Garden Shredder's

A lot will depend on the thickness of the branches, the small domestic ones might not be big enough and it could be more cost effective to hire a petrol driven one. I shred a lot of material so I got a silent(gear crushing as apposed to hire speed blade)one from Homebase, mines a Bosch which does the job with ease.

 

I've got a Acto 2000 shedder, and been very happy with it, but i have broken the pressue plate by the cutting cog a few times only because the idiot (ME) trying to put things through it that are not suitable to go through
Not sure if they're made any more but i would go for the ones which are cog/screw cutting, i think they were known as chippers and not shedders

 

The cog/screw ones are slower running and can take more tougher bits and bobs, were as the impact one fly like the clappers and smash thinks to bits

you have to be carefull with knots on braches but the machine should have a auto revease gear or stop when something is not right to go through

one thing they don't like is wet/sappy greens like cabbage and runner beans they block up to easy etc but branches with leaves or ok

Have one of each on memo and do the job

 

Hi Woo, I have a petrol driven Viking GB370(same stable as Stihl I think). It is pretty powerful for a domestic shredder. I have had mine for about 5 years. It has a blade that is easy to sharpen yourself and can be turned over to cut with the other side of the blade if you get my drift. Quite bulky so not ideal if you are strapped for storage, easy to manoeuvre tho as on wheels. I use for hours and hours to shred up the woody stemmed herbaceous, the likes of Buddleia and Sambucus prunings plus huge quantities of Beech hedge prunings. By shedding I find the woody type stuff composts much much quicker. It will cope with branches about the thickness of my middle finger but struggles with hard wooden stems thicker than that. Agree with Jiffy, it doesn't like loads of soggy green stuff, it will take some as long as you shred dry woody stuff with it.

 

This is not really an easy question to answer. The choice of shredder depends on many different factors. What suits one, may not suit another. The thing that helps the decision are questions like these. What is going to be shredded? Does it need shredding or chipping? Is there a convenient electricity supply? Is noise a problem? Is there a good place to store it when not in use? What is the use for the shredded material? And many, many more.

I personally use two. An electric Makita. Thats fine for small straight things, but totally useless for larger items. It takes a lot of time to shred the amount I have at times, but does have its uses.

The other is a petrol driven Bolens. Some may remember this from a topic I posted. Its fast, and thanks to different baffles, works irrespective of whether the material is wet or dry. It is noisy though...so may not suit everybody.

So my advice would be: Write down as many questions as possible, answer them, and thats gives the answer as to what is needed.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwicnofL16TOAhVnJMAKHQgMC4YQFgh4MAc&url=http://www.abbeygardensales.co.uk/subprod/electric-shredders-0000478.aspx&usg=AFQjCNFhtoEo_ZI4Jxpx6T-Qn-AEXDvqfQ

Ex display/demo £150, about half way down the page

 

http://www.diy.com/departments/handy-electric-silent-shredder/1077323_BQ.prd?icamp=recs
Possible alternative and available ?