RECALLL: Black & Decker GH1000 Grasshog XP String Trimmer/Edgers

[Greg]

NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2007 Release #07-248

Firm's Recall Hotline: [phone] CPSC Recall Hotline: [phone] CPSC Media Contact: [phone]

Black & Decker Recalls Trimmers/Edgers Due to Laceration Hazard from Projectiles

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Black & Decker GH1000 Grasshog XP String Trimmer/Edgers

Units: About 202,000

Manufacturer: Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md.

Hazard: The trimmer/edger's spool, spool cap and pieces of trimmer string can come loose during use and become airborne projectiles, posing a laceration hazard to the user as well as bystanders. The trimmer/edgers can also overheat posing a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Black & Decker has received 707 reports of incidents, including 58 reports of injuries. Serious injuries included cuts to two consumers' legs that required medical attention. Minor injuries included bruises, lacerations, and facial injuries such as a welt and broken skin over a consumer's eye. There were also reports of property damage, including two broken windows.

Description: The Black & Decker GH1000 Grasshog XP String Trimmers/Edgers are electric-powered. Trimmer/edgers with date codes

200546 through 200645 (representing manufacture dates of November 14, 2005 through November 6, 2006) are included in this recall. The date code is located on the underside of the trimmer/edger's handle. Only trimmers with black spools caps are included in the recall. Those with orange spool caps are not included in the recall.

Sold at: Major home center and hardware stores nationwide from November

2005 through January 2007 for about $70.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the string trimmers/edgers immediately and contact Black & Decker for a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Black & Decker at [phone] between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to:

[Scott]

I went to school in Maryland where B&D has presence, and it used to be good stuff.

Now their B&D brand stuff is total garbage nearly across the board. I had a "hedge hog" trimmer that was very loud & had such an imbalance in the rotating mechanism that the extenstion cord would vibrate right off the thing even with the strain relief feature, and a edger that was powerful but the handle had such slop in it that it felt disconnected. This story does not surprise me in the least. If wonder what will happen to Porter Cable now....

S

[Travis Jordan]

Me either.

"Sold at: Major home center and hardware stores nationwide from November 2005 through January 2007 for about $70.

Manufactured in: China"

[toneka]

I have had this product for a year and it has been nothing but trouble. We went out and bought a replacement trimmer but last month my husband decided to bring this one out to edge the front yard. After

5 minutes the entire spool detached from the trimmer and flew across the yard. He or someone else standing close by could have easily been hurt. I called for the replacement kit but something tells me it wont fix the problem.