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Cleaning your garden after autumn pruning, weed control and leaf fall usually requires a lot of effort to remove this plant debris. Here a novelty in gardening technology comes to the rescue - a branch shredder, or in another way a shredder.
Varieties and scope
In addition to fast, convenient and environmentally friendly disposal of the site from green waste, the use of garden shredders has several directions, such as:
- getting an excellent compost from ground grass and knots, this fertilizer can later be applied to the garden before digging in autumn;
- production of bedding material for domestic ungulates and birds; it is very hygroscopic, and also serves as an excellent feeding;
- use as a shelter and insulation of greenhouses, which at the same time can serve as a source of mineral elements for plants.
This agricultural machinery is produced in various variations with different attachments, power and type of drive.
So, according to the types of knives with which shredding is performed, all shredders are divided into milling and disc shredders. The first option is stronger, since here the knife is made in the form of a gear, cast from steel, it can handle twigs and a branch up to 5 cm in diameter. Disc crushers use discs with sharpened edges.
By the type of motor mechanism, branch shredders are powered from the mains and use gasoline fuel. Both the one and the other species have their own advantages and disadvantages. So, a garden electric shredder is characterized by a low noise level during operation, as well as a lower weight of the device (even women can work with it). However, it cannot be moved freely around the site due to the need to connect to the mains. In addition, such a shredder will not take thick branches (more than 4 cm in diameter). Gasoline units are more mobile and efficient, they can work with any bio-waste. However, they are quite heavy, noisy and less fuel efficient (gasoline is more expensive than electricity).
According to the power of the machine, they are distinguished:
- low-power (up to 1.5 kW);
- medium-power (up to 2.5 kW);
- professional (from 4 kW).
Features of electric shredders
An electric garden chipper, as a rule, has an engine power of 1.5 to 3 kilowatts, is capable of processing branches, the caliber of which does not exceed 5 centimeters in diameter. It works much quieter than gasoline counterparts, which is very important for maintaining good relations with neighbors. Such devices are smaller, due to this, they can be easier to transport. Any plant can be crushed into powder by the electric shredder, making it easier to compost.
This technique has high productivity, but at the same time uses electricity economically. The cost of electric grinders, in comparison with gasoline ones, is also much lower. It's easy to work with them - just press a button to start.
Best electric shredders
Various types of electric branch shredders can be purchased both in specialized and in huge markets such as Castoram or Leroy merlin, as well as on the Internet.
For ease of selection, you can rank the most attractive electric garden shredder models.
Garden shredder cmi 3414414
The knife-type tool of the CMI brand, owned by the German chain of stores of construction and household goods OBI, has a rated power of 2.5 kW. Works with branches up to 4 cm in diameter at a noise level of 70 decibels, weighs 17 kg. Equipped with castors for easy transport. Most economical in terms of price.
AL-KO Easy Crush mh 2800 shredder
This German-made machine has a 2.8 kW cutter mechanism designed for chopping grass and branches up to 4.2 cm in diameter. Equipped with a built-in mulch receiver. There is a system of uniform automatic pulling of raw materials into the receiving device. Wide frames provide reliability and stability of the device, and large diameter wheels provide mobility.
Hammer GS2500 chopper
The electric garden shredder from the German manufacturer has a power of 2.5 kW and can handle 4.5 cm branches. Equipped with a 45 liter grass catcher. Unit weight - 14 kg.
Electric garden shredder MTD SL 2800
The mtd sl 2800 electric crusher can grind raw materials up to four and a half centimeters in diameter. The cutting element is a system of gears with eight teeth. The convenient receiving funnel facilitates quick and accurate collection of wood and other debris. The 2.8 kW motor has overload protection.
Garden chopper Bison
The top popular models of garden shredders include domestic-made devices. They are slightly inferior to foreign grinders in appearance and some technical data, but at a price much lower, which means they are more affordable. They are distinguished by quiet operation and safety during operation.
DIY chopper
If you don't have the funds or the desire to choose an industrial garden shredder, it is quite easy to make a garden grass shredder with your hands.
To create a garden unit, you need to stock up on drawings of the future device, as well as materials and tools (a saw-grinder, a metal boiling machine and a set of wrenches.) From the materials for the simplest knife disc grinder, you will need an engine, a sheet of metal for a protective casing and a funnel-receiver and also two discs, a set of knives for the cutting mechanism.
Assembling a homemade shredder has the following sequence:
- a support frame is created;
- circular saws are put on the threaded rod;
- discs are laid with washers to prevent their teeth from snagging, nuts are squeezed along the edges;
- fasteners for bearings are welded on the inner sides of the frame;
- bearings are attached to the hairpin, secured, and the whole package is installed on the frame frame;
- on the long side of the pin on the gear, a retaining ring is fixed;
- the motor is mounted, and the drive strap (or chain) is hung;
- the receiving funnel joins;
- wheels for transportation are installed if necessary.
Pruned and dry branches, mown grass, fallen leaves are not only garbage in the garden, but also a good source for organic fertilization of the site or mulch.At the same time, you can easily solve the problems of cleaning the garden and obtaining mulch with the help of an electric branch shredder, which can be purchased from well-known manufacturers, or you can do it yourself.