Chipper slowing down chipper feed

[Treemonkey1000]

The anvil or stationary knife provides a sharp edge for the rotating knife to shear off chips against. The same effect as a paper cutter. You just don't want a paper cutter rotating at 800 rpm with a 200 lb flywheel contacting metal against metal so you set a decent gap. I think the gap on my chipper is about 5/16". I can adjust the feed rate to change the size of the chips. Or if it is hard and knotty wood it slows the feed rate down to give the rotating knives time to shear off the wood against the anvil.

 

[RickB]

The anvil or stationary knife provides a sharp edge for the rotating knife to shear off chips against. The same effect as a paper cutter. You just don't want a paper cutter rotating at 800 rpm with a 200 lb flywheel contacting metal against metal so you set a decent gap. I think the gap on my chipper is about 5/16". I can adjust the feed rate to change the size of the chips. Or if it is hard and knotty wood it slows the feed rate down to give the rotating knives time to shear off the wood against the anvil.

I'd like you to check that knife gap against your chipper's manual. I think 5/16" is way fat for a gap and you are probably wasting fuel and having the machine run much harder than it needs to. That 200lb flywheel is rotating on massive bearings that aer designed to keep the rotor stable at speed and maintain a very narrow knife gap without fear of knife contact.

 

[schmism]

You just don't want a paper cutter rotating at 800 rpm with a 200 lb flywheel contacting metal against metal so you set a decent gap. I think the gap on my chipper is about 5/16".

on the flip side you dont want to big of a gap else it doesnt "cut" worth a crap ie a loose set scissors or tins snips dont cut worth a darn

I dont own a chipper but all the "my chipper doesnt chip" threads have all revolved around the distance between the cutter head and the anvil. If i remember right the consensus was smaller was better but still within spec for the model you had.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

That depth is from the factory gauge that came with the chipper. I am guessing it is 5/16's off the top of my head from experience changing the knives.. It doesn't have any problems cutting chips at all with that gap. It is important to have the knives sharp and a good edge on the Anvil so that it doesn't work harder. The Service interval for knives on this is 40 hours. I have gone beyond that a couple of times. When I see the machine working harder to cut chips then I know it is time. I am pretty **** about keeping the machine tuned up and in top shape so that I can get the job done and move on. This chipper cost too much to not take care of knives and all of the other parts.

 

[RickB]

That depth is from the factory gauge that came with the chipper. I am guessing it is 5/16's off the top of my head from experience changing the knives. This chipper cost too much to not take care of knives and all of the other parts.

I understand all that. What I don't like to read is folks spitting out specifications off the top of their head without regard to whether they are correct, or the consequences of an inexperienced reader taking that info as gospel.

And you haven't responded to my request, you just blew another cloud of smoke.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

And you haven't responded to my request, you just blew another cloud of smoke.[/QUOTE]

Then consult your manufacturer's manual for the Gospel. As far as smoke being blown I did say" off the top of my head.." So I don't think that was written on a Stone Tablet.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Okie dokie for what's it's worth I was way off on my guess at 5/16. I asked my Dad to run out and measure the gap gauge as that is where I keep the Chipper. He said it was about 1/16". I apologize for any confusion. Maybe too much chainsaw exhaust fumes from working in the tree's

 

[Charlesaf3]

Well, I went out today, and adjusted the clearance between the rotating knives, and the fixed knife to the 1/32" the manual suggests. From the factory, it had been set at two to three times that. I didn't have much right handy to run though it, but I did try an armload of straight weeds from the garden, and a bunch of smaller dry branches. The feed is less aggressive, and it spit those weeds out just fine at 540 rpm. ( usually I have been using the 960 rpm setting for that kind of thing.) The chips are noticably smaller too.

Thanks again Charlesaf3 for the heads up. I wouldn't have checked that until knife sharpening time.

Glad to have the chance to pay forward a bit - I've learned a lot on here.

Chief - you might double check the manual. If its 1/32 (and that sounds right) then 1/16 is still twice the rec'd spacing... just a thought.

Also, the wallensteing knives are sharp on 4 sides as I recall, so you can turn them over and find a sharp edge if you get a used one often - it seems a lot of owners never touch the knives.

Local machine shop has said they'd sharpen them for me (I sharpen my own blades but am afraid of screwing the chipper blades up) but I haven't had occasion yet.

 

[chief613]

Glad to have the chance to pay forward a bit - I've learned a lot on here.

Chief - you might double check the manual. If its 1/32 (and that sounds right) then 1/16 is still twice the rec'd spacing... just a thought.

Also, the wallensteing knives are sharp on 4 sides as I recall, so you can turn them over and find a sharp edge if you get a used one often - it seems a lot of owners never touch the knives.

Local machine shop has said they'd sharpen them for me (I sharpen my own blades but am afraid of screwing the chipper blades up) but I haven't had occasion yet.

i was afraid to get to close, i wanted to use it that afternoon. I still need to play around with adjustments. I did check the sharpness and one edge is unused and the other barely used.

Not sure how your machine shop does it. I have been warned that the local shops here use a grinder which heats the blade and loses the temper. i was told to find a place that may wet grind them