Shredders

[Chuckles]

Got my Black and Decker GA100 shredder out of the shed this morning to dispose of all my trimmings. I'm trying to be a good girl and recycle rather than have one of my HUGE bonfires

Well it wouldn't work so I had a fidle and found the bit on the side that connects the electrics up to the main shredder kept working loose. On further fidling I found the bottom of the 3 pins that connect the two bits together was bent wonder who bent that then bent it back and it all fitted together nicely and worked. Unfortunately only for a few minutes so I then thought ;D wrap round the whole thing with some thick garden wire and it won't come loose. Well it worked but again only for a few minutes so I bashed it one ;D now the bottom pin has broken off and the flippin thing won't work at all.

This is quite an old shredder maybe 10 yrs plus and it has had some hammer so I've decided I'm gonna have a new one.

So what has anyone else got, recommendations please... it needs to be electric really. I've had a looked here at this one and it's got a good spec compared to the others. www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=133909

[Amo]

Sorry Chuckles, I wasn't going to reply purely because ours is diesel Bearcat but OH has just reminded me that it did replace an electric Viking one that has spent years being 'borrowed' by all and sundry at work and is still going strong.

[Chuckles]

Thanks Amo Mmmm what I wouldn't give to have a Bearcat, I could certainly find the material to shred in one of those ;D I'd be in my element. Bit out of my price range though and it wouldn't fit in my shed ;D

I've just found this web site www.abbeygardensales.co.uk/subprod/electric-shredders-0000478.aspx and they have Vikings, they also have the Ryobi RSH2455 2400 Watt Quiet Shredder @ £149 that I posted a link for earlier. I quite like the sound of the Wolf USD 240 E Quiet Electric Shredder @ £271.99 it has 4 double sided knife blades and takes branches up to 45mm diameter

There are a few folk on here that have shredders but I don't know what sort they have and it's always useful when purchasing stuff like this to get some feedback from others I reckon.

[Amo]

I'm sure you'll get some more replies.

Since OH has discovered the fine art of composting, well shredding is his department big time! (Even the large pot he collects the bits in is called Mfanwy 'coz it sits on top of the shoot when not in use like a Welsh hat ) Makes wonderful, quick compost though. And the chipper on the biggy well........

We just had to have one of our large Rowans cut down and we had to have a man in to do it. (SSSI and English Heritage ) Anyway, I caught him and OH at the bottom of the drive comparing notes. And Marcus, the surgeon, had videos on his phone. Mind you his new latest toy does up to ONE METRE and is goes through just as fast as anything!!! (Yes I watched the video too )

;D Least I bumped the post again ;D

[Weeterrier]

I've said this elsewhere Chuckles, but look at tooled-up.com

[Chuckles]

Thanks Amo and Wee. Tooled-up is in my faves Wee, had stuff from them before. They are not always the cheapest these days.

I've looked up some makes and models, Wolf, Bosch, Ryobi and Viking. I've read that many reviews on the net but I never really believe some of the reviews you read, I'm a suspicoius old thing and think half are made up ;D Thought as a few members on here have shredders I'd probably be able to make a better decision if I knew what other folk had. It's the weekend so some might not have seen this thread yet

[Tig]

I had one when I 'retired' in 2004 Chuckles, it is quite a big boy, it cost about £160. It has been great, I think it was from B & Q back then (my memory is rubbish , it was a stressful time!) I'll get the make tomorrow as it is in the garage. Can cope with stems up to about 1 and 3/4", doesn't like too much green stuff (OH is very impatient when it comes to getting rid ), think the company was based in Cornwall, we needed a new nut when we had it, they were very good and sent one in the post first class. x Tig

[Weeterrier]

I offered to do a bonfire for one of my neighbours yesterday, because he is decimating his hedge, as I did mine last week. But he informed me that he has a shredder, made me feel quite guilty.
So I am in your position now Chuckles. Feel I should buy one, but am totally confused by what is on offer, even just at Crocus. Of course, I want the huge one that munches trees, out of the question financially. Then again, does the fact that they need electricity or petrol, cancel out their superiority over bonfires in the carbon footprint department.? I use the ash from the bonfire, so would be using the end result from both.
I'm confused. Not unusual right enough. ;D

[Tig]

The one I have is a Mountfield Quiet Shredder 2200w, bought in July 2004, still in fine fettle and we have kept the area under the apple tree barked for several years with the chippings from general garden prunings.

Found this
www.pro-gardening-tools.co.uk/product_info.php?currency=GBP&products_id=330

x Tig

[Amo]

One here is the Viking that has been beaten around by all and sundry. The GE 250. www.gardenmachinetools.co.uk/acatalog/Chippers_Shredders_Viking.html
There could be others that are worth a look, I'm not sure how they compare to other sites.

Are you confused yet Chuckles?? Come round for the vino and munchies ;D

[Weeterrier]

Must have a good look at those.

[totp]

I had one that lasted about 2 years before I burnt the motor out, probably by trying to force too much through it. It was an Asgatec, which I think is a German company and I don't know if they are available in the UK. I am thinking about getting another one but a few things hold me back. I don't think they are very environmentally friendly for one, and I can buy an awful lot of bags of bark chippings for the price of a shredder. Plus I don't have to store the shredder and the shreddings. In the past I have kept the shreddings for a year before putting them on the ground as I read that too fresh shreddings take nutrients out of the soil rather than benefitting it.

[Chuckles]

Well it's not been easy and no doubt I could have pondered and pondered and got even more confused. I've been and bought this from a GC and am well pleased so far www.alltoolsdirect.co.uk/bosch-axt-2000-hp-quiet-garden-shredder-max-38mm-capacity-2000w-240v-8518-p.asp I based my decision on the cutting system, a spiral cutter after reading this www.ahomeofmyown.co.uk/shopping/garden_shredders_chippers.shtml my previous shredder had a blade system.

There is a 2200 model that would have suited me too but I couldn't track one down and needed a shredder like yesterday, as you do Anyhow I've used it and now have 6 bags of shreddings, mainly from Lilac, Sycamore, Elder, Mock Orange and some general garden trimmings. Only had a couple of jams with it and that was with really fresh leafy bits and over the time used I learned the best way to feed the branches etc through to stop this happening. Overall I'm really pleased with it

If I can help any of you guys trying to make a decision, shout up and I'll do my best

[Weeterrier]

Glad you are all up and working Chuckles with your new toy. But learn when to stop, won't you, don't get carried away.

[Chuckles]

Used my new shredder quite a few times now and it's certainly paid for itself over the last few weeks. I'm really chuffed with it, infact I've had it out this morning and added another couple of chicken pellet buckets full of shreddings to a bag that I'm filling until the compo bins go down a bit. There is something quite theraputic about using it and getting all that lovely stuff to fill the compost bin. I've certainly noticed a big difference in how quick the bins composts down

[Amo]

Mmmmmm, black gold........

[owdboggy]

They are great until the blade is no longer fully sharp. they are very difficult to get at to sharpen and a new blade is about the same price as a whole machine.

They also will not do soft material too well. I have two machines, the spiral cutter for woody material and a rotary bladed one (Bosch) for soft material.

[Chuckles]

;D yes black gold Amo and I reckon it's gonna be the best yet with all the shredded stuff I'm adding.

I'm managing quite well OB with the mixture of material I shred, this was a factor when I chose the shredder and cutter type. I have a mixture of all sorts, soft leafy, semi hard and then harder branches.... so went spiral cutter which give auto feed too. I've had a couple of sappy jam ups but only because I tried to put too much of the soft stuff in You live and learn with these things I guess. For instance if I chop long stemmed leafy perenials down I sometimes just leave them standing in a tub behind the shed to dry out for a day or two, the same with any sappy young branches. I'm also getting quite good at mixing the soft with hard when I'm shredding. Best thing I've bought this year really to help in the garden The old one was a pain and I used to out off getting it out but I find this one really easy to use, and as I said previously there is something quite theraputic and also satifying too about using it

[Chuckles]

If anyone is thinking of purchasing a shredder this year I bought this www.alltoolsdirect.co.uk/bosch-axt-2000-hp-quiet-garden-shredder-max-38mm-capacity-2000w-240v-8518-p.asp last year and am really pleased with it's overall performance. I currently have it in my shed and rather than making a job of shredding I just have a bucket under it and shred a few trimmings at a time. Lopped a couple of branches off a climbing rose the other day and just switched it on and job done

[Deleted]

I use an AL-KO shredder, it's about 20years old. I can't recommend any current shredders, as mine so out of date.

[Chuckles]

Feb 2, 2009 21:57:16 GMT @larkshall said:

I use an AL-KO shredder, it's about 20years old. I can't recommend any current shredders, as mine so out of date.

Well I reckon if you've used it all those years Larkshall that alone is a good recomendation for Al-KO shredders