BLACK+DECKER LST136 40V MAX 13-Inch String Trimmer

BLACK+DECKER LST136 40V MAX is a budget priced string trimmer that uses that uses 0.065” single (AF-100) line and has 13-inch cutting swath. It’s more powerful than Black and Decker 20V string trimmers but still not quite powerful enough for heavy duty jobs.

However it does a pretty good job of tackling with low to medium duty jobs, like regular grass and moderate weeds – which is how most consumers intend to use their string trimmers, but for really thick stuff you will have to look for something more powerful (and more expensive).

BLACK+DECKER LST136 has 6 different speed settings. The higher ones provide more power whereas lower one conserve battery life. It does between 6,500 to 8,500 RPM at no load depending on speed setting you have chosen.

It can be turned into an edger with just a twist of the shaft. It works decent as an edger but not perfect and also takes a bit of getting used to.

Battery

There a multiple different kits of BLACK+DECKER LST136 available, but the most popular one comes with LBXR36 40V MAX* 1.5 Ah Lithium Ion battery. With it you can expect battery life of around 20-30 minutes. It does heavily depend on speed setting you use, so for longer battery life you should use the lowest speed that’s sufficient.

Battery has a meter that tells tells approximately how much battery life is left.

Weight, dimensions & ergonomics

BLACK+DECKER LST136 weighs 7.8 pounds – far from being the lightest cordless string trimmer but lighter than most gas powered ones. It measures approximately 9.63 inches deep, 43.94 inches high and 4.44 inches wide.

Ergonomics are pretty good actually – not perfect but better than vast majority of string trimmers of its price. It features telescoping length adjustment and the head pivots as well. It’s a bit on heavier side of cordless string trimmers which might be a deal breaker for some, but it’s not overly heavy.

Flaws

Considering it’s a budget priced string trimmer you might expect it’s far from perfect – and that’s somewhat true as it does have some flaws.

BLACK+DECKER LST136 has auto feed system but it wastes too much line. If that’s not bad enough many consumers have reported it actually stopping to work all together after a while of use. It’s not necessarily something most will experience but  it’s still a somewhat common issue.

It’s also mostly made from cheap plastic – so how long these pieces will last before cracking is a game of luck, especially the guard.

If you read consumer feedback then it seems that BLACK+DECKER LST136 is not the most reliable string trimmer. There is a considerable amount of complaints about it breaking after use (sometimes it’s months, sometimes years but in some cases even after few uses) – that doesn’t mean you should expect your unit to break soon if you purchase LST136 weed wacker as such reports are minority and most consumers are very satisfied with it – it’s just that it’s more likely to break than more expensive, better built units.

─── Related Article: Best Electric String Trimmers ───

Conclusions

Overall I have mixed feelings about BLACK+DECKER LST136 string trimmer – it stands out from competition in many ways, both positive and negative. It’s not a bad string trimmer for sure considering the price, but neither is it good enough to be called great.

BLACK+DECKER LST136 40V Max String Trimmer / Edger Specs:

• Type: Electric (battery powered)
• Battery: 2Ah (1.5Ah offered in other kits)
• Speed: 6,500-8,500 RPM
• Cutting path: 13”
• Line diameter: 0.065”
• Approximate dimensions: 9.63″ x 43.94″ x 4.44″ (D x H x W)
• Weight: 7.8 lbs