (unlike the CHT500--why?).

Better than other electrics, but not ideal
This B&D Hedge trimmer does a far better job trimming hedges/shrubs than any other electric I have ever used. It's main feature is that it can handle branches much thicker than most competitors. (I find it very useful when trimming my out-of-control holly trees.) However, don't expect this to be a tool sturdy enough to pass down to your grandkids.

When doing trimming of twig-size branches, it does about as well as any electric; you just pass it over the branches, and they just fall away. However, that is work you could be doing quite easily with a good pair of manual trimmers.

Where this really shines is with the thicker stuff. Because of the way the blade is designed, it makes steady work of any branch that will fit in it's substantial blade. However, while you are cutting these thick, woody branches, it doesn't exactly cut them like a pair of scissors; instead, it shakes like crazy while sawing away at the branch. You just have to keep applying gentle pressure to the branch (you don't want to stall the motor), and hold on tight. It isn't going to wrench itself out of your hands, but it may wander off target unless you keep a firm grip.

Many other electrics cannot handle branches larger than about a 1/4". (They claim 3/8, but who are they kidding?) This one can handle branches up to a shade over 1/2" without too much trouble. If you expect to do a lot of large branches, you really need to get a gas trimmer.

Excellent Value in a Corded Hedge Trimmer
I purchased this model at my local supply store and started using it out of the box with ease. While perhaps just slightly heavier than the B&D HS1010 model, this one adds 4 inches of reach (24 vs. 20) and has a more powerful motor.

The vibration reduction and double action blades (shared by these two models) makes two or three hours of use very easy. Of course the ergonomic cushioned grip and multi-position loop handle in front enable easy, safe use both vertically or horizontally with either a right or left-handed grip. Compare this with photos of some other brands' squared off loops and this design looks superior. With the power and 3/4 inch cutting capacity, I was able to not only trim ivy, but easily trim and straighten hedges that had gone a year without attention. The extra reach was definitely helpful in both cases.

Some reviews have commented on noise levels of various models. All my power yard tools are corded electric. I use and recommend hearing protection for all - this seems to just be a fact of life. Also, concerning the pigtail cord connection, with a 12AWG extension I loop the tool's pigtail through the slot since the extension is so thick that this is difficult. In many hours of use so far I have never had any problem.

Unless you have only small depth jobs, I'd say the extra [money] step-up from the HS1010 makes this model's 24 inch reach the better value. Enthusiastically recommended.