The HT012 22-Inch Electric Hedge Trimmer made by Black & Decker is a “little gem” as one customer put it. Here are some tips to follow when using this trimmer.
1. As with all corded power tools, do not lift or carry the hedge trimmer by its extension cord. Lifting/carrying the trimmer by its power cord alone can damage the extension cord plug or plug connection on the trimmer. Likewise, never hold, lift, or carry by the blade.
2. Fertilizers and other garden chemicals can accelerate the corrosion of metals. Keep your trimmer clean, and when not in use, store it away from fertilizers and chemicals.
3. To clean the trimmer, first unplug it. Then use a mild soap and damp cloth to clean the trimmer. When you’re done, use a dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture. Never immerse yours in water.
4. To help ensure that you are cutting a hedge level, you can stretch a taut string along the top of the hedge to serve as a guide for trimming.
5. Hold the trimmer with two hands: one hand on the trigger handle and one hand on the blade guard handle. In addition to being safer, using both hands on the trimmer will give you more control over the trimmer and help you get a nicer, more even cut.
6. When trimming the sides of hedges, start cutting the trimmer at the bottom of the hedge and bring it up the side of the hedge in a sweeping motion.
7. Do not hang the extension cord over the hedge or shrub being trimmed. It’s all too easy to forget where the wire is and accidentally cut it with the trimmer. Something we’ve all done at least once!
8. If you accidentally make a nick in the clipper blade that affects blade movement, unplug the clipper and then use a fine-tooth file or sharpening stone to smooth/remove the nick in the clipper blade.
9. When you are trimming, try to hold it so that the cutting blade is slightly tilted downward. This will help provide a nicer, cleaner hedge trim.
10. Never perform any maintenance on your hedge trimmer until you have unplugged the trimmer from its power source.
eleven Do not plug an extension cord into the hedge trimmer if the “on” trigger lockout feature on the Black & Decker HT012 is activated. Unlock the trimmer’s trigger lockout feature by simply squeezing the trigger and then releasing it. Once the trigger lock has been disengaged, you can plug the extension cord into the hedge trimmer.
12. Black and Decker recommends that the user of the hedge trimmer wear safety glasses, a dust mask, non-skid footwear, and rubber gloves when trimming.
13. Stay alert when trimming. Be careful with your extension cord, children, pets, wires, fences, etc. Do not use the trimmer when you are tired.
14. When trimming, do not force the hedge trimmer forward. Let the trimmer do the work! It works at 3,400 cutting strokes per minute.
Hopefully these tips will help make your trimming easier and safer!