Black & Decker 24V String Trimmer (NST1024) Review

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools, Product Information

High Performance 24V String Trimmer with PowerCommand

Black & Decker 24V String TrimmerOver the last few weeks we’ve been testing the Black & Decker High Performance 24V String Trimmer with PowerCommand.  The folks at Black & Decker were kind enough to send us this new cordless string trimmer to test out and report back to all of  you.

Black & Decker NST1024 Features

  • Voltage – 24 V
  • rpm – 9000 rpm
  • Cutting Path – 13 “
  • Line Diameter – 0.065 “
  • Weight – 8.5 lbs
  • Feed System – Automatic
  • PowerCommand– Switch to boost mode for extra power to tackle tough jobs – Twice the power of 18V
  • Patented Gear Drive transmission cuts more grass per charge than any other competing string trimmer brand
  • Trimmer and Edger in one tool
  • 9000 rpm Motor and gear drive deliver up to TWICE the power of 18V trimmers
  • High Performance 24V Battery and PowerCommand cut up to 2.5X more grass per charge than 18V

Black & Decker NST1024 Review

Cordless string trimmers are all the rage right now and we know why! Say goodbye to mixed gas, loud, stinky engines that are a total pain to keep running well. Just charge up your cordless string trimmer and it’s off to the races.

After using the NST1024 for the last few weeks around the yard we found it to be really useful and much more enjoyable to use than one of those noisy gas models.

Power

The 24 volt battery delivers plenty of power to cut through common grass trimming tasks. In fact, we used it to trim around all of our walks, flower gardens, trees and the house on a single charge.

One of the nice features is the ability to easily switch from Normal mode to Boost mode. This allows you to get a longer run time in normal mode while having the ability to step up the speed for tough spots like tall wet grass. Another feature we liked was the ability to also use other 18V batteries that Black & Decker makes.

Automatic Feed System

The Black & Decker NST1024 uses an automatic feed system to automatically feed the string trimmer cutting line. This is a really nice feature as it simplifies the whole trimming process. The old days of bumping the trimmer on the ground to advance the line are gone with this automatic version. Some people may complain that it means using up the string sooner but the convenience of it automatically feeding outweigh that concern for us.

Edging Mode

Another feature that we like is the Edging Mode. String trimmers are really great for edging flower gardens, walks and driveways. However its usually quite awkward to perform with a string trimmer unless you’re really good at holding it upside down! The Edging Mode makes the task simple and comfortable.

The cutting head of the NST1024 can be rotated 180 degrees which puts the cutting string at 90 degrees to the edging surface. It also has a handy wire “stand” that helps keep the trimmer off the ground a uniform height which prevents premature wearing of the string. This is a pretty sweet feature and a huge time saver.

Overall Impression

The Black & Decker NST1024, 24V String Trimmer is an excellent cordless trimmer for small and medium sized yards. It has plenty of power to get the job done and offers some nice features including the edging mode.

While the NST1024 is slightly heavier than some of the competitors the difference is minimal. Frankly the difference is due to the large 24 volt battery pack which does offer additional power so it’s a decent trade off.

At just over $120 we think the Black & Decker NST1024 is a good value and useful tool. If you’re in the market for a new string trimmer be sure to give this cordless version a look.

If you’d like to buy this trimmer you can buy it at Black & Decker’s Site or Amazon. For a limited time (until June 19th) you can enter for a chance to win one of these trimmers here.

About the author

Todd Fratzel

I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.

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2 Comments

  1. Deborah says:

    Love the auto line feed! No more bumping sounds good to me!

  2. Black and Decker AFS spools often feed too much line. I don’t feel like doing a video, would you mind doing one? I recently figured out how to repair this and I am unable to find a video documenting the fix. The AFS auto feed spool is used on many trimmers. If you remove the spool there is a small lever underneath. Pull the lever out and you will find extra plastic under the long end that creates a centrifugal counterweight. If the line is feeding out too much then sand or grind this extra plastic off the bottom of the lever almost all the way, until it is almost level with the rest of the lever. Now the feed will not activate until the string is significantly shorter. Insert the lever back into the spool head. Also, there is a small pin protruding from the lever once it is installed that engages with the spool. Grind a small notch for this pin to rest in on the underside of spool, in each tooth all the around the outside on the bottom of the spool. I am guessing my notches are 1/64 to 1/32 of an inch deep. This will cause the afs centrifugal mechanism to be less sensitive to any change of speed. I did this on a black and decker nst1024 24v string trimmer. It was easy to get it right on the first try. I took 25% of the extra plastic off the first time and the rest after one test run. To test the modification iInstall 4 or 5 wraps of line on the spool and see how long it takes to run out of string. If you need me to send you pics you can send me an email at v—rep***peto*@****gmail.com without the * or – . If I remember I will probably send them to you anyway next time I am out in the shop with my phone. I forgot to weigh the lever before I started grinding. Let me know how much it weighs if you have a scales.

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