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Shredders
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Talkback
Thinking of buying a shredder for a Christmas present, large garden with plenty to shred - what would you recommend - make, style etc.
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We have had this one since 2011, just buying the first replacement blade.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001123CCO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
I couldn't live without my shredder. If you're buying it to shred your hedge clippings then you are wasting your time as they are generally too whippy but for trees, shrubs, dried brambles....everything else it's brilliant....and very therapeutic!
What's the largest diameter stick you'd want to put through it?
In the sticks near Peterborough
I borrow an old atco silent shredder which I think has been superseded by Bosch. It works by way of a slow turning cog like cutter which draws in the stems and chops/crushes them into 3/4 inch chunks which make a really good mulch. It will happily eat anything that fits into it up to around 1 1/2 inches.
The cheaper shredders tend to be those that have a fast spinning disc in the base with a pair of blades attached. My limited experience with these is that they can clog up and usually need to be opened up to clear them.
I'd recommend going to a specialist dealer and get a demonstration before parting with any significant sum.
Mine is a Bosch and works by way of an Archimedes screw. Depending on the wood it'll take 1.5 inches. Berberis is surprisingly hard! It has an automatic cut off and a reverse setting for when I get carried away!
Thanks for all your helpful comments - although I am planning to buy it for my husband's Christmas present, I may need to suggest he chooses the model that he wants me to get for him - although perhaps in the end I will be the one doing the shredding!
I bet you won't. It's one of the few chores everyone in my garden fights over. I've even had the odd neighbour come in for a go!!!
I have read this thread with interest as we bought a shredder a few years ago and quickly took it back as it continually jammed. The problem I have is that now I mainly want to shred green garden waste and leaves for the compost heap and only the odd tougher branches fro pruned shrubs . Using a lawn mower is not an option. Does anyone know of a shredder that would do this as well as the usual thicker branches?
Fraid not frensclan. Certainly not with my screw one anyway.I find with young "green" prunings, especially willow and the like, that they go down in and come up again peeled!
I got mine on freecycle. I've no idea what type it is . I remember glancing at the instruction manual to find it's in German. So didn't look much further.
Mine takes stems to the thickness of a broom handle.
It's great for things like buddliea , verbena bonariensis and the taller grasses when they're cut down.