Do you want the best chipper shredder for home use? By home use I mean you are not a commercial arborist (tree feller) or landscaper that will need to use a commercial wood chipper on a daily basis. Rather you are someone who has their own home garden and will use a wood chipper occasionally to chip or shred branches, leaves or other garden debris that you have generated at home.
Well, you have come to the right place. Here we are going to answer that very question.
There are two types to consider gas powered and electric corded. If you want portability and power, go for the gas powered. If you want a low maintenance option for small tasks within range of a power cord, an electric corded is the way to go.
Best gas powered wood chipper for home use
The best gas powered wood chipper shredder for home use is the Earthquake 9060300 Chipper Shredder – 212cc 4-stroke with Briggs & Stratton Engine. This is a very powerful wood chipper shredder. It has a powerful 212 cc engine and can chip large branches, up to 3 inches in diameter.
I like that it is easy to start. Most of the time it takes just one pull and off it goes. It is really convenient that it is powerful enough to do all my garden waste, not just the small stuff. Almost everything just goes in and turns into chips or mulch and back on the garden, it is just so easy. But be warned because it is so powerful you must be careful operating it!
The shredder bucket is nice and sturdy making it difficult to break when you bash it around with sticks and branches.
Because this chipper comes with a Briggs & Stratton engine it is very reliable and will usually last a lot longer than the cheaper types. This model gets a 5-star rating from us!
Specifications:
- Size: 26.5″D x 23.3″W x 41.1″H inches
- Weight: 118 Lb.
- Engine type: 4-stroke
- Engine brand: Briggs and Stratton
| Pros | Cons |
| Heavy duty | Expensive |
| Can handle small and large garden waste | Super powerful so BE CAREFUL! |
Best electric wood chipper for home use
This means that you can handle most normal garden chipping and shredding work with this machine.
Of course being an electric model it has all of the benefits of being quieter, able to be started with the flick of a switch and no need to worry about filling up with gas.
Specifications:
- Size: 37 x 24 x 35 inches
- Weight: 126 Lb.
- Engine type: Electric motor
| Pros | Cons |
| Low maintenance electric | Expensive |
| Can handle small and medium garden waste | Requires corded power |
Related: Best wood chipper shredder for composting
Wood chipper Buyer’s Guide
Are you an owner of a beautiful property? Everybody knows how amazing it is to spend sunny days relaxing in your yard and enjoying the landscape. But if you want to have a clean yard you have to take care of lawns, shrubs, and trees. You have to agree it can be tiring and messy- it doesn’t need to be like that! Annoying branches and leaves are now history because you can be a proud owner WITHOUT yard waste.
Are you wondering how? Well, the answer is simple: WOOD CHIPPERS. Yes! You can finally use all the yard waste in a very productive way: mulch, composting material, fuel, decor…. Wood chippers do their job and you choose what you will use the waste for!
Sounds easy, practical and economic, right? Then say yes to a wood chipper! A clean yard without too much effort isn’t just a dream anymore.
What is a wood chipper?
The purpose of a wood chipper is to shred and cut branches, leaves and other organic matter into small chips. That’s not all because there are wood chippers that involve a mulching function!
The purpose of a wood chipper is to shred and cut branches, leaves and other organic matter into small chips. That’s not all because there are wood chippers that involve a mulching function!
Here’s how it works:
Composting
If you are one of many people who need high-quality compost then this machine is made for you. Wood chipper simply break those branches and the result is compost.
Mulching
Do you need a mulch layer in your garden but you want to save money? Do you need an economic way? These machines turn large pieces of organic material into small pieces, which makes it perfect for your garden.
Disposal
You don’t need mulch or compost? That doesn’t mean you don’t need a wood chipper. So if you just want to clean up your yard and throw waste away-it will be fine!
You don’t need mulch or compost? That doesn’t mean you don’t need a wood chipper. So if you just want to clean up your yard and throw waste away-it will be fine!
Related: What to do with wood chips from a chipper shredder
What kind of wood chipper do you need?
What kind of these machines do you need depends on your needs and want. First of all you need to know that there are two basic categories:
- Electric-powered wood chippers
- Gasoline-powered wood chippers
Do you have a small or a big property?
Electric-powered wood chippers
Well, if you have a small one then you most probably need an electric-powered wood chipper. This kind is quiet, light but they are 100% able to clean the mess. They range from 1 to 2 horsepower and you can use them for leaves, shrubbery, and sticks. More expensive types can be used for branches as well.
They are very light-12lbs smaller types and up to 100lbs bigger ones.
They need at least 14-gauge wire heavy-duty extension cord as well as a circuit with a slow-blow fuse because when they start-up they are capable to draw 40amps.
Advantages of an electric-powered wood chipper:
- Smaller
- Light
- Quieter
- Easy to be transported
- Cheaper
Disadvantages of an electric-powered wood chipper:
- They can be used only for smaller tree limbs
- Need an outlet
- Less powerful
Related: How to make compost at home
Gas powered wood chippers
If you have a bigger property but want a modest solution then you can get a small gas-powered wood chipper. People that own really big properties may need 5- or 8-hp gas-powered wood chippers.
Gas-powered wood chippers are the most common choice and their range is from 4 up to 10 horsepower. And they weight from 100lbs like the heaviest electric-powered chipper to 200lbs. If you want to get your job fast then it’s recommended to take the one with the highest horsepower-yes, they are noisier but stronger.
Advantages of gas-powered wood chipper:
- More powerful
- Capable to chip larger branches 1-2”
- Faster and stronger
- No extension cord
Disadvantages of gas-powered wood chipper:
- Heavier
- Noisier
- Must winterize in cold weather
Gasoline Walk Behind Vacuum
A Gasoline walk behind vacuum combines raking and mulching and all you need is to push it (some are self-propelled so you don’t even need to push). They work similarly to lawnmowers using a vacuum to suck yard debris and blades to transform it into mulch or composting material. Such a practical and interesting machine. They range from 5hp to 10hp. Some even have detachable vacuum tube for areas that are hard to be reached. This kind of wood chipper is luxurious but it saves a LOT of time so it is worth it.
Why do you need a wood chipper?
Just imagine breaking down branches and food debris by hand-it takes a lot of time and patience doesn’t it? You can do it using a wood chipper and spend your free time doing anything you want to do. Bonus you get compost and mulch.
Features to Consider
Wheels
If you choose a heavier type of a wood chipper then they come with wheels. From small wheels for light transportation to big ones for the bigger wood chippers of course.
Weight
If you need a wood chipper that’s easy transportable then choose lighter ones but have in mind that heavier are more powerful but less transportable.
Related: How much do wood chipper shredders weigh?
Feed capacity
It determines how much debris can be put in a wood chipper.
Blades
Wood chippers with more blades are good because the more blades they have the more each of them will longer last and it affects less or more sharpening.
Noise
Electric-powered wood chippers are less noisy but less powerful. If you can’t stand the noisiness then pick the higher-powered electrical wood chipper.
Power
Again electric-powered wood chippers are less powerful and their range is from 14amps to 15amps. While gas-powered ones range from 4 horsepower to 10 horsepower. It all depends on the size of your property so pick one according to your needs.
Wood chipper performance
Buy a powerful wood chipper
Blades are put under a lot of stress while doing their job and if the owner of a wood chipper tends to push the machine to its limit it will most likely cause the death of your beloved chipper. So according to that if you need a wood chipper for larger properties or for harder works then buy the more powerful one.
Chip the right materials
You know the purpose of wood chippers and use it according to the purpose. Wet clumps of grass or something similar can get stuck in blades and harm the machine.
Maintaining tips for your wood chipper
Sharpen Blades
If you want a motor of your wood chipper to last longer you have to have sharp blades! It’s a must! Dull blades affect the motor because it has to work more.
Gas- powered wood chipper maintenance tips
- Make sure it has oil or it can cause serious damages by degrading the parts and therefore shorten the life of your machine.
- Take care of the parts that aren’t working the way they should and fix them
- Replace air filters
Electric-powered wood chipper maintenance tips
To avoid voltage drop use the right extension cord. Prevent that by using a large gauge cord.
Conclusion
If you want a really powerful chipper to get through some larger branches, I recommend that you get the Earthquake 9060300 Chipper Shredder – 205cc 4-stroke. However, if you only want to chip smaller branches and debris and you will do it within range of a power outlet then the Patriot Products CSV-2515 is what you want.
If you are still not sure if you should get a wood chipper for your garden I suggest that you ready about: using wood chips in the vegetable garden or how to make mulch from wood chips.
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Comments 2
There is a vast choice of machines these days. It all comes down to personal preference and budget. Mulching or chipping any windfall or trimmings certainly beats smoking out the neighbours the old fashioned way of having a bonfire.
I have gas- powered wood chipper and I have to say that it`s worth it. If you’re worried about the price, trust me, it will all go away when you see what is a difference going from electric to gas-powered one.