Rather than letting the local council take away all my cuttings / prunings
etc. and then buying the same stuff back from them ready made into compost,
I have decided that it is time to invest in a shredder and make more use of
the two compost bins I have.

However, I am slightly worried after finding one or two reviews which warned
about some shredders not being up to the job (branches jamming at half the
maximum
diameter, smaller stuff falling through and having to be fished out again,
greenery
& weeds jamming the shredder etc.).

The majority of my stuff will be small(ish) prunings and leafy material
(including weeds etc.) with the odd larger pruning up to 30mm

I'm looking to spend up to about £250 but it must reliably be able to shred
anything from a leaf up to a 30mm diameter branch without without jamming
and without the stuff just dropping through. Does not necessarily have to
be one of the quiet models.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Am I asking too much?

In article , Daddy
junk@?.? writes
Rather than letting the local council take away all my cuttings / prunings
etc. and then buying the same stuff back from them ready made into compost,
I have decided that it is time to invest in a shredder and make more use of
the two compost bins I have.

However, I am slightly worried after finding one or two reviews which warned
about some shredders not being up to the job (branches jamming at half the
maximum
diameter, smaller stuff falling through and having to be fished out again,
greenery
& weeds jamming the shredder etc.).

The majority of my stuff will be small(ish) prunings and leafy material
(including weeds etc.) with the odd larger pruning up to 30mm

I wouldn't try shredding weeds, just put them straight on the compost
heap. You'll have problems with the 30mm stuff, but up to half an inch
should be fine, and worth doing, because this stuff is a pest in the
compost heap.

It takes about as long to shred a load as it does to prune it in the
first place - be aware of this extra workload!

I'm looking to spend up to about £250 but it must reliably be able to shred
anything from a leaf up to a 30mm diameter branch without without jamming
and without the stuff just dropping through. Does not necessarily have to
be one of the quiet models.

Quiet is a relative term as far as shredders are concerned. For your own
sake as well as that of people 6 houses away, consider a quiet model!


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article , Daddy
junk@?.? writes

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Daddy

The majority of my stuff will be small(ish) prunings and leafy material
(including weeds etc.) with the odd larger pruning up to 30mm

I wouldn't try shredding weeds, just put them straight on the compost
heap. You'll have problems with the 30mm stuff, but up to half an inch
should be fine, and worth doing, because this stuff is a pest in the
compost heap.

Probably most weeds will go straight on. Was thinking more of the soft
'delicate' looking plants that look like they will rot OK when when they go
in - but they come out looking like tumbleweed, binding the whole heap
together and a real handling problem - I really need to chop everything up.

I was assuming that shredders would reduce pretty much anything to such a
size which would rot along with everything else, or maybe I'm a being
optimstic? Is anything woody over half an inch not going to shred small
enough to rot?

Anything that you can get into the shredder is going to shred small
enough to rot. The problem with big stuff is getting it into the
shredder, or getting it in without jamming. Mine (an old Alco model)
takes up to one inch, but the bigger stuff has to be fed into a
different slot, one at a time, straight, with all the side twigs chopped
off.


It takes about as long to shred a load as it does to prune it in the
first place - be aware of this extra workload!

I was assuming that stuffing the stuff into a shredder would be no worse
that stuffing into green sacks? I'm OK with this. I really just want to
recycle as much as possible from my garden back into my garden rather than
throwing away (in reality most of my prunings are either conifer, rose or
mixed deciduous hedging (hawthorn-ish)

Shredders aren't as mobile as green sacks! Instead of pruning and
dropping into a green sack which you drag along side you as you work
your way around the garden, you will probably prune everything into a
heap and then put your heap through the shredder. And you can't just
shove it through by the handful - it's pretty well branch by branch.
Small weeds can go straight into the hopper (but then I wouldn't notehr
with shredding them), but twiggy material needs to be pushed through,
and that's only really practical a branch at a time.


I'm looking to spend up to about £250 but it must reliably be able to
shred
anything from a leaf up to a 30mm diameter branch without without jamming
and without the stuff just dropping through. Does not necessarily have
to
be one of the quiet models.

Quiet is a relative term as far as shredders are concerned. For your own
sake as well as that of people 6 houses away, consider a quiet model!

No problem - 'quiet' models appear to be more expensive but I've no problem
with that if they are also better quality to go wit it.

You will definitely need ear defenders for the noisy models, and
probably also with the quiet models. You also need to wear heavy gloves.

I just want to buy one but am paranoid it is not going to do the job I'm
expecting and I will end up regretting. So which model is it to be?

If I were buying one, I'd go for the biggest and most powerful I could
afford. I would also go for quiet. And I'd make sure that clearing
blockages was easy - they do happen, perhaps every 15 minutes. My
shredder is about 10 years old, and i don't know what's on the amrket
atm.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Well I have had the Which Best buy for 5 yrs (Champion Electric from Do it
all £130 ) and other than needing to get the blades changed once a year it
handles almost everything i can throw in it from my nearly 1/3rd acre of
shrubs, perenials ,fruit bushes and apple and pear trees
Its best to shred stuff as you prune it as if its left to dry out its harder
and sometimes i run the shredded stuff through again to get it really fine
I have 7 huge compost bins constantly full with grass, shreddings,
cardboard, shredded newspaper ( but not with the garden shredder ) and if i
can get it horse manure .....plus buckets of you know what ....in about 1
year i have super compost

However today I would probably spend the extra and buy the biggest BOSCH
quiet shredder they make
It all really depends on the size of your garden

"Daddy" junk wrote in message
...

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Daddy
junk@?.? writes
Rather than letting the local council take away all my cuttings /
prunings
etc. and then buying the same stuff back from them ready made into
compost,
I have decided that it is time to invest in a shredder and make more
use
of
the two compost bins I have.

However, I am slightly worried after finding one or two reviews which
warned
about some shredders not being up to the job (branches jamming at half
the
maximum
diameter, smaller stuff falling through and having to be fished out
again,
greenery
& weeds jamming the shredder etc.).

The majority of my stuff will be small(ish) prunings and leafy material
(including weeds etc.) with the odd larger pruning up to 30mm

I wouldn't try shredding weeds, just put them straight on the compost
heap. You'll have problems with the 30mm stuff, but up to half an inch
should be fine, and worth doing, because this stuff is a pest in the
compost heap.

Probably most weeds will go straight on. Was thinking more of the soft
'delicate' looking plants that look like they will rot OK when when they
go
in - but they come out looking like tumbleweed, binding the whole heap
together and a real handling problem - I really need to chop everything
up.

I was assuming that shredders would reduce pretty much anything to such a
size which would rot along with everything else, or maybe I'm a being
optimstic? Is anything woody over half an inch not going to shred small
enough to rot?


It takes about as long to shred a load as it does to prune it in the
first place - be aware of this extra workload!

I was assuming that stuffing the stuff into a shredder would be no worse
that stuffing into green sacks? I'm OK with this. I really just want to
recycle as much as possible from my garden back into my garden rather than
throwing away (in reality most of my prunings are either conifer, rose or
mixed deciduous hedging (hawthorn-ish)


I'm looking to spend up to about £250 but it must reliably be able to
shred
anything from a leaf up to a 30mm diameter branch without without
jamming
and without the stuff just dropping through. Does not necessarily
have
to
be one of the quiet models.

Quiet is a relative term as far as shredders are concerned. For your own
sake as well as that of people 6 houses away, consider a quiet model!

No problem - 'quiet' models appear to be more expensive but I've no
problem
with that if they are also better quality to go wit it.
I just want to buy one but am paranoid it is not going to do the job I'm
expecting and I will end up regretting. So which model is it to be?




--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

"Daddy" junk wrote in message
...

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Daddy
junk@?.? writes
Rather than letting the local council take away all my cuttings /
prunings
etc. and then buying the same stuff back from them ready made into
compost,
I have decided that it is time to invest in a shredder and make more
use
of
the two compost bins I have.

However, I am slightly worried after finding one or two reviews which
warned
about some shredders not being up to the job (branches jamming at half
the
maximum
diameter, smaller stuff falling through and having to be fished out
again,
greenery
& weeds jamming the shredder etc.).

The majority of my stuff will be small(ish) prunings and leafy material
(including weeds etc.) with the odd larger pruning up to 30mm

I wouldn't try shredding weeds, just put them straight on the compost
heap. You'll have problems with the 30mm stuff, but up to half an inch
should be fine, and worth doing, because this stuff is a pest in the
compost heap.

Probably most weeds will go straight on. Was thinking more of the soft
'delicate' looking plants that look like they will rot OK when when they
go
in - but they come out looking like tumbleweed, binding the whole heap
together and a real handling problem - I really need to chop everything
up.

I was assuming that shredders would reduce pretty much anything to such a
size which would rot along with everything else, or maybe I'm a being
optimstic? Is anything woody over half an inch not going to shred small
enough to rot?


It takes about as long to shred a load as it does to prune it in the
first place - be aware of this extra workload!

I was assuming that stuffing the stuff into a shredder would be no worse
that stuffing into green sacks? I'm OK with this. I really just want to
recycle as much as possible from my garden back into my garden rather than
throwing away (in reality most of my prunings are either conifer, rose or
mixed deciduous hedging (hawthorn-ish)


I'm looking to spend up to about £250 but it must reliably be able to
shred
anything from a leaf up to a 30mm diameter branch without without
jamming
and without the stuff just dropping through. Does not necessarily
have
to
be one of the quiet models.

Quiet is a relative term as far as shredders are concerned. For your own
sake as well as that of people 6 houses away, consider a quiet model!

No problem - 'quiet' models appear to be more expensive but I've no
problem
with that if they are also better quality to go wit it.
I just want to buy one but am paranoid it is not going to do the job I'm
expecting and I will end up regretting. So which model is it to be?




--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm



Hi,
I recently bought a Bosch "quiet" shredder (a 1600) for less than £200. It
is the bees knees - it has shredded everything up to the stated maximum
(30mm I think) - it you try for a bigger branch, then it stalls - it is very
easy to reverse and unblock. It has consumed all the trimmings / prunings
from a native hedge, and stopped interminable visits to the tip with jabby
prunings. I'm impressed.

Chris S

"Daddy" junk wrote
No problem - 'quiet' models appear to be more expensive but I've no
problem with that if they are also better quality to go wit it.
I just want to buy one but am paranoid it is not going to do the job I'm
expecting and I will end up regretting. So which model is it to be?

I have an Al-ko SP4000 which takes up to 40mm diameter branches and I've
been extremely pleased with it. It eats the leaves and small twigs as well,
no problem; you just make sure and feed it woody pieces along with any
softer material to give it something to chew on. There's an automatic
reverse action should there be a clog-up, but once you get the hang of
feeding the beast steadily, that hardly happens at all. Thicker pieces get
crushed as well as chopped, so break down very well in the compost heap. My
last year's stuff made really good mulching material for this Spring. Ooh I
love my shredder! :-)

Sue

I asked a few friends what they thought when I was looking for a shredder.

The overriding p#opinion was that the Bosch type "Gear" shredder was the
type least prone to clogging & also its crushing action was better than a
cutting action with the added benefit of not needing to sharpen blades etc.

I acti#ually borrowed a Large Bosch silent shredder & it was very good &
very quiet.

In the end however I bought an AL-KO Silent Power 5000

This operates on the same principle as the Bosch but is a little more
advanced in my opinion having a roller in conjunction with the gear.

I bought mine mail order off the net (I can give you the details if you
wish, I dont want to be accused of advrtising, I have no connection) I think
it cost £180. delivered.

I am very pleased with it. It easily copes with green wood (mainly beech &
conifer) up to 40mm in Dia.

cheers

Ian

OOps correction it was £280.....£180 must have been what I told the wife!!


"ogglet" wrote in message
...
I asked a few friends what they thought when I was looking for a shredder.

The overriding p#opinion was that the Bosch type "Gear" shredder was the
type least prone to clogging & also its crushing action was better than a
cutting action with the added benefit of not needing to sharpen blades
etc.

I acti#ually borrowed a Large Bosch silent shredder & it was very good &
very quiet.

In the end however I bought an AL-KO Silent Power 5000

This operates on the same principle as the Bosch but is a little more
advanced in my opinion having a roller in conjunction with the gear.

I bought mine mail order off the net (I can give you the details if you
wish, I dont want to be accused of advrtising, I have no connection) I
think
it cost £180. delivered.

I am very pleased with it. It easily copes with green wood (mainly beech &
conifer) up to 40mm in Dia.

cheers

Ian

Well I already did the deed today and bought a Bosch (2000 model) from
Homebase (they had an extra 10% discount off on for the bank holiday) - only
£215 - bargain!

First impressions are very good this afternoon. Although it would not go
through a 25-30mm branch which had been dead for some time and had a few
knots in (i.e. dry and very hard). I think when they quote maximum size
they assume green (soft) wood.

Softer stuff which I dragged off the compost heap (needed chopping) would
not feed through properly and needed a good prodding with the dead branch
mentioned above (the metal 'prodder' which comes with the machine is not
long enough, for obvious reasons).

So, I'm learning how to use but lots of happy shredding and more managable
compost to come.


Couple of questions though:

1. Will the corkscrew blade ever need changing (or sharpening)?
2. As it is not going to be used every week, should I attempt to spray WD40
onto the corkscrew to stop rusting?


D



"ogglet" wrote in message
...
OOps correction it was £280.....£180 must have been what I told the wife!!


"ogglet" wrote in message
...
I asked a few friends what they thought when I was looking for a
shredder.

The overriding p#opinion was that the Bosch type "Gear" shredder was the
type least prone to clogging & also its crushing action was better than
a
cutting action with the added benefit of not needing to sharpen blades
etc.

I acti#ually borrowed a Large Bosch silent shredder & it was very good &
very quiet.

In the end however I bought an AL-KO Silent Power 5000

This operates on the same principle as the Bosch but is a little more
advanced in my opinion having a roller in conjunction with the gear.

I bought mine mail order off the net (I can give you the details if you
wish, I dont want to be accused of advrtising, I have no connection) I
think
it cost £180. delivered.

I am very pleased with it. It easily copes with green wood (mainly beech
&
conifer) up to 40mm in Dia.

cheers

Ian

"Daddy" junk wrote in message
. ..
Well I already did the deed today and bought a Bosch (2000 model) from
Homebase (they had an extra 10% discount off on for the bank holiday) -
only
£215 - bargain!

First impressions are very good this afternoon. Although it would not go
through a 25-30mm branch which had been dead for some time and had a few
knots in (i.e. dry and very hard). I think when they quote maximum size
they assume green (soft) wood.

Softer stuff which I dragged off the compost heap (needed chopping) would
not feed through properly and needed a good prodding with the dead branch
mentioned above (the metal 'prodder' which comes with the machine is not
long enough, for obvious reasons).

So, I'm learning how to use but lots of happy shredding and more managable
compost to come.


Couple of questions though:

1. Will the corkscrew blade ever need changing (or sharpening)?
2. As it is not going to be used every week, should I attempt to spray
WD40
onto the corkscrew to stop rusting?


D

hi - don't know about sharpening or replacing the mechanism, but I spray it
with WD40 after every use. It helps the general smell of the shed, as well
as protecting it don't you think?? :-)

Chris S

"Daddy" junk wrote in
:

Well I already did the deed today and bought a Bosch (2000 model) from
Homebase (they had an extra 10% discount off on for the bank holiday)
- only œ215 - bargain!

First impressions are very good this afternoon. Although it would not
go through a 25-30mm branch which had been dead for some time and had
a few knots in (i.e. dry and very hard). I think when they quote
maximum size they assume green (soft) wood.

The one thing I have learnt *not* to shred with my Bosch is the leaves from
the monster phormium (7 foot and counting...)

The woody bits at the bottom are fine, but the leavy ends 'chew' into
something resembling extremely tough string, and are the only thing that
has given me major problems with the shredder jamming and needing to be
carefully unwound.

If you also have a vast phormium, be warned!

(If you don't have one, do you want one? You can have mine...!)

Victoria

"Daddy" junk wrote in
:

Well I already did the deed today and bought a Bosch (2000 model) from
Homebase (they had an extra 10% discount off on for the bank holiday)
- only œ215 - bargain!

First impressions are very good this afternoon. Although it would not
go through a 25-30mm branch which had been dead for some time and had
a few knots in (i.e. dry and very hard). I think when they quote
maximum size they assume green (soft) wood.

The one thing I have learnt *not* to shred with my Bosch is the leaves from
the monster phormium (7 foot and counting...)

The woody bits at the bottom are fine, but the leavy ends 'chew' into
something resembling extremely tough string, and are the only thing that
has given me major problems with the shredder jamming and needing to be
carefully unwound.

If you also have a vast phormium, be warned!

(If you don't have one, do you want one? You can have mine... ;-) !)

Victoria