Thread: Garden Mulcher - suggestions

Just get the BIGGESTyou can afford!!

Try first if you can, or at least try one of similar power. They can be very slow, patience testing devices!

P

Gumby,
like most tools, more power = better tool.
You need to know what you're planning on putting through it. If you're thinking of pruning a heap of large branches and putting them through you'll need something with a sizable motor. Have a look at the chute size - this is your limiting factor. Also if the chute is 150mm diameter this doesn't translate to being able to chip 150mm dia branches as any bends etc will get hooked up. I reckon most of the home use ones are probably a waste of money unless they have at least a 8hp petrol motor. The smaller electric things will choke on anything that you can't run over with the mower. If you don't want to lash out on a big machine I'd suggest just hiring one when required.

Mick

Even the 8hp petrol models aren't all that fast!!!

I've got a 6.5 hp Masport that does a great job. It does take time but it is very satifying to use. It does 70mm branches without much problem. Anything bigger than that I chop up and dry and burn the next winter.

Check oiut the blade type on the domestic models, some have chipping blades (like a utility lawnmower blade) and others have opposed grinding blades/drums. I think the Al-ko ones are the latter, but I dunno which is better for what.

May be cost effective to hire one occasionally.


Cheers..........Sean the chipper chap

I agree with the suggestion that you hire one when needed, the biggest one you can afford.
It is a tool that you will use for a day or so, maybe, 2 or 3 times a year. If you buy a good one, you will have all that money tied up doing nothing for 360 days a year.
Incidently, if you want a white Christmas, get one early in December and adopt your wife's, partner's, whatever's suggestion that it would be a great idea to mulch the huge stack of accumulated newspapers by rolling them up and feeding them through. Good plan. The white dust covered everything in our back yard for weeks and the cat didn't stop sneezing for a month. DAMHIK.

Rob.

Thanks for the input people. I think I'll save the money and hire one as suggested. Now what new tool/toy could I buy instead............

For the last 15 years I have been using my masport mower fitted with chipping blade to chip the smaller debri (1 inch max) around the home. The metal deck is just starting to show signs of wear in a few places, but I am sure the 3.5 hp briggs will die before the deck does.

Daniel

I think you have made the right decision. I have owned a number of the things, including a monster one about 30 years ago. It had 1/4" plate side walls and a 2 cyl engine (don't remember the hp). It was quite effective, but I hate to think what it would cost today. I have owned a 8 hp modern one (cost $1000 plus), it was possible to clog it and I possibly spent almost as much time clearing it as using it. One on the back of a 50hp tractor didn't do a bad job but wasn't really suitable for the garden! Tried a 2hp electric one and decided it was a waste of time.
Of course you could live in Mildura - the council accepts garden waste at the tip for free, mulches it (in one of those monster things that will take an entire tree), and sometimes GIVES it back to you.
Cheers

If you decide to hire one occasionally, make sure you know how to use it properly please, my Dad at the age of 60 and having used his 12HP machine for quite a few years had a block in the OUTLET schute and is now a nine fingered wonder.

My experience with many hire tools over the years has been that the gear is OK but generally worn through abuse, things like mulchers would fall well and truely into this catagory.

I have a 5hp Rover shredder that I have been using for around 20 years. I used it on acreage and shredded every thing from Bark, fallen branches and even dry horse manure , that was a great trick, a trailer load of crap from the paddock face the machine chute between rows and start feeding, it blows the chopped up remains along the row around 15 feet.

I digress, the blades are , 3 parallel of HSS about 10 or 12mm thick and 50mm wide. I recently asked rover if the blades were still available and the said yes, so I assume the machine is still available, apart from a little paint peeling from Iron bark shock the machine is still in reasonable condition.

If you only have a small garden and limited use for one of these, then the down side is, It will take up as much room in your shed as a THICKNESSER and probably cost as much!!!

Taffy

Gumby..Buy one its a great male thing..BIGGER is better. When the topic of mulchers come up I'm always reminded of Tim the Tool Man when he hotted up the garbage disposal unit and fed hockey sticks an stuff into it. Ya just gotta see how bigger stuff it'll chew up.

I have a Rover unit and oneday SWMBO dropped the cast aluminium secateurs down the shute...:eek: bits of aluminium shrapnel everywhere, sure made a mess of things, Reversible blades are the go . Make sure the shute is big enough to shove the neighbours mogey in when you finally catch the bugger . How do you make a cat go Gggrrrrrrrrrr......??


Cheers

Hmmmm........as usual in here there's lots of different opinions. Anyway guys, thanks again.

(but the storage aspect in my garage is a big consideration. If have to move one of my toys, I'm not buying one!)

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Oh no we have a Gumby and a Gumpy now the typos will be really confusing.

HH.