Black & Decker Hedge Trimmer, Dual-Action Blade, 16-Inch

A lightweight trimmer that keeps small hedges in check

I put the Black & Decker 16-inch trimmer to work on the kind of chores most homeowners face: shaping boxwoods, tidying up spireas, knocking back overgrown ornamental grasses, and cleaning up around a fence line. It’s a compact corded tool with a dual-action blade and a saw-like tip, and it’s clearly built for routine maintenance rather than reclaiming a jungle. Within that lane, it’s surprisingly capable, easy to control, and comfortable to use for longer sessions.

Setup and ergonomics

At 4.8 pounds, the trimmer feels almost toy-light coming out of the box, which is a compliment when you’re staring down an hour of trimming. The T-style front handle gives you plenty of grip positions for vertical and horizontal cuts, and the full-length trigger means you don’t have to choke up your grip or contort your wrist to keep it running. The tool’s balance is blade-forward enough to help you “rest” the cutter bar on the work without fighting wrist fatigue.

It’s corded, so you’ll need an outdoor-rated extension cord. The built-in cord retention hook does a good job preventing the plug from working loose as you move. I looped the cord through the hook and over my shoulder; it stayed out of the blades and out of my way.

Tip: Use a 16-gauge cord up to 50 feet, or 14-gauge for longer runs, to avoid voltage drop and motor strain.

Cutting performance: crisp on green growth, honest about its limits

For typical hedge trimming—think 3/8 to 5/8-inch green stems—the dual-action blade cuts cleanly without rattling the shrub or your forearms. Dual-action blades move in opposite directions, and that counter-motion noticeably reduces vibration compared to single-action designs. I could keep a steady pace shaping boxwoods and privet without feeling like the trimmer was bouncing off the foliage.

Power-wise, the 3.0-amp motor is tuned for light to moderate work. On soft green growth, it maintains speed and leaves a neat edge. On older, woody stems above 5/8-inch, you’ll feel it bog if you try to take the branch mid-blade. That’s expected for a compact trimmer. If you routinely cut through woody 3/4-inch stems or bigger, you’re in lopper or larger trimmer territory.

The 16-inch blade length is a sweet spot for small hedges and tight spaces. It’s short enough to be agile between shrubs and around garden features, but long enough to keep a flat plane on a 2–3 foot wide hedge without constant re-indexing. If you maintain long runs of tall hedges, you’ll miss the reach of a 22–24 inch trimmer; for small yards, the shorter bar is easier to control.

The SAWBLADE tip: helpful, with realistic expectations

At the tip of the cutter bar, the trimmer adds what Black & Decker calls a SAWBLADE—essentially a small set of coarse teeth intended to nibble through branches up to an inch. It’s not a chainsaw and it won’t power through hardwood instantly. It’s best thought of as a built-in problem solver for the occasional too-thick stem you encounter mid-trim.

Here’s what worked for me:
- Pin the branch in the SAWBLADE’s teeth at the tip, not along the main blade.
- Let the tool’s oscillation do the work; apply light forward pressure and keep it steady.
- Expect a few seconds per cut on a 3/4 to 1-inch green stem.

On older, harder wood, it takes longer and may not be worth the effort. For green, sappy branches and ornamental grass bases, it’s handy and does save a trip back to the garage for loppers. It’s a nice insurance policy, just don’t buy this trimmer expecting it to be a one-inch branch saw.

Vibration, noise, and fatigue

Vibration is notably low for a budget-friendly corded trimmer. That dual-action blade design pays off in less hand tingle and more precise cuts, especially when shaping top edges. Noise is modest compared to gas tools but still loud enough that I wore hearing protection. The lightweight build meant I could trim shoulder-height hedges and do some overhead shaping without forearm burn. No hot spots or awkward grips revealed themselves after a full yard session.

Corded power in practice

Corded tools trade portability for consistent power and unlimited runtime. If your hedges are within 50–100 feet of an outlet, this makes sense. I appreciated never worrying about a battery running down mid-trim. The motor spins up instantly and doesn’t fade.

If your shrubs wrap around the entire property or you’re navigating gates and obstacles, a cordless trimmer may be more convenient. With this corded model, plan your path so you’re always working away from the cord, and keep it draped over your shoulder. The trimmer’s cord retention hook prevented accidental unplugging, even when I snagged the cord on a planter.

Build quality and maintenance

The housing is typical Black & Decker homeowner-grade plastic: not ruggedized, but tidy and rattle-free. The blade set arrived aligned and ran true. Keep the blades clean and lightly oiled—spritz them after use and before storage to stave off sap buildup and corrosion. Unplug before cleaning or clearing jams, and never try to force the blade through a stuck cut; that’s how you stress small motors.

I didn’t experience overheating or unusual smells in normal trimming. As with any small corded motor, binding the blades in thick wood, running on an undersized extension cord, or packing the housing with debris can lead to heat and premature wear. Use it within its intended cut capacity and it stays happy.

There’s a two-year limited warranty, which aligns with this category and price point.

Limitations to keep in mind

• Reach: A 16-inch bar and compact body are great for control, but they limit reach. Tall hedges will still need a step ladder or a longer trimmer.
• Heavy wood: The typical clean cut capacity is 5/8-inch. Treat anything larger as a special case for the tip saw, not routine cutting.
• Cord management: It’s a non-issue in compact yards, but cords are cords—you’ll babysit them around corners and plantings.

None of these are defects; they’re inherent trade-offs of a small, corded hedge trimmer.

Who it’s for

This trimmer makes the most sense if:
- Your shrubs are small to medium size and mainly green growth.
- You value a light, easy-to-handle tool that reduces fatigue.
- You have accessible outdoor outlets and don’t want to fuss with batteries.
- You occasionally encounter a thicker stem and like having the tip saw as a backstop.

If you’re facing mature, woody hedges, large properties, or heavy seasonal cut-backs, look toward a higher-amp corded model with a longer blade, a robust cordless unit, or even a pole hedge trimmer for reach.

Practical tips from the yard

• Plan your path from the power source outward so you’re never cutting toward the cord.
• Use smooth, sweeping passes; don’t “chop” at the hedge. It leaves a cleaner face and reduces stall risk.
• Let the blade speed do the work—if it slows, back off and re-approach the cut.
• Keep a cloth and light oil handy to wipe the blades when sap starts to gum up.
• For ornamental grasses, bundle clumps with a strap, then cut; the trimmer glides through and the SAWBLADE helps at the dense base.

Final thoughts and recommendation

I like this Black & Decker 16-inch trimmer for what it is: a lightweight, well-mannered, corded tool built for routine yard maintenance. It’s easy to control, trims cleanly, and the dual-action blade keeps vibration low. The tip-mounted saw isn’t a miracle worker, but it’s genuinely useful for the occasional too-thick branch. As long as you respect its 5/8-inch comfort zone and treat the SAWBLADE as a helper rather than a primary cutter, it performs reliably.

I recommend this trimmer for homeowners with small to medium hedges who want a light, affordable, low-vibration tool and have convenient access to power. It’s an especially good fit if you prefer unlimited runtime and don’t need the reach or muscle of larger models. I would not recommend it for heavy, woody hedges or extensive properties; in those cases, step up to a longer, more powerful trimmer or a cordless model for mobility. Within its intended scope, this little corded trimmer does the job well and makes the weekly tidy-up a lot less tiring.