Garden shredder recommendations

freezspirit

Since the local recycling centre is going to close and the next nearest will be over 25mins in good traffic. I'm looking at my alternative options.

Trees and shrubs to consider - apple, plum, hazel, sycamore, overgrown lavender, roses, several varieties of laurels, skimmias, hebes, choiya plus other woody stem branch overgrown plants. (sorry couple of spellings wrong)

What shredder should I be considering? Would like a reliable shredder? Don't really have a budget but would prefer a quiet shredder.

DaftyDuck

I'll leave it for others to say what does work, but I've never had much success from the rotary blade electric type costing under £100, and I have tried 3 different makes.

marlot

I've been very happy with my Bosch ATX series. Much quieter than my neighbour's shredder, and has been completely reliable.

DaftyDuck

... which, strangely enough, is one I had no joy with. Bosch ATX Rapid 2000. Blades blunted very quickly, jammed up all too regularly.

I understand their impact shredders are better, albeit pricier.

freezspirit

In the past I've tried a couple of under £100 from supermarket diy stores and gave up after spending more time removing the green matter from the jammed blades.


So in terms of Bosch then there's 3 options AXT2200 , AXT25D AND AXT23TC.


Is there any other brands I should consider.

I_have_spoken

A family member had an electric one, TBH anything more woody than a lettuce was too much.

Sad to say, unless you shell out for a petrol model I think they are 'toys'

ukjoel

What about a burner. we are lucky as I drive past the skip most days and have about 15 green bags on the go but if not I would probably burn it.

I think electrical stuff in the garden is generally not used apart from the lawnmower. The blower, hedge trimmer, wood chipper, scarifier all get used maybe once a year and are never really that up to the job.

EpsomOldie

Dear FreezSpirit

I found this site http://www.fredshed.co.uk/boschshredders.htm very useful when I was trying to work out the best product to buy.

Like you, I have lots of lot of woody material and after reading the site realised that I needed a shredder that chips: it has a mechanism that cuts and crushes, rather than a shredder with a spinning blade - which is good for soft material but rubbish for woody stuff. I could have made an expensive mistake as I didn't know the difference and what each is best suited for.

Fred isn't in the pocket of any manufacturers and his evaluations are impartial and based on performance. He explains how there are a lot of incorrectly-labelled models out there (even the retailers get the models and specs wrong in their blurb) and guides you through the pitfalls. I found the site incredibly useful and helps clarify the confusion: this is an extract from Fred The Shed:

Bosch have made 4 different types of garden shredder, ( 1 Rapid and 3 Quiet types)

There are 3 models currently in production ( one of each type)

In 2014 there will be only 3 models

The Rapid type is simple but noisy and better for softer material

The Quiet types (not silent) self feed and crush woody material

The new TC models crush and cut both woody and green material, and are also quiet

Unfortunately the model numbers are very similar and confusing (many retailers don't have a clue )

Which one is best? Fred-in-the-shed explains

I eventually bought my shredder/chipper - a Bosch 2200HP AXT Quiet Shredder (i.e. chipper) - about five years ago for c£120 - bought on Amazon via Fred's link. I think Fred says that particular model is discontinued now (it's always the way!), but he recommends an alternative.

It's electric, quiet, and an animal at devouring even quite thick (c4.5cms) wood. My neighbours sometimes borrow it and they love it too as it's so quick and saves hiring skips / multiple trips to the tip as everything squishes down into a few bin bags. For instance a 12ft, very bushy overgrown buddleia was cut back and chipped down to fill only six bin bags. Also, loads of brambles and out-of-control rambling roses were tamed and chipped in less than an hour.

I compost my chips rather than taking them to the tip (they rot down quite quickly if mixed with green material), or use them as a mulch or on paths at the allotment.

The only thing that the chipper hates is stones, or metal things, e.g. nails, bits of wire. Otherwise it's solid as a rock and worth every penny.

Hope this helps.

fwor

I've owned 3 shredders - all bought secondhand. The first - an Atco - was not good as the blades were small and went blunt quickly.

The second was a Bosch AXT 2000HP. When working well these are fantastic shredders, with a spiral shaped cutter which is quiet and low-impact, if perhaps rather slow. The blade on that was fairly worn when I bought it, and after 5 years and a small forest of conifer shredding I had to retire it, as it would have cost about £60 to replace the blade.

I now have a Bosch AXT 2000 Rapid, which is noisy and a bit brutal, but it works very well ~provided~ the blade is sharp.

As above, the shreddings don't need to go to waste - they make an excellent weed-supressing mulch.

P.s. please don't burn it - the smoke causes misery for people with respiratory problems...