Looking for recommendations for a gasoline or nuclear powered chipper/shredder. I've tried the electrical ones and they do not do the job for me. Willing to spend the money as long as the unit works well and lasts. Tired of buying junk that can't be repaired. Would love something made in the USA but I understand the likelihood of that.

I have an Echo/Bearcat chipper that is made in the USA. It's a great machine that has some drawbacks. I also have a Troybilt that has strengths and weaknesses. Before I can make specific recommendations, I need details about the materials you plan to run through, and what you want to achieve.

I typically shred between 30-40 cubic yards of leaves and tree debris, such as acorns, small twigs every fall to use as mulch. I use the lawn mower for this but would like to get a shredder/chipper that I can use instead of the lawn mower. Also small branches infrequently would be chipped. Nothing to tow with around the yard.

The following link is to the exact chipper that my Dad has. He's had it since the early 90's and it still works fine. The feature I like is that the big leaf hopper folds down and you can rake directly into it. There is suction created by the shredder and it actually pulls the leaves and small sticks up the ramp and into the shredder.

This unit is adequate for chipping and does quite well if the blades are very sharp. It is underpowered once the blades are dull. With 3" branches, you have to hold back on the stick as you feed it in. Otherwise it sucks it in too fast and the motor is overwhelmed. If you are sawing up a lot of trees and need to chip a lot of big branches, you will want a bigger machine. If you mostly do leaves and twigs and the occasional large branch this kind of chipper is nice.

I like this machine because it came with a bag. Then you catch all of your material and can carry it anywhere that you need it. My big chipper doesn't have a way to bag, so I always have to rake up the results and load it up into something. That adds an extra step.

I posted that CL link to an older model because the more recent models don't work as well. They eliminated the fold down ramp and put on a huge hopper, probably for some safety mandate. Those safety features are really great except the material doesn't flow in properly and it gets plugged up. Then you can't reach in to clean it out and you have to take out 19 bolts to remove the hopper and fix a jam. Do that twice in an hour and you'll realize why I prefer the old model.


Here's the ad for a unit for sale in Ohio. I don't know if links like this are against the rules or not, but I wanted you to see the vintage of machine that in my experience works the best.


https://minneapolis.craigslist...

@Rubi,
It appears the listing on Craig's list has expired!

Seedfork said:@Rubi,
It appears the listing on Craig's list has expired!

I put another one up. As soon as I can take a picture of my Dad's, I'll upload that.

I had chipper/shredder very similar to that one when we first bought the house. It worked well though I had a few issues with it, like the discharge chute. Used it many years. Then got the lawn vacuum. I actually just bought the WORX shredder. Electric unit. very happy with it so far. Only used it twice, but so much better than the one I bought last season. Haven't had to replace the line yet. Does wet leaves fairly well, as well as anything else I've used except maybe a lawn mower. If the leaves were dry, I'm thinking I could easily go through a cubic yard in about 15 minutes.

You can get an old school self propelled troybilt chipper vac for 500 up and down. I used the chipper and the flat intake to rake leaves and debris into it. I got tired of it and now either compost or make char, but our soil is acid so that works here.

I find the above conversations most helpful. There seems to be a wide opinion and lots of chipper shredder options out there. My situation is a bit different. I have primarily branches of juniper and pine trees, no grass and few leaves. Most of the branches have been sitting for years and partially rotted.

My criteria for this machine is it must be easy to maneuver and preferably electric. I would be willing to cart my debris to the machine. My intent is to create mulch as a top dressing and to work into the soil of new garden beds.

Any thoughts, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sharon Ward

nmschoolhouse said: I find the above conversations most helpful. There seems to be a wide opinion and lots of chipper shredder options out there. My situation is a bit different. I have primarily branches of juniper and pine trees, no grass and few leaves. Most of the branches have been sitting for years and partially rotted.

My criteria for this machine is it must be easy to maneuver and preferably electric. I would be willing to cart my debris to the machine. My intent is to create mulch as a top dressing and to work into the soil of new garden beds.

Any thoughts, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sharon Ward

Dry wood is difficult to chip. I think my bigger gas chipper is 11 HP and it struggles with dry wood when the blades aren't freshly sharpened. The dry wood dulls the blades very quickly. If your sticks are freshly cut, you might be able to use an electric one if you go slowly. The electric could handle your old wood if all of your dry sticks are very small- probably under half an inch.