shredders

[hawthorns]

im thinking about investing in a shredder does anyone one have any ideas on a good budget type

[tattieman]

I got one from Wickes for about £60 and it is great.

[Dianne1234567]

So was I, but the prices of them put me off, so I will watch this thread with interest. Sorry to be of no real help.

[solway cropper]

I got one on ebay for £40 and it's the best bit of garden kit I've ever bought. It's a Ryobi and easily chews through inch thick branches. It would probably do even bigger ones but I tend to keep branches bigger than that for the fire. With prunings, thinnings etc. this year I've got enough mulch to cover the veg plot and fruit garden plus loads has been mixed in with the compost and I've got a few bags left for bulking out compost next year. If you feed green stuff through it you get an easily compostable mulch while woody stuff is better for weed suppression.

[Scottishnewbie]

what make is it solway cropper? i borrowed my neighbours and it was rubbish!

[rustylady]

Must admit I'm a bit of a gadget freak, but so far I've resisted buying a shredder. Heard so many bad reports. Will watch this thread with interest.

[dammad49]

Got a Black & Decker one off Freecycle, its brill after a few minor repairs. Chews up anything that will fit in the slot and makes it instantly compostable

[hawthorns]

focus have a "Bosch" Bosch AXT Rapid 2000 Impact Shredder at Focus i was wondering if anyone has this type and is it any good

[solway cropper]

Mine's a Ryobi ESR2240 and it really was a good buy. I used to put most of the hedge-clippings/prunings in the council green-waste bin but the only thing that goes in there now is a few perennial weeds and diseased plants. Plus I don't have bonfires any more and don't have to worry about which neighbours have their washing out. I would recommend that you go for at least a 2kW motor as the smaller ones are not really up to the job.

[Scottishnewbie]

that's the one i borrowed from my neighbour - i didnt like it and it just clogged up with all the old veggies stuff i wanted to shred - even the sweetcorn stalks (if that is what they are called!)

oops - i meant to say the Bosch one!

[snuffer]

Have posted about this subject recently. Have a look at a website (I think it's called fredshed or something similar). He tests all manner of tools including shredders and gives an honest opinion about them. If it's crap he'll say it's crap.

I myself have a bosch 1600. It uses a sort of worm (like in a mincer) to do the shredding (supposed to be much quieter than blades). It works a treat with woody prunings but is useless with leafy stuff. Just keeps getting clogged. You have to keep the woody stuff until last so that when the leafy stuff gets stuck you can push it through with one of the branches.

[snuffer]

Found it. Fredshed - an independent showcase for the latest and best tools for the home, garden, and DIY market

[Eco-Chic]

Aren't shredders for woody stuff, not leafy stuff?
I've had mine for years and it's not the finest piece of gadgetry I've ever purchased 'cos it jams easily and is very noisy.

[solway cropper]

There's not much point putting all green stuff through cos that rots down easily anyway. They seem to work best with a mix of material: leafy twigs, half-ripe woody/pithy material and fully formed branches. Admitted they jam up if you're not careful but you just lift the lid and unjam them. It's horses for courses really. I have a chainsaw but I wouldn't use it to cut the lawn.

[Bigmallly]

I think most shredders clog up with the green stuff, I just clean it out with a branch. I bought a Powerforce 2500 from Tesco for £80 they are now down to £70........The best buy I have ever had. Make compost in around 4 weeks.
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