It’s National Allotments Week! This week we’re spreading awareness on the many benefits Allotment gardening offers! Take a dive through the brief history of allotments in the UK, the benefits they can offer and how you can go about attaining one.

What is an Allotment? 

An Allotment is a piece of land rented by an individual with the purpose of growing fruit and vegetables. The land is commonly owned by a local council and offered to locals on a first come, first served basis.

Allotments have been around for centuries, with the oldest evidence dating back to the Anglo-Saxon era. Around this time the plots of land were known as Enclosures. They were created by clearing large fields of woodland and owned by one person.

The Allotments we know today mainly originated in the 19th century. In 1914 the number of allotments ranged between 450,000 and 600,000 in England. Due to the severity of food shortages, there was a big movement to increase the number of allotments. 

During World War 2, the government understood the benefits of allotments based on their experience in WW1. The ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign helped establish over 1.4 million allotments. 

Post-war usage decreased due to fresh produce becoming a lot more accessible. Presently, there are around 330,000 allotments in the UK, with many requiring locals to join wait lists. 

What is National Allotments week? 

National Allotments Week starts on the 8th of August 2022 until the 14th of August 2022. It started in 2002 by the National Allotment Society (NAS) as a way of raising awareness of allotments and the role they play in helping people to live healthier lifestyles, grow their food, develop friendships and bolster communities. If you have recently acquired an Allotment and are wondering where to start, read our Allotment Ideas for Beginners article.

Benefits 

• Be More Social

Owning an allotment is a great way to meet like-minded people. Because of this, allotments generally have a great community atmosphere and many people make friends for life.

• A Great way to Exercise

Keeping an allotment tidy and full of fresh fruit and veg requires a lot of time clearing, digging and planting. With up to half an hour of allotment gardening burning 150 calories, it’s a great way for all ages to exercise. 

• Eating Healthy

Growing your fruit and vegetables is a great way to eat a healthier diet. Plus, when you grow your own produce, you know exactly what was used to grow it. So no harsh pesticides or fertilisers. Organic food without the supermarket price tag. Read our article on How to Grow and Organic Garden for some great tips on healthy growing.

•  Supporting local wildlife

Allotments are a great way to help provide local wildlife such as birds, bees, foxes and badgers a safe and sustainable habitat. 

How to get an Allotment

To attain an allotment, you will need to contact your local council. They will usually add you to a wait list and once a plot becomes available will be in touch to organise tenancy. If the allotment waiting lists are large then local authorities may allocate more land for use as allotments, so don’t be put off by this. You could also try lobbying your local council or MP for the allocation of more allotment space in your area if there is not enough.

Already Own an Allotment?

This National Allotments Week we are offering all allotment owners 10% off our 14hp Professional Wood Chipper. Capable of shredding all garden waste and branches up to 4” in diameter. Create mulch, compost and shred prunings and log piles. A great investment for the whole community. 

As the winter begins to set in, it’s time to start preparing your wood chipper and garden shredders for winter storage to keep it fresh and in tip-top shape for the spring. Let’s go over 5 tips to ensure you don’t open your shed doors to a pile of rust in March.

Drain the fuel in the wood chipper (or add stabilizer)

Perhaps one of the most important tips within this article; we strongly recommend that you drain, run dry, or add a fuel stabilizer to the engine. If your chipper utilises a four-stroke engine, you can empty the tank by either running the engine dry or you can pour the fuel out of the tank into a can.

Fuel stabiliser is the easiest, cheapest and recommended option. Simply make sure that there’s fresh fuel in the tank and that it’s about 90- 95% full. You can then pour the fuel stabilizer into the tank and run the engine for around five minutes to ensure that it’s distributed throughout the system. Typically, this will keep the fuel fresh for up to 24 months.

Another tip to remember is to never store it for a long period of time when using E15 fuel. E15 fuel contains a significantly higher percentage of ethanol content than standard E5 fuel. This ethanol count is a lot more corrosive to your engine and is likely to cause a build-up over periods of non-use.

Clean your chipper

While not necessarily essential, we recommend is to clean the wood chipper before storing it away. Any leaves, grass, wood chips, soil, dirt or other debris left on or in the machine. This is because the moisture stored in these substances can lead to the machine’s finish being damaged and worn. This also eliminates the risk of dirt entering the petrol tank which can lead to further issues.

Engine maintenance

While you should be performing regular engine maintenance throughout the year, we like to have one thorough maintenance check before storing it away for the winter. This ensures our downtime is minimal when the time comes to break it out of its hiding hole in the spring.

When purchasing your machine you should have received an accompanying manual for the engine – the manual should cover all expected and recommended maintenance.

If you haven’t received this, let’s take a look at our recommended maintenance guide.

In order to maintain your machine at optimal performance, you should follow the below rules.

After every 25 hours of use you should:

• Check the tire pressure
• Clean the engine exterior and cooling
• Change the engine oil
• Replace the air filter

After every 100 hours, you should replace the spark plug. Personally, we prefer to replace the oil and change over to a new spark plug at the start of the season to ensure that everything is fresh and ready to use when the time comes.

Remove the battery

Removing the battery isn’t applicable to everyone, however, if your chipper features an electric start battery it’s definitely advised to remove it for the winter.

Cold weather can have real negative effects on your battery. You should always disconnect the battery and be sure to store it in a cool and dry place, always above 0 celsius. This helps to combat potential battery discharge. If your chipper uses a battery that needs to be charged periodically, you can use a trickle charger to maintain the voltage and sustain the battery life. 5

Cover the wood chipper up

Our final tip is to invest in a breathable cover for your wood chipper/garden shredder. The last thing you want to discover come march is that a family of rodents have made a winter home within your machine. The cover also works to protect the machine from dust and potential weather mishaps. It’s important that the cover you use is a breathable material or it could lead to condensation which can have a negative effect.

We often get asked here at Forest Master, what is the difference between domestic and commercial use. The answer seems fairly straightforward – but it very much depends on you. How? Well, in this post I’ll talk you through what is the best wood tree chipper for home use. See our full range of chippers here.

What is the best wood tree chipper for home use?

When it comes to use of wood tree chippers at home, it’s important to consider the 3 P’s

• Power – you need something with enough bite for the bark
• Portability – the easier it is to maneuver, the easier your life will be
• Precision – you want the quality assurance with the precision to match

Once you’ve considered those, you can then establish which wood tree chipper is best for you. For the most part, there isn’t a whole lot of difference between domestic and commercial. If you’re attempting to choose between hiring or buying a chipper, we’ve got a hire vs buy guide – click here to read.

Chip, shred or mulch – that is the question!

Likewise, you need to consider what features you’d like your chipper to have. Are you wanting it to exclusively chip wood, are you wanting it to shred leaves – how about brush & hedge?

Autumnal weather (in my personal opinion) may be the best there is. However, it does bring with it a lot of fallen (there’s a pun in there somewhere) leaves. If left, they can ruin your lawn and if tackled incorrectly it can become laborious and anger your neighbors (think raking and burning them).

A wood tree chipper can take, what we’d describe as, leafy branches. So, as long as the majority of the load was wood – you’ll be fine. However, there are machines that offer the ability to mulch/shred as well as chip. Take Forest Master’s FM6DD-Mul for example, it’s a 3-in-1 solution to all your outdoor needs. See Forest Master’s Mulcher in action here.

Small twigs, tree branches and yard brush

Moreover, an annual trim of your bushes and shrubs helps spring your garden into action. But what do you do with the trimmings? Well, any garden matter can make great compost for your plant pals. Having the flexibility to chip, shred and mulch really comes into its own here.

Likewise, with tree branches you’d ideally want to chip any matter you throw at it. If you have a lot of brush, you’ll understand that clearing out the brush is a time-consuming chore. Again, popping this through the wood tree chipper would enable a chore into a benefit, free mulch!

Branches up to 2 inches in diameter

Anything less than half an inch, you’ll be fine with just a shredder. Once we approach 2 inches, you’ll benefit from the facilities a wood chipper would offer. A non-commercial wood tree chipper should comfortably take up to two inches. Forest Master’s FM4DDE & FM6DD, both are portable, powerful, and precise – the 3 p’s. View their product pages here.

Wood tree chipper branches between 3 – 4 inches

Once you start approaching these dimensions, it may be worth renting a commercial chipper. However, as previously mentioned Forest Master’s extension range includes their 6.5 & 15 hp models. These can both comfortably take upwards of 3 inches and are the closest you can get to commercial while remaining domestic.

If you’ve decided you want to buy one, check out our handy Wood Chipper buying guide where we’ll walk you through all you need to know when choosing the chipper of your choice.

When it comes to firewood, here at Forest Master we get a lot of questions. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of different options. There’s a multitude of smells, fragrances and flavours to choose from as such, your choice is as individual as you. Likewise, the perfect flame can ignite the perfect party. Whether that be a bbq, a campfire or a big ol’ cookout. Matching the perfect scent with the perfect mood will result in the perfect ambience. So, in the wood chipper shredder burn guide, we’ll show you what log burns best! See our wood chipper shredders here.

There are a few different scents to include in our wood chipper shredder burn guide, these are:

• Classic “smokey” smell – these are your classic wood fire scents
• Sweet “fruity” smell – they are the most aromatic & produce a pleasant smell
• Rich “nutty” smell – they are hardwoods and usually have deep earthy aromas
• Crisp “fresh” smell – typically associated with air fresheners

If you’re after a classic smell, our wood chipper shredder guide’s got you covered. Chances are you’re looking at having a good old bonfire or campfire. Picture the scene, a hot drink, fireworks surrounded by your friends – perfect, right? So to elicit these smells, you need to burn the following woods: Hickory, Oak, Mesquite & Alder.

• Hickory – iconic ‘smokey’ smell, instantly recognisable campfire smell. It has a high heat output.
• Oak – commonly used on campfires, smoking meat and burning materials. Again, high heat output
• Mesquite – a unique, recognizable scent. Sometimes described as “tangy” perfect for BBQs
• Alder – produces a similar to, but lighter/sweeter than smell to oak, but burns quite quickly.

Alternatively, you may be after more of a sweet, fruity experience. Well, our wood chipper shredder guide’s got just the thing. These trees are often fruit trees, chances are you’ll of sampled it before. Comparatively, if there’s a fruit tree we don’t mention – chances are it will be equally as aromatic. Our suggestions are Apple, Cherry & Pear.

• Apple – everyone’s had applewood smoked cheese or bacon, it’s a firm favourite and a solid choice
• Cherry – likewise, cherry firewood is famously known for its distinctively delightful smell
• Pear – mild, sweet and light, three words to describe this beautiful fragrant wood

Furthermore, if you’re after more of a “rich nutty” smell (and who doesn’t love a rich nut) – our wood chipper shredder guides got you covered. These wood are more dense and usually evoke a deep “earthy” aroma.

• Walnut – it produces a pleasant scent, an excellent heat output and is prized among woodworkers
• Pecan – likewise, pecan is a type of hickory tree and has a unique aroma

Now, we move onto the classic scents that you would’ve expected from our wood chipper shredder guide. In fact, who hasn’t had a pine car air freshener? These aromas are strong, pleasant, and you guessed it – fresh.

• Cedar – Cedar is the ultimate campfire smoke, light, rich and sweet – what’s not to love
• Pine – widely acknowledged as the most common fragrance, pine is an excellent choice to burn

Moreover, these are the honourable mentioned that we couldn’t miss out from our wood chipper shredder guide:

• Ash: solid, reliable and steady – burns best when seasoned
• Birch: smells great, produces good heat but burns quickly
• Blackthorn: burns well without emitting loads of smoke
• Hawthorn: burns slowly and hot for all your wintery fires
• Maple: found in different regions of the nation
• Sycamore: rewarded with a good flame and moderate heat if seasoned well
• Yew: slow-burning and omits plenty of heat – yew can’t go wrong (see what I did there)

If you’re looking for a wood chipper shredder, then look no further than Forest Master. They have both petrol and electric models (FM6DD & FM4DD) available in both 4hp (pictured above) to 6hp. These market-leading beauties are powerful, portable and pack a real punch. Why settle for bulky brutes or measly machines when these beasts are compact and capable. Want to know more? Follow the links below and order yours today!

Did you find our blog useful? Let us know & comment below! Follow us on our socials, got an idea for a blog – tell us and we’ll write it for you! Wanna find out why a direct drive is better than a belt drive – click here to find out

As you’re probably well aware, our chippers are Direct Drive rather than Belt Drive. Now, you’re probably wondering Why a Direct Drive Tree Chipper is better than a belt drive? Well, it dramatically reduces your maintenance time and costs – who doesn’t love that? So in this blog, explain all you need to know about belt-driven machines and why we switched to direct drive. See our range of direct drive wood chippers here.

How do belt drive tree chippers work?

A belt-driven tree chipper works off a pair of pulleys attached to opposing shafts which are connecting flexible belts. This method has been used for over 200 years, the first versions were flat and ran on flat pulleys. This later developed into the V-belt in 1917. As this developed, the need to improve speed and eliminate variations resulted in toothed belts around 1950.

Tree chipper belts are usually friction drive or positive drive and are often made of leather, rubber, or fabric with a V-shape cross-section and require substantial tension to work. Friction drive works on friction between the belt and pulley to transmit power. Positive drive work off the engagement of the teeth with the grooves on the pulley. V-belts require less tension and work well in connecting shafts that are close together.

When overloaded flat and v belts can slip which can sometimes be favorable as it can prevent breaking parts. When connecting nonparallel shafts, flat belts do not run off the pulley. It can sometimes be the case that they require multiple pulleys to operate the tree chipper.

Positive drive, timing & toothed belts feature teeth with even spacing that fit into matching grooves on the periphery of the pulley. They have a lot of advantages but lack overload protection of a direct drive tree chipper.

So, as you can see, there are a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong with a belt-driven tree chipper. Whether it’s a toothed belt buckling under pressure or a belt snapping.

Is a direct drive tree chipper better?

A direct-drive system offers “increased efficiency” with fewer moving parts which result in less maintenance and fewer replacements. If a tree chipper has higher torque, it enables faster start-up speeds and less likely to fail from the extraneous force. Moreover, you’re not at the mercy of a belt malfunctioning.

It’s not simply a case of a belt snapping, but it could become loose, cracked or stretched. This can affect the performance of your tree chipper and ultimately result in replacing the belt, or even the whole unit.

Our direct drive machines are market leading, innovative and powerful. They’re perfect to pick up and go to any job with the power to see it through. Whether it’s the lightweight electric 4hp model that produces a whopping 2800 rpm. Or if you need a bit more bite, our petrol model offers an incredible 3600 rpm and 6hp that makes light work of!

Did our blog help you see why a direct drive tree chipper is best? Let us know! Comment below! Want more content? Check out our burning guide blog

Any gardener worth their salt knows the importance of mulch in relation to trees. Chances are it was a good layer of mulch (see our mulchers here) that helped keep the dinosaurs food nutrient-rich. These days we understand mulch benefits our plants in numerous ways; whether it’s controlling pests, reducing weeds or regulating the plant’s temperature – mulch is marvellous. One contentious topic is whether you can use wood chips from your chipper mulcher as a mulch. In this blog, I’ll run through why this often misunderstood mulch can really aid your garden.

Chipper mulcher pros and cons?

So, the main concerns include diseases transferring from the wood to your plants. For this to happen there would need to be the perfect storm of circumstances which, according to plant pathologists, is very unlikely. Another includes the release of allelopathic chemicals (release of growth inhibitors). Research over the years has shown this is not a worry. The only plant that could cause an issue would be the Walnut tree, which is not found in your typical garden.

Moreover, a common concern is that nitrogen is tied up during its decomposition process. This can have an effect as it incorporates into the soil, which is why chipper mulcher wood chips are suitable as surface mulch. As a result, we wouldn’t recommend using wood chips around vegetables and annual flower beds.

The germination of seeds can be a very complicated subject, but it’s best to have at least basic subject knowledge and educate yourself on fundamental tips and tricks to progress.

However, they offer great benefits as mulch, this was shown in a 1990 study. This study rated wood chip mulch in the top three for:

• moisture retention,
• temperature moderation,
• weed control.

As they break down, they supply organic matter and nutrients throughout the soil via earthworm and insect activity. As we’ve said, wood chips help prevent germination (the process of a seed developing into a plant). We recommend using them in areas that don’t have an annual flower or regular vegetation, or areas you’re wanting to be rid of weeds.

Things to bare in mind:

• For best results keep wood chips to a depth of 4-6 inches
• keep away from trees to prevent rot
• replace every 4-6 weeks
• rather than volcanos, spread like a donut (check out our blog)

Different chips, different needs

Moreover, chipper mulcher’s wood chips contain wood and bark pieces in a variety of forms. Why does this matter? Well, this enables the water to infiltrate at different rates and prevent compaction. Moreover, it decomposes at individual rates creating a vastly diverse area that you can tailor to your plants’ needs.

Wood bark, when used as mulch, enables you to customise the appearance of your garden. Cedar, pine, spruce and hemlock make great mulches and all vary in appearance. They also break down at different rates, so pine is a quick process whereas cedar can take years – something to bear in mind when making your choice.

What about our chipper mulcher?

With an insanely powerful 6hp engine and an unbeaten 3600 rpm, our 6hp chipper mulcher is the crown jewel, worthy of any king. And like a king, this machine can handle anything you can throw at it. Whether it’s a wet war or a scorchingly sunny day – our beast can handle it all. A king should never expect the second best, and this market-leading product can do it all. Moreover, it effortlessly switches between a chipper and a mulcher to offer versatility a peasant can only dream of. Want to see more – Check out ours here.

Did you find this useful? Let us know! If you’ve got any comments or blog suggestions – feel free to let us know. Follow us on social media to keep up to date with everything Forest Master including exclusive offers and promotions.

If you’re anything like me, the second you received your wood chipper you were eager to test it. Personally, I find watching a wood chipper extremely satisfying – I could sit and watch one go to town on a big pile of garden debris all day long.

If you’re anything like me though, you ended up with a large pile of wood chippings at the end, scratched your head and thought “well what am I supposed to do with all this?”.

We’ve all been there, no judgements. If you knew exactly what you could do with that big pile of wood chips though, you’d be amazed.

Quite frankly they’re a gardener’s dream, they’re extremely versatile and a cheap solution to a number of problems that many face in their garden at some point. Interested? Read on.

Wood Chip Mulch

If you haven’t already got a wood chipper, take a look at our wood chipper buying guide to find out which machine is best for you and your needs. If you think you can get all your gardening jobs done in one day, check out our article on the benefits of renting vs buying a wood chipper.

We’ll get the obvious one out of the way. Using wood chippings around your plants in the garden comes with a host of benefits, including providing excellent nutrition to your plants as they decompose.

Wood chippings are a staple element in making excellent compost, and simply by layering them on top you’re providing this to your plants.

Additionally, it helps regulate soil temperature by keeping your plants cool in summer and warm in winter due to the natural insulation it provides, as well as aeration.

And that’s not all. Wood chippings absorb water whilst providing shade to the top layer of soil, helping to also regulate moisture levels. This will help you prevent overwatering your plants and keep them moist for longer.

Weeds find it challenging to grow in the presence of wood chippings, so spreading chips on problem areas where weeds frequently grow is an easy and cheap solution to your problem.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the miracle cure for everything though, there are some disadvantages that come with using wood chip mulch.

Chippings can cause a nitrogen deficiency in your top layer of soil, which is something that needs to be monitored if you want your plants to grow without problems.

Disease-prone plants such as roses and tomatoes can be easily overcome by fungal spores that like to grow inside the recesses of chippings, so don’t use them one planting beds if you’re unsure on the resilience of the plant first.

Best practices are to keep a small gap between your wood chips and the stem of your plants, allowing them to breathe and prevent fungal growth from killing your plants.

Wood Chipping Walkways

Walkways made from wood chippings are an excellent way to repurpose the produce of your wood chipper if you find yourself having an excessive amounts of the stuff.

Exceptionally quick and easy to make, and fantastic at keeping your boots free from mud, all you need to do is create a guide for your path and dump your wood chippings inside.

The chippings provide a natural drainage system for rain to filter in the ground, without creating a muddy top that you have to walk over.

 It’s exceptionally easy to make curved paths using wood chippings which is much more difficult to achieve with pavers for example, and as already mentioned in the previous point will help prevent weeds from sprouting.

Obviously, these chippings will eventually begin to degrade, which means you will need to top them up every so often.

And to make the path initially, you’ll need quite a large quantity of chippings depending on the length of the path you’re creating, which are the two biggest downsides to this idea.

We recommend creating your path with at least 3 inches deep of wood chippings, though anywhere up to 6 inches is better.

Chips Make Excellent Compost

If you’re a fan of composting, which I imagine you are, then smaller sized chippings make excellent ‘brown material’ for making top quality compost.

Wood chippings are extremely carbon rich, a must have ingredient, along with nitrogen, needed to make quick and mineral intensive compost.

Be warned however, the chips do need to be as small as you can get them in order to break down faster, otherwise you’ll be looking at an unnecessarily elongated amount of time to create your compost, and nobody wants that.

You’ll also need to add an equal amount of green material in order to add nitrogen to the mix and balance out all that carbon.

Tips on creating the best compost possible can be found here.

Preventing Soil Erosion

If you’re a frequent sufferer of your nice clean lines being eroded by the elements, then you can comment and thank me for this ingenious solution.

Wood chippings make an excellent, albeit temporary, barrier for any areas of your lawn that are suffering from incessant erosion, ruining your hard-pruned nice clean lines.

Doing this will lead to your plants being healthier and stronger whilst simultaneously reducing the amount of spread of dirt around your lawn.

All you need to do is to till the wood chips into the soil to build up lower areas. The wood will absorb any excess moisture and help hold the ground firm until you can come up with a more permanent solution.

The thicker the layer, the more moisture it will absorb, and despite it compressing down it will still allow excess water to drain through without ruining your lines.

And once you have found a more permanent solution, you can rake up those wood chips and either add them to your compost pile or throw them on your chip path, so nothing goes to waste.

For the green-minded folks out there, it’s an excellent solution that minimises waste whilst maximises results.

Invasive Plant Growth? Not Anymore

If your property borders a wood or natural area, you can find that wild plants often encroach on your property.

Wood chips not only form a border that isn’t sore on the eyes, but are excellent at delineating lines that prevent the wild plants from growing onto your property.

You will need quite a large quantity for this, as the depth must reach the roots of the wild plants in order to stop the spread.

It is an excellent use of a large pile of wood chippings however and has seen excellent results from us in the past.

Enjoy this article? Check out some of our others.

When buying a wood chipper, you must first consider a number of factors to decide which brand, type, power and price you want to pay. This complete guide to buying a wood chipper will help you to understand all the advantages, disadvantages and other factors you must take note of before committing to a purchase.

Yard work and gardening can be slow, tedious and quite frankly sometimes not worth the effort. Every year you’re left with an abundance of leaves, empty branches and the dreaded task of cleaning up your garden.

What to do with the leaves? What to do with the branches? Burn them? Take them to a disposal site? I have a simple solution for you, invest in a wood chipper!

A wood chipper takes care of your leaves, branches and hedges as well as providing you with an invaluable resource in chippings and shredded leaves which are great for use for leaf moulds and composts.

What is a wood chipper?

The main function of a wood chipper or garden shredder is to reduce garden waste. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional or a garden enthusiast, a chipper is an essential machine and invaluable tool for reducing garden waste and producing great resources for the garden.

Achieve a tidy garden or yard which looks great in a very short period of time using minimal effort.

Types of wood chipper

There are a few varieties of chipper which are available for domestic and commercial use.

If you want a domestic machine which is a great all-round tool for every type of foliage/wood, then you more than likely will want to look at a chipper shredder.

Electric Wood Chipper

An electric chipper is typically lightweight and relatively small. The compact frame allows them to be pretty easy to store and manoeuvre around.

With an electric chipper, you simply need to plug the machine into an outlet and away you go. You don’t need to worry about petrol or oil. Without the requirement of oil, it also means that you could use your chipper inside of your garage if you wanted to, without worrying about exhaust fumes.

You do, however, have to worry about where you wish to use your machine. If you want to use it in the garden, you must be mindful that you may need an extension cord. The longer the extension cord the more power the wood chipper will lose.

An electric chipper usually means less maintenance, but also less power. Of course, electric chippers also have the benefit of being emission-free and quiet.

Petrol Wood Chipper

If you have a serious amount of hard and softwood to get through, then a petrol wood chipper is probably your best bet.

Petrol engines are typically just able to produce more power than an electric motor would, meaning they’re better for tougher branches. Additionally, the faster the drum spins, the finer the chip you’ll produce.

If you have a fair few acres, it’s also probably best to be able to take your chipper directly to the fallen branches and leaves. With an electric model, you’re limited to the size of the extension cable and we don’t recommend extending over 10m long or the chipper will simply lose too much power.

To put it simply; If you need to perform consistent heavy-duty chipping tasks, then go for a petrol wood chipper. If you want to use your chipper once or twice a year for more lightweight uses then go for an electric wood chipper.

Check out our blog post on how to maintain your petrol wood chipper for more information.

What should you look for?

Feed Capacity

The feed capacity is one of the most crucial elements to look at when ordering a wood chipper. The feed capacity is the limit of wood in which the chipper is able to perform effectively.

You need to carefully look at the diameter size of the branches in comparison with the wood chipper you are looking at buying.

For e.g., if you have branches which are 3 inches in diameter, then you will want to look at a chipper which has a capacity of up to around 80mm.

If you’re buying a wood chipper for domestic use, then typically you won’t require a wood chipper with a capacity of over 100mm. This is because any branches over this size can usually be utilised for log burners without to chip them down.

Power

When selecting the power of the wood chipper, you will be looking at the horsepower (HP) that the chipper is able to produce.

It’s difficult to say what HP you will require but it depends on the kind of wood you’re going to be chipping and the type of drum that the chipper utilises.

If you’re cutting wood which has been left for a long time (seasoned) then you will likely want a higher powered chipper.

How much storage do you require for the wood chipper?

Where are you going to be storing your chipper? Chippers vary in size, ranging from our compact wood chipper series which is smaller than an average wheelbarrow right up to a commercial sized chipper which are often the size of large trailers.

You need to consider how you’re going to store your chipper as well as how much room you actually have in your garden.

Warranty

Warranty is quite an important element of buying a chipper, you want to be sure that if anything does go wrong with your machine that you will be able to get it fixed without additional cost.

However, you must also look behind the warranty and look at the service provided. Our Forest Master Chippers guarantee a lifetime service of expert technical advice. It doesn’t matter if you bought your product 10+ years ago, we are still here to help with any technical help you could ever need.

Often, companies will outsource this technical help or have no actual technical knowledge of the machine they’re selling. This could result in countless faults and errors with your machine over the years to come.

Wood Chipper Spare Parts

As well as the warranty you receive with your product, you also need to look at the availability of spare parts. Wood chippers last a long time and aren’t a cheap piece of equipment, you need to be sure that you’ll be able to source spare parts for the machine if you should ever need them. This includes the likes of replacement blades and belts. You can find out more information regarding the general maintenance of a wood chipper by checking out this article.

At Forest Master, we stock all the necessary spare parts for all of our machines. This ensures that you’ll never be stuck with a faulty or underperforming machine.

Manoeuvrability

This ties in with the design of the wood chipper, if the purpose of the chipper is for lightweight domestic use, then you probably only want a small machine which can easily fit away in a garage or shed.

If you’re going towards more commercially sized machines, then you’ll likely want to start looking at chippers which are fitted with tow bars and such for better manoeuvrability.

Additional Features

The last thing to consider is the added little benefits and features which really sell the machine and make it unique and worth your money.

How many decibels is a wood chipper?

While it may not be your first thought when buying a wood chipper, you should definitely consider your neighbours in the equation. If you opt for a bigger machine, it’s likely going to carry more noise.

Operation of our compact wood chippers produces 90db. On average, a wood chipper produces around 107dB. For comparison, this is a similar volume as loud orchestral music or a jet flyover. It’s important you wear ear defenders to protect your own hearing, but you will also need to consider the environment in which you’ll be using the chipper.

Once the level of dB starts to reach 90-100, there is a very high risk of long term hearing damage.

Unique Features

For e.g., Forest Master wood chippers are equipped with a patent-pending design that allows direct access to the drum of the machine. The hinged hopper and chute allow quick and efficient access to the drum. You only need to remove one or two bolts to gain access in order to clear out any blockages or perform any maintenance. This means your chipping downtime is virtually non-existent.

Our chippers are also equipped with reversible blades. Reversible blades enable twice the life span of regular blades, as soon as one side starts to wear you can simply flip them around and gain a new life.

Once you’ve got your wood chipper and you’re happily on your way chipping your fallen/cut branches, be sure to take a look at our blog post on how to utilise all of your leftover wood chips!

You can find more Wood Chipping videos on our YouTube page.

This guide covers how to correctly maintain your petrol wood chipper. We will also guide you through starting your wood chipper for the first time as well as any troubleshooting issues you may encounter over time.

If you are simply looking into purchasing your first wood chipper and the maintenance involved, take a look at our wood chipper buying guide to learn more about the best wood chipper for you depending on your needs and uses. If you’re set on purchasing a petrol wood chipper, take a look at our blog covering the best petrol wood chipper on the market.

Regular maintenance checks should be performed on your wood chipper in order to ensure optimal performance and long life of your machine.

Starting your Wood Chipper for the First Time

Check the tension of the belts

Ensure that you check the tension of the belts before first-time use. You should then run the chipper for no longer than 10 to 15 minutes before checking the tension of the belts again. This is because after the first fifteen minutes of use the belts will stretch.

The tension of the belts should be checked before each use. Click here to learn how to adjust the tension belts of your chipper.

You should also follow the below checklist before every use of your wood chipper.

– Check the oil level of the chipper

– Check the general equipment condition

– Check the tension of the blades

– Check the blades for sharpness

– Check emergency stop switch

How to start your Petrol Wood Chipper

The first step to starting up your chipper is to position the wood chipper on flat, dry ground and make sure that the machine cannot be moved.

You should then make sure that the Fuel Shut-Off Valve is in the ‘ON‘ position.

Move the Choke Control Lever to the ‘CHOKE‘ position (this is only required if the engine is cold).

Move the Throttle Control Lever to the ‘FAST‘ position.

Turn the Ignition Switch to the ‘ON‘ position. Grasp the Recoil Starter Handle and slowly pull until you feel resistance. Let the cord retract a little bit and then pull the cord rapidly to start the engine. One or two pulls usually starts the engine.

Move the Choke Control level (if used for a cold engine) slowly back to the ‘RUN‘ position when the engine is running well.

If the wood chipper has not been running (cold engine), warm up the engine by running the engine at half throttle for 3-4 minutes, then advance the engine throttle control o the maximum speed.

Stopping the engine

Simply move the throttle lever to ‘IDLE‘ and then turn the Ignition Switch to the ‘OFF‘ position.

Maintaining your Chipper over time

In order to maintain your petrol wood chipper at optimal performance, we recommend following the below rules. Checking these bullet points off after the recommended time will help to make sure that every part of your chipper is well looked after and ready to perform the task at hand. It will also greatly expand the life of the chipper, keeping it ready for action for years to come.

Every 25 Hours of Use

– Check the tire pressure

– Clean the engine exterior and cooling

– Change engine Oil

– Replace Air Filter

Every 100 Hours

– Replace Spark Plug

Troubleshooting your Machine

The engine of the chipper won’t start

In the event that your wood chipper won’t start, follow the checklist provided below.

– Is the Ignition Switch in the ‘ON‘ position?

– Is the fuel shut-off valve on?

– Are you using fresh, clean fuel? If the fuel is old, change it. We strongly recommend using a fuel stabilizer if you keep fuel for longer than 30 days.

– Is the spark plug clean? If the spark plug is dirty or cracked, change it. If it’s oily, leave it out, hold a rag over the plug hole and pull the recoil cord several times to blow out any oil in the cylinder, then wipe off the plug and reinsert it.

– Is there sufficient oil? Check the engine oil level and if necessary top up the current level.

– Is there dirt in the carburettor? Undo the bolt holding the float chamber to the carburettor, empty out any fuel and clean the inside using fresh clean petrol. Remove the jet in the bottom of the carburettor and clean it. You can then refit the jet and the float chamber.

The engine lacks power or is not running smoothly

In the event that your wood chipper isn’t running smoothly or is lacking power, follow the checklist provided below.

– Check that the Throttle Lever is in the ‘RUN‘ position.

– Is the spark plug clean? If it’s fouled or cracked, change it. If it’s oily then leave it out, hold a rag over the plug hole and pull the recoil cord several times to blow out any of the oil in the cylinder. You then wipe off the plug and reinsert it.

– Are you using fresh and clean unleaded gas? If it’s old then change it. We recommend using a fuel stabilizer if you keep gas for longer than 30 days.

– Does your engine have the right amount of clean oil? If it’s dirty then change it following the instructions typically provided in the engine manufacturers owners manual.

The engine is producing smoke

In the even that your wood chipper engine is producing smoke, please follow the checklist provided below:

– Check the oil level and adjust as needed

– Check the air filter and clean or replace if needed.

– It’s possible that you’re using the wrong oil – possibly an oil which is too light for the temperature. We recommend reading the engine owners manual for more detailed information regarding this subject.

– Clean the cooling fans if they’re dirty.

If you’ve been through each step of our checklists and you’re still experiencing issues, then please give us a call on our technical line on 0191 276 6553 or email us at technical@forest-master.com.

You can also find more tips and fixes on our Frequently Asked Questions Page.

Forest Master presents a varied range of electric and petrol wood chippers, garden shredders and mulchers for different power requirements, uses and sizes. One product, however, has gained major traction over the past year for its innovative design and power.

The Forest Master FM6DD Petrol Wood Chipper claims itself as the best wood chipper on the market, competing with the likes of Bosch and its AXT25 and T-Mech’s 15hp petrol chipper. Is it really the case, and what can you expect from such an advanced bit of kit?

Wood chippers are in theory very simple. There are a number of different approaches to how the machinery chews up a branch or piece of shrubbery, each with its own pros and cons. Powered either by an electric motor or a small engine, obviously the more powerful the mechanism inside, generally the better it is at chipping. However, this is not always the case, as ingenuity on behalf of the designers plays a part as with anything.

At a Glance

The Forest Master FM6DD features a powerful four-stroke 208cc engine capable of tearing through branches and foliage of up to 2 inches thick at a staggering rate of 3600rpm. This compact piece of kit features a direct drive without belts and is therefore guaranteed to never lose performance, and will resist the test of time. And on top of all that features an ingenious manually adjustable chute allowing you to dispose of the waste straight into a wheelbarrow or bag. Shredding has never been easier. 

Direct Drive Technology

Whilst a majority of chippers have a motor that’s connected to a drive belt, which in turn is connected to a blade, the FM6DD does not feature a belt and is instead a direct drive considerably increasing the longevity of the machinery. Moreover, research undertaken by engineers at Forest Master found that the most likely piece of the machine to give out was the belt, leading to frequent services and increasing the running and maintenance costs. A belt can’t be faulty if there’s no belt to go faulty.

Want to learn more about why Direct Drive Technology matters, click to read our blog on why direct drive systems are better than belt drive systems. Less maintenance = fewer headaches = happy chipping!

Unparalleled Weight to Power Ratio

We’ve not even mentioned the fact that the weight-to-power ratio is currently unrivalled on the market. The average customer wants something lightweight and portable. Looking at the Bosch AXT 25 which is the closest to the FM6DD in terms of power output, weighs twice as much at 75kg as opposed to 38kg. This allows the FM6DD to be stored and transported much easier, fitting through a standard-sized garden gate with ease and fitting inside most sheds with room to spare.

In fact, the Forest Master model has been given top spots in highly accredited forestry review sites such as bestreviewer.co.uk and upgardener.co.uk. But this isn’t just a post for us to boast about how good our own product is (even though we know it is) so we’ll compare it against a few other models for you to make up your own mind.

You can see for yourself, that it’s hard to argue that there is the most cost-effective wood chipper available on the market. Ready to purchase yours? Head over to Forest-Master.com to pick up the FM6DD now.

If you’d like to learn about how to look after your machine for years and years to come after your purchase, check out our blog post on how to maintain a petrol wood chipper.

Meet Forest Master’s compact mini wood chipper.

Better yet, what if I told you your petrol wood chipper could also mulch and shred? Forest Master’s new FM6DD-Mul can do just that – incredible right? Offering a 3-in-1 solution to all of your gardening, composting, and mulching needs. Compact, portable, and robust – are three words I’d use to describe this beauty.

Capable of taking all wet and dry garden matter, it is the ultimate tool in any arsenal. You can rotate the drum to match your need! Mulching a hard material – rotate the chute vertical. Shredding softer materials – make the chute less steep. It’s that easy. Visit Forest-Master.com to find out more.

Want to know some suggestions on what you can put through your chipper, click here for a guide on just that. Likewise, ever wondered if you can mulch wood? We get asked that a lot, click here to find out more.

Want to see more? Check out the videos of it in action below: