Chipper OK to run green vine-like material down shredder?

[OregonCraig]

You can run green material in a shredder, but you'll need to have some dry limbs or at least some very dry leaves around to run through to clear it out. Dry limbs work the best.

Ralph

Thanks for that tip. I do have plenty of limbs that I can run through it to help keep it clear.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have never tried shredding black berries but they bush hog just fine green. I did put my wife's green pea vines thru the shredder once. It was like I thru a 5000 yd spool of 8 lb test monofilament fish line in there. Everything came to screeching halt with the belt on fire. Took ages to clean it out. So try a little first.

 

[nikdfish]

Also, be leary of any material that might have a tendency to grab & drag the hand that feeds it ...

Actually, the vines that have be problematic for us have been the ones that wrap up the feeder roller more so than the chipper flywheel. Sometimes following with hard stuff can break up the wraps, sometimes not.

Nick

 

[OregonCraig]

I have never tried shredding black berries but they bush hog just fine green. I did put my wife's green pea vines thru the shredder once. It was like I thru a 5000 yd spool of 8 lb test monofilament fish line in there. Everything came to screeching halt with the belt on fire. Took ages to clean it out. So try a little first.

Gordon, I laughed when I read that. A good story to help me remember to start slow...thanks.

 

[OregonCraig]

Also, be leary of any material that might have a tendency to grab & drag the hand that feeds it ...

Definitely good to keep in mind. The ferocity of this beast still impresses me.

 

[smitesmash]

If your are talking Himalayan blackberry, bushes that grow higher than head high, those chip up great. Western pacific blackberry, which only grow ankle high, and are not usually considered a problem, can be a bit more of a problem.

What I typically do is start chipping woody material, and save that aside in a wheelbarrow. Then when running the shredder, if it starts to gum up (you will develop a feel for it) you can then add a shovelful of woodchips, to dry up and unclog the shredder.

Careful though, when putting blackberry vines un the shredder, sometimes it can self-feed at speed, whipping sharp thorns past you. For that reason, its best to deal with blackberry in the winter, when its easiest to be bundled up against the thorns.

 

[OregonCraig]

If your are talking Himalayan blackberry, bushes that grow higher than head high, those chip up great. Western pacific blackberry, which only grow ankle high, and are not usually considered a problem, can be a bit more of a problem.

What I typically do is start chipping woody material, and save that aside in a wheelbarrow. Then when running the shredder, if it starts to gum up (you will develop a feel for it) you can then add a shovelful of woodchips, to dry up and unclog the shredder.

Careful though, when putting blackberry vines un the shredder, sometimes it can self-feed at speed, whipping sharp thorns past you. For that reason, its best to deal with blackberry in the winter, when its easiest to be bundled up against the thorns.

Funny you mention that...I usually wear my logging helmet with face shield when using the shredder, even for regular limbs...got whipped across the face/neck a couple of times. Thanks for the other tips, too.

 

[gwdixon]

Funny you mention that...I usually wear my logging helmet with face shield when using the shredder, even for regular limbs...got whipped across the face/neck a couple of times. Thanks for the other tips, too.

I don't have one of those fancy logging helmet face shields but I do use a full face grinding shield for welding applications.

Man-o-man, getting slapped across the ear by a switch on a cold day will bring a tear to anyone's eye. It stings like he|| and just doesn't want to go away. It hurts just thinking about it.

Absolutely can not imagine a thorned vine being whipped across one's neck as it is pulled into the shredder at high speed. OW, ow, ow.

 

[RalphVa]

The shredder will "grab" stuff and pull it in if the hammers have sharp edges (and probably can be rotated 3 times to keep getting a sharp edge). So, stuff can often jam your hands and arms against the top of the hopper. I always get some heater hose and slit it down one side and affix it around the edges of the hopper. Then I usually apply some Goop (very thick silicone cement) along one or both edges of the heater hose or along the edge before slipping the heater hose over the edges. Helps to cut down on the # of bruises one gets on the arms.

Ralph