Decent garden shredder?

[sandspider]

Hi all

Looking for advice on a garden shredder. This is for home use, just want to turn hedge clippings etc. into mulch that can be (eventually) used on trees, veg patch etc. I don't need a 300hp whole tree chipper, but would like a garden shredder that will do a decent job and last for a reasonable price. Doubt I'd need to shred anything bigger than an inch or two diameter as it will go in the log / kindling pile... I would consider electric or petrol. I saw that Aldi did one for £60 https://www.aldi.co.uk/impact-garden...66926035804500 which will cope with 4cm diameter - so not too far off my needs. But I'm not sure if it would last, do a decent job or if I'd need to spend a bit more for a better known brand... Can anyone recommend a good one?

Thanks.

[Scarlet]

Actually, I bought one from @ldi, many years ago. It does only branches of approx 3cm thick...it still works, a bit tedious but it's not broken. it depends on how many branches you need to chip whether you get a bigger/better one. The only thing I would say is that they all need to fit down the chute. So lots of spray twigs that stick out here there and everywhere can jam it up.

[sandspider]

Thanks Scarlet

THat soundds a bit tedious, I'm hoping for a bit more throughput...

Did find this one Titan TTB353SHR 2500W 80kg/hr Electric Garden Shredder 230-240V | Garden Shredders | Screwfix.com and my Titan electric chainsaw has done a good job for the money.

Just wondering if a drum shredder rather than a blade shredder (like the Titan) would be better, and petrol or even tractor PTO powered for use out of reach of mains electricity...

Hmm. Any suggestions anyone?

Thanks.

[roitelet]

Both the shredders you are talking about have a blade type cutter. There are others where the cutter is more like a cog. These don't jam as easily. The first type gives fine shreddings and the other chunkier ones.

Sorry I can't recommend a make but the ones we have here probably be available in the UK. All I can say is that I have a cog type one and it has done 6 years hard labour and is still going strong.

[SusieG]

I'm glad I've seen this thread, sandspider......

I have a small shredder that copes okayish with normal 'lightweight' garden stuff. Sounds like the one Scarlet has (it was about £60 a few years back) ~ but I have been seriously toying with the idea of investing in a far more substantial machine, to tackle some monstrous leylandi trees that are in the process of being despatched ...... (yuk, horrible things... )

I don't really know anything about different types, but would like to research any suggestions before buying .... I would prefer electric over petrol, as I will be using it near to the house. And I usually struggle to get petrol implements started ......

Already learned something - didn't know there were cog and blade types ...

[DannyRam]

I have a Bosch AXT Rapid 2200. It shreds the stuff down to very small bits and is perfect for mulch and composting.

[sandspider]

Susie, have a look here: Garden shreddders tested and reviewed by Fred In The Shed

Danny, if yours is a rapid does that mean it's blades rather than drum? So you have to push all the stuff into it, it won't draw it in?

[DannyK]

I've had a Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 for over two years and have only recently had to reverse the blades. Now it's pulling the prunings in! It's in constant use as I have a large garden. It very rarely gets blocked unlike previous B&D and Champion (Alko) ones. The worse one was was a borrowed B&Q cheapy which blocked every few minutes due to mouldings in the chute.

I think you get what you pay for. That Titan one is only£75 against the £200 for Bosch but it has some very bad reviews.

[DannyK]

SusieG-if those Leylandii are that big perhaps you could get a tree surgeon to chip them for you. My tree surgeon zipped through a beech crown reduction which would have taken me ages. The chippings filled a cubic metre bin

[rary]

I have an AL-KO shredder which I have used for more than twenty years, as the feed in shute is now baddly damaged I decided to buy a Bosch Rapid 2200, the material and intenals of the Bosch As can be seen the Bosch can be jammed quite easily and does not always give fine shreddings, the AL-KO h1100 with the same material (shredding a contorted hazel)
The Bosch is a lot quicker but blocked op oftener, and not as fine, with more even shaped material it will work better, but still not as fine, the Al-KO is a better machine but a lot more expensive, and I dont know what the quality is like now, if I could afford it I think I would get a bigger Bosch, which chips the product finer, and that choice is due to Bosch having a good after sales service

[Bal]

I have a Bosch AXT Rapid 2200. It shreds the stuff down to very small bits and is perfect for mulch and composting.

I have been researching shredders for weeks now and keep coming back to the Bosch one. I just need to know if it will do the green garden stuf such as herbaceous perennial plants that I will be cutting down soon as well as some hedge trimmings such as laurel and hawthorn

[SusieG]

Susie, have a look here: [url=http://www.fredshed.co.uk/boschshredders.htm]Garden shreddders tested and reviewed by Fred In The Shed[/url

That man seems to know his shredders..! Interesting ......

[SusieG]

The AXT25D Bosch is looking like a good candidate for my garden needs ....
Going to read some more user reviews before final purchase though ...

[DannyRam]

Susie, have a look here: Garden shreddders tested and reviewed by Fred In The Shed

Danny, if yours is a rapid does that mean it's blades rather than drum? So you have to push all the stuff into it, it won't draw it in?

It uses blades.

[sandspider]

I'm currently leaning towards the Bosch AXT 25TC. This appears to self feed, and will also supposedly chop fresher green material. Also doesn't jam so easily. (Turbine cutter rather than blade or drum...) It is more expensive than the 25D though.