Comments on: Compact 4HP Electric Garden Shredder Mulcher FM4DDE-MUL

By: Tim Squance

Tim Squance — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 11:59:22 +0000

The Shredder arrived the next day. Easy to assemble as I followed the YouTube video.

Worked as expected – very pleased so far. I cut down sone small leafy branches from a tree in the garden and it shredded then to very small pieces. Took only a quarter of a bag when the cuttings unshredded take 2 bags!

Only small gripe is they should have inc a longer lead and a handle (which is an extra to purchase when in stock).

Apart from that very happy.

By: Anthony Newborough

Anthony Newborough — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 16:57:31 +0000

By: NIGEL G.

NIGEL G. — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:49:43 +0000

Only tried it once so far. Seems to have a metallic rattle whilst running which I will have to investigate.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 10:09:16 +0000

Although it chips wood up to 20mm it will not do 50mm as in the literature. Tried to use to process hedge trimmings but repeatedly clogged. Safety guard doesn’t help as restricts. Disappointed.

By: Forest Master

Forest Master — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:36:57 +0000

In reply to Mark.

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out! The power cable for our Forest Master FM4DDE Compact Electric Wood Chipper is 1.4 metres in length, and it can indeed be used with an extension cable.

Please keep in mind that our machines are designed to work best with extension cables no longer than 10 metres. Extension cables typically experience a power loss of about 1 volt per metre, so using a cable longer than 10 metres could result in a significant voltage drop, which may lead to motor strain. Our motors are optimally designed for 230/240 volts, so operating at less than 220 volts could potentially overload the motor.

Most household mains supply 230v/240v, but we recommend checking your voltage levels to ensure optimal performance. Operating the machine at lower voltages over time could affect its performance and longevity.

It’s also important to use a 2.5mm cable for the extension and ensure that it is fully unwound during operation. While some customers have used the machine at 200 volts without immediate problems, extended use at this level might eventually cause motor issues.

If you have any further questions or need additional advice, feel free to contact us!

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:20:16 +0000

It is for mulching but it gets clogged too easily to use as a chipper. I literally spend more time take the feed shute off to clean than i did chip – and that was with wood well within its stated capacity

By: Simon Harris

Simon Harris — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 12:35:48 +0000

Price vs capability is the big issue. With some sensible design thinking capability could be much improved.
The machine is robust but doesn’t do any more than £100 machine at five times the price.
Assembly:
The assembly manual is more confusing than helpful
The motor is very heavy and it has a plastic box stuck on the top that is vulnerable during assembly.
Design:
the electrics box or at least the emergency off button could be on the side of the input hopper where it would be easier to reach
With the electrics moved it would be easy to increase the IP rating to make the machine rainproof.
As supplied the output hopper is a joke. I guess that’s why the meaningless claim to be able to rotate the drum 40° is included along with half the output hopper being removable? the remaining hopper should be curved to shoot forwards not downwards. in fact why bother with it at all? it’s appears that all that makes this a mulcher is by blocking what would have been the exit port of the chipper and providing a grated opening that nothing can emerge from till it’s been reduced in size?
Some hooks to retain the handles of a builders bag into which the shoot could then discharge would be useful.
The short cable is a joke too. It should be 10 m and there should be some hooks to wind the cable on.
Lack of a handle makes the machine almost impossible to move. Certainly over rough terrain. the tines of a broken fork inserted into the redundant battery retaining box securing holes goes some way to fix but a very simple piece of welding to produce a handlebar to bolt on would be cheap and simple.
The input hopper is not wide nor broad enough and its just the wrong height so make an hours use back braking.
Make the tubular edge of the top be the anchor point for a 3mm wire x 15/20mm mesh table then this would allow easier feeding into the input hopper of general tangled garden weeding and trimmings while allowing earth and stone to be filtered out.
The safety bolt on the input hopper requires a 17 full rotations and is in the most awkward of spots – get rid of it, move the micro switch to be flush with the surface and put two 3£ tension/ toggle clips on the input hopper to snap shut and lock!
Use:
in 4 hours of use I’ve additionaly spent 2 investigating non-starting jamming and replacing fuses. jamming requires removing the input hopper or reaching down inside it. a pivoting claw assembled through the side or top of the hopper with a handle on the outside that allowed material to be ratcheted towards the blades would help.
The drum rotation requires a box banner which should be supplied. It would be sensible to make the drum rotation and the blade replacement bolt heads the same size and then to give an attachment on the outside of the machine to hold it. a spare plastic cap is going to be needed when the current one gets lost which I predict won’t take long. Instead of being wholly detachable secure with a lanyard
I’ve replaced one 13 amp fuse in the house in 20 years and two 13 amp fuses in the extension power lead for this a shredder in 2 days use

conclusion:
Despite excellent build quality for robustness if I’d had an hours use before purchase I wouldn’t not have purchased this level of functionality at this level of price
Simon@logicalmodel.net

By: Andrew D.

Andrew D. — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 12:20:49 +0000

The mulcher/chipper works very well. It produces good sized bits suitable for composting or mulch. It is much quieter in operation then I thought it would be. The major niggle is the length of the lead which is about 1.5 m. Far too short.

By: Ian Collins

Ian Collins — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:36:27 +0000

discharge chute could not be assembled as delivered

By: Janice B.

Janice B. — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 16:42:23 +0000

Sturdy and straightforward to assemble using the online video. Two annoying points: 1) The power cable is ridiculously short. Even with an outside socket it has been awkward to set the shredder up in a convenient position 2) The metal and plastic guides on the feed shoot are awkward and actually prevent the machine’s primary function. Branches and green waste get stuck and can’t progress far enough down the chute to be processed. Works fine when removed, but clearly not something that health and safety would recommend!