Chippers

Chippers are machines designed to reduce woody material into small chips. They are widely used in landscaping, forestry, municipal maintenance, and wood recycling to turn branches, limbs, and other debris into mulch, compost feedstock, or raw material for processing.

There are two common configurations: drum chippers and disk chippers. Drum chippers use a rotating cylindrical drum fitted with cutting blades to shear incoming material as it is fed into the machine. Disk chippers employ one or more fixed blades mounted on a rotating disc and rely on cutting against a hard surface such as an anvil. Portable consumer models are typically powered by gasoline or electricity, while larger industrial units may be diesel-powered or electric and housed in stationary facilities.

Operation generally involves feeding material into an infeed chute, sometimes with feed rollers that pull the material in. The machine’s knives or blades cut the wood, and the resulting chips are expelled through a discharge chute. Chip size can vary by model and settings, from fine mulch to larger wood chips suitable for landscaping or biomass use.

Safety and maintenance are important considerations. Chippers present serious risks, including injury from rotating blades, entanglement, and projectiles. Operators should use appropriate PPE, ensure guards and safety switches are in place, avoid reaching into the infeed, and shut off power before clearing jams. Regular maintenance includes blade sharpening or replacement, lubrication, and debris removal.

Environmental and practical considerations include diverting yard waste from landfills, producing mulch for soil health, and supporting wood recycling streams. Noise, emissions, and fuel or electricity use are factors in choosing a model for a given setting.