Electric Leaf Mulcher ?

[Spike56]

I am considering an electric leaf mulcher, such as the Worx or Sun Joe model/s. Not certain what to call this type of stand-up units ?

I have owned a couple of the electric mulcher blowers - the ones with the bag on your shoulder. What a pain. I am DONE with those type units. You have to be an octopus to use, and the small branchlets (3-4 leaves with small connecting wood) clog up the machine all the time. I have huge amounts of post oak leaves that I use as compost if I can grind them up.
The trees are near where I have electricity, and I wouldn't mind raking a pile and carry to this type of machine - IF it works well.
So, I am asking is anyone has one like this, and some guidance / experiences.
I am NOT going to buy a gas engine type, nor use the carry the bag on shoulder model.
Any advice?

 

[KennyG]

If you really have a "huge amount" of leaves, you are going to spend forever mulching them through one of those. I've seen them work and they are OK for small amounts of leaves. I had an 8 HP gas mulcher and it was too slow, so I went to a Cyclone Rake which works well. How much is "huge" really? I compost several hundred cubic feet of leaves each year.

 

[2manyrocks]

Mulching blades on a riding mower will take care of most leaves with hardly much work on your part.

 

[workinonit]

I've had a mulching mower for over 20 years and wouldn't be without one. A pass with one of them looks like you raked the leaves from it. I can say if I had to handle leaves ANY other way I would cut all of my trees down.

 

[Spike56]

Mulching blades on a riding mower will take care of most leaves with hardly much work on your part.

Yes, of course I can mow them. The whole idea for me was to use the chopped-up leaves for mulch / compost. So, I could mow them together into a pile, then rake them up. But I was curious about the electric shredders. If those worked really well, I could drop them in, and have a bag collect all the chopped-up leaves. However, I read some reviews and watched U-tube on these models, not impressed.

 

[thepumpguysc]

The DR line of mulchers and weed wackers seem impressive..??
PLUS.. they have a “free” 90 day tryout..
Idk how your built, but u could get one on a trial, do whatcha gotta do and return it.. I’m sure that happens a lot..

 

[Spike56]

The DR line of mulchers and weed wackers seem impressive..??
PLUS.. they have a “free” 90 day tryout..
Idk how your built, but u could get one on a trial, do whatcha gotta do and return it.. I’m sure that happens a lot..

I am sure they are good machines. But my needs are way less than $1000+ AND that I know of, they are gas engine models. Learned the hard way that, for me, any gasoline powered gizmo that I use very infrequently has been more trouble than it is worth. I just need to do leaves during late fall. Do not need a chipper or any "serious" machine. Was hoping to find a simple / relatively cheap electric machine to process leaves into usable mulch. Raking is not a problem for me if I could just drop them in a machine to chop them up... alas the electric model shredders do NOT seem (based on reviews) to work that well. Several models use weed whacker string and it breaks frequently. The ONE model in my price range that had a metal impeller is said to clog a lot.
So my post was asking if anyone had experience with the electric models .... Quess not.

 

[shooterdon]

You will regret that thing unless you LOVE to work.

I used to have a rider and a rear bagger. Worked OK

Now I have a ZT and Gator blades. Works even better.

 

[Spike56]

You will regret that thing unless you LOVE to work.

I used to have a rider and a rear bagger. Worked OK

Now I have a ZT and Gator blades.

 

[Spike56]

Yes, have a ZTR mower and have had Gator blades on my last one. Planning on Gator blades on new mower. But I do not have a bagger. So, can use the ZRT to chop the leaves, but still have to rake them up if I want to collect for mulch / compost.

 

[metalbender]

If you're into gardening, collecting and shredding leaves is great. I built one years ago from a blue plastic barrel, half hp motor with a disc holding weed eater line. I enjoyed the "work". Leaves need to be dry, dust mask and eye protection is required. Would have liked to try a commercial unit but the budget said not going to happen at the time.

 

[oldnslo]

Spike
Are you looking for something that plugs into a standard 115 VAC outlet? If yes then I suspect metal bender has the best idea in building something Vs potentially regretting that decision of buying something. Most standard outlets will handle 1/2 or 3/4 HP motor.

 

[metalbender]

Most std outlets will handle a one hp motor using a 12ga extension cord. A 3450 rpm motor is ideal. A suitable pulley with a plywood disc is easy, no machine work required.

 

[Spike56]

Spike
Are you looking for something that plugs into a standard 115 VAC outlet? If yes then I suspect metal bender has the best idea in building something Vs potentially regretting that decision of buying something. Most standard outlets will handle 1/2 or 3/4 HP motor.

Yes, I agree. I did not want to regret any purchase - the reason I wrote into the forum to see if anyone had experience with this type of off the shelf / store bought units. Guess I *could* try to build one as suggested by metalbender, but I seriously doubt I will. My leaf problem is not so bad to purchase a barrel / motor and all the parts I would need to rig up this for basically once a year use.
I have a corded wear on the shoulder blower vac/shredder. So, that is a workable solution. Yet, every year I use this, I say "never again". It is a royal PITA. It is slow, jams in the tube with sticks, and, well nothing good to say about it except it can work under ideal conditions. Even purchased the trash can kit that connects to the unit. A bigger pain!
Seems I will be using the shoulder unit again....

 

[2manyrocks]

Could you get a grass and leaf bagging attachment for your riding mower? Or look for a used gas power chipper because people buy them, get tired of all the work, and then resell them after hardly using them.

 

[KennyG]

As with many things, there isn't a cheap solution. Ten years ago I bought a Cyclone Rake. It seemed like a big investment, but after 10 years of use, it's as good as new. I look forward to leaf cleanup because it's fun to just drive around and pick them up. With the gator blades on the mower, they shred pretty well and compost over the next year. Think about your time and effort and where you will be 5, 10, or 20 years down the road.

 

[RalphVa]

I am considering an electric leaf mulcher, such as the Worx or Sun Joe model/s. Not certain what to call this type of stand-up units ?
View attachment 766304
I have owned a couple of the electric mulcher blowers - the ones with the bag on your shoulder. What a pain. I am DONE with those type units. You have to be an octopus to use, and the small branchlets (3-4 leaves with small connecting wood) clog up the machine all the time. I have huge amounts of post oak leaves that I use as compost if I can grind them up.
The trees are near where I have electricity, and I wouldn't mind raking a pile and carry to this type of machine - IF it works well.
So, I am asking is anyone has one like this, and some guidance / experiences.
I am NOT going to buy a gas engine type, nor use the carry the bag on shoulder model.
Any advice?

I used one similar to this years ago. Just uses some grass whips to do the leaves. Drop double handclasp of leaves, bzzzzzrp and drop. Won't handle little limbs pieces, etc.

 

[KennyG]

Here's how it works for me.

 

[Spike56]

Could you get a grass and leaf bagging attachment for your riding mower? Or look for a used gas power chipper because people buy them, get tired of all the work, and then resell them after hardly using them.

HA ! I ***could*** buy an attachment for my ZTR. BUT, $$$$$$$ WOW. It is NOT THAT big of an issue to spend THAT much !
A used one is a possibility but would want a good electric. NO MORE GAS engines if I can help it !

 

[GeneV]

I am considering an electric leaf mulcher, such as the Worx or Sun Joe model/s. Not certain what to call this type of stand-up units ?
View attachment 766304
I have owned a couple of the electric mulcher blowers - the ones with the bag on your shoulder. What a pain. I am DONE with those type units. You have to be an octopus to use, and the small branchlets (3-4 leaves with small connecting wood) clog up the machine all the time. I have huge amounts of post oak leaves that I use as compost if I can grind them up.
The trees are near where I have electricity, and I wouldn't mind raking a pile and carry to this type of machine - IF it works well.
So, I am asking is anyone has one like this, and some guidance / experiences.
I am NOT going to buy a gas engine type, nor use the carry the bag on shoulder model.
Any advice?

I'm sure that works just fine...for like if you live in a condo or something.

Like let's say leaves fall on your balcony, what to do with them? But see, if you mulch them with that there Workx shredder, now you could throw them out in your kitchen trash can w/o them taking up too much space.