Landscape Contractors know that cleaning up lawns often involves more than just the removal of leaves. That?EUR??,,????'???s where wood chippers come in handy to turn those branches into wood chip mulch. You don?EUR??,,????'???t want to be on the short end of the stick when it comes to selecting your next chipper. So pay close attention to the special features and compare these chippers for their horsepower, chipping capacity and price. These chippers were ranked based on horsepower of their engines, an indication of how quickly you can get your job done.

Bandit Industries

Model No.: 1590

Engine Options: 80HP ?EUR??,,????'??? 140HP

Chipping Capacity: 15 inch diameter

Feed Rate: Approx. 100fpm w/ standard 5/8?EUR??,,????'?? chip

Height, length, width: 103 inches by 179 inches by 85 inches

Weight: Approx. 6,800 lbs.

Special Features: Optional hydraulic winch, hand crank swivel and height-adjustable discharge spout, Auto Feed Plus*, AR anvil, available both as a towable or self-propelled unit.

Warranty: Yes

Cost: Approx. $6,899 to $35,000 (Depending on options)

Vermeer Manufacturing Company

Model No.: BC1400TX

Engine: Caterpillar 3054 DITA turbo-charged after cooled

Chipping Capacity: 15 inches

Horsepower: 122 HP

Height, length, width: 109 inches by 151 inches by 90 inches

Weight: Steel Tracks: 11,140 lbs., Rubber Tracks: 10,240 lbs.

Infeed Opening Height: 20 inches

Special Features: PT Tech HPTO w/ Microprocessor and Integrated Throttle The throttle, integrated with clutch engagement, ensures that the PTO can only be engaged while the engine is at low idle/ low RPM.

Warranty: Clutch comes with a 1 year or 1,000 hour limited warranty; a warranty that is typically not found on a clutch system due to clutches being considered a wear item.

Cost: $60,000 to $90,000

Woodsman, Inc.

Model No.: 730Xtreme

Engine: John Deere, CAT, or Perkins options, ranging from 84-99 hp

Chipping Capacity:13 inches

Height, length, width: 96 inches by 156 inches by 72 inches

Weight: 4,450 lbs.

Special Features: Hydraulic lift cylinder for yoke, hand crank swivel discharge chute, reverse auto feed.

Warranty: One year on Woodsman, Inc. manufactured parts

Cost: $25,500 to $28,000

Echo-Bear Cat

Model No.: 73420

Engine: Honda

Chipping Capacity: 4 inches

Feed Opening: 27 inches by 28 inches

Height, length, width: 87 inches by 73 inches by 52 inches

Special Features: Standard 6 inch round discharge chute and adjustable deflector; 360 degrees rotation for accurate discharge into a truck, trailer, or wagon; highway towable with 2 inch ball coupler; 44 inch wheelbase; torsion suspension axle.

Warranty: Two year consumer; one year commercial; one year rental

Cost: MSRP $6,795

A.M. Leonard: MacKissic

Model No.: SC183E

Engine: Briggs and Stratton Vanguard, electric start, 222 rpm

Chipping Capacity: 4.5 inches

Horsepower: 18 HP

Feed Rate: 19.75 inches by 18.75 inches at top, narrows down to 6.75 inches by 14 inches at the throat. Chipper opening is 8 inches by 11 inches and narrows down to 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches at the throat.

Height, length, width: 149 inches by 76 inches by 58 inches

Weight: 740 lbs.

Special Features: Chips logs up to 4.5 inch in diameter, shreds branches 1.5 inch thick. Highway towable with trailer, stand and coupler included. Heavy duty clutch; 222 rpm rotor speed. Extra-large capacity hopper with blowback shield. 14?EUR??,,????'?? flywheel has two 5?EUR??,,????'?? chrome steel knives and 48 free-swinging hammers to make short work of the hardest jobs. Bar screen included.

Warranty: Manufacturer supplies a two year engine warranty, 90 day commercial warranty, and five year consumer warranty. (Repair at a local Authorized Service Center.)

Cost: $4,343.49

Vandermolen

Model No.: 25Qi160

Engine: B&S Vanguard, 480cc

Chipping Capacity: 4 inch diameter

Feed Opening: 5 square feet

Height, length, width: 75 inches by 70 inches by 38 inches

Weight: 730 lbs.

Horsepower: 16 HP

Special Features: All vegetation is processed through one hopper. Machine handles everything from leaves and garden debris to 4?EUR??,,????'?? fully dressed branches or brush.

Warranty: 90 days

Cost: $5,495

Salsco, Inc.

Model No.: 413H

Engine: Honda electric start or Briggs & Stratton Vanguard

Chipping Capacity: 22 1/8 inch diameter

Feed Opening: 4 inches by 5 inches

Height, length, width: 75 inches by 102 inches by 60 inches

Weight: 1,200 lbs.

Special Features: All units, both gravity feed and hydraulic feed, are built to last. Continuous welds, tubular steel frames, and baked polyester powder coat paint.

Warranty: One year

Cost: $4,300

A.M. Leonard: Crary Bearcat

Model No.: 73413

Engine: Honda, manual clutch, recoil (pull) start

Chipping Capacity: 4 inches

Feed Opening: 27 inches by 28 inches

Horsepower: 13 HP

Height, length, width: 87 inches by 73 inches by 52 inches

Weight: 780 lbs.

Special Features: Comes standard with swivel discharge chute and adjustable deflector. Four reversible chipper blades, mounted to 20 inches, (1.25?EUR??,,????'?? inch thick), 140 lbs. disc for mass and momentum to devour branches and small trees! Highway towable.

Warranty: Consumer warranty is one year.

Commercial/Rental is also one year.

Cost: $5,949.49

AFB Marketing and Sales

Model No.: Dynamic Manufacturing Corp. DC-50

Engine: Optional

Chipping Capacity: 15?EUR??,,????'?? diameter

Feed Opening: 70?EUR??,,????'?? wide x 38?EUR??,,????'?? high

Weight: 5,900 lbs.

Height, length, width: 196?EUR??,,????'?? by 198?EUR??,,????'?? by 84?EUR??,,????'??

Horsepower: 80 ?EUR??,,????'??? 130 HP

Special Features: Discone??????oe cutting system; extra wide infeed; superior performance on palm and vines

Warranty: 2 year

Cost: $26,000 ?EUR??,,????'??? $32,000 (depending on engine choice and options)

PDK Agricultural Systems

Model No.: M300

Engine: Industrial Honda GX390

Chipping Capacity: 3.1 inches

Chipping Speed: 82 feet/min

Feed Opening: 17.3 by 11.8 inches

Feed Opening at knives: 11.8 by 5.9 inches

Feed Height: 29.5 ?????EUR??,,?EUR inches.

Height, length, width: 48?EUR??,,????'?? by 69.6?EUR??,,????'?? by 28.3?EUR??,,????'??

Weight: 264 lbs.

Special Features: 2 turnable knives on a drum (3 times re-useable, for about 300 at 400 working hours in total!),1 counter knife (4x re-useable)

Warranty: 2 year for residential / 1 year for professional / 3 months for rental use

Cost: $3,689

Split-fire Sales Inc.

Model No.: 4024

Engine: 24 hp Honda

Horsepower:13, 20, 24 HP

Chipping Capacity: 4?EUR??,,????'?? max 5?EUR??,,????'??

Cargo Volume: 102 cu. ft.

Feed Opening: 20.5?EUR??,,????'?? high x 24.3/4?EUR??,,????'??

Height, length, width: 68?EUR??,,????'?? by 95?EUR??,,????'?? by 43?EUR??,,????'??

Weight: 730 lbs.

Special Features: Very few parts, double sided knives, 3?EUR??,,????'??? per sec., 5/16?EUR??,,????'?? and 3/8?EUR??,,????'?? steel around chipper box, powder coated, long infeed chute for safety.

Warranty: 1 year on all but wearing parts, this includes rentals.

Cost:$4,899

Safety Always Comes First!

Employers, workers, and others who use wood chippers can reduce their risk for injury. Personal protective equipment recommended during chipper operations includes hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection, safety boots, and close-fitting outer clothing. Worker training should include instruction in 1) the correct operation of safety devices and controls consistent with the recommendations of the manufacturer, 2) the need to keep hands and feet away from the feed chute, 3) proper procedures for feeding brush and limbs into the feed chute, and 4) standing to the side in reach of the emergency shut-off when feeding branches. A long branch should be used as a push stick to feed shorter material into the chipper. Small material such as twigs and leaves should be put directly into the transport container (e.g., dump truck) instead of into the chipper. The area around the chipper should be kept clear to reduce tripping hazards. Equipment rental companies should provide training or ensure that renters receive safe-operating instructions from the manufacturer. Courtesy of Department of Health and Human Services