Wood chipper

[Kram]

Unsure what you mean in this context? Many of the bolts have plenty of excess

 

[MattF]

Apologies. I misinterpreted your post. I've just reread it.

 

[J1nx]

I’ve chipper envy looking at these. I very nearly went for the Crytec a couple of years ago but wasn’t sure how much I’d use it so went with a mains powered Forest Master and that’s been fantastic for what it is.

I process a lot of wood but only in the context of a home owner, not professional work. Anything big enough the FM won’t handle is firewood and it’s about the perfect size for smaller bits you need to get a burner going, roughly wrist sized for wet wood.

Before the chipper I just burnt it up but this does give me useful chippings for paths, plant beds and the chicken runs. Don’t have to wait for dry days and correct wind either. Saying that my bonfire is currently about the size of a 7.5t lorry still but that’s only a handful of times a year now.

 

[MattF]

Before the chipper I just burnt it up but this does give me useful chippings for paths, plant beds and the chicken runs. Don’t have to wait for dry days and correct wind either.

Similar here. What may take a hour or two with this chipper would've taken days to burn, weather conditions permitting.

 

[Dapph2]

As I recall, yes. I've never touched the blades as yet, as I can remember.




I find it easier to pull it from the front. The towball hitch handle is too low other than for basic manoeuvring though, hence why I use the strap.




That's how I do it. Pop some twiggy stuff in, then a branch to drag it all through.

The machine will have a lovely fragrance after chipping Laurel. I know it sounds sad, but I love that aroma. It'll chip freshly cut Laurel readily.

It was a Laurel cutback which originally prompted me to get this chipper.

Know what you mean if it is a bay laurel . I snipped off four leave to go in to tonight s stew ...... Heaven .
I'll likely be making some home made bay rum liqueur this year . A few years ago I made a litre of Bay leaf Vodka it went down well.

 

[Dapph2]

complain back to the company and get a new chute delivered to you is my opinion as its not safe in its standared usage

alterations cause damage

And invalidate warrantees unless approved by the maker

 

[Richiew]

I’ve chipper envy looking at these. I very nearly went for the Crytec a couple of years ago but wasn’t sure how much I’d use it so went with a mains powered Forest Master and that’s been fantastic for what it is.

I process a lot of wood but only in the context of a home owner, not professional work. Anything big enough the FM won’t handle is firewood and it’s about the perfect size for smaller bits you need to get a burner going, roughly wrist sized for wet wood.

Before the chipper I just burnt it up but this does give me useful chippings for paths, plant beds and the chicken runs. Don’t have to wait for dry days and correct wind either. Saying that my bonfire is currently about the size of a 7.5t lorry still but that’s only a handful of times a year now.

View attachment 532604

I have the petrol version of that one. Very good round the garden. Its rated up to 50mm i think. Chops all the branches. Some marginally larger bits get chopped up with a chainsaw to go in the bin and anything else is firewood. You can get so much more in the wheelie bin when stuff is chopped so fine. Saves your hands from using loppers or secaturs. Just needs a minimum volume of cuttings to make it worthwhile dragging out and setting up.

 

[Kram]

@MattF I'm not so good at designing 3d prints but I was thinking a peice to block the hopper and prevent anything falling in while being stored, I'll have a go at designing at the weekend.

Same idea as above, but to go on the drum unit when the hopper/chute are removed to keep it blocked, particually the chute as the drum sticks out - for when I"m moving it by car,

A magnetic tray on the top/side of hopoper, for placing the nuts whilst removing, as theres no suitable flat surfaces if it did need to be opened.

 

[MattF]

Intrigued to see what you design for that. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Kram]

I’ve chipper envy looking at these. I very nearly went for the Crytec a couple of years ago but wasn’t sure how much I’d use it so went with a mains powered Forest Master and that’s been fantastic for what it is.

I process a lot of wood but only in the context of a home owner, not professional work. Anything big enough the FM won’t handle is firewood and it’s about the perfect size for smaller bits you need to get a burner going, roughly wrist sized for wet wood.

Before the chipper I just burnt it up but this does give me useful chippings for paths, plant beds and the chicken runs. Don’t have to wait for dry days and correct wind either. Saying that my bonfire is currently about the size of a 7.5t lorry still but that’s only a handful of times a year now.

View attachment 532604

I've been talking with somone who has the larger FM14 and he not very happy! The FM blades are seemingly made from brittle "cheese biscuit" steel and after light use, his have chipped and shattered.
This is somone that has larger road tow chippers and knows how to properly use them - so its not user error.
His chute also fell apart on its first outing after 4 hours. Note the spare set on exhaust, and those fitted, are both destroyed.

I've seen several reports that the FM blades are very poor steel. His unfortunately are 300mm long which makes it difficult to make up another pair, but it may be the way to go. We couldnt find any other importer/supplier of the same dimensions.
O1 tool steel should be quite suitable if well tempered.

I think part of the problem on a FM is the engine has one bang every two revolutions whilst the drum cuts twice per rev, so sets up it for a lot of vibration being direct drive.
I've no idea how the direct drive machines are coupled - perhaps they have a rubber cush drive in there?

 

[J1nx]

Mine is the mulcher and being that much smaller quite different, the electric motor I guess is much gentler on the blades.
No issues so far but they must be due changing as they have done two seasons, iirc I have a spare set somewhere that came with the machine on purchase. Just checked and they are £40 for a replacement set. If your mate gets them direct then his are £70 on the website, not £220+, that’s a rip off!

Good info though, if I upgrade then it will likely be the Crytec to be fair unless I come across a cheap PTO unit I could sling on the tractor.

 

[addjunkie]

Mine is the mulcher and being that much smaller quite different, the electric motor I guess is much gentler on the blades.
No issues so far but they must be due changing as they have done two seasons, iirc I have a spare set somewhere that came with the machine on purchase. Just checked and they are £40 for a replacement set. If your mate gets them direct then his are £70 on the website, not £220+, that’s a rip off!

Good info though, if I upgrade then it will likely be the Crytec to be fair unless I come across a cheap PTO unit I could sling on the tractor.

I find a bit of straw, and a bit of diesel, saves buying a chipper!

 

[MattF]

I find a bit of straw, and a bit of diesel, saves buying a chipper!

It does, but fires have to be monitored & tended. Weather conditions have to be right, etc.

Fires & chippers are worlds apart in speed & convenience, & for someone like @Kram, setting fire to the waste isn't an option.

 

[Kram]

Yeah cant burn for small domestic work...well you could but it'd be uninsurable.

Today was not easy!
At first I tried to lift the combined drum/engine unit into car rear passenger seat, nope not happening. Stripped it down and when removing engine, forgot about the kill switch cable! So that got a bodge.

Seems the wiring is set up that this connector needs to be shorted to run? open circuit wont fire up.

It does fit in car. Drum unit on offside rear, engine in boot, hopper and chute on the left.

For next time I wont bothe with towbar, the extended chute and its safety bar extension.

This is what 3 car loads looks like - just the fresh stuff. My guess is 21-25 bags at roughtly 50 or 60kg each. 1250-1500kg. Could have got more in each trip but didnt want the suspension too low.

Finally it looks like this. I didnt do any cutting today.

Only a couple lengths needed cutting to go in chipper, which was a nice suprise. Most was under 2" but there were some 3-4.5" peices.


One problem is I lost a nut from the safety bar pivot! Couldnt find it so suspect it went through the chipper. Cant blame the shop as its a bolt I assembled, perhaps I didnt tighten it as it would have been a nyloc.

 

[Kram]

The missing nut may partly expain why thebblades dont look new any more.

Jts still cutting well, if anything a bit agressive on bigger peices.I'll be wanting to keep a spare set or two.

Anotner potential issue is I see a lot of belt dust building up, will inspect next time out.

 

[henry Kadzielski]

My two cents worth. I got a Hansa C15 many years ago and still have it. It was their first version, I think I have had it for about 15years now. Dose it work YES does it do what they claim YES and then some. My only problem is I can't get enough feed for it any more. Bits and pieces from around the yard, but I could do with a couple of ton to mulch up everything.
I thought I had a video of it in operation, well I do but can't find it at the moment. It has been a great machine and out on job sites has supprised many people on how fast and how much it can do. It will chomp through faster than you can feed it. I am expecting a new toy in about 3 weeks to sharpen chipper blades comercially. I will see how that goes!. I will put a pic on here when it arrives

 

[gaz1]

Yeah cant burn for small domestic work...well you could but it'd be uninsurable.

This is what 3 car loads looks like - just the fresh stuff. My guess is 21-25 bags at roughtly 50 or 60kg each. 1250-1500kg. Could have got more in each trip but didnt want the suspension too low.

you can with woodgas

 

[Kram]

you can with woodgas

No, you cant. That example is burning a few hundred grams at a time? No good when you have 1500kg to dispose of in a day.

Pyrolysis of wood, plastic or anything, is also frowned upon by HSE, I believe, quite dangerous if not set up correctly.

 

[Kram]

My two cents worth. I got a Hansa C15 many years ago and still have it. It was their first version, I think I have had it for about 15years now. Dose it work YES does it do what they claim YES and then some. My only problem is I can't get enough feed for it any more. Bits and pieces from around the yard, but I could do with a couple of ton to mulch up everything.
I thought I had a video of it in operation, well I do but can't find it at the moment. It has been a great machine and out on job sites has supprised many people on how fast and how much it can do. It will chomp through faster than you can feed it. I am expecting a new toy in about 3 weeks to sharpen chipper blades comercially. I will see how that goes!. I will put a pic on here when it arrives

Sounds like a good machine, please put vid up if you find it. I cant see a C15 model but they have many. Is yours a drum or disc type?

Keep us updated on the blades.
I was thinking of setting up bench grinder with a jig. However for the drum units, blades need to be identical size as only the anvil is adjustable for the gap, so beyond my skills...


From my videos, heres a couple of the thicker peices mine ate

 

[Onoff]

Sounds like a good machine, please put vid up if you find it. I cant see a C15 model but they have many. Is yours a drum or disc type?

Keep us updated on the blades.
I was thinking of setting up bench grinder with a jig. However for the drum units, blades need to be identical size as only the anvil is adjustable for the gap, so beyond my skills...


From my videos, heres a couple of the thicker peices mine ate

I physically wince seeing your hand going into that chute!