We strongly recommend that the wood is chipped no longer than three days after cutting. After this date, the wood will begin to dry out, meaning the chipper blades then struggle to dig into the wood. This produces a sawdust-like waste from the exit chute, and the chipper will struggle to self-feed.

If the chipper is producing sawdust – this is a clear sign that the wood is dry. When chipping slow-grown hardwood such as fruit trees (e.g. cherry or apple trees) you must ensure that you chip the material the same day that it is cut to ensure the machine operates at full effectiveness.

Simply spray water down into the mulcher hopper feed while the engine/motor is running. After you have finished hosing the mulcher down – leave the engine running for a few minutes to allow the machine to dry itself off.

If cleaning the electric mulcher – take care to only direct water into the hopper feed, being careful to avoid the motor.

notice: this method only applies to the mulcher series – DO NOT attempt to hose down the FM4DDE / FM6DD chipper series.

However, the chipper/mulcher is equipped with twin reversible blades. The reversible blades mean that you can simply switch the blades around when the first set start to dull, so you get a much longer life span on the blades.

We also stock spare blades on our website, should you need to have them replaced.

If you wish to sharpen the blades yourself, this can be accomplished with the use of an oil stone. Simply sharpen the edges of the blades, do not worry about removing any dents or marks.

Q: Can both machines chip the same diameter wood?
A: Yes, both machines are capable of chipping the same-diameter wood, up to 50mm (2 inches).

Q: Which machine is better for chipping tree branches?
A: Both the mulcher and chipper are equally good for chipping tree branches using Forest Master machines. However, the mulcher will produce smaller wood chips while the chipper will produce larger ones.

Q: Which machine is better for chipping leafy hedges and green material?
A: A mulcher is better suited for chipping, shredding, and mulching leafy hedges and green material such as vegetable matter.

Q: What should I consider when choosing between a chipper and a mulcher?
A: Consider the type of material you’ll be processing. If you’re primarily chipping tree branches or cuttings with few leaves, a chipper is the best choice. If you’ll be chipping, shredding, and mulching leafy hedges and green material, a mulcher is the better choice.

Q: Is it easy to replace wood chipper blades?
A: Yes, it’s very easy to replace wood chipper blades and shouldn’t take too long. Once you’ve done it once, you’ll have no problem doing it in the future.

Q: Where can I buy replacement blades?
A: You can buy replacement blades directly from the Forest Master website at https://forest-master.com/forged-steel-wood-chipper-blades/.

Q: What tools do I need to replace the blades?
A: You will need an impact socket, available on the Forest Master website at https://forest-master.com/hexagonal-impact-socket/ or a similar 16mm socket that has no chamfer at the entrance.

Q: How do I replace the blades?
A: First, open the feed hopper and rotate the drum until you can see the blade. Jam a piece of wood in the drum to stop it from rotating while you work. Using the socket, loosen and remove the two bolts. Clean the face of the drum where the blade sits, using the old blade to scrape away any debris. When fitting the new blade, use a small amount of medium-strength Loctite on the bolts and tighten to a torque of 16nm/12ftlb.

In order to solve this, tighten the three adjusting bolts on the mulcher drum and then loosen the three nuts until they are very loose. This should then allow you to adjust the angles and then tighten the drum at the required angle.