Forest Master chipper/shredder
Discussion
I fancy buying a Forest Master wood chipper to get rid of branches etc. Anyone got one?
It would get good use at the times I need it, but maybe just once a year when I lower a massive hedge I’ve got. I’ve also just cut down this tree and need rid of the branches..
As I don’t like storing petrol engine tools for long periods unused and to make it quieter for the neighbours I’m thinking the electric FM4DD, nice and portable too and about £400.
Are these a good brand?
It would get good use at the times I need it, but maybe just once a year when I lower a massive hedge I’ve got. I’ve also just cut down this tree and need rid of the branches..
As I don’t like storing petrol engine tools for long periods unused and to make it quieter for the neighbours I’m thinking the electric FM4DD, nice and portable too and about £400.
Are these a good brand?
Edited by The Gauge on Monday 27th January 09:03
Sorry, I don't have experience of them but with any tool like this - it's spares availability and local serviceability if you can't repair stuff yourself which is critical.
Good move to get electric though. It's rare that petrol is better than electric in tools like this unless you need to work somewhere where there isn't power.
Good move to get electric though. It's rare that petrol is better than electric in tools like this unless you need to work somewhere where there isn't power.
I recently bought the petrol version of this. Really impressed with it so far. I've had the opposite experience to the poster above - electric generally has been disappointing for chippers etc. This one took a bit of messing with to get it to work the way I wanted, but now it's really impressive in terms of its ability to handle larger branches etc. It says up to 2 inches in diameter but it'll do more.
It is pretty noisy, must be used with ear defenders, but luckily our garden is quite big so can get far away from the neighbours. When delivered it comes with screening on the feed tube that makes it difficult to get anything larger in, but removing that has transformed it. Early days, I've only used it twice so far but have chipped quite a lot with it to date and it's managed well. Have to see how long the blades hold their edge etc - but right now I'm impressed.
It is pretty noisy, must be used with ear defenders, but luckily our garden is quite big so can get far away from the neighbours. When delivered it comes with screening on the feed tube that makes it difficult to get anything larger in, but removing that has transformed it. Early days, I've only used it twice so far but have chipped quite a lot with it to date and it's managed well. Have to see how long the blades hold their edge etc - but right now I'm impressed.
b14 said:
. When delivered it comes with screening on the feed tube that makes it difficult to get anything larger in, but removing that has transformed it. Early days, I've only used it twice so far but have chipped quite a lot with it to date and it's managed well. Have to see how long the blades hold their edge etc - but right now I'm impressed.
Just a word of caution, I was tempted to remove the flaps on the feed tube of my chipper (bigger petrol machine), but after a couple of pieces of wood ejected from it at supersonic speed I quickly decided to leave them in place! If you do remove them, wear some sort of face guard at least!I've had the petrol variant of this for 4 years now, brilliant bit of kit.
At time of purchase, got a spare set of blades, but haven't had to changed them yet. I've probably had around 40-60 hours use out of it.
First thing was removing the guards, leaving the rubber flap in place.
It can handle large stuff as long as you take it slow. Will also handle green leaves etc - but need to feed branches in too to stop it clogging up. Its a slight pain to clear chute each time.
For the size, price etc, does everything Id want. Reduced several wheelie bins of hawthorn to under half a bin last weekend.
What its really great at is reducing volume to a size small enough to get into wheelie bin/garden waste bin, haven't had any complaints about pre chipping the councils waste for them yet.
This time last year I put pic below + about 50% more thru it (it took a few evenings!!).
Fortunately a neighbour was happy to take the chippings, way more than I could deal with!
At time of purchase, got a spare set of blades, but haven't had to changed them yet. I've probably had around 40-60 hours use out of it.
First thing was removing the guards, leaving the rubber flap in place.
It can handle large stuff as long as you take it slow. Will also handle green leaves etc - but need to feed branches in too to stop it clogging up. Its a slight pain to clear chute each time.
For the size, price etc, does everything Id want. Reduced several wheelie bins of hawthorn to under half a bin last weekend.
What its really great at is reducing volume to a size small enough to get into wheelie bin/garden waste bin, haven't had any complaints about pre chipping the councils waste for them yet.
This time last year I put pic below + about 50% more thru it (it took a few evenings!!).
Fortunately a neighbour was happy to take the chippings, way more than I could deal with!
I have a belt driven Countax chipper I can attach to the back of my ride on mower. It’ll do about 2” stuff but honestly it’s so bloody noisy and slow I just make a bonfire instead. It makes a nice pile of chips on the ground - if you can get one that deposits the chips higher up than a few inches off the floor it may work better.
Also have an indestructible Bosch plug in electric grinder type chipper that’s about 20 years old to deal with smaller stuff - that’s less faff as I can get a bucket under it.
Also have an indestructible Bosch plug in electric grinder type chipper that’s about 20 years old to deal with smaller stuff - that’s less faff as I can get a bucket under it.
I've got a fairly old 2kW chipper shredder, it works great on anything straightish and woody up to about 30mm.
Anything bigger than that gets taken by a mate with a wood burner.
It's the tangly green bushy stuff that's a problem, unless you've got a 10HP shredder that eats whole bushes.
I don't bother trying to shred everything, it's easier just to shred what shreds easily, so long as you can reduce the 'awkward' pile to one carload for the dump.
If I was buying another shredder, which is on the cards in Autumn, as mine is falling apart, I'd be looking for safe, easy removal of the blades for sharpening.
Anything bigger than that gets taken by a mate with a wood burner.
It's the tangly green bushy stuff that's a problem, unless you've got a 10HP shredder that eats whole bushes.
I don't bother trying to shred everything, it's easier just to shred what shreds easily, so long as you can reduce the 'awkward' pile to one carload for the dump.
If I was buying another shredder, which is on the cards in Autumn, as mine is falling apart, I'd be looking for safe, easy removal of the blades for sharpening.
JimM169 said:
b14 said:
. When delivered it comes with screening on the feed tube that makes it difficult to get anything larger in, but removing that has transformed it. Early days, I've only used it twice so far but have chipped quite a lot with it to date and it's managed well. Have to see how long the blades hold their edge etc - but right now I'm impressed.
Just a word of caution, I was tempted to remove the flaps on the feed tube of my chipper (bigger petrol machine), but after a couple of pieces of wood ejected from it at supersonic speed I quickly decided to leave them in place! If you do remove them, wear some sort of face guard at least!You do need to be v careful with them though as clearly they are hugely dangerous if you take liberties. The temptation to just stick your hand in to clear a blockage when it is running to save time is significant but obviously a terribly bad idea.
b14 said:
You do need to be v careful with them though as clearly they are hugely dangerous if you take liberties. The temptation to just stick your hand in to clear a blockage when it is running to save time is significant but obviously a terribly bad idea.
I shall try and remember to remove my tie before operating 
Good point though
b14 said:
I recently bought the petrol version of this......When delivered it comes with screening on the feed tube that makes it difficult to get anything larger in, but removing that has transformed it.
I bought the electric version. I might have to remove the feed chute guard as together with the rubber flap behind it, pulling out stuck branches can be difficult. All the official advice is to not remove it, but remove it I shall 
Edited by The Gauge on Saturday 1st February 14:14
Hi there
I am also looking to buy one of these - I have a 1/2 acre plot with a huge amount of undergrowth which has now been cut back, and large trees have been professionally chipped. I now have power on the site and want to get rid of the brash (stems up to 50mm / 2inch diameter). The mains powered Forest Master looks industrial enough to deal with it, but it would be good to get feedback from someone who has used it. Have you had a chance to try it out yet?
I am also looking to buy one of these - I have a 1/2 acre plot with a huge amount of undergrowth which has now been cut back, and large trees have been professionally chipped. I now have power on the site and want to get rid of the brash (stems up to 50mm / 2inch diameter). The mains powered Forest Master looks industrial enough to deal with it, but it would be good to get feedback from someone who has used it. Have you had a chance to try it out yet?
I have the petrol one with all guards removed (use face/eye protection) and used it commercially for my garden maintenance business for nearly 3 years now. It has been absolutely superb.
It's had a new carb after 2 years (£50 delivered) and changed the face of blades as they are double sided.
Would highly reccomend.
It's had a new carb after 2 years (£50 delivered) and changed the face of blades as they are double sided.
Would highly reccomend.
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