Toro 51480 Corded 14-Inch Electric Trimmer/Edger, Red/Silver

I needed to clear a large area around a building for file prevention. I had a gas trimmer in the past, but I don't use it frequently and the maintenance is a pain. I only need it a few times a year, so a battery unit is a bit of a waste as even sitting on the charger, batteries have a limited life span. A plug in trimmer seems to be the best option. This Toro 51480 is priced low and I was not expecting much, but the build quality is very good. The motor is very powerful. It has no problem beating even heavy grass and plants. Not quite on par with a full size gas unit, but very close. And I don't have to wear ear protection. The auto feed is a bit of a problem. On other trimmers, you smack it on the ground to let out extra string. This Toro, it lets out string every time you start it from full stop. The string that comes with it is very poor and wears out quickly. If you hit a rock, the string is almost gone before you let off the trigger. To spool out about 2 inches of string, you have to stop and start it about 5 times. It's really annoying and it gets worse in heavy brush. I also picked up "Cyclone .065-Inch-by-300-Foot Spool Commercial Grade 6-Blade 1/2-Pound Grass Trimmer Line, Blue CY065D1/2-12" on Amazon. This string is wonderful. It cuts better, and last far longer. I am no longer stopping and starting the Toro every 5 seconds to advance the string in heavy brush. Toss the string the Toro comes with in the trash and use this. The combination of this Toro and the Cyclone string make this an awesome tool.

If you don't have a giant yard and only need to cut around edges and the foundation, this trimmer works a lot better than I thought it would. I have owned two less expensive gas trimmers, and I was always annoyed by mixing oil, gas, and how hot it would get. I really didn't enjoy breathing in the fumes and exhaust from gas trimmers, and sometimes they could get a little oil on my clothes. This electric trimmer is definitely not as powerful as my inexpensive ryobi gas trimmer. I am not sure if it could handle tough weeds, but it does perform well on even tall grass. I used the edger function. It is a little short, a little awkward, but it can work well for edging a pavement driveway when you get used to it. The noise is loud. It is almost as loud as a gas trimmer. I still wear protective ear muffs to trim. I have seen some higher-end battery run trimmers that seem to produce a lot less noise - but of course, those are much more expensive. Pulling a cord can be slightly annoying, but I find it a lot better than dealing with gas and oil. Just make sure you have an appropriate dedicated outlet. It is important to have a good quality, long extension cord. I use a 12gauge, rated to carry 15a at 100ft. It is important to make sure you don't use a cord that can't carry the amperage for the distance, otherwise, it could overheat and start a fire. Also, do not connect two cords together. Two cords together will cut the wattage in half, and could also start a fire. So, do not be cheap about your cable. Need a longer distance? Buy a quality cable.

This review will compare the Toro to the Black & Decker Edge Hog, which is the unit that most big box stores carry and what most people will probably consider when shopping for an electric trimmer. I had three Edge Hogs and each lasted just over one season. The problem with the Edge Hog is line tangles, which eventually wrap around the axle and burn up the motor. Both units have satisfactory power, rotate to edge, and handle balancing features. No real difference there. The big issue in string trimmers is the line feed mechanism. Here, the Edge Hog and the Toro take dramatically different approaches. Each has its weaknesses. The Edge Hog feeds line out as it spins. When it works, it wastes a lot of line. When it fails, which is almost any time you are trimming against a hard surface or hit something like a twig, it spits out a bunch of line and you have to stop, disassemble the line housing and rewind the line back on to the spool. Sometimes it gets tangled and is a mess to untangle. In contrast, the Toro feeds line only when the motor is stopped. While the head is spinning, the line feed is locked. Every time the motor stops, you hear a click and a quarter-inch of line feeds out. The problem with this is that it is not feeding out enough, especially if you are trimming against concrete. To feed out line, you have to let off the trigger, wait more than five seconds for the motor to wind down, and are rewarded with a quarter-inch of line. If you need two inches, you have to go through that five-second cycle eight times. Or, you can flip the unit over, press the line release button, and pull some line out. Sometimes, the line melts a little, sticks, and won't feed so you have to use the button. (You will know this is necessary when you don't hear the click. Press the button and pull the line to unstick it.) So which one is better? I wish they still made the manual bump-feed trimmers. It would actually save time over either auto-feed system. But you can't find those any more except in really cheap, under-powered units. All things considered, I prefer the Toro, although it would be better for me if it fed more than 1/4 inch of line at a time. But at least, the time you waste feeding line with the Toro can be spent resting, taking mini-breaks, rather than untangling line. Also, you will save a lot of money on line with the Toro, since it feeds to slow as opposed to too fast. Last season I only refilled once or twice, as opposed to every time I used it with the Edge Hog. Finally, the Toro does not suffer from the line wrapping around the axle and eventually destroying the machine. I took another reviewer's advice and bought the upgraded line on Amazon, which is better than what the Toro comes with.

Bought this Toro 51480 corded 14 inch Electric Trimmer about 1 1/2 years ago, so it is still under the 2 year warranty. It had worked GREAT and had been clearing out all manner of weeds in tight places where no mower will go. I even figured out how to get the automatic feed control to work. Using better quality plastic cord, (not the cheapest light weight), and evenly winding the cord around the winding spool, otherwise it won't feed. Also, the cheapest plastic cord gets over heated from the friction produced in use and melts to itself and stops the self feeding action. Now, on to the $3 difficulty which stopped everything dead in its tracks! I was using it yesterday and suddenly the little red retainer spool cover lid on the bottom comes flying off. I turned the Toro over and looked, knowing I had just snapped it firmly into place and whoops, the cap cover had completed separated from the housing snap lid! So, I go online to see about a replacement part to purchase from a local store. Seems there are NO REPLACEMENT RETAINER SPOOL CAPS TO BE HAD, not locally, not online, not even FROM THE TORO COMPANY. Spent half a day calling and looking online. I called the Toro customer service hotline: 1) The gentleman there was extremely courteous, diligent in trying to find out how to solve my problem and as helpful and cooperative as he could possibly be. 2) He gave me the part number for the cap, the listing of dealerships in my zip code who are suppose to service Toro equipment with their phone numbers and addresses. Asked me for the serial number to verify the date of purchase and to ensure it was still under their 2 year warranty, which authorizes me to take the trimmer in to an authorized dealer and get an 'over the counter exchange' for a new trimmer if a part is unavailable (sounds simple enough and very fair). 3) He apologized profusely for having to tell me the REAL PROBLEM - THE VENDOR (IN CHINA) RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCTION AND SUPPLYING THE TRIMMERS AND THE PARTS, HAS GIVEN THE COMPANY NO DATE FOR LISTING PRODUCTION RESUPPLY TO TORO, IN THE U.S., SO THEY HAVE NO PARTS, THEY HAVE NO TRIMMERS IN THIS MODEL TO SEND OUT TO ME OR TO ANYONE ELSE, ANYWHERE, NOT EVEN TO DEALERS. 4) Toro had a far greater demand for these trimmers than they expected, sold more than they planned and they have nothing left on hand, period, with no resupply date for ANYTHING! 5) The dealers have NOTHING ON HAND, NO PARTS, NO WORKING MODELS OF THIS UNIT, NOTHING! So for lack of a $1.00 PLASTIC part, selling for $3-$4, (which is probably made by a 3-D printer), Toro has just lost my business! Their trimmers work great, while they last, but once a simple PLASTIC part breaks down, watch out. Once they break, they're dead in the water and you are out whatever you paid. So even a 2 year warranty gives you NO GUARANTEE FOR WORKING OR REPLACEMENT PARTS OR SERVICE, IF THE PRODUCT AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE OBTAINABLE ONLY FROM CHINA! And if China isn't communicating the resupply/re-manufacture date, the company can do NOTHING! Now looking at all the manufacturing plants in the U.S. which are closed down, and all the skilled manufacturing workers who are now unemployed, we can thank VIRTUALLY EVERY MANUFACTURER OF ANY PRODUCT WE BUY FOR SHIPPING PRODUCTION TO CHINA. PLUS, WE ARE ALL OUT OF LUCK FOR THE EXCELLENT PRODUCTS WE USED TO DEPEND ON WHICH USED TO BE MADE IN THE U.S.A.!!!! Suggestion, you pay for what you get, and if you aren't willing to pay for a skilled work force to build it here, you are wasting your time and your money when all you want is a disposable society. Remember when what you bought lasted for years and years!!! I do! July 12,2013 Just a brief addition to the lack of a $3 part - Toro found a red snap-on retainer cap for the spool and I just received it in today's mail. They do listen if you take the time to call their home office and request help. Now I'm back in business again. Thanks Toro for your quick follow up! My yard is desperate!

Positives: Easy to use, converts from trimmer to edger easily, light weight Negatives: the line is completely useless when trying to edge a walk with St Augustine grass. If there's not already a space between the walk and the grass - the line grinds down to nothing in about 5 seconds (literally). The "automatic" line feed - while a good idea, only feeds a qtr inch at a time. So I edge 5 feet and have to sit there for 40 seconds - trying to get the line to feed out enough to be useful again. Now THAT is a waste of time! AND IT'S STILL WINTER - I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE SUMMER GROWING SEASON!!! Also, the little wheel assembly for the edger is a waste of time. I took it off after the first try. Recommend it? Yes, if you don't have to edge too much. BIG NO, if you have to edge a lot.

I love this trimmer/edger. Putting it together is easy as all you have to do is connect the second handle with a single Phillips-head screw and then snap the plastic guard and metal guide on the end. I was hesitant to buy this b/c of all the negative reviews saying that the auto feeding of the line doesn't work. Well it does work and it works very well. I believe the issue for some is simply user error. To auto feed the line all you have to do is hold the trigger on top of the handle so that the unit is 'on', then squeeze the trigger in the handle to make the head spin and quickly let go until the head completely stops. As it slows down to a stop you will hear an audible 'click', which is the line feeding out just a little bit. I was clearing tall grass around something metal and all of the exposed line was cut. I did the above explained procedure several times and could easily see the line growing in length until it was as long as I wanted it to be. Took about 30 seconds and minimal effort to get back to work. Also this thing is very powerful. I edged my yard and cleared out a lot of weeds and tall grass, along with some saplings as well, all without issue. I also don't think I used up very much line at all and I wasn't being terribly careful to conserve it. Great price for a great tool so far. There's a button you can hit with your foot or hand that swivels the head from trimmer to hedger. Works very nicely and makes going between the two quite simple. The guide wheel also worked just fine. If you're wondering what cord to use I'm using US Wire 74100 12/3 100-Feet SJTW Yellow Heavy-Duty Lighted Extension Cord, which I also bought on Amazon. Same cord works for the electric lawn mower I just bought.

DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS DO NOT BUY THIS I WANT A REFUND!! LINE TAKES SO MUCH TIME TO GET OUT AND IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND SO HEAVY THAT TRUING TO GET LINE YOU ARE WORN OUT AND GIVE UP. I WILL GO BUY A DIFF BRAND AND THROW THIS IN THE TRASH SINCE TORO WONT REFUND WOWWWWWWWWWWWW ---- VERY HEAVY ******UPDATE*********** Lowered the review to 1 star. I sopent more time trying to get the line out then I did actually cutting grass with it. The auto feed sounds great, but if you ever use one of these before you know to tap and out it goes. The string disappeared and took way to much time feeding 2 lines thru the drum. IF THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST WEEDEATER, YOU WILL HATE THIS ONE. Easy to assemble. Had power to cut thick grass. Line wasnt coming out so had to go find out in the instructions. THIS is not old school tap and go line feed. FOR the line to feed you have to toggle the switch off and on for 2 seconds until the line goes out. Once you figure this out it will be ok. My forearms were dying after three mins. Very heavy and since the shaft is not longer it is hard to balance it out trying to make the weight better. I am tall guy and it was ok to use without lots of leaning over. Just really heavy.

First day impressions: great value, and nice performance. The assembly directions are a tad sparse, but fairly intuitive. Regarding assembly, you have to either notice the main product picture or notice that only the upper shaft has a groove that the handle can lock onto (i.e to prevent slip-rotation). The main shaft seems to have ample adjustment room for people of different heights, and the switch-trigger system is very easy for me. But the lock-switch might be difficult for anyone who is thumb-challenged (e.g arthritis). Regarding performance, I must say that I was initially reluctant to buy an electric string trimmer owing to the fact that they all say that they have "auto-advancing" string mechanisms. My fear was that it would simply eat up string "automatically." I am pleased to report that the auto-advancing mechanism (at least on this model) is actually manageable. The directions (pg 3) state the following directions about "Advancing the Line": 1) With the trimmer running, release the switch-trigger, 2) Wait 2 seconds, then press the switch-trigger (the line will extend ~6 mm or 1/4 inch with each said stop/start or the switch-trigger until the line reaches the length of the grass deflector blade), 3) Resume trimming. SUMMARY: This procedure works great, even when the line is unexpectedly chopped way too short by an hidden metal object. Thus the main risk of wasting string here is if you are stop/starting a lot. In my N-FL yards, I only use it to trim hard-to-mow areas and thus deal with a mix of grass, various soft weeds, smilax vine, kudzu vine, laurel oak saplings, and various juniper saplings. The line that comes with trimmer does not cut the bigger vines or the juniper saplings well. It lasts somewhat better cutting really small laurel oak saplings, vines, and exposed grass roots. It cuts though any normal grass or soft weeds that way you'd expect it to. Also, if you're cutting anything extremely wet, you may want to wipe down the slit-vents on the motor somewhat regularly to avoid ruining the electric motor.