What the BLACK+DECKER BEHTS300 Does Well and Where It Falls Short: 20-Inch Trimmer With a Saw Tip

Who this trimmer is for

The job a plain hedge trimmer cannot do is the one thick stem in the middle of the hedge that stalls the blade and sends you back to the garage for loppers. BLACK+DECKER’s answer is the BEHTS300: a 20-inch corded dual-action trimmer with a short saw blade built into the tip, rated by the maker for limbs up to 1.5 inches. It suits the homeowner with mixed shrubs, an old hedge that has a few woody stems, and an outlet within cord reach.

This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.

What you get

A corded trimmer with a 20-inch dual-action hardened steel blade, a 3.8 amp motor and a full wraparound front handle, plus the SAWBLADE section at the end of the bar. The maker rates the trimming blades for branches up to 3/4 inch and the saw tip for up to 1.5 inches. There is a cord retention feature so the extension cord cannot be tugged loose mid-cut. Weight is not stated. No extension cord is included, so plan on a 12 or 14 gauge outdoor cord of the right length.

Trimming performance

Dual-action blades, where both move against each other, cut more smoothly and shake the arms less than single-action designs; BLACK+DECKER makes that comparison against its own single-action models in the listing. At 3.8 amps the motor sits a notch below the 4.0 amp BEHT350, and the 20-inch bar is two inches shorter, so hedge-top passes take a little longer. For the growth most people actually trim, which is finger-thick new wood on privet, boxwood, yew or spirea, the 3/4-inch rating is comfortably adequate. Hardened steel blades hold an edge longer than plain steel, which matters more than motor amps for cut quality over a few seasons.

The saw blade

The tip saw is a short toothed section ahead of the trimming blades, and it turns the one tool into a trimmer plus a small pruning saw. Rated at 1.5 inches, it is for the occasional woody stem, a sucker at the base of a shrub or a low limb in the way, not for cutting back a whole overgrown hedge. Owners describe it as slow but effective when used with a steady push, and the technique is to let the teeth work rather than lean on the tool. It is the reason to choose this model over the plain 22-inch, and if you cannot picture using it, the longer bar is the better buy.

Build, handling and ergonomics

The full wraparound front handle gives a secure grip whether the bar is flat, vertical or overhead. BLACK+DECKER describes the tool as light and compact, and corded trimmers in this class usually are, since there is no battery on the back. Cord retention is a small feature that saves a lot of swearing, because a cord that pulls out mid-hedge is the single most common corded-tool annoyance. The saw tip adds a little length to the bar and a point that needs care when setting the tool down.

Living with it

Clean sap off both the trimming blades and the saw teeth after each use; resin on the saw section is what makes it feel blunt. Wipe with light oil and store dry. Inspect the cord each spring. BLACK+DECKER publishes warranty terms on the product page; they are not quoted in the listing, so read them and register.

Alternatives to Consider

The BLACK+DECKER BEHT350FF is the plain 22-inch, 4.0 amp sibling for anyone who trims regularly and never meets thick wood. A cordless 40V trimmer such as the BLACK+DECKER LHT2436 24-inch frees you from the cord for a larger yard. If woody stems are a regular part of the job rather than an occasional one, a small cordless pruning saw alongside a plain trimmer does the thick work faster than a tip saw.

Verdict

Buy the BLACK+DECKER BEHTS300 if your shrubs mix soft growth with the occasional 1-inch stem and you want one corded tool that handles both without a trip to the shed. Skip it if your hedges are uniform and well kept, where the 22-inch BEHT350 covers more ground per pass, or if you are regularly out of cord reach.