It doesn’t matter if your project is big or small, if you’re planning on downing trees, trimming shrubbery, or going to war with the overgrown rose bushes in your back yard a wood chipper is a must-have. Buying a woodchipper is a big purchase and not one that should be taken lightly. Doing proper research is critical, so before you even raise your ax, chainsaw, or loppers it is important to take a step back and make sure you have the proper clean-up tools, but how do you decide exactly which woodchipper is right for you?
What is a woodchipper?
A wood or tree chipper is a machine that can be used to break down tree branches, limbs, and even trunks into chips. They can make cleaning up unwanted vegetation a lot easier and the resulting product can be utilized in more ways than the piles of vegetation ever would. Chippers are designed to be portable, typically mounted on wheels so they can be towed behind chip trucks. Smaller chippers are moved around as trailers and set up so that the chips are left on the ground instead of in a collection bin.
Determining the size of your project
Are you clearing land for a homesite? Cleaning up the backyard or preparing a pasture for new livestock? The size and scope of your project is the very first determining factor. If the majority of your debris is on the larger side you could get away with a disc chipper, which has its blades mounted on a steel disc as the main chipping mechanism, but for smaller branches and overall better chip size, it’s probably better to go with a drum chipper.
A drum chipper uses a steel drum powered by a motor that is located parallel to the hopper. It spins towards the output chute. Another plus side to this design is that the drum also helps to pull debris into its hungry maw.
If your project produces smaller debris like leaves or vines you might be more inclined to look into a wood shredder. Shredders do better jobs of small, often wet or damp material and are rather great at producing mulch or compost.
How much power do you need?
Another factor to consider is power output. Wood chippers can be electric, gas-powered, or powered by the PTO on your tractors. Electric chippers are smaller, portable, and require less maintenance. Gas and PTO-powered chippers are larger and are harder to maneuver but the sheer amount of power they have is far greater than that of an electric chipper.
Other considerations
If you’re going with a bigger chipper, keep in mind that they typically require more maintenance than the smaller ones. Make sure you have somewhere to store your chipper and educate yourself on the proper steps to follow to stay safe while chipping. Proper maintenance will extend the life of your machine, which will continue to work tirelessly for you year after year. To browse a great selection of outdoor tools and equipment check out My Little Salesman.