Garden shredder: choosing a grass and twig shredder for your summer cottage

What is a garden shredder used for?

Are you thinking about buying a wood and grass shredder, but don’t know if you need it or not? When using a garden shredder at the dacha, you get a waste-free production - it will always find a use for waste: branches, faded and dried flowers, grape trimmings, rotten apples, other vegetables and fruits.

All this is an excellent raw material for producing humus. The owner of the site can only collect it, grind it, and then put it in a specially prepared place so that the waste rots.

Using crushed leaves and grass as fertilizer.

For this purpose, summer residents need to use a special technique called a chopper. The shredder makes it easier to crush branches and other debris. To know how to choose a garden shredder - which one is better to buy and why, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of this equipment, its advantages and disadvantages.

Additional classification

All garden shredders can be divided into the following categories.

1. Knife. Metal discs complemented by steel knives are used for grinding. The device is suitable for processing thin stems and grass.
2. Milling. A cylindrical cutter is installed as a working part. It is equipped with 6 teeth.
3. Grinds dry knots and other hard materials. Not suitable for grass, fresh leaves.

Universal. The working elements are a cutter and knives.

In order for the equipment to be worth the investment, you should order it only from trusted manufacturers/suppliers who can provide a guarantee on the goods sold.

Garden shredder device

A garden shredder is a fairly simple device, so simple that it is not surprising that it was invented not so long ago. Its appearance and principle of operation resembles an ordinary meat grinder, which grinds everything that gets into its “teeth”.

The garden “meat grinder” does not grind meat, lard, or potatoes – you can put bark and tree branches, pine cones, tops of root crops and much more into it, producing a crushed product.

Features of the garden shredder device.

There are several levels of crushing: from small pieces to sawdust. Once in the receiving funnel, waste and debris collected on the site are crushed by powerful knives driven by a motor, which comes in two types:

1. electrical;
2. gasoline.

Mobility

Most garden shredders are relatively lightweight (10-30 kg), so they can be transported in a car or on a hand truck.

In addition, some devices are equipped with wheels , so they are much easier to transport to a car or cart to the place of work than devices without wheels.

The most powerful devices that are suitable for chopping any wood are often installed on a non-self-propelled chassis or trailer of a passenger car.

in detail about trailed shredders here.

However, the most popular are semi-stationary devices that have to be carried manually, because they are cheaper than mobile ones.

Characteristics of the disc knife system

The disk knife system is a disk that has several steel knives in its design. The disk rotates at a speed given to it by the shaft. How quickly the process of grinding waste goes depends on its composition.

The easiest and fastest way to grind with a disc blade system is “soft debris”, consisting of leaves, grass, thin branches, green plant stems and other debris similar to the above. You cannot throw harder debris in the form of dry or thick woody branches into the shredder - the knives become dull very quickly.

Criterias of choice

To choose a high-quality and efficient garden shredder, it is important to consider many details. There are several selection criteria that are particularly important.

Power level

Such gardening equipment can be amateur (household), intermediate (semi-professional) or professional. Each class corresponds to a certain power level:

• For household tools, the power does not exceed 1.6 kW. There are only electric models in this class. They are able to cope with branches up to 30 mm thick. The weight of the chopper is on average 20 kg.
• In the middle class there are both electric and gasoline units. Their power can be up to 2.5 kW. This technique copes with branches up to 40 mm thick.
• The professional class is represented by models with powers up to 8 kW. They can process branches up to 70 mm thick. This class includes both electric and gasoline units.

When determining the power of the equipment, you need to take into account the nature of the raw materials with which you have to work. A shredder with low power can handle soft material, but processing branches requires more serious performance.

Cutting system

A garden shredder must have a cutting system that ensures the processing of plant materials:

• The disc cutting system
  consists of several steel knives (at least two). They move at a certain speed, which is set by the shaft. The disc system is more suitable for grinding soft materials - leaves, stems, grass, thin branches. When working with coarser materials, the knives quickly become dull.
• The milling system
  is represented by a solid cast gear. It copes with branches with a diameter of up to 45 mm. Soft plant materials often get stuck in this design, so it is effective to use for dry thick branches.
• Flex-a-Line system
  . This option involves the absence of knives, so it is only suitable for soft materials. Such a unit will not cope with branches.
• Turbine-Cut
  . This system involves a rotating turbine with blades. It can cope with branches up to 45 mm thick.
• Roller system
  . This option is suitable for cutting branches and bushes.
• Hammer system
  . This system is effective for small branches.

Domestic models are usually equipped with a disk cutting system, while the middle and professional classes are characterized by a milling system.

There is also a technique with a utility knife. It is a hybrid of a disk and milling system.

Characteristics of the milling knife system

The milling knife system has great power. Its appearance is a solid cast gear, into which debris is automatically drawn. You just need to load the funnel with wood waste, and it will gradually be automatically drawn into the mechanism where the shredding takes place.

The great advantage of the device is that it does not require control over this process - while the chopper performs its function, you can do other work.

Milling knives are used to grind tree branches no more than 4.5 cm thick. Many models of these devices have reverse and different levels of crushing.

However, before purchasing a unit, we should weigh the pros and cons: do you need to use such a powerful waste shredding system if you most often need to process soft waste. Shredding grass and leaves is better done with rotary blades because this debris gets stuck in the router blades.

Operating principle

1. Raw materials are loaded through a special funnel.
2. From there it goes into the bunker.
3. The cutting part of two knives and a milling cutter processes waste.
4. To activate the device, the motor is started.
5. The loaded mass will be ground into chips.
6. Once processing is completed, the raw materials are sent to a compost bin.

Lightweight and environmentally friendly electric shredder models

Probably no one will argue with the fact that it is easier and more convenient to work with electrical equipment than with manual equipment. However, not everything is so simple.

The electric motor has the following positive qualities:

1. The electric shredder is quite lightweight, which makes it possible for even women to work with them in their summer cottage.
2. The units operate quite quietly.
3. Servicing the shredders is easy and convenient.
4. They do not emit harmful combustion products into the atmosphere.

However, the electric shredder is not without its disadvantages:

1. Attachment to the outlet. For this reason, in order to work and move with the chopper around the dacha, you need a multi-meter extension cord.
2. Power is less than gasoline models.
3. Designed for chopping branches no more than 4 cm thick.
4. If power outages occur, work with them is impossible. And if there are voltage surges, the equipment may fail.

The nuances of operating homemade equipment

A self-made shredder is essentially three in one: a chopper for branches, a straw cutter, and a mechanism for cutting grass. It helps to significantly facilitate household work associated with the disposal of plant waste, as well as feeding poultry and livestock.

If you have to process grass in small quantities, for example, for chickens, geese, ducks, then very simple devices that operate on human muscle power, for example, a hand pruner, are sufficient.

For homemade electrical equipment, it is recommended to install a separate differential circuit breaker to provide reliable protection against electric shock in case of unforeseen circumstances. In any case, when making a garden shredder yourself, you must follow safety regulations. It is also worth adhering to them during operation of the mechanism. Before working with equipment, it is recommended to wear goggles, suitable protective clothing and check that the structural elements are securely fastened. When creating a home-made unit, you should take into account the upcoming amount of work, as well as the nature of the vegetation being processed, in order to select an engine of the required power and the desired design of knives. This will allow the completed device to cope with the assigned tasks without any problems.

Gasoline models of garden shredders

Gasoline engines have the following positive characteristics:

1. Powerful motor power, thanks to which the shredder can work with branches up to 7 cm thick.
2. There are no wires, which allows the shredder to work in those places where the site owner wants.

The negative characteristics of gasoline models are:

1. The work is accompanied by a lot of noise, which may not please the neighbors.
2. They are heavy (heavier than electrical systems), which makes them difficult to move and prevents women from working with shredders.
3. Difficult to maintain.
4. While operating, gasoline shredders emit a considerable amount of harmful combustion products into the atmosphere, polluting the air with them.
5. The cost of such models is high; in addition, during operation, constant costs are required for the purchase of gasoline and engine oil.

How to make a chopper with your own hands: drawings, video

If you wish, you can make your own wood chipper. Of course, you will need to prepare the necessary components:

• the power of the electric motor that you want to put on the crusher should be about 2 kW, an angle grinder will do;
• milling cutter or ten circular saws with a diameter of 200 mm;
• the axis or circle of steel must correspond to the size of the place where the circular saws will be located;
• washers 5-7 mm thick that will separate the discs;
• engine belt;
• metal profile pipes;
• sheet metal;
• the working hopper is made of 5 mm steel sheet, and for the guide bell the sheet thickness is 2-3 mm;
• It is better to choose wheels with a wide rim; these can be removed from an old cart;
• the set of tools consists of a drill, grinder, welding machine, fasteners and some others.

A homemade branch chopper is also easy to use.
The bunker can be made from an old large saucepan. All saws must be installed with the same pitch on the axis. When rotating, the teeth should not touch each other, so a gap is made between them (plastic washers are suitable). The set of saws should be up to 10 cm wide.

ADVICE!
To rotate the pulley, you can take two bearings from a generator or a car.

The working body consists of saws and a rotating element. To do this, the bearings are mounted on a stud, and then the structure is welded to the frame. A metal block is placed on it to support the branches.

A welding machine and metal profile pipes will be useful for the frame, and sheet metal for the protective casing. The receiving tank is also made from it. All that remains is to assemble the remaining components by connecting the engine and the working element using a belt. The wheels are attached last.

For convenience, we suggest watching a video on how to make a branch chopper with your own hands:

Amateur grade shredders

Amateur class shredders are low-power units (power no more than 1.6 kW) that operate on electrical energy. They have a disc blade system. The main principle of choice is to determine before purchasing the material from which the knives are made.

The best option is to choose a chopper with knives made of hardened steel. The weight of such units is less than 20 kg, and the thickness of the branches they chop should not exceed 3 cm.

Experts recommend using amateur systems in young gardens and in areas where a large area is occupied by garden crops. These units perfectly grind grass, weeds, vegetable tops, and thin branches.

What are the disadvantages of other methods of disposing of garden waste?

A reasonable question arises: if the plant litter is simply burned, wouldn’t this be a more cost-effective solution to the problem? Disadvantages of this disposal method:

• it is unsafe - there is a high risk of fire;
• illegal - in many regions it is legally prohibited to start a fire to burn plant waste;
• harmful to humans - substances released during combustion, if they enter the lungs, can cause various pathologies;
• unfavorable for nature - the fertile soil in the scorched area is depleted, leaving a bald spot where nothing grows for a long time.

Large branches can be cut into firewood. However, many other types of plant debris also accumulate in the garden plot. This is waste from shaping shrubs, pruning after processing the vine, uprooted parasitic shoots, weeds, tops, and fallen leaves.

Typically, such leftovers end up in unsightly piles. They not only spoil the appearance of the site, but also spread throughout it when the weather is once again capricious. In addition, such heaps are attractive to various garden pests, which lay eggs in them.

@Tehnoteca.ru

Putting unprocessed branches into compost is also not the best solution. Large plant debris takes a long time to decompose, as a result of which the pit quickly becomes cluttered. Before use, such compost has to be sifted for a long time, removing remaining branches and unprocessed fibers from thick stems.

The use of shredders reduces the volume of garden waste by 5–10 times. This makes the compost heap more compact. In addition, the finer the plant waste, the faster it is converted into humus with the help of microorganisms.

Characteristics of medium power shredders

Medium-power shredders are an intermediate option, therefore they have average performance, which is why they differ from amateur and professional models. These units work equally well on both gasoline and electricity. They have a maximum power of 2.5 kW.

It is preferable to use such units in private houses and summer cottages with a small, middle-aged garden. The milling knives equipped with the shredders can easily and quickly grind thicker branches (maximum thickness 3.5 cm).

The main advantage of such units is a system that independently draws in waste. In addition, the shredder is equipped with a mulch funnel and wheels, which allows you to easily move the unit around the site.

Schemes and drawings

Before searching for components and assembling them, it is necessary to draw up a diagram or drawing of the chopper. This is necessary to avoid errors when assembling and operating the shredder, otherwise improper operation will lead to injury to the operator. When drawing up a diagram or drawing, all stages of grinding are taken into account:

1. Loading the device.
2. Grinding branches.
3. Accumulation of crushed particles, as well as their removal.

It is not necessary to draw up a drawing according to ESKD standards; it is enough to correctly note the location of the elements and their dimensions. According to the diagram, a list of necessary components is compiled, as well as the order of assembly of the chopper.

In addition to drawing up your own drawing, you can use a ready-made one from the Internet. The advantage will be that all the nuances have already been thought out and reflected in the diagram. The disadvantage is that the drawing is prepared for other parameters: performance, type of branches. In addition, the finished drawings may contain elements that are not at hand - this will increase the cost of the project.

Characteristics of professional grade shredders

Professional grade shredders are large and heavy systems capable of delivering a maximum power of 4 kW. Models are available with gasoline or electric (three-phase) engines.

Features of using professional garden shredders.

A positive point can be considered the ability of the units to work continuously for a long time, grinding branches, the thickness of which can reach up to 7 cm. In addition, the crushed material is pressed, the result of which is the production of excellent mulch.

The funnels with which the shredders are equipped are large and convenient, and there is a powerful milling-type cutting mechanism. The units automatically draw in waste (no pushing required).

Since they are characterized by high productivity, the units are very popular on farms and are used in gardens with a large area.

Design and principle of operation

The chopper consists of:

• funnels;
• bunker;
• cutting mechanism;
• engine;
• deflector;
• legs;
• wheels.

Even the simplest shredders have protective hopper that prevents hands or clothing from getting into it. If the container is open, the device simply does not turn on. The funnel is part of the bunker and is intended for loading raw materials. The crushed raw materials exit through a hole located at the bottom of the hopper.

The main part of the chopper is a cutter or two knives. A device with a cutter should be purchased if you need to grind large debris from wood. The chipper with knives is good at processing grass and thin branches. In order for the cutting part to work, a motor is required. It can be gasoline or electric.

The principle of operation of a chopper is similar to a meat grinder . After entering the bunker, waste is crushed into wood chips. Performance directly depends on power. For example, a device with a power of 2.6 kW will not chop branches that are thicker than 5 cm.

The operating principle does not change depending on the cost of the device. Just to chop large branches you should buy a chipper with high power. For small areas, it is better to buy electric units - in a small area there is not enough “work” for a large and powerful gasoline shredder.

Self-production

The device is so primitive that there is a high probability of making it yourself. To do this you need to have only a few components:

• engine;
• two pulleys;
• cutters or saw blades;
• bearings - 2 pcs.;
• profile metal pipe;
• sheets of iron to create the body and bunker.

The machine is assembled according to the drawings prepared in advance, making sure that the design ensures the safety of the operator. You can use other devices, such as a grinder, to create household tools. You will have to slightly modify the design and add details, but overall you will get an excellent garden shredder.

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Main types

All garden waste shredders can be divided into :

• method of influencing green mass;
• version;
• additional functions;
• type of engine.

Method of influencing green mass

There are 2 main methods of exposure that provide maximum effectiveness:

• fishing line;
• plastic or metal cutter .

The fishing line is used in grass and leaf shredders, which do not have additional functions.
Spun up to enormous speed, it easily cuts through slightly dried green mass , thanks to its rigidity and fragility.

The exception is thick, dry tops, which must be disposed of in a device designed for shredding branches.

It is somewhat more difficult for a grass and leaf shredder to cut fresh material, because such green mass is quite mobile, so the fishing line affects them less effectively.

Gradually the fishing line wears out, so it has to be changed periodically. The service life depends on the intensity of use and the amount of tops. After all, the tops have the strongest fibers, so they ensure rapid wear of the fishing line. However, the maximum wear on the fishing line comes from processing dry tops.

A plastic or metal cutter is used in vacuum cleaners with a shredding function; they are often called mulchers, because after processing the green mass can be used as mulch.

This cutter is part of a blower that operates on the centrifugal principle. Moving in a circle, the cutter blades also move air in a circle, so when they reach the outlet of the cochlea, the air comes out under the action of centrifugal force, which creates thrust.

The rotation speed of the cutter is 6–10 thousand revolutions per minute , thanks to which it not only accelerates the air to enormous speeds (50–80 m/s), but also effectively chops any green mass.

When the green mass comes into contact with the blades, it is torn into pieces due to the enormous speeds, and the air flow passing by takes with it the torn fragments and drops of juice.

Maximum
efficiency also achieved when processing slightly dried material , which has an optimal hardness value.
Therefore, when cutting fresh grass or leaves, not to mention tops, the load on the impeller increases.

Some manufacturers install on fans not only an impeller, but also a chopping wheel with a blade shape that is more convenient for chopping grass.

This reduces engine energy losses for grinding grass and increases the service life of parts, because thanks to the better shape of the chopping wheel, its knives use a low load, which increases their service life.

Execution option

Grass and leaf shredders are manufactured in the following versions :

• semi-permanent installation;
• handheld vacuum cleaner plus shredder;
• wheel vacuum cleaner with shredding.

The semi-permanent installation consists of a three-legged support and a line grinding unit with fairly large screen openings.

A bag is attached to the bottom to collect the finished product, which can be used as mulch or fertilizer. This installation is well suited for chopping dried grass, tops and leaves, because having lost some amount of moisture, the fibers become stiffer, so it is easier for the fishing line to chop them.

In contrast to this installation, garden vacuum cleaners with a shredding function independently suck up leaves, grass and torn tops, but are noticeably less efficient than shredders.

After all, the main purpose of the impeller (cutter) is to create air flow, and grinding is an additional function .

Vacuum cleaners
are hand-held and wheeled .
The former are lighter and cheaper, but have minimal productivity, so they are used only in small areas. Wheeled ones much more productive , because they have no restrictions on the weight of the engine and other parts.

The most powerful devices are used by utility services, because they allow you to quickly clear large areas of leaves.

There are handheld vacuum cleaners without shredding . They are noticeably cheaper, because the impeller can be made from a less impact-resistant material, and the air in them, after passing through the intake pipe, first enters a bag that plays the role of a cyclone filter, after which it passes through the volute.

Additional functions

Additional functions are inherent only in manual garden vacuum cleaners, because they can be used as wind blowers.

With their help you can:

• clean the area from dust;
• collect fallen leaves and other green matter;
• fan the fire.

engine's type

The following types of motors are installed on devices of this type :

• gasoline;
• electrical (mains, alternating current);
• battery-powered

Gasoline motors are heavier than mains electric motors and are comparable in weight to a DC motor/battery kit.

In addition, they are noticeably more expensive than networked electric motors, but cheaper than battery-powered ones, but they allow you to work in places where it is not possible to connect to an AC network without a time limit.

Also, gasoline engines are much more demanding on maintenance , because they regularly require:

• change oil;
• wash or change filters;
• clean or change spark plugs;
• clean the carburetor.

The main advantages of network motors are:

• minimum cost;
• long service life;
• light weight,

therefore, most often they are placed on small shredding vacuum cleaners that have to be held in hands.

AC electric motors differ:

• minimum price;
• high efficiency;
• resistance to overloads;
• light weight, but they only work where there are sockets.

Battery electric motors can replace gasoline units, but one battery charge lasts for 15–60 minutes, depending on:

• battery models;
• its capacity;
• operating mode of the vacuum cleaner.

The cost of cordless vacuum cleaners is much higher than network ones. This is due to both the more expensive DC motor and the high cost of the battery.

If one battery charge is not enough, and there is no way to charge it on site, then you will have to take several spare power sources , which further increases the cost of the vacuum cleaner.

In addition, battery electric motors, as well as the batteries themselves, are very sensitive to overloads , so such vacuum cleaners cannot be used to clean the area from the remains of thick tops. Their shredder is intended only for processing grass and leaves, although models without a shredder can even collect cuttings of thick tops, as long as they fit in size.

Gasoline motors are heavier than electric motors, but lighter than a DC motor and its corresponding battery.

Typically, such engines run on AI-92 unleaded gasoline , and one refueling lasts about an hour.

Such motors have several significant disadvantages :

• unpleasant exhaust;
• strong vibration of the vacuum cleaner, tiring the hand;
• Loud sound that requires you to use headphones.

Almost all mobile devices are equipped with gasoline engines, because an increase in weight by 3–7 kg does not have a significant effect on the ease of use.