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The WORX WG251.5 20 Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Slices and Dices

2 April 2010 87 Comments

worx251_5When you finally make the switch from gas-powered tools or electric lawn care equipment that’s chained to a cord and decide to go cordless, it’s a decision almost always driven by convenience. You want to get to work when the urge calls without having to hunt for extra equipment or making runs to gas stations. If you’re honest, though, you make this choice knowing that you’ll probably be replacing one inconvenience with another.

In the world of the cordless hedge trimmer, the sacrifice you make is almost always related to the battery. Perhaps it doesn’t deliver enough power. Or, if that’s not the issue, perhaps it runs down before you’ve finished the job. Finally there’s the issue of weight which can turn the effort of trimming larger hedges into a bicep-pumping pain in the rear.

It’s with the battery in mind that we’re doing today’s review on our next cordless hedge trimmer. This time the product is by WORX. And, spoiler alert, it’s the battery that will have you singing this thing’s praises.

The WORX WG251.5 20-Inch, 18 Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Hedge Trimmer Review

In our previous Black & Decker Hedge Hog review, we covered what we still feel is a fantastic product. But, having tried the WORX cordless hedge trimmer, we’ve discovered some new features to fall in love with in another product. Sometimes you don’t realize what you’re missing until you’ve sampled something else.

Where the WORX does not beat the Grass Hog is in its blade length. The WG251.5 sports a 20 inch blade compared with the Hedge Hog’s 22 inch blade. But does size really matter? Don’t answer that one, ladies. Yes, size does matter when it comes to trimming difficult to reach branches on your hedges. But one could reasonably argue that 22 inches isn’t going to give you that much more bang for your buck over 20 inches. Until you quantify the buck, that is.

The WORX cordless hedge trimmer costs substantially more of those bucks than the Grass Hog. Depending on which version of the NHT518 Hedgehog you buy you can expect to spend around $80-$90USD. The WORX, by comparison, offers the same 18 volt power but will run you a significantly higher $150USD. Wow, right? That’s a pretty substantial difference. Is it worth it?

Well to determine that it is time for us to get to the battery. As already mentioned at the beginning of this article, it’s this cordless hedge trimmer’s real claim to fame. The WORX WG251.5 comes with an 18 volt lithium-ion battery compared with the Hedgehog’s NiCad battery. What’s the difference?

The major difference between these two battery types is how they charge. The lithium-ion batteries in the WORX power tools are simply superior to NiCad batteries because they take a functional charge faster. That means, even if you can’t finish a job with your hedge trimmer, a short rest in the charger will give you a fully functioning battery. In contrast, the NiCad’s will need noticeably longer to absorb a charge you can actually work with.

Better still, your WORX battery won’t develop a memory. For those of you not in the know, NiCad batteries have the potential to develop a diminishing charge capacity. This tends to happen when you short-charge your battery because you need just a little juice to finish a job. But with the lithium-ion battery, you can charge your battery for just a few minutes to finish a job and then set it back in the charger to get back to full without that concern. The battery advertises about 30 minutes of life for moderate use.

Of course, that convenience is what you’re paying for when you shell out more for a WORX cordless hedge trimmer, but you might be wondering if there’s anything else going for it? Ultimately, you’ll save a bit on weight with the WORX – 6.8 pounds compared to the hedgehog’s 8.6 pounds – and I really do love the look of the WORX. You pick this thing up and feel like you’re getting ready to engage in an elegant sword fight with your hedges thanks to beautiful design and great weight balance..

At the end of they day you’ll have to decide if the benefits clearly evident in the WORX battery is worth the extra you’ll pay for it. If you do settle on this cordless hedge trimmer, we think you’ll be very happy with what you get.

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