Garden shredder: rating of the best models. How to choose gasoline and electric shredders

Which shredder is better to choose for the disposal of plant waste according to the editorial staff of Zuzako

Before investing in the purchase of a good shredder, it is worth not only studying the characteristics of the proposed models, but also assessing the size of the site and the amount of regular work. Most often, an electric unit with knives copes with the disposal of garden waste on a classic 6 acres with several trees.

Universal shredder

Most manufacturers make gasoline-powered universal shredders and rely on high volumes and run times. Therefore, their cost is always high and can pay off in gardening farms or from companies professionally engaged in garden pruning.

Chopper for walk-behind tractor

Attached electrical equipment for a walk-behind tractor usually has a bulky design and open parts. Basic technical skills are required to use these machines. Buying such equipment makes sense if the farm already has a walk-behind tractor, or if you need a powerful professional cutter for large gardens. Some shredders of this system are able to cut trunks up to 80 cm into 10 cm bars. Typically, a combination system of high-strength steel knives is used.

Garden vacuum cleaners with shredder

These versatile helpers can replace the independent branch cutter only if the area with 2-3 trees is cleaned. Some powerful models are quite capable of not only collecting foliage, but also processing cones and small branches into dust. But as soon as the thickness of the barrel exceeds 10 mm, you will have to switch to manual processing.

Whether to acquire a “garden excess” for your garden or to continue dreaming about it is an independent choice of the owner of the backyard. After burning branches, you destroy oxygen and get a heap of ash, and splitting them to dust, you can create a basis for a new fertile land.

Electric garden shredders

Electric models of garden shredders are more compact than gasoline ones. They are environmentally friendly because do not emit combustion products, operate with less noise and are easy to maintain. They have relatively few drawbacks: they depend on the location of the electrical outlet, have low power, and fail with voltage drops.

Garden Shredder Patriot PT SE24

Inexpensive and compact Patriot PT SE24 electric shredder costs from 5870 rubles. Its engine power of 2.4 kW provides speed of rotation of knives 4500 rpm, which allows you to efficiently and quickly chop branches up to 4 cm in diameter. The chopper has a low weight (13 kg), a stable frame and a wheelset that help to conveniently move it around the site.

Among the advantages are also a convenient funnel for filling plant waste, protection of the engine from overload and splashing. It copes well with tops and small branches. Service life - 6 years. In good condition it does not require additional maintenance.

This power tool is made in China, so there are problems with spare parts, especially the motor bearings. When working, it has a fairly high noise level - 107 dB, headphones are required.

As noted by users, the Patriot PT SE24 shredder handles mainly thin branches and stems of plants. Under heavy loads, it can quickly fail. To prevent the device from clogging and breaking, the branches must be fed one at a time and ensure a break in work.

Another budget option - the ZUBR electric shredder ZIE-40-2500 is more suitable for shredding branches of trees and shrubs with a diameter of no more than 4 cm.The 2.5 kW engine has good torque - over 4000 rpm. The shredder is equipped with a 50 l container.

The device is protected against overload: if the shaft is jammed, the motor is switched off. The shredder is easy to move around the site thanks to its light weight (14 kg) and two large diameter wheels, as well as a comfortable handle. Can grind fresh and damp twigs. At the end of the season, the shredder can be folded into a compact unit, because he has a transformer frame.

However, this Russian model also has some significant drawbacks. This is a brittle plastic, short-lived knives and a weak electrical wire. When crushing thin raw branches, they are wound onto the central screw of the knife drum. To eliminate this problem, you have to spin the device.

Despite this, in general, users are satisfied with the model and its price (from 8,890 rubles).

Garden shredder Viking GE 250

Most garden waste is handled by the Viking GE 250 mid-range electric garden shredder, which starts at RUB 28,790. It grinds branches as well as soft plant stems and foliage equally well. Its 2.5 kW electric motor provides high performance without heavy load on the grid.

In the cutting mechanism, first there is grinding with a disc with two knives, and then the blades set at different angles are connected. The engine starts when the starting relay is turned on, which excludes spontaneous start. When the intake is removed, the device also does not work.

The shredder has a compact body that is mounted on a frame with wheels, making it mobile and mobile.

However, every season at the shredder you need to sharpen knives, which quickly become blunt with large volumes. Disassembly takes a lot of time, moreover, the design does not provide for a disk stopper against rotation, which complicates this process. For quick replacement, users recommend having spare knives.

Garden shredder AL-KO Easy Crush MH 2800

The relatively inexpensive AL-KO Easy Crush МH 2800 shredder attracts gardeners with its competent design, good plastic, adequate price (from 12,290 rubles). It is mounted on a frame with wheels, which greatly facilitates movement. Equipped with a 50 l container.

The shredder is robust enough: the body can withstand heavy impacts, and the most stressed parts are made of steel. Rollers and elastic curtains are installed in the receiving neck, preventing chips from flying out. It can be easily removed, which makes it easier to access the cutting unit.

The high-speed disc cutter with two blades does a good job with branches up to 4.2 cm thick, however, as users have noticed, it only cuts fresh shoots. Therefore, the branches are best served dry.

The device and principle of operation of shredders of garden waste

The division of shredders for wood can be conventionally done in 5 positions:

A string machine using a line can only chop up grass and leaves. It is extremely rare, since its functions are successfully performed by a standard lawn mower, which not only evens out the height of the green cover, but also processes the leaves fallen in the fall into fine mulch.
Hammer grinder - capable of processing thin branches of trees and shrubs, but the most common use is in the construction of grain crushers. Therefore, the function of cutting green material is better described as auxiliary.
The knife block is considered the most common for use in suburban areas of a small area, the thickness of the branches for processing can be up to 40 mm. The best efficiency will be achieved by alternating lightly dried cut branches (1-2 days after pruning) and leafy green mass.
The milling mechanism best shows its ability when working with dry branches, since the mechanism not only cuts them, but also crushes them.Ideally, the end result is small chunks of twigs that are best used for kindling or filling uneven areas as filler. Working with thin or fresh branches may give poor results (winding, creasing without cutting).
The turbine principle of operation, which in fact is a complicated version of the cutter operation. Such a shredder is sometimes positioned as universal, but this is not entirely true. If the machine is set to cut branches with a small thickness of up to 35 mm, then it will not be possible to feed green pulp at the same time for a long time. Since the gaps are set to the minimum distance, fresh greens will regularly clog between the cutters, obstructing passage. In this case, the engine will significantly heat up due to moisture. A truly versatile process can only be found when dealing with large gaps. Then the final ejection will pass without problems, but will give a large fraction (about 5-6 cm).
The type of universal shredder includes two modular designs, when one machine has 2 separate hoppers and, accordingly, different cutting mechanisms: mesh (string) and milling (knife). Powerful industrial cutters can also be recognized as truly versatile, which are capable of processing wood trims up to 80 mm wide. Usually the cutting mechanism is represented by several knives (up to 6 pieces). In them, processing is carried out in large cuts up to 6 cm in length and is often used for kindling ovens or barbecues in a dried form.

The best models of grass and branch shredders

Over the past 5 years, the number of garden shredder manufacturers has increased, respectively, and the number of grass and branch shredder options has increased.

According to the features of the cutting special element, they are distinguished:

Knife devices. They cut waste with knife-shaped blades. They manage to cope with both thin branches, dry leaves, and armfuls of grass. But knives are afraid of large objects, tk. they can blunt them with ease. If this happens, the cut quality will deteriorate significantly.
Milling type devices. Their design includes gears. They are tougher and stronger than knives. Milling shredders can shred branches with a diameter of 4-5 cm. These devices should not be used to process soft waste, as they can be hammered into the twisting element. There are a number of milling models that have a reverse function, as well as a function for adjusting the degree of chopping of debris.

Analysis of sales statistics indicates that active demand in recent years has been observed specifically for knife devices (they are bought by gardeners in 85% of cases). The demand for milling devices is lower (they are bought by 15% of consumers). Therefore, we will make a rating of the best devices based on the conclusions of independent experts.

First place - Ikra Mogatec EGN-2500

This model has become a leader due to the optimal ratio of quality and cost. Power - 2.5 kW. Shreds tree branches, shrubs and other organic garden debris at 4050 rpm.

The model has a horizontal disc system, a pair of blades, a special device responsible for the safe switching mode. The organic waste container of this shredder can hold 50 kg of waste. Such milling grinders are sold today for an average of 11,000 rubles.

Bosch AXT RAPID-2000 - second place

This compact German garden waste shredder features a 2,000 watt power unit. The throughput is 80 kg per hour. This shredder of grass, leaves and branches weighs 11.5 kg. Due to its light weight, the user can easily carry it around the site.

Bosch AXT RAPID-2000 became one of the leaders due to the fact that the mechanical elements of the grinder are made of carbide steel. Gardeners report low noise levels and very fast branch crushing.

Bison ZIE44-2800 - third place in the rating

This Russian garden shredder features a rich package, affordable price and low noise level. The device is able to perfectly cope with tree branches with a diameter of 4.4 cm.

Bison ZIE44-2800 makes it possible to regulate the grinding level.

Electric or gasoline unit

According to the type of fuel, all garden shredders are divided into two types: electric and gasoline. Approximately 90% of all models on sale are electrical configurations. They are lightweight, lightweight, quiet and easy to maintain. Their main disadvantage is a small radius of operation, limited by the length of the cable.

The remaining 10% of the range are petrol-powered wood chippers, ideal for large areas. They are not tied to power grids, so they allow you to achieve full autonomy. Gasoline shredders have a high engine resource, which allows them to process thick branches faster.

But such devices are also demanding of themselves. The owner needs to systematically monitor the condition of the engine and blade system, invest in gasoline and oil. In addition, in the process of work, they emit fuel combustion products, and this pollutes the atmosphere and negatively affects health.

How to choose the best one and not be mistaken?

The approach to selection should begin with the formulation of a problem - what the chipper will grind. The answer to the question depends on what and in what quantity is growing on the site.

If this is a small summer cottage with a couple of young trees, then thin twigs, weeds and grass will be used for processing. An electric shredder with a disc system is sufficient here. But for medium to large areas with old trees, this option is not suitable. Since thick, dry branches will have to be shredded for a long time, the electric shredder will simply “bent” from overload. Here we need another, more powerful unit - gasoline on a milling basis with the ability to move to any part of the garden.

What if neither option works? Say, an area of medium size with a moderate number of trees and abundant herbaceous vegetation? A universal chipper with a Turbine-Cut knife system will come to the rescue. It costs a little more than milling devices, but it will always be in business. Experts also advise owners of household plots to purchase shredders with two receiving bins - branches are fed into one, grass and foliage are fed into the other.

Expert opinion
Kulikov Vladimir Sergeevich

Having planned the purchase, do not be lazy to draw up a plan for the season: how much work is to be done, what waste is expected to appear, how often a shredder will be needed, which will require recycled vegetation. After answering the questions, you can choose the unit with the desired characteristics. After all, you must agree, it is very offensive when the money invested does not justify itself.

What to look for when choosing a device

The pleasure of working with a shredder depends on many seemingly insignificant little things.

What you should focus on is described in the table below.

If the selected model has more than half of the specified criteria, it is definitely worth buying:

Unit height	An important criterion for people of short stature, since in their case, the supply of raw materials to a high funnel becomes more difficult.
Convenient loading of raw materials	The receiving hopper is positioned vertically or at an angle. Some models provide the ability to change its position. It is convenient when there are guiding ribs on the funnel, this facilitates the supply of bulk raw materials.
The presence of a pusher blade	Provides safe loading of vegetation. Relevant when choosing a knife grinder.
Availability of a receiver for processed raw materials	This can be a sturdy plastic container or a removable bag. It is good if the container is translucent - this is how its filling is visible.There are many negative reviews about the bags, as they are often torn from sharply flying sharp pieces of wood.
Availability of a spare cutting element	The purchase of consumables can be complicated due to their lack. A spare knife is a good safety net in case of unexpected breakage.
Difficulty replacing the cutting element	Whether it is required to disassemble the device or a couple of movements are enough, the manager will tell during the sale.
Fraction size adjustment	Important if the shredded material is used in different ways.
Knife reversing function	Allows to avoid jamming of the mechanism, facilitates its cleaning.
Blocking autorun	Applicable to electric shredders in case of power failure.
Noise level	Above 84 dB, the device is considered loud even for neighbors. Therefore, the choice is stopped on models with a low rate.

Manufacturing companies

The market offers models of garden crushers of domestic and foreign manufacturers. When buying, they often focus on well-known brands, while you need to be ready to pay “for the name”. Less well-known firms are another matter. Some of them, being "untwisted", offer very good products for very little money.

Which manufacturers do the experts advise:

BOSCH - according to reviews, all models of this brand are good;
Viking is an Austro-German brand of garden equipment with almost 40 years of experience;
ZUBR is a Russian manufacturer that has been producing quality tools for over 20 years. Garden crushers Bison are very popular;
AL-KO is a Spanish-German company known since 1931. Products are exported to all European countries;
PATRIOT is a Chinese manufacturer of high quality machinery.

Elitech, Makita, MTD, MacAllister have also earned recognition, but it is important to understand that product reviews are different. Most often, disappointment comes not because of the quality of the equipment, but because of the unit that is incorrectly selected for specific purposes.

Self-made garden electric shredder

You will need the following components:

Electric motor 1.5-2 kW.
Cutter with coarse teeth or 10 circular saws with a diameter of not more than 200 mm.
Finished axle or steel circle with a diameter that matches the size of the saw seat.
Washers for separating discs (5-7 mm).
Channel or corner for the bed.
Belt for transferring torque from the motor.
Steel sheet, 5 mm disc for the production of the working hopper and 2–3 mm sheet for the guide socket.
Trolley wheels.

For work you will need: fasteners, a grinder, a drill, a welding machine, and other tools.

For shredding twigs and grass, you can make a shredder of a primitive design, whose cutting mechanism resembles a knife system for shredding cabbage. The working hopper is made from an old pan or metal bucket.

The knife mechanism can be a metal disc with cutouts for knives, or sharpened plates. Getting into the slots, the debris is crushed and goes into the side opening. The socket is made so that fingers do not fall on the knives.

If thick wood is to be processed, the shredder must be solid and stable. The grinding mechanism will be a coarse-toothed cutter, bought at a machine-building plant or milled independently. The hopper is made of 5 mm thick sheet steel. The motor power must be more than 2 kW.

An important detail is the adjustable base plate, which facilitates the grinding of branches. With its help, the size of the crushed chips is regulated. The structure is located on a stationary solid base without wheels.

The width of the cutter can be different, but as it increases, a more powerful motor is used. If you cannot find a cutter of sufficient width (40-50 cm), you can put several cutters of the same shape and size on the shaft.

Before buying a garden shredder with an electric motor, it is recommended to determine the amount of work to be done. Read the reviews. Take a closer look at domestic units, they are not worse than European models, but they cost much less.

Worked with Bosch AXT 25 D 2500 W, 40 rpm, cutting roller, chops branches up to 4 cm, weighs 31.3 kg, automatic tightening mechanism. It cuts dry branches of a really large section (35-45 mm) well, but it processes fresh branches with great difficulty. Dissatisfied.

Arthur

A dream come true. I bought a Viking G.E. 103. I was afraid it would be noisy, but the generator was working in the country house and the chopper could not be heard behind it. Only the generator speaks about the inclusion (the sound changes). 1800 watts pulls.

Misha

Peculiarities

The wood shredder is an excellent alternative to the disposal of plant waste by means of removal, incineration, and composting pits. A completely eco-friendly, safe and functional device can easily cope with the processing of the required volume of branches, while not creating problems associated with storing the cut off excess crown. Its name is often transformed into more familiar options for the English-speaking environment: chipper, garden shredder. But the essence remains the same: the unit turns wood and shrub growth into finely chopped waste, which can later be used for mulching the soil.

Among the features of such a unit, the following points are usually noted:

the presence of a durable metal or polymer body (combined options are possible) - it is attached to the frame for greater stability, in addition, a wheelbase can be used, which provides ease of use and transportation of the shredder;
the power unit on electric or gasoline traction - the first is more environmentally friendly, but requires connection to the network; models with internal combustion engines are optimal for autonomous work in gardening on large areas;
using cutting mechanisms for optimal performance and efficiency;
the presence of a convenient hopper for feeding raw materials directly to the grinding blades; usually has a funnel-shaped structure that facilitates the process of moving branches;
use in the design of a receiver or an attachment under the bag, where the cut raw materials are dumped; in addition, it is possible to drop the cut branches directly onto the ground.

The best mid-range electric shredders.

Medium shredders are powerful enough and versatile with a high speed, which are capable of shredding young growth, coarse thick branches.

Viking GE 250

Powerful silent model equipped with:

Splash protection system.
An impressive feed hopper for setting up a large amount of vegetation.
Knife interlock function to interrupt work if the guard is open.

Electric chopper power - 3.5 HP, productivity - 2.5 kW.

Pros:

Engine power, reliability.
The presence of a crusher and a wide walker to facilitate movement on the ground.
Rotation of knives at a speed of 2800 rpm.
The durability of the small parts of the garden shredder.

Minuses:

Lack of a pusher.
The impossibility of chopping small branches, fresh grass due to the rapid clogging of the knives.

Equipped with a wide hopper for chopping branched branches and a set of knives for grinding soft stems, leaves, branches. From the body, attached to a frame with wheels, the milled haulm will be thrown onto the ground or into a substituted container. The engine is started via a start relay, so spontaneous start of the unit is excluded.

Bosch AXT 2000 RAPID

The leader from Hungarian manufacturers among other electric shredders with high capacity, attractive appearance. It is a robust, productive model with many benefits:

Light weight (1.5 kg) for easy movement from one place to another.
Power - 2 kW, ensuring the speed of rotation of the knives at 17,500 rpm.
Processing up to 80 kg of branches, dry grass in just 1 hour.
Laser-sharpened blades for long service life.

Bosch axt 2000 accessories include:

Built-in pusher for increased loading speed.
Wheelbase for moving on the ground.
Double-sided cutter made using Swiss technology.
Wide wheels and a comfortable handle for moving the electric shredder over bumps and uneven areas.

Disadvantages of the model:

There is no container for receiving mulch and branches, so users have to put the bag on the adapter to fill the trash.
The impossibility of grinding branches over 35 mm in diameter, crushing only soft waste in small portions.
Lack of wire.
Noise.

VIKING GE 135 L

Low-noise shredder from Austrian manufacturers with 2 holes for feeding any type of waste and even thick grapes. VIKING GE 135 L actively grinds branches up to 35 mm into small chips:

power - 2.3 kW
rotation speed of the mechanism - 40 rpm
noise level - 95dB
hopper capacity - 60 l of waste

For the convenience of moving on the ground, a lower wide undercarriage is provided, for loading the bars - a convenient four-leaf opening. The model is suitable for composting from fractions, but does not grind soft fibrous branches well.

Ryobi RSH2545B

Economical, mobile electric mulch shredder for branches from 45 mm in diameter from Japanese manufacturers. Container capacity - 40 l, service life - 5 years. The package includes:

motor protected by a casing against overloads and overheating
ground transport wheel frame

The warranty period is 2 years, but consumers say badly about knives, which quickly become blunt and you must have a sharpener with you.

AL-KO Easy Crush МH 2800

Powerful electrical appliance with quiet operation. The body is made of high-quality plastic that perfectly withstands temperature changes, moisture, sun rays. The accessories include: