Chipper/shredders

I was wondering if any of you have an elecric c/s? If so, do you like it? I always have to have DH start mine because I can not pull it hard enough. It works good once it gets started, though. I ran about 10 boxes of pinecones through mine today and chipped them up for mulch. But wondered if I ever would get another one would it be a good idea to get electric. I saw a DR one in magazine but I bet the price will scare me away.

Nesandy, I've tried the little electric ones that are mainly for leaf shredding, no chipping. It worked okay but, like I said, was just for leaves.

If you can't find a good electric one you may want to consider a gas one that has an electric start on it. Years ago, DW told me if something ever happened to me she was gonna get rid of everything around here that she couldn't start. Ever since then I always buy things that start with a key! (except the push mower.)

Sometimes you can have a starter motor and battery put on existing equipment. Since you have the chipper already maybe you'll come out cheaper that way. I'd at least check into it.

This message was edited Tuesday, Nov 19th 5:18 PM

I have a 8.5 HP Sears c/s.
It works great it will chip up to a 4" limb and all of the leaves and garden waste you can throw at it.
I've had it 3-4 years. I beleive it cost arounf $450.

Paul

I have an electric shredder which will cope with 2" branches. It's so easy to use compared with my last one as, instead of blades, it works on the crushing system.
I don't have a huge garden admittedly but it does really well with all my prunings and hedge trimmings so i can have oodles of compost.
It doesn't work well with leaves or soft material (but they compost anyway)

The make is 'Brill' (German i believe) and was recommended to me over the Bosch equivalent. It's certainly easy to use.

Just editing to say they do larger models too, capable of dealing with larger stuff - i just chose the one suitable for my size garden (and bank account)

This message was edited Thursday, Nov 21st 6:16 PM

I have an electric leaf shredder, much like Horseshoe described. It works well with dry leaves, but gums up with green vegetation or with wet leaves. The model we bought was a Flowtron and it is built to fit over a garbage can. There are no blades, but rather strings that work like a weedeater. As I recall, it cost under a $150 with shipping. It would work well in the fall when shredding leaves for mulch, but would not cut up limbs or heavy vegetation.

Weezin, that is MY leaf grinder you have there! How did you sneak it clear up to AK? *grin* I have a serious fear of electric/gas powered equipment, so I can handle this little guy. But, as you say, it does clog easily, and any kind of wood just rips the cord apart.

On the other hand, it is easy to know how many leaves I have: about 20 gallons/can X 10 loads today = 200 gallons of leaves. Multiply times 80 days = 16,000 gallons of chopped leaves. Oh my aching back!

Yes, this little guy is great for dry leaves. I just wish I had dry leaves! We haven't pulled it out to mulch leaves for the last two autumns because everything we raked up was so sodden. I think the advantage to this type of unit is that it is so simple. I know what you mean about an aching back. We have to rake the wet leaves, load them into a wheelbarrow, then dump them along the edge of our property where they break down to be added to the compost next summer.

Thank you guys for these recommendations -- this was very helpful to know that the Flowtron leaf shredder doesn't like wet leaves. I was thinking of getting one, but I can see now it won't really work for our garden.

Jkom51: Since so much of the vegetation we compost or mulch with is wet, and because we need to break down the compostables before adding them, I've begin using the lawn mower to run over piles of weeds, cuttings, etc. We leave the bag on, so all we have to do is dump it into the compost. The Flowtron will work, but it gets gummed up with juicy stuff. I've wondered what would happen if a person just put some greens in a tub, then stuck one of those stringed weedeaters into it to chopp them up.

Weez, you get bits of green vegetation flung everywhere (tried it, didn't like it) Plus the string bits are all through whatever stays in the tub to be removed by hand:*(

Lupinelover, thanks.. that saves me making a real mess of my own! Sounds pretty gooey!

Hi nesandy - Have you looked at the Tool Shed forum at http://davesgarden.com/f/shed/ ? That's another forum good for product questions/recommendations you might have. Leaflady wrote about her Simplicity chipper/shredder there.