Are electric wood chippers any good?
Well keep reading because that’s exactly what I’ll be going over in this post. I’ll be going over how long they last, their affordability, and more.
How long do they last?
Electric wood chippers last for many years. It’s all about how you look after it. If you’re leaving your wood chipper out in the rain and throwing in hard to chip items like bamboo in there, it’s not going to last that long.
The blades will become dull and eventually snap if you’re being careless with the things you’re throwing in there.
Make sure you’re cleaning it after you’re done. Clearing away the chips and mulch from the inside. If you’re able to, make sure you’re sharpening the blades, this will ensure that the motor isn’t having to push the blade super hard to get it to chip. Instead, its sharpness is doing the work.
When storing it, keep it in a dry place and not somewhere cold and damp.
When you’re maintaining your electric chipper as it should be maintained, it can easily last 5+ years. It really does depend on how you look after it.
And yes, there are bad electric chippers out there, chippers that aren’t built to last. So make sure you’re reading customer reviews.
Affordability
Electric chippers will typically cost $100 – $200 and for this price point those chippers are well built.
So you won’t be falwking out a ton of cash to get yourself one.
Gas vs electric
The biggest difference between a gas and electric wood chipper is the power. A gas powered chipper is much more powerful. However, the downside is it requires a lot more maintenance and is noisy. Also, gas chippers cost a lot more.
If you’re looking to chip branches up to 1.7 inches thick, an electric wood chipper will do just fine. Anything above that and you’re going to need a gas chipper.
With an electric chipper, you won’t be disturbing your neighbours since it’s quiet. There are no gas smells or refueling the tank. Gas chippers can be hard to start but an electric chipper will start at just the press of a button.
You’ll need to be close to a power outlet because an electric chipper needs to be plugged in for you to use it.
What are users saying?
According to Amazon reviews, electric chippers get the job done. They typically don’t go above the $200 price tag. They’re easy to use, reliable, and quiet.
The only issue is, electric chippers typically are not able to shred more the 2 inch thick branches. You’ll know how much a chipper can chip by checking out the description.
Yes, there have been some duds. Customers have complained about the chipper not shredding anything and did not work as described.
But to be fair, the vast majority of the feedback is positive.
Conclusion
Are electric wood chippers any good? Yes, electric wood chippers are good. They’re able to chip branches up to 1.7 inches thick and you can find electric chippers that can chip thicker than that. They’re lightweight, quiet, don’t leave any gas smells, and easy to use.
Hope you found what you were looking for.
Happy chipping!
– Adam
