We choose a garden shredder for branches and grass, and we are not mistaken! Detailed instructions for a smart purchase

Any owner of a country house or summer cottage is faced with the need to dispose of plant waste. The best way to get rid of fallen leaves, dry grass and cut branches is with a garden shredder. Since this type of auxiliary equipment is still gaining popularity among owners of individual farms, it will be useful for interested people to get as much information as possible about it in order to make a truly smart purchase. You will learn how to choose the right garden shredder by reading this article.

Operating principle and purpose of a garden shredder

The principle of operation of this unit resembles a meat grinder or food processor.

Garden shredder device

Each manufacturer tries to give it its own design and construction features, but the list of basic elements remains unchanged:

1. Durable metal or plastic housing mounted on a steel frame. To allow movement around the site, wheels are provided;
2. A power plant implemented in the form of an internal combustion engine or an electric motor;
3. The cutting mechanism is connected by a simple and reliable drive to the motor shaft;
4. Funnel-shaped loading box for easy feeding of waste for cutting;
5. Output device for crushed mass. It can be adapted for soft or hard containers. Many models simply throw the mixture onto the ground. Some of them allow you to adjust the height and direction of the release.

The resulting granular mass decomposes quickly enough in a compost pit, turning into fertilizer rich in useful substances, or is used as a mulching layer. Even taking it to a landfill turns out to be more convenient than transporting branches. Which garden shredder will best suit your needs depends on your application and processing volume.

Benefits of using a shredder

On a note! Shredded wood can be an excellent raw material for the production of pellets used to load solid fuel boilers.

A short analysis of models from the garden shredder catalog

The variety of shapes of shredders for the garden is huge, which sometimes hinders the competent choice of the appropriate brand. Equipment of this class can be considered an expensive pleasure, for this reason you should only buy high-quality products.

In fact, a large number of different units from completely unknown manufacturers have appeared on trading platforms, hiding behind ringing European or Russian names. What holds back most of these products are clandestine manufactures from China in the negative sense of this phrase (a lot of it is sold and actually high-quality equipment from this country).

A distinctive feature of shredders is that the effectiveness of their activity depends not only on the drive, but also on the features of the cutting equipment. And here the dishonesty of the manufacturer is often expressed - knives or cutters are made from attractive and sparkling steel in appearance; in the initial period they are extremely sharp, but after some time they become dull in use, and are simply not subject to high-quality sharpening.

And if we add to this that the cutting equipment cannot be repaired, then it may soon happen that the device received not so long ago will become ineffective in the absence of work, simply because of its own “incompetence.”

Bottom line, when purchasing a garden shredder, it is recommended to select the best trusted manufacturers of shredders. These include modern models “Viking”, “AL-KO”, “Black&Decker”, “Gardena”, “Bosch”.

Types of Garden Shredders

Before you accurately choose a garden branch shredder, you need to determine its technical characteristics. Based on power and the duration of continuous operation directly related to it, productivity and maximum size of processed pieces of wood, all units are conventionally divided into three large groups.

Household model Professional shredder

Experts distinguish between models of household, semi-professional and professional classes. Their comparative indicators are shown in the table:

How to choose an electric garden shredder? To do this, it is necessary to assess the conditions for its upcoming use, and then consider options for the corresponding class.

Advice! You should not purchase equipment with a large reserve of power, so as not to incur unreasonable expenses.

The cutting efficiency is largely determined by the design features of the cutting unit. Based on this component, there are two main types of instruments.

Disc shredders

This type of equipment has one or more knife discs mounted on a powerful shaft. They are made from high-strength tool steel. The rotation speed and grinding intensity correspond to the hardness of the metal and the degree of processing specified during the design. Such a node has its advantages and weaknesses.

Advantages:

• simple design;
• low cost;
• ease of maintenance;
• high performance when chopping grass and small branches.

Flaws:

• wood thickness limitation;
• forced supply of processed mass is required;
• knives quickly become dull on dry, hard branches.

Milling shredders

The working body of such a tool is a rotating cutter - a special part of a complex shape with many cutting edges. It is made from high quality steel grades. For its operation, the transmitted force is more important than the rotation speed. It chews and grinds hard wood without any problems.

Advantages:

• increased maximum diameter of processed branches;
• long-term operation without the need for sharpening or replacement;
• the design itself tightens the supplied material without the use of additional devices.

Flaws:

• more complex design;
• high price;
• Grass and soft fibers from fresh wood often clog the free space of the cutting unit.

Purpose and design of equipment

A shredder is a technique designed for recycling garden waste - branches, leaves, grass, tops.

Using this device, plant waste is crushed into fractions of various sizes. The resulting wood chips can later be used for mulching the soil, fertilizing, sprinkling paths, or as fuel for lighting a fire or barbecue. A garden shredder facilitates the process of cleaning the site and also solves the problem of waste disposal.

The device, which is also called a chipper or shredder, is a vertical structure with a motor, a shredding mechanism and a feed opening. The output of the resulting raw materials is carried out through the lower space - into a receiving tank, a suspended bag or an installed box.

Shredders – what are they?

The devices vary depending on the type of material they can process and are divided into three types:

• for grass, leaves and other soft plant debris - as a rule, they are low-power, low-cost, lightweight units. In order to save money, they are made by manufacturers from cheap materials, and therefore an attempt to grind something larger with it can lead to breakdown;
• for wood waste - this technique has a more durable and stable frame, as well as a grinding principle. Suitable for crushing branches of various diameters. But they are not capable of processing large log buildings, since they are household, not industrial equipment;
• universal - devices, being a lightweight version of professional equipment, are designed for garden waste of both soft and hard structure.

Choosing a chopper - motor type and cutting system

The engine can be electric or gasoline. Models with electric drive are lighter, more compact and mobile, they are easy to move around the garden. A gasoline engine requires larger dimensions of the device, but at the same time has greater performance compared to electric devices.

The grinding system can be line, knife, milling, auger and turbine.

Lesochnaya is used for crumbling leaves and grass. Its action is based on a line that cuts soft fibers at high speed, but even the thinnest branch will lead to its breakage.

The knife blade consists of radial knives mounted on a disk. In inexpensive devices, 2 knives are installed, in higher quality ones from 4 to 8. Sometimes, in addition, a pair of oblique knives are attached vertically for preliminary crushing. The mechanism is suitable for branches and withered greenery.

The milling system, which is also often called a milling shaft, refers to a gear with sharpened teeth, convenient because it itself grabs and advances the rods, cutting them into equal parts. The milling complex is capable of detailing even a 7 cm branch, but it is installed only in models with steel frames, which significantly increases the weight.

Turbine systems are most often built into universal models, as they cope with all types of waste. They look like a cone-shaped drum with protruding knife blades, and operate at low speeds but with maximum impact force. The peculiarities of the mechanism are such that leaves and grass must be fed along with branches to avoid the soft mass from wrapping around the drum.

The auger-type mechanism is not capable of grinding leaves and tops, as it quickly clogs, but it copes well with branches up to 5 cm. The operating principle is based on a rotating screw, which grinds the wood into a fibrous pulp interspersed with large pieces.

Additional criteria - power and body material

Conventionally, there are three categories of garden shredders based on engine power: amateur models, semi-professional (middle class) and professional.

Amateur devices are the most primitive; they include equipment with a low-power electric drive (up to 1.5 kW). The crushing system is most often knife-based, as it is the simplest and cheapest, but effective when processing thin twigs. Amateur-grade devices weigh up to 20 kg and are designed for raw materials with a diameter no thicker than 3 cm. Suitable for novice users.

Middle class chippers are an intermediate level - more advanced than amateur models, but less powerful than professional ones. They can run on both electricity and gasoline (2-stroke engine). The maximum motor performance is 2.5 - 3 kW. Total weight from 20 to 50 kg. Designed for wood material up to 5 cm. Weight up to 50 kg.

Professional shredders include large-sized machines with a power of 4-5 kW, capable of crushing branches with a diameter of 7-9 cm. They are distinguished by large feed funnels, a powerful crushing system (most often milling) and automatic feeding of raw materials. The motor can be electric or gasoline. Designed for large volumes of work. Weighing from 100 kg and above.

Depending on the type of material, the body of the device can be plastic or metal. Plastic structures are lighter, metal devices are more difficult to transport as they are heavy. The presence of a wheel base and handles makes it easy to move the device around the site. The wider the wheels, the more stable the unit and the easier it is to move it, especially along row-spacings and loose soil.

Main selection criteria

There are many parameters that you should pay attention to during the purchase. Choosing the right characteristics of a garden shredder will provide benefits that you will immediately feel during use.

engine's type

The most common are models with an electric or gasoline engine. Each type has its own characteristics.

Electric model Gasoline shredder

Advantages of electrical devices:

• environmental cleanliness;
• no need for refueling;
• simplicity of design and minimal maintenance;
• efficiency;
• light weight and compact dimensions.

Flaws:

• impossibility of autonomous operation and dependence on cable length;
• the cord touches obstacles;
• undesirability of use in wet weather;
• the need to take breaks from work to cool the engine;
• limited power.

Advantages of gasoline shredders:

• autonomous work;
• high power;
• Can be used in any weather.

Flaws:

• more complex management and maintenance;
• exhaust emissions;
• increased noise level;
• relatively high cost.

We are not mistaken! For periodic work near the house and in the garden, we choose an inexpensive garden shredder with an electric drive. For autonomous use over a large area, you will need a gasoline car.

Type of cutting part

Manufacturers of garden shredders use working units of various designs. They are adapted to different materials and operating conditions. The following options are common:

1. With two or more knives. The simplest machines of this type specialize in grass and small branches. Units with 4-6 rotating disks are capable of processing thicker waste;
2. With worm type crusher. Their cutting part is similar to the screw of a meat grinder. It easily shreds branches with a diameter of up to 4 cm and copes well with grass, but requires periodic cleaning of adhering residues;
3. With cylindrical cutting unit. They have a cutter in the shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone with many side knives. They are placed on universal models for any type of vegetation;
4. Cutting shaft. This cutter is designed to grind branches up to 8 cm in diameter. It is reliable and durable, but requires use in conjunction with a powerful engine.

Worm type crusher Operating principle of the device with a shaft

Ease of use

You can decide which wood chipper is best for you only by assessing the ergonomic design features.

The device should be convenient for you

Pay attention to:

• the dimensions of the model so that loading the receiving compartment does not cause you any difficulties;
• the weight of the product must correspond to your physical capabilities;
• the optimal shape of the receiving hopper ensures easy feeding of branches to the cutting unit and eliminates their rebound;
• the location of the handles for transportation should be at a height convenient for you;
• Sufficient wheel width is a prerequisite for using the shredder outside roads and sites.

Reverse and noise level

How to choose a simple garden shredder that won't clog? It should have a reverse function. Reverse rotation ensures removal of the stuck piece and makes it easier to clean the cutter from waste.

Be sure to read the accompanying documentation. Operating a shredder with a noise level of 70-80 dB should not cause significant inconvenience. Powerful models sometimes exceed this figure.

Important! In this case, you need to take additional care of headphones or other noise-protective devices.

Knives - choosing a cutting method

During processing of the initial material, these installations may contain a device with metal knives or a screw-shaped conveyor. In the initial case, crushing is performed by a disk on which there is usually a pair of knives.

Summer residents who express their opinion regarding this device, and have their own views on the operation of the device, concentrate their interest on the fact that this arrangement of the knife is more suitable for tops, leaves, and early, freshly cut branches.

If you want to get mulch from a significant volume of previously stale, dried raw materials, then the blades of the knives will immediately become dull and you will be forced to sharpen them.

The cutting structure with a helical conveyor is called a milling structure - it involves a rotating solid cast gear. It is stronger than a disk with knives, for this reason it will not be damaged when cutting dried dense branches up to 6 cm in diameter.

In addition, the milling design has the ability to draw branches into the base and you will not have to regularly direct them to the knives.

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There is another example of a knife - a multifunctional one, which combines the advantages of a milling and disk design.

Additional features

Really high-quality equipment is distinguished not only by high reliability and performance. It is characterized by a thoughtful approach to ensuring safety and maximum user convenience. Models with the following options have a clear advantage:

• automatic material supply;
• blocking accidental self-start;
• engine shutdown in case of overload;
• noise-absorbing design;
• the ability to regulate the speed of rotation of cutting parts;
• the presence of a standard pusher for garbage disposal;
• intensive processing of material into mulch.

Additional functions – a course for convenience and safety

A significant feature of a perfect garden shredder is reliability. It is preferable that the device you choose has a self-start locking system for the chopper. In addition, electrical units should have a voltage splitter, which, after a power outage, prevents the chopper from starting up independently when the current supply is restored.

The branch chopper is capable of possessing even more necessary qualities. For example, crushing the initial raw materials into particles of different groups, adjusting the height of the body, and having the necessary “reverse” function.

If the unit you have selected has a large list of components, the previously mentioned distinctive features and additions, then the name of the manufacturer is no longer important. However, products from famous manufacturers are still better, as they have stood the test of time.

Rating of the best manufacturers of garden shredders

Before choosing a garden electric or gasoline wood chipper, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the models available on the market from leading manufacturers. The rating presented here will help you not make a mistake when purchasing and are guaranteed to receive a high-quality unit in the appropriate price category.

The best disc garden shredders

The best milling shredders

High profile devices

Here there are voluminous structures with a sufficiently large weight that they are ready to generate power up to 4 kW. The motor is capable of operating both on gasoline and electricity (three-phase). Ready to function for a long period and crush branches up to six to seven centimeters in diameter.

In addition, the crushed base undergoes compression, resulting in excellent mulch. The units are equipped with large comfortable funnels, a strong cutting device of a milling type and are ready to swallow residues without pushing.