Black & Decker 40V MAX Lithium String Trimmer + Sweeper Combo Kit

Why I reached for this 40V combo

I like cordless yard tools that make weekly chores simple rather than heroic. This 40V combo—a 13-inch string trimmer that converts to an edger, paired with a lightweight sweeper—fits that mold nicely. Over several weeks of trimming lawn edges, tidying fence lines, and clearing sidewalks and the back deck, I found a toolset that prioritizes ease of use and predictable performance over brute force. It won’t replace a gas setup for heavy brush, but for routine suburban maintenance, it’s a genuinely useful pairing.

Setup and ergonomics

Out of the box, assembly was quick: attach a guard, click the shaft into place, and you’re essentially ready. The balance of the trimmer is good with the 40V battery in place, and the handle adjustments cover a wide range of heights. The sweeper is even simpler—battery in, trigger on.

Weight is reasonable for both tools. The trimmer feels manageable for a full battery’s runtime, and the sweeper is easy to wield one-handed as you walk the length of a driveway. I appreciated that the charger is a wall-mountable base, which helps keep a garage setup tidy.

Trimming performance

The trimmer’s GEAR DRIVE transmission gives it more bite than most entry-level cordless models I’ve used. In regular lawn grass, it cuts cleanly and keeps the line speed up through thicker patches. I ran it through aggressively overgrown edging along a fence and a few areas where grass had hardened off, and it still maintained momentum. In really dense or wet weeds, I could hear the motor load up; slowing my pace solved it, but this isn’t a brushcutter and shouldn’t be treated like one.

The 13-inch cutting swath hits a sweet spot for residential use—wide enough to be efficient, small enough to be precise around beds and posts. It’s also quieter than gas and produces a more pleasant pitch than some high-RPM cordless heads.

Edging capability

Rotating the trimmer into edger mode is straightforward, and the wheel helps keep a straight line along sidewalks and driveway edges. It does a neat job on established edges and is capable of defining a fresh edge if you’re patient. For heavy, packed-in thatch along long runs, expect to make a couple passes. The upside is control: I could trace curves and avoid flinging mulch with more precision than I typically get from a dedicated blade edger.

Line feed and maintenance

The automatic feed spool works as advertised. I never had to bump the head mid-cut, and line advances were consistent. As with most auto-feed systems, it’s possible to go through line quickly if you’re constantly starting and stopping or grazing abrasive surfaces like pavers and fence wire. If you’ve got a lot of hard-edge work, plan to keep an extra spool on hand. Accessing the spool is simple and clean, with no awkward spring-and-cap gymnastics.

On wear and tear: the guard and head housing are plastic, so aim for clean cuts rather than bashing into edging stones. That said, after a full month of weekly use, the head shows only cosmetic scuffs.

Sweeper performance

The sweeper is for hard surfaces—patios, decks, walkways, and dry leaves on concrete. Used that way, it’s great. It’s quick to bring a driveway back to clean after mowing, and it excels at pushing sawdust and small debris out of the garage. Where it struggles is exactly where you’d expect: heavy leaf piles in the yard and wet, matted leaves. Think “broom replacement,” not “storm cleanup.” I liked the narrow nozzle for controlled airflow along edges and corners; it lets you direct debris without making a mess of beds.

Noise is mild compared to a full-blown blower, and the lighter weight means I was comfortable using it for extended stretches without forearm fatigue.

Battery and charging

This kit includes one 40V 2.0Ah battery and a charger rated for roughly a two-hour turnaround. My real-world runtimes landed in the expected range for an 80Wh pack:

• Trimmer: around 20–30 minutes of continuous trimming depending on how aggressive I was and how thick the grass got.
• Sweeper: roughly 20 minutes of continuous cleanup on concrete and decking.

With a single battery and two tools, you’re trading convenience for downtime. For small yards, one pack is fine—trim first, then sweep while there’s charge left. For larger properties or a slower pace, a second battery unlocks the combo’s potential; you can keep both tools productive without waiting on the charger. The wall-mountable charging base is tidy and stable, but the two-hour charge does require planning if you run the pack down.

Build quality and durability

Overall fit and finish are in line with midrange residential gear. The shaft locks up tight, the trigger and safety switch feel positive, and the battery slides in securely. After several mowing cycles, nothing loosened up, and the switchgear on both tools still felt crisp. While the trimmer’s head and guard are plastic, they didn’t exhibit any alarming flex in normal use. I’d treat the combo as a light-duty maintenance kit you store indoors—do that, and it should hold up well through seasons of weekly work.

Comfort and control

Vibration is low, and the trimmer’s balance makes it easy to keep the head level for uniform cuts. The handle angle adjustment helps prevent wrist strain whether you’re trimming low around beds or holding a steady edge. The sweeper’s single-handed operation is a plus for quick tasks, and because it’s not blasting air at high velocity, you kick up less dust.

Where this combo fits—and where it doesn’t

This 40V pair shines for:

• Small to medium suburban yards needing weekly touch-ups
• Homeowners prioritizing low noise, low fuss, and easy storage
• Edging along sidewalks and driveways without juggling extra tools
• Quick cleanup of clippings, dust, and dry leaves on hard surfaces

It’s not ideal if:

• You’re tackling heavy weeds, thick brush, or acreages with overgrowth
• You expect a blower for fall leaf management across a lawn
• You need continuous, all-day runtime without additional batteries
• You want a metal-blade edger for cutting in neglected edges fast

Tips from use

• Start with trimming while the battery is fresh; finish with the sweeper. The sweeper is less power-hungry and more forgiving as the pack tapers.
• Keep an extra spool of line on hand. Auto-feed is convenient, but a spare prevents mid-job interruptions.
• Use edger mode for long, straight runs and switch back to trimmer orientation for curves and around obstacles.
• Mount the charger near the door you use for yard work. The simple act of docking the battery after each session makes the two-hour charge time a non-issue.

Pros and cons

Pros:
- Respectable cutting power from the GEAR DRIVE trimmer
- Easy conversion between trimming and edging
- Reliable automatic feed spool (no bumping)
- Lightweight sweeper is perfect for hard-surface cleanup
- Quiet, low-maintenance, and simple to store
- Battery and wall-mount charger included

Cons:
- One 2.0Ah battery limits continuous use across two tools
- Two-hour charge means downtime without a second pack
- Sweeper lacks the muscle for wet leaves or heavy yard debris
- Plastic head/guard won’t love abuse against stone or metal edges

Recommendation

I recommend this 40V combo for homeowners who want straightforward, low-maintenance tools for weekly lawn edges and hard-surface cleanup. The trimmer has enough torque to handle typical suburban growth without frustration, the edger function keeps lines crisp, and the sweeper is exactly the right tool for patios and driveways. The primary caveat is power and endurance: the included 2.0Ah pack and modest sweeper output are tailored to routine maintenance, not heavy cleanup or large properties. Pair the kit with a second battery if you have more ground to cover, and you’ll have a dependable, easy-to-live-with setup that makes yard work feel like a quick checklist rather than a project.