Can I get a decent wood chipper for under $300?
March 9, 2010 2:03 PM Subscribe
Can anyone recommend a decent wood chipper for under $300? If there is no such thing, are there any other suggestions for handing over an acre of dead branches for the mechanically-impaired yard work novice?
Fireplace?
If your locality allows it you can burn yard waste. There are lots of places that still do. Best to call your local county office or fire department. If you are in city limits the answer will probably be no. However you can almost always have a fire pit and this can dispose of a good amount of tree pruning debris right there. Wood needs to season for quite a while (6 months to 2 years) to burn good though.
YOu can almost certainly rent a chipper for under 300, call local rental companies. Operating these things are not for the faint of heart-it is giant grinder capable of chewing up a tree-treat it with respect.
You can also call lanscaping companies, quite a few will bring over a crew and giant chipper and clean up the piles for 300 or less.
posted by bartonlong at 2:08 PM on March 9, 2010
If your locality allows it you can burn yard waste. There are lots of places that still do. Best to call your local county office or fire department. If you are in city limits the answer will probably be no. However you can almost always have a fire pit and this can dispose of a good amount of tree pruning debris right there. Wood needs to season for quite a while (6 months to 2 years) to burn good though.
YOu can almost certainly rent a chipper for under 300, call local rental companies. Operating these things are not for the faint of heart-it is giant grinder capable of chewing up a tree-treat it with respect.
You can also call lanscaping companies, quite a few will bring over a crew and giant chipper and clean up the piles for 300 or less.
posted by bartonlong at 2:08 PM on March 9, 2010
you could burn them of course. and if your municipality has a yard waste collection service, you could see what their requirements are for removal (ie, how small must the bits be)
finally, if you are in fact, truly "mechanically impaired", you might just want to just hire someone. wood chippers aren't exactly plug n' play...
posted by DavidandConquer at 2:10 PM on March 9, 2010
finally, if you are in fact, truly "mechanically impaired", you might just want to just hire someone. wood chippers aren't exactly plug n' play...
posted by DavidandConquer at 2:10 PM on March 9, 2010
OP -- If you live anywhere hear the Twin Cities in Minnesota, my wood chipper (used once) is available for the asking to a good and loving home.
posted by Rain Man at 3:28 PM on March 9, 2010
posted by Rain Man at 3:28 PM on March 9, 2010
Rent, don't buy, a chipper. Unless you're going to be using it all the time, it's almost certainly cheaper to rent — and the one you'll rent will be bigger and do the job faster. You'll probably need access to a car or truck with a tow hitch to rent one, though.
That said ... if you are really "mechanically-impaired," I'm not sure that a wood chipper — not exactly a forgiving machine — is really something you want to be screwing around with. I saw a fair number of yahoos take their fingers off with snow blowers this winter, and wood chippers are probably even more dangerous on the whole. Losing a finger to save a few hundred bucks on yard maintenance is not a good deal.
posted by Kadin2048 at 3:45 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
That said ... if you are really "mechanically-impaired," I'm not sure that a wood chipper — not exactly a forgiving machine — is really something you want to be screwing around with. I saw a fair number of yahoos take their fingers off with snow blowers this winter, and wood chippers are probably even more dangerous on the whole. Losing a finger to save a few hundred bucks on yard maintenance is not a good deal.
posted by Kadin2048 at 3:45 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Don't know what kind of neighborhood you live in, but in mine, I've seen people drive by and stop, open their trunks or truck beds, and take branches/limbs/etc. that have been put out for yard trash collection. So maybe you could just offer it free for the taking and let others do the work for you!
posted by ourroute at 4:54 PM on March 9, 2010
posted by ourroute at 4:54 PM on March 9, 2010
I've had good luck with the McCulloch MCS2001 14-Amp Electric Chipper/Shredder (available on Amazon for $240). It can't handle thick limbs, though. I only use it for our out-of-control bougainvillea and mulching leaves for the compost pile.
It's very safe as long as you take some basic precautions (eyeware, earplugs, don't be an idiot). For an acre of dead wood, though, you'd probably be better suited renting or hiring someone.
posted by cr_joe at 6:22 PM on March 9, 2010
It's very safe as long as you take some basic precautions (eyeware, earplugs, don't be an idiot). For an acre of dead wood, though, you'd probably be better suited renting or hiring someone.
posted by cr_joe at 6:22 PM on March 9, 2010
BURN PILE BURN PILE!!!!
One of the joys of my new rural life is the burn pile. I throw all the cleared brush and sticks (stuff that won't work in my wood stove) on the pile all summer. Then it's the delicious tension of fall, waiting for a day with just the right weather. And then, FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!!
Seriously, it's a blast. Maybe not appropriate for an entire acre at once, but perhaps you could split it into sections, scrape all the branches together, and burn them one at a time? This presumes you're in a rural area where burning brush is kosher, obviously.
Otherwise, yeah, the woodchipper. Which is its own fun, don't get me wrong! I'd rent one, unless you think you're going to be tackling this kind of problem frequently. The people at the equipment rental place will be able to show you how to use it.
posted by ErikaB at 6:44 PM on March 9, 2010
One of the joys of my new rural life is the burn pile. I throw all the cleared brush and sticks (stuff that won't work in my wood stove) on the pile all summer. Then it's the delicious tension of fall, waiting for a day with just the right weather. And then, FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!!
Seriously, it's a blast. Maybe not appropriate for an entire acre at once, but perhaps you could split it into sections, scrape all the branches together, and burn them one at a time? This presumes you're in a rural area where burning brush is kosher, obviously.
Otherwise, yeah, the woodchipper. Which is its own fun, don't get me wrong! I'd rent one, unless you think you're going to be tackling this kind of problem frequently. The people at the equipment rental place will be able to show you how to use it.
posted by ErikaB at 6:44 PM on March 9, 2010
Seconding the awesome respect you must have for the whirling blades of death, however enclosed in sheet metal they may seem. These things have a way of grabbing branches and popping them out or yanking them in unpredictably. Wear all recommended safety equipment. Keep the discharge area clear of pets and children.
Be aware that just feeding stuff into a wood chipper is a strenuous activity. It's the weight of the branches, the lifting for angle, and sometimes the brute force to get it into the auger.
For an acre and a one-time clearing project, I might buy a used one and sell it after.
posted by dhartung at 11:30 PM on March 9, 2010
Be aware that just feeding stuff into a wood chipper is a strenuous activity. It's the weight of the branches, the lifting for angle, and sometimes the brute force to get it into the auger.
For an acre and a one-time clearing project, I might buy a used one and sell it after.
posted by dhartung at 11:30 PM on March 9, 2010
Best answer: I've been checking out the Patriot brand of chipper/shredder. They appear very economical.
posted by winks007 at 7:17 AM on March 10, 2010
posted by winks007 at 7:17 AM on March 10, 2010
Call your town and ask if they have a brush dump, or, even better, brush pickup. If oyu must use a wood chipper, watch Fargo 1st.
posted by theora55 at 9:47 AM on March 10, 2010
posted by theora55 at 9:47 AM on March 10, 2010
Best answer: After the first year in my house (suburban Long Island, small lot, no place to dump yard waste), having several oaks/pines/sasafras trees, not being able to burn stuff, and being completely irked with the process of dealing with limbs/sticks (picked up with other yard waste, once/week, MUST be bundled), I decided that a chipper/shredder would be a good investment. It was.
This is it ($239 from amazon). I went electric, even though gas powered ones are more powerful, because I am a nincompoop when it comes to engines. I use it a couple/three times a year, and it makes short work of limbs up to 2" diameter. Anything thicker than that, I cut up and save for my neighbors to use as firewood.
And yes, follow ALL the safety instructions. This thing is safe-guarded out the wazoo, but it still scares the crap out of me.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 10:56 AM on March 10, 2010
This is it ($239 from amazon). I went electric, even though gas powered ones are more powerful, because I am a nincompoop when it comes to engines. I use it a couple/three times a year, and it makes short work of limbs up to 2" diameter. Anything thicker than that, I cut up and save for my neighbors to use as firewood.
And yes, follow ALL the safety instructions. This thing is safe-guarded out the wazoo, but it still scares the crap out of me.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 10:56 AM on March 10, 2010
Response by poster: Rain Man- thanks for the kind offer, but I'm in southern VA so that won't work. Thanks to you all for the good recommendations. I will definitely be burning some wood (I'm zoned agricultural, and burning is allowed), but I have this fantasy of making my own mulch. I promise to be careful with this thing when I get it.
posted by Hdog at 2:49 PM on March 10, 2010
posted by Hdog at 2:49 PM on March 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Of course, if you plan to be dealing with your yard for years to come, and have room to store it, you may be better off buying.
posted by dbarefoot at 2:05 PM on March 9, 2010