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Wood Chippers Shredders: A Buying Guide

On August 27, 2010, in Wood Chippers Shredders, by Admin
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Wood chippers/shredders are almost more important than a lawn mower for home or cottage owners who have a large, heavily wooded property. Between natural aging and the damage that Mother Nature sometimes inflicts, fallen or broken branches can be an ongoing issue that has to be dealt with. Large, older branches can be great for firewood, but when a wind or rain storm rips away vast quantities of green wood, there’s not much that can be done with them. Unless, of course, you have a chipper/shredder at your disposal.

When you feed the fallen branches into one of these units, the end product will be wood chips or shreds that are great for a number of purposes. Most people use them in their gardens, either as mulch or as a decorative landscaping feature.

Wood chippers shredders come in a range of performance specifications and prices. Some people are fine with a $300 electric unit that handles smaller branches, brush and leaves. Others require a heavy duty, gas powered product capable of handling branches up to 3 inches in diameter. These products are more expensive, of course, ranging from $400 up to $2000. But if it’s going to get a lot of use, there’s no point in skimping on quality.

Which style you choose will ultimately depend on your needs. The electric models, with a couple of exceptions, have been known to have some significant performance issues. The gas powered units, while more powerful and reliable, cost a lot of money. It’s important that you weigh your options carefully before making a decision.

Read our buying guides for electric wood chippers shredders and gas wood chippers shredders to help you make the right choice.

Always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions and use the recommended safety precautions when operating wood chippers/shredders. Accidents involving this type of equipment aren’t pretty. It’s also essential that you look into your local regulations concerning the operation of power equipment and noise levels before you buy anything to make sure you’ll be legally allowed to use it.

 

Gas Wood Chippers Shredders

On August 31, 2010, in Wood Chippers Shredders, by Admin
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Gas wood chippers shredders start at about $400 and climb all the way up to $2000. However, they’re worth the extra cost if you have a large property and lots of thick branches.

A heavy duty unit will have at least a 5 horsepower motor and can handle branches up to 3 inches in diameter. Typically, this kind of equipment features two separate chutes, a smaller one with blades that reduces wood to shreds or chips, and a larger one that has flails or hammers that are capable of breaking up stalks and leaves into finer mulch. Keep in mind that the higher the number of hammers or flails it has, the better performance it will offer. As well, some units have transposable screens that control the size of the shred or cut.

You can choose to have the wood chips discharged into a pile or into a collection bag.

Some models have a clutch, which makes them more expensive but gives you more control. It also reduces the noise level, which can be a significant factor if you have neighbors nearby.

You want to look for a sturdy model that has some weight to it so it won’t be inclined to tip over during use. Also look for a tow hitch that attaches securely and pneumatic or semi-pneumatic tires for safe and easy transport.

 

Electric Wood Chippers Shredders

On June 16, 2010, in Wood Chippers Shredders, by Admin
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Light duty, electric wood chippers shredders are usually priced under $300 and are great for branches of about 1-1/2 inches in diameter, in addition to brush and leaves. The motor will be in the 2.5 horsepower range. Typically, you will feed the branches into a hopper on top of the unit and it will shred/chip them and shoot them out the side into a pile.

Electric products tend to be much quieter than gas powered units, which can be a significant advantage if your neighbors live close by. A downside of these units, however, is that they tend to be lighter in weight and less sturdy overall.

In fact, users tend to find a lot of things wrong with electric wood chippers shredders, ranging from their tendency to jam or seize far too easily, to the flimsiness of their components and inability to get replacement parts.

There are however, a few notable exceptions: the Patriot Products CSV-2515, the McCulloch MCS-2001, and the Eco-Shredder ES1600. Just follow those links to read the customer reviews on these products at Amazon.com. These can be great choices if you find the cost of the gas powered products out of your price range, and you really don’t need all the power and performance they supply.