Yard waste is often difficult to get rid of. You will need to rent a separate container for yard waste.
This is a good option, until your yard waste container is full. If you do a lot of yard work, this can happen quickly. You can either work in small steps or just leave yard waste lying around until it is full. Then, fill the container again.
You can have a fire if you don’t feel restricted. It’s not always easy to light fresh vegetation, leaves, or green branches. It is difficult to make a fire with damp materials. It is possible to dry it, but that would leave you with a bunch of brush piles.
A wood chipper/shredder is the answer. This can make your yard waste smaller than it was before. Think about taking all your leaves and brush, as well as twigs, ornamental grasses, branches, and twigs. You can make compost or mulch out of it. The compost can be used in your garden, or laid in mulch in your flowerbeds. Or you could simply make the yard waste container smaller.
Quick View Best Wood Chippers/Shredders
Gas Vs. Electric
You can choose from electric or gas-powered chipper/shredders. Because there are so many variables in the amount of work each product can do and the cost it will cost, you’ll need to carefully think about how you plan to use your chipper/shredder.
Although an electric shredder/chipper is likely to suffice for most homeowners, they do have some limitations. There is a requirement for electricity. You will be limited in how far you can travel from an outlet and will need a 10-12 gauge extension cord. You will need to purchase one if you don’t have one.
A shredder/chipper/electronic chipper will not be as powerful as one that uses gas. It will take more time, might require patience and coaxing, and may run into jobs that it can’t handle like a gas chipper/shredder.
An electric shredder/chipper is typically half the price of a traditional gas one, and it’s just as simple. It is easier to use and maintain. It’s as simple as turning a switch to start an electric chipper/shredder. They are lighter and easier for you to move around your yard. They are generally smaller and take up less space in your garage or shed. You won’t have to change the oil, fill it up with gas, or bring it in for maintenance.
The gas-powered shredders/chippers are more brutal. They are noisy, dirty, and smelly ogres that can chew up and spit out thick branches just as well as leaves and twigs. The most expensive version is the gas-powered shredder/chipper, but they can easily shred even the most disgusting waste.
Also, gas shredders/gas chippers are heavier. Even though they are not tied to an outlet, they can still be difficult to transport long distances. Particularly if the terrain is hilly, boggy, or rutted.
Shredding, Chipping, And Reduction Ratio
A chipper/shredder’s ultimate goal is to reduce yard waste. The reduction ratio provides a snapshot of how well a chipper/shredder does this job. The reduction ratio describes how much a chipper/shredder can reduce the amount of plant matter that is fed to it. A reduction ratio of 10 to 1 means that the chipper/shredder will take 10 bags of raw material and convert it into one bag. It will convert 20 bags into 1 by converting 20 bags to 1.
The chute has chipping blades, or knives at the end that can rotate at high speed to cut branches. The material is then fired out of the chute, where it will be caught by a bag or container or the ground.
The shredder is usually a separate device from the chipper. The shredder is equipped with a chute and a hopper that can be used to load plant material. The shredder spins below the chute a series J-hammers or Y-hammers. These rip, shred and pulverize small objects like leaves, bark, and branches into fine mulch. Finally, it removes the material using the discharge chute.
The Top Four
Sun Joe Chipper Joe CJ601E
The Chipper Joe electric shredder/chipper is very affordable and outperforms other models that cost more. The motor’s 14-amp power can reach up to 4300 RPM, which allows it to shred almost any yard waste. It can also chip limbs and branches of up to 4 cm in diameter. Its ratio of reduction is very respectable at 16 to 1.
The Chipper Joe weighs in at just over 12kg and takes up very little space when it is stored. It is easy to start and requires less maintenance than gasoline.
The hopper measures 5 cm x 13cm and is quite shallow. It can be difficult to place large amounts of leaves and brush. You’ll need to make sure you use the paddle provided to press them in. The CJ601E’s smaller motor can cause it to jam or bog down if there is too much material being added. This may explain why the hopper is so small.
The hopper will tip quickly to release a jammed hopper, allowing you the freedom to remove it. The safety switch and safety lock in the hopper provide additional protection for clearing jams. However, I would unplug the machine prior to clearing any jams.
The Chipper Joe CJ601E, an electric shredder/chipper that is small and powerful, is a great little machine.
Patriot Products CSV-2515
The Patriot Products CSV-2515 electric machine is a beast. It can handle almost as much material as gas shredders, and it can do it at a speed that is nearly twice the speed of a traditional gas chipper. Almost. It is equipped with a 13.5-amp motor of 1.5 horsepower that can chip branches up to 6 cm diameter. This motor is at the top end of gas models, and can destroy any electric ones.
The CSV-2515 comes with a 36 cm x 41cm hopper. It makes it easier to dump large amounts of leaves and other debris. Although it is quite heavy at 44kg, its large wheels will allow you to still move it easily. The CSV-2515 is an electric chipper/shredder that’s top-of-the-line.
However, it does have its problems but they are minor. One is that the ratio of reduction to gas is only 8:1. This is not the price I expected for the electric shredder/chipper. However, it may be the key to making them faster than gas ones. An electric chipper/shredder must be connected to an extension cord. A 10-gauge extension cord is required for the CSV-2515. Manufacturer recommends that the extension cord not exceed 30.5m in length and that no other circuits be used on the same circuit as CSV-2515.
The CSV-2515 is the ideal choice if you are looking for a chipper/shredder capable of doing serious work, but don’t want to deal with gas.
Earthquake Tazz K33 Chpper Shredder
The Tazz K32 shredder/chipper is a great combination of a great product and a low price. It is a better product than comparable-priced gas chipper/shredders. It’s amazing that they don’t charge twice for this performance.
The Tazz K32 is powered by a Viper212cc engine that produces 2.7 m-lb torque at 3600 RPM. The K32 can cut branches up to 8cm thick and reduce debris piles to one-fifth of their original size. You’ll be busy searching for things to fill the hopper, which measures 34 cm x43 cm.
The optional vacuum attachment on the K32 allows you to suck leaves directly from the ground into your shredder if you don’t feel like doing the bend-and lift game. The bag is large and well-designed. The Dock-and Lock system allows it to attach to the chute. The bag can be easily detached and attached (and stays on) by using the Dock-and-Lock system. The bag also features a Bottom Out zipper. Zip it, unzip it, and then dump it.
The K32 is 55 kg in weight and can be moved on 28 cm wide wheels. The K32 is a sturdy machine with many well-thought-out features. Earthquake stands behind what they have made, as the K32 comes with an extended 5-year warranty.
The Tazz K32 was plagued by problems with the packaging and the product itself. Many owners received a damaged product straight out of the box, with bent chutes and chipped paint. Some owners had their product fail within minutes of using it for the first time. The K32 was loved by its owners after these hurdles were cleared.
Patriot Products CSV-3100B
Heavy-duty. Brute force. These are the words that spring to mind when you think of the CSV-3100B. This chipper/shredder is designed to work quickly with any plant material that you can feed it. The powerplant is a 10-hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine. It is a commercial-grade engine with a direct drive. There are no pulleys that eat up power and all that power is passed to the 6 steel Y-hammers and chipping knives.
The CSV-3100B’s hopper measures 36 cm x 41cm. It continuously feeds the CSV-3100B, which eats material and decimates it at a rate of 20:1. It can also chip down branches up to 8 cm thick. It eats the branches like lo mein and then spits them out in the same size as a coin.
The CSV-3100B’s biggest flaw is its high price and 82kg weight. This machine is not one you will want to move often. The chute that comes out of the hopper can be deceiving and doesn’t allow as much material into the shredder than it appears to be capable of handling.
Although the CSV-3100B does not include many accessories or frills (it does come with a collection bag), it is perfect for what most homeowners will use it for.
Final Thoughts
A chipper/shredder can be a useful tool that you may find more useful than you thought. You will need a lot of space for storage and money to use it. It is important to think about what type of property you have as well as how you plan to use your chipper/shredder.
If you don’t have any trees or landscaping, it is not worth investing in a giant like the Patriot Products CSV-3100B. The Chipper Joe won’t be able to handle large wooded areas. It is important to get the right tool for your job, not just the best tool that you can afford.
