If you have a yard that you like to keep neat and tidy, having a wood chipper is almost mandatory. As soon as you have to start trimming trees, shrubs, and bushes, you’ll find yourself in the middle of a lot of wood waste that’s difficult to get rid of.
With a wood chipper, you can turn large branches into wood chips that can be used around the house or sold for profit. If you’re not sure whether or not a wood chipper is something you could actually benefit from, this article is bound to answer that question.
Top 3 Picks
Best Overall: Sun Joe CJ603E Wood Chipper/Shredder
“Can’t explain how pleased I am with this amazing product. Like the power, noise level and ease of usage.” (Customer review)
Best Price: CJ601E Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder
When you’re looking for a budget-friendly wood chipper but are afraid to waste money on a product that doesn’t deliver, the Sun Joe CJ601E is a safe product to invest in.
Most Versatile: EFCUT C30 Mini Wood Chipper
Whether you want to cut wooden branches or make quality mulch for your garden, the EFCUT C30 is a chipper that doesn’t fail to deliver as promised.
Benefits of Owning a Wood Chipper
If you’re skeptical about whether or not a wood chipper is a piece of machinery that you actually want to own, let’s go over the main benefits to see if these provide you with something you might want to take advantage of:
- The first and most important benefit for a lot of homeowners is the fact that they can quickly clean up the yard with a wood chipper. If you’re in the process of trimming your trees or shrubs, or if you’re cutting down branches or doing whatever other activity results in a lot of wood waste, a chipper will basically turn large chunks of wood into small pieces that can easily be disposed of.
- Wood chippers are somewhat environmentally friendly if you consider the fact that they eliminate waste burn. It’s true that you can also burn wood chips if you want to, but there are so many different things that you can do with them instead. We’ll get to those right away.
- If you would often drive to the dump to get rid of wood waste, a wood chipper can help you eliminate that extra hassle, provided that you’re going to do something else with the resulting chips and not throw them away regardless.
- As we mentioned before, a wood chipper can help you create materials that are useful around the house or could be sold for profit. With a wood chipper, you can make mulch, compost, pressed wood, or biofuel.
Choosing a Wood Chipper
Before you actually spend money on a wood chipper, knowing about the different features and specifications is important, so let’s get an overview of what you’re supposed to learn about before you buy one:
Type
Wood chippers are generally classified depending on their power source, which means you have three different types to choose from. Electric wood chippers are quiet and compact, and most people recognize them due to their golf bag shape. However, they can mostly handle materials with a diameter smaller than two inches. A lot of people choose them because they are less expensive and easier to use.
Gas wood chippers are the most common choice amongst homeowners because they can handle materials with diameters even larger than three inches. They are more powerful than electric wood chippers, but they also make a lot of noise, are bigger in size, and give off a chemical smell because they burn gasoline to function. PTO (short for “power take-off”) wood chippers have a drive shaft that allows you to attach them to a truck, mower, or tractor. That means that the chipper will draw power from the vehicle it is attached to and this massive amount of energy makes this type of chipper more powerful than the others.
Cutting blades
Different wood chippers are equipped with different kinds of blades, and this will determine what kinds of materials they can cut through. Wood chippers have blades that can cut through small branches and clippings, while PTO and gas chippers are better for larger material.
Bag capacity
This particular component of a wood chipper will allow you to gather the clippings in one place and makes it easier for you to clean up when you’re done using the machine. However, not all wood chippers come with a bag or a bin, and it might be best for you to look for one that does include it. The size of this container is important depending on the size of the project you’re working on. If you purchase a wood chipper with a large container, it will keep you covered on larger cleanup projects. Smaller bags are better if you’re worried about weight, but keep in mind that the smaller this container is, the more often you’re going to have to empty it.
Shredding chute
Having a shredding chute is going to be of great help if you often have to clean soft yard waste (like leaves or weeds). Not all wood chippers have this chute and, for some, it might be available as a separate purchase.
Power
A wood chipper comes with cutting and grinding blades that are powered by a motor to cut through solid wood at a fast pace. The force that drives these blades is known as torque, and it is generally measured in foot-pounds. For residential use, the most common wood chipper torque ranges between 7 to 15 ft-lbs.
Reduction ratio
The reduction ratio of a wood chipper will show you how small the material will be once it’s been shredded with the chipper. The reduction ratio will often look something like 10:1, meaning that the material will be reduced to a tenth of its original size. Different chippers have different reduction ratios that range from 8:1 to 20:1. It’s important to keep in mind that wood chippers that can cut materials into tiny bits will often need more energy and power, meaning these machines will be larger, more powerful, and more expensive.
How to Clean Your Wood Chipper
Some wood chipper manufacturers promise that their products come with zero maintenance requirements, but there are still things that you have to do if you want your chipper to stay in tip-top shape for as long as possible.
When you want to clean your chipper, you want to make sure that the engine is turned off because you don’t want any parts moving and putting you in danger in any way. You also want to disconnect the spark plug to make sure that machine doesn’t have any chance of starting up by accident.
In order to clean your wood chipper, you have to remove the flair screen and get rid of any large pieces of debris that might be stuck anywhere. The flair screen requires individual cleaning. Once you’re done, proceed to cleaning the chute and the area that surrounds the muffler. You can use a dry cloth or a brush to do this.
Take note that you should avoid using a powerful water spray to clean the chipper, else you might risk contaminating the fuel system.
Best Wood Chippers
Sun Joe CJ603E Wood Chipper/Shredder
We’re back at it again with another Sun Joe product because these people seem to make some of the most awesome gardening tools that one could ever need. This particular model is a chipper that doubles as a shredder, promising to help you turn leaves into mulch and large wood branches into chips. It is an electric wood chipper with a silent modus operandi, being powered by a 15-amp motor that cuts through branches with a maximum of 1.73 inches in diameter.
It is equipped with seven-inch wheels that makes it easier for you to push it around as needed. The safety hopper comes with a locking knob which means that the motor will never run when the machine is opened. It has a 21:1 reduction ratio and promises zero carb emission for a more environmentally friendly impact.
EFCUT C30 Mini Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher
The EFCUT C30 is a gas-powered wood chipper with a 15:1 reduction ratio and a few features that can totally justify the somewhat high cost of the machine. It can successfully cut through wood pieces that have a maximum length of 10 inches and a diameter of three inches or less. It can reach a maximum torque of 9.96 ft-lbs and is powered by a single-cylinder engine.
The unique cutting system of this shredder is composed from two blades constructed from high-quality steel and four cutting hammers that can destroy branches with leaves at high speeds, allowing to shred more wood faster. The chipper doesn’t work when the oil tank is empty, meaning there are less chances of machine damage. The chipper is also equipped with a low oil level sensor.
CJ601E 14-Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder
The CJ601E is another Sun Joe product that delivers a quality chipping experience every time you put it in use. It is a chipper that doubles as a shredder, and can help you make anything from small wood chips to mulch and compost. It is powered by a 14-amp motor and has a compact design that rests on top of six-inch wheels for easier manipulation and higher portability.
It is equipped with safety features that provide peace of mind for the user, such as a safety hopper locking knob that prevents the machine’s operation when it’s opened. There is also a reset button that can be used in case of chipper overload. This electrical chipper can cut through branches that are up to 1.5 inches in thickness.
SuperHandy Mini Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher
When you hear that this is labeled as a mini wood chipper, you might be tricked into thinking it is a less powerful piece of equipment. It’s not. It is, however, a sturdy machine with a compact design that’s easy to move but can still cut through different pieces of wood like it’s nobody’s business.
It has a reduction ratio of 15:1 and can cut through wood branches that are up to three inches in diameter. The adjustable discharge guide will help you redirect the debris to the angle of your choice. It has a gas-powered engine that can hold up to 0.7 gallons of fuel. It comes with heavy duty wheels for greater portability and a construction that makes the machine both lightweight and durable at the same time.
Earthwise GS70015 15-Amp Garden Corded Electric Chipper
The Earthwise GS70015 is an electric chipper ready to get the job done when you’re looking to cut branches that measure a maximum of 1.75 inches in diameter. It is powered by a 15-amp motor that can get the job done pretty well, cutting through wood thanks to the durable steel blades. It comes with a collector bin that has a lightweight design so that you can easily discard its contents without putting in too much effort.
The durable rear wheels make it easy to move the chipper around whenever it’s needed, and the slim and lightweight design contributes to the portability feature as well.
Landworks Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher
One of the best and most powerful wood chippers we’ve ever seen is surely this one from Landworks. While some might be intimidated by the price, we can definitely reassure you that the power and sturdy construction of this chipper makes it worth every penny. It is a versatile product that doubles as a shredder and can be used to make mulch and other materials that are useful around the garden.
It has a 212cc gas-powered engine that offers a 15:1 reduction ratio and comes with a reservoir capable of holding up to 0.7 gallons of gas. The four-stroke single-cylinder engine is amongst the powerful one we’ve seen on a product at this price. Additionally, you can choose to purchase a tow bar kit and a vacuum kit.
TACKLIFE Wood Chipper
The last product suggestion we have in store for you today is a quality wood chipper designed by Tacklife. With a reduction ratio of 16:1 given by the 15-amp electric motor, this machine is a cost-effective solution for those of you that are looking to cut branches of maximum 1.77 inches in diameter. With 36.5 pounds in weight and 94 decibels of noise output, this is one of the lightest and quietest wood chippers out there.
It comes with a 60L collection bag that allows you to get rid of the resulting waste without too much effort. The blade is adjustable by turning the knob to allow the seven-teeth cutting blades to do an excellent job every time.
FAQ
What is the best home wood chipper?
There is a lot of debate on which is the best home wood chipper. Some of the most popular brands include Earthquake, Sun Joe, Earthwise, and Tacklife.
How much does it cost to buy a wood chipper?
On average, a decent wood chipper would cost around $100 to $300, but there are models that are way more expensive than that. Even so, you can get a good wood chipper for around $250 but expect to pay up to $500 if you want a more powerful and high-quality wood chipper.
Is a wood chipper a good investment?
The only way to determine if a wood chipper is a good investment is to think about whether or not you’re struggling with getting rid of large chunks of wood from your yard on a regular basis. If you feel like having wood chips would help you way more than having to deal with getting rid of larger branches, then you should definitely consider investing in a wood chipper.
What is the difference between a wood chipper and a shredder?
The terms “chipper” and “shredder” are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between these two. A chipper is made to help you get rid of waste wood, while shredders are used to deal with softer materials. Some products are shredder and chipper combos, but they cost more compared to the price of a wood chipper without the ability to shred.
In Conclusion
Having a wood chipper is an amazing thing from a lot of different perspectives. It allows you to quickly get rid of unwanted wood waste in a more environmentally-friendly manner, and you can use it to make materials that are useful around the house/yard, such as pressed wood or mulch. Besides, if you have too much of one of these materials, you can sell it for profit, as there are people that would pay for it.
The post A Wood Chipper Can Make Your Yard Shine Again appeared first on Home Decorating Trends - Homedit.
0 Commentaires