I bought one of these strimmers last spring and used it throughout last summer in the garden. It's a great strimmer for use in a small to medium garden, does what it says on the can! I gave it a good clean at the end of last growing season before putting it away in the garage over the winter. I've just got the strimmer out to make sure it's in good working order ready for the coming summer. It's still looking good and when I gave it a quick try in the back garden, it's all still working well and it's the strimmer I'll be using this summer.

B&D GL350 strimmer - Worked fine when bought from shop although when replacing the reel it was absolutely useless. I even used the expensive replacement approved reels. Spool kept unwinding with no tension. Replacement instructions were too small to be of any use and not clear. After seriously considering throwing it against a wall, I even resorted to the manual for fault finding, although this too was useless.

It turns out the notches and cutouts on the spools are not used for anything, only to stop it unwinding when packaged. Only when I looked further into it I noticed the parts list identified an "actuator" (little black plastic arm) which was now missing from my product. This keeps the reel tension. The parts list (i think item 6) gives it a part number, which you can buy for around £2 on the internet but not from any major stores. If this is missing on your model I suggest you go to the store where you bought it and look at the display model, so you can see which piece is missing ;-) Now I've replaced this item it works fine.

Obviously the other reviewers are not using the strimmer correctly-here are a few tips:
(1) Ensure that the wire is installed in opposite directions on the spools
(2) Ensure that the extremity of the wires are inside the cover guard.
(3) Don't tip the ground with the end of the strimmer as this releases more line which is cut off by the blade on the end of the Cover-henc people finding strips of wire on the ground- a great machine for it's price

I can only echo the thoughts of everyone else here. I bought this strimmer begining of last summer and disliked it then. First cut of this year and the lawn is covered in bits of blue line and I now need to buy a new spool of the stuff. PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE GL350

Bought a GL350 at the tail end of the summer (09) and just it back out of the shed for the first cut and strim of the year - as usual it began chewing up the line, so like many others on here I invested ina pre-loaded spool, which it ate in the space of my lawn - how I wish I had read this website last year - do not buy a GL350 complete waste of money.

Like many others I wish i'd reviewed this website first. After a few years year messing about with cheap strimmers, I bought this thinking it would be half decent. How wrong I was. Same experience as everyone else, line chews up in no time and is left scattered all over the garden. Now that i've read this and realise it isn't me doing something wrong, i'll persevere no more and buy something decent. Anyone any suggestions?

need to be a brain surgeon to rewind cutting line

Absolutely useless - this Black & Decker GL350 Strimmer chews the line into little bits and doesn't strim more than 3 ft to a whole spool. What a waste of money - have spent a fortune on replacement spools thinking I was doing something wrong!!!!!!

Glad I came on here . Husband thought it was me being useless. Now he knows different . The Black & Decker GL350 Strimmer is a completely useless tool.

made the mistake of buying one of these Black & Decker Strimmers off ebay 2nd hand and totally agree with everyobne's else's comments - couldn't work out why I was getting through the whole line and finding bits all over the garden. Also despite it only being used a few times it won't work when the head is swiveled so possible fault there.

My Dad bought me the B&D GL350 a few months ago as I'd had a new lawn laid last Autumn. Me and garden equipment don't always get on and I really thought it was me that was doing something wrong, but after reading these comments, I feel relieved that it isn't me. I must have spent about £70 on new spools, only for them to unwind and be chopped into little pieces after about 5 mins. This product should be taken out of the shops as it is clearly faulty.

I have used a B&D cordless for some years and it was good in a large garden. It needs new batteries but I bought a Black & Decker GL350 Strimmer instead as it is much lighter.
What a useless product. As soon as the cord hit the wooden lawn edging it broke off and unwound. After rewinding it went round the (small) lawn OK but left about 2cm of cord every metre or so.
I decided to get a refund and maybe buy some new batteries.
GEM

No wonder we were given this Black & Decker Strimmer for free from boyfriends sister!!!! Been waiting for ages to get refill cartridge finally got one and thought I had set it up wrong as it chewed it up straight away! Came on internet to find instructions and have realised it's not my fault!! How terrible that B&D can get away with selling such a useless product!! Glad it was free but will be having a word with his sister for palming it off on us :)

I thought it was me, I can't stop the strimmer eating the line and thought I was stupid because everytime I replace it did the same
Don't buy this Black & Decker GL350 Strimmer its useless

I bought this Black & Decker GL350 Strimmer and used it for the first time today. It did exactly what everyone else said, chewed up all the line within the first 20 mins of using it. I was about to get some more line when I came across this review page, fab website. Only wish I had checked this out, I will be returning first call tomorrow with receipt in hand for a refund.

absolutely useless ...the Black & Decker GL350 Strimmer was brand new ....chewed the line from the first attempt to use it ....several tries to get it to work properly ...waste of money ...