How Much Wood Can a Wood Chipper Shred?
A wood chipper is a great way to turn tree branches and cuttings into usable mulch or chips. If you don’t have access to a wood chipper, then you’ll need to remove branches separately from the rest of the trees using a pruner (or, you can always chop them down). Now, if you’ve already got a wood chipper sitting around gathering dust you may be wondering how much wood can your wood chipper handle before it jams. If so, it’s crucial to understand that there isn’t a fixed sum you can plan on since the amount is dependent on a lot of factors.
Amount of Shredded Wood
The quantity of wood that you feed through a wood chipper depends on several factors, including the type of wood chipper itself, size and the type of wood. Below are some of the factors your wood shredding amount depends on.
Machine type
There are several types of wood shredders on the market. Among them are blade-type and hammer-type shredders. Blade-type shredders work by cutting through the wood’s fibers into smaller pieces, while hammer-type machines cut using a series of hammers. Hammer-type shredders tend to produce cleaner results than blade-type shredders and thus the amount of shreds created varies with the type of machine you have.
Durability
If you are looking to calculate how much wood is chipped in a lifetime, you need to also count on the durability or longevity of the machine. Depending on the quality of construction, some shredders may last a few years while others may only last about a year.
Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, some machines require regular sharpening, and some do not. Most of the maintenance requirements are related to blade wear and tear and thus affect the shredding capacity of the machine. As long as you take care of the basic needs of a wood chipper (cleanliness, lubrication, etc.), you should have no problem shredding.
Wood type
There are several types of wood that can be used in wood shredding equipment. The most common ones include softwood (pine) and hardwood (oak). Softwoods are best suited for making use of energy from the machinery. They are not, however, recommended for long-term storage due to their tendency to dry out and rot. Hardwoods are preferred for their long-lasting durability. This also affects the rate at which a machine shreds them.
Log dimensions
The length of the log will have a lot to do with how many cubic yards of wood the chipper will be able to cut. The diameter of a log can affect how it fits into the machine and how well it performs. Larger diameter logs require a larger opening hole in order to fit through whereas smaller diameter logs generally work better because they can be placed in the machine without causing damage and shred more quickly.
Conclusion
Wood chippers are compact machines designed specifically to chop down logs or branches into smaller pieces. They reduce tree trunks from several inches to 3/4 inches in diameter. These devices are great because they don’t require much maintenance and can easily handle almost any type of material. The exact amount varies according to the factors above, and thus, hypothetically, can be calculated by addressing them.