Harbor Freight Reviews

Link: http://www.HarborFreightReviews.com

Item: 2-1/2 HP Chipper Shredder
Item number: 66910
Retail price: $189.99
Frequent price: $129.99
Target price: $99.99
Item Link

This 2-1/2 hp electric Chipper/Shredder is coming up on-sale (with coupon) again 22-26 July. At just under $100, it's a great buy for a special purpose yard tool. Special purpose not only for its stated purpose (i.e., chipper/shredder) but also for the limitation in what size branches it actually can chip and shred. Useful in that if it fits your needs, it's a great addition to your arsenal of tools for taming the "wilds of summer."

It's basically a small scale version of what professional tree trimmers use to consolidate their branch and limb trimmings -- a very small scale version, indeed. It finely chips and/or shreds small limbs into a usable mulch that saves a bit of money (not having to buy as much mulch) while disposing of unwanted yard debris. The process can be tedious (see below), but that provides more quality time in the garden for zenning-out and relaxing from the day's stresses. Of course if you're task-oriented with a large job to finish fast, this machine could actually increase your stress level by causing you to work at a disgustingly slow pace.

Technically this chipper can handle branches up to 1 1/4" but staying under 1" is well advised. I find it most useful for chipping very small branches from my overgrown willow tree and for shredding the trimmings from a large hedge that extends the length of my "suburban estate." It feeds at a slow, constant rate making the job methodical but producing a fine mulch ready to enrich your garden. Jams are infrequent when chipping smaller branches and can be easily cleared by removing two large wing nuts to access the cutting blades. If you're seriously going to chip anything much larger than 1/2 inch, the work is slow and the blades tend to dull rather quickly. Fortunately, the blades can be reversed (two sides are sharpened, while only one side is used for cutting) and replacements are inexpensive when available. For the occasional larger branches, be advised that the machine can produce a lot of vibration while beating the branch to death (AKA chipping?), so you might want to wear heavy gloves for this work. It will grind them up and pulverize them into sawdust, but "Shake, Rattle and Roll" is the tune it will be playing as it works away at the heavy stuff. Occasional large pieces and 'slithers' also slip (slither?) through, but these can be re-chipped or simply left in the mulch. I find it most satisfactory for disposing of the hedge and willow tree trimmings while building-up the organic base of my suburban farm plot with free, homemade mulch.

A small, dumbbell-shaped opening (i.e., two connected circles) restricts the size of feed material that can be placed in the chipper/shredder (diameter, not length) to the nominal size that it can handle. Remember to feed limbs with small, fine branches in the direction that folds the smaller branches inward when being fed into the machine. Slightly dried wood probably chips best, but my usual material consists of a mix of small, green hedge trimmings and along with a few larger (1/2 to 1" diameter), dried tree branches. If you use this machine on a regular basis for small trimmings (e.g., monthly), then the limitations on its capacity and the required storage space aren't 'deal breakers,' especially for those who find additional satisfaction in making their own mulch while recycling their own yard waste.

Why electric? Well, three reasons. First, it's much cheaper than a gasoline-powered motor (and cheaper is one of the primary reasons we shop Harbor Freight Tools[tm]). Second, no gas-oil mixing, no engine clean-up, no old gasoline fowling the carburetor gee it was fresh just last season problem. Third, electricity is a renewal/sustainable energy source and does not (in itself) pollute; this might seem like a negligible consideration for some, but save-the-planet where you can and the cumulative effect will add up. In general, electric is always the best choice for occasional, light-duty work as noted elsewhere in the Craftsman 3.5-hp electric chainsaw review. Reliable, low-maintenance, easy-to-start, electric motors up to 3-hp are a good choice for yard work. Be sure to use a heavy-duty extension cord (e.g., 12-gauge or so, depending on the cord's length, see item instructions), and be aware that it could dim the lights on an old 15-amp circuit. A built-in, resettable circuit breaker (which this machine has) can save one trips to the circuit box should the electric motor draw too many amps during a jam.

The chipper/shredder comes unassembled from Harbor Freight and the usual Chinese holes align in the usual misaligned fashion. The instructions are somewhat obtuse, but then how complicated can this assembly be after-all? Simply lay out the parts, study over the final product diagram, loosely assemble everything to make sure it's properly aligned, and tighten it up. Bing, bang, boom, you're ready to rock-n-roll (at least on the small stuff)!

Bottom line: A handy but limited use yard tool that can help dispose of branch and shrub trimmings while providing free mulch. A good buy at under $100 if it suits your needs and if you have room to store it.