Craftsman has expanded their 12V Nextec power tool platform with several new lawn and garden power tools. These tools are lightweight, compact, and easy to use, and look to be great for quick maintenance tasks or for homeowners and those who have smaller garden areas to maintain.
The new line will include a grass trimmer and edger, an articulating and rotational hedge trimmer, a 2-in-1 pole pruner, and a 3-in-1 garden tool.
I had the chance to preview some of the new gardening tools a few weeks ago, and they seemed to be reasonably well built. I liked the features and thought the 3-in-1 tool to look particularly handy. I think that these tools will be especially well received by urban homeowners who are usually faced with 2 options – manual hand tools and full-size power tools that are overkill for their usual gardening tasks. All of these tools will be available at Sears stores by May or June 2011.
Craftsman Nextec Grass Trimmer and Edger
The trimmer features a flail cutting system with 9-inch diameter cutting swath. Its telescoping shaft can be adjusted match the user’s height, and its rotating head transforms the tool from a trimmer to an edger. The grip handle can be adjusted up to 15 degrees for a more comfortable grip.
The kit is priced at $80 and includes a 12V battery, 30-minute charger, and 12 replacement plastic flails.
Craftsman Nextec Articulating and Rotational Hedge Trimmer
The shaft of this tool also telescopes out, with a maximum reach of 5-1/2 feet. Its 135° rotating head adjusts via an easy grip twist, and has 8 lockable positions. The laser-cut 12″ blades are made from corrosion resistant hardened steel and can cut through shrub material up to 3/8″ thick.
The kit is priced at $100 and includes the tool, battery, and charger.
Craftsman Nextec 2-in-1 Pole Pruner
The pruner has a 3/4″ cutting capacity and can be extended up to an additional 12″, or separated from the pole for easier hand-held use. It also features a dual action safety trigger to prevent accidental starts, and a generously long squeeze-switch for better tool balance and easy operation.
The 2-in-1 pole pruner is priced at $100 and also includes a battery charger.
Craftsman Nextec 3-in-1 Garden Tool
The 3-in-1 garden tool comes with 3 interchangeable tool heads – a grass shear, hedge clipper, and three-finger reciprocating claw for loosening and aerating soil.
The 3-in-1 garden tool is priced at $100.
12v? What do you guys think? Is 12v enough to power these tools?
There’s no real reason why they shouldn’t be able to do the job. I imagine that Craftsman did a lot of testing to match tool capacity to the available battery power. For example, the trimmer does not have the cutting span of larger battery-powered or cordless tools.
It’s not as if they took the 19.2V lineup and rewired them to make them work with 12V batteries.
I purchased the 12V Craftsman Nextec trimmer last summer as I already had a Bosch I-Driver and a 3/8″ drill in 12V lithium Ion batteries. They have great torque right to the end and the trimmer does too. I am pleased. I purchased a 2nd battery as I have a lot of bed edging but the two batteries handle the chores well.
Does it replace a string trimmer? Not entirely. I do have a 30′ rock retaining wall that has a rough surface. The solid flail does not do as well as string. I don’t miss my gas unit however.
Are you able to find replacement flails for this trimmer? Please let me know where they’re available if you can….
We purchased the 12v trimmer that uses flails rather than line….it is easy to handle, not too powerful, but fits our needs….however I cannot find the replacement flails for this trimmer….very frustrated…..
i tried to reorder replacement flails and found they no longer make them and the replacement flails will not be available until July 31,2012 per Craftman spokeperson and also chat line of sears. Very upset the store salesperson told me to try Home Depot for a Craftman product!