'90s Sears Craftsman Chipper/Shredder

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
D

djlew

Member
Hearth Supporter
Nov 3, 2023
164
New Jersey
Hey all, I recently acquired an old 5hp chipper/shredder from a family friend and wondered if anybody uses these in their wood processing arsenal. It fires up, and I threw some batches of leaves and twigs through it and it seems to work well despite seemingly needing a vessel to catch the shreds (buckets, tubs, etc. the shreds just bounce right out). Immediately, my mind goes to garden mulch, but I wondered if anybody used these things to chop up wood chips for homemade wood bricks or anything else creative? I'm never one to turn down a good piece of equipment, and then find out what to do with it later! Some google searches tell me the 5hp has its limits and quirks, but so far for mulching at least it seems to do the job.

Does anybody frequently use a low hp chipper/shredder during processing? Just yard cleanup? Curious to hear from those who have more experience with this type of equipment.
 
I had a Troy-Bilt, happy day when someone pulled up in my yard and bought it from me. If your scraps, leaves and waste are bushel basket sized it's OK. The only thing I ever found it efficient on was grinding up tobacco stalks for the garden.
 
I have one that i shovel all my yard waste through. I just let it throw it back in the yard and i rake it around. I don`t have a grass yard.
Spruce cones, leaves, twiggs, and small branches.
 
Those smaller consumer grade chippers have a good reputation for two things, separating you and your money, and doing a pizz poor job.
Seems like you have to get into the $2k range, and 20 HP or so to get anything worth having around as a chipper
 
I have the DR 375 chipper. Does up to, well, 3.75 inch stuff. Think it's 9.5hp. It's a little beast. I've run the crap out of it all last winter. Only mod was the shear plate, made of cheese. Put a heavier plate in and it rocks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom