Colin
Retired.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2017
- Messages
- 1,663
- Reaction score
- 2,541
- Location
- Huddersfield.
- Hardiness Zone
- 7
- Country
Hi,
For many years I ran car load after car load of garden brash up to our local recycling center then about five years ago I bought my first garden shredder this was very cheap brand new from Screwfix;
https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb353shr-2500w-80kg-hr-electric-garden-shredder-230-240v/39931
Even today these Titan shredders are still cheap; at first I suffered lots of shredder blockages due to plastic "fingers" at the outlet; I completely removed these and it transformed the shredder; this obviously I cannot recommend doing and it immediately invalidated the warranty but now this cheap shredder did what it was supposed to do and I shredded mountains of brash using it; with the shredding completed I then sold this shredder recouping half the initial outlay so it proved to be a tremendous bargain. The downside was having to force feed it and it didn't like conifers but with a great deal of patience and lots of time it did a fair job.
About two years ago again now needing a shredder I browsed Gumtree and found a much bigger Bosch AXT 25 D advertised as new but with damaged packaging and it hadn't been used; I put in an offer which was immediately accepted and I collected the shredder.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-ax...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMC5zOHY1tYCFWqiUQodVV4ACw
This Bosch AXT 25 D is much more expensive than the cheap Titan but the extra money is well spent; I thought I'd add the story because I've just been using the Bosch to shred a big pile of assorted brash; as usual its another black hole today with rain forecast for later today which is strange because it seldom quits raining here; I dashed out at 8:15 and set the shredder up on our sloping garden power via a long extension lead the cable sockets placed in a plastic shopping bag as water protection; it's blowing the usual gale but by 10:15 I had finally shredded the entire pile; all during shredding I was buffeted with the wind bringing horizontal drizzle with it but now its raining. I try my best to enjoy gardening and to take it easy but I'm forever working just the right side of panic fighting our dire climate; I'm pleased however to get this lot shredded before it got another soaking and became covered with slugs and snails. I'm going to use the shredded material as mulch but at the moment have had to declare defeat the weather is too bad to carry on.
I never hire machinery because hiring is very expensive once all the extras are added like VAT and transport and then there is lots of pressure to get the job done in order to return the machine. I bought the cheap Titan shredder and did lots of shredding using it over a long period then sold it on so it cost virtually nothing; a few years ago I bought a brand new cement mixer which I used to install flood defenses; due to the dire climate the work took six weeks but once completed I sold the cement mixer for £30 less than I paid for it; I kept it immaculate so again another machine that cost me very little indeed. I'm keeping the Bosch shredder though and its already paid for itself since I bought it shredding masses of laurel and also this shreds conifer brash.
I only shred up to about an inch thick (25mm) anything thicker is saved and given to neighbours who own wood-burners. safety protection is needed because during shredding the material tends to whip around; I wear glasses and these double up as my safety glasses for such work; this Bosch is nice and quiet but I wear ear defenders and also thick rigger type gloves are a must especially whilst shredding brash from Berberis; Holly and brambles etc which are a real pain to handle.
I'm not a shredder expert but both the Titan and now the Bosch have been well worth buying and the shredded material makes good mulch; I'm not yet into composting but I feel this shredded material would be ideal for composting.
Here's how to mulch on a bigger scale which hopefully is of interest; Bron and I found it fascinating. I'm planning on mulching our entire back garden using wood chips.
Just passing a bit of time whilst the rain lashes down. The pictures are dark taken with the camera on "Auto" normally I use Gimp to brighten them up.
Kind regards, Colin.
For many years I ran car load after car load of garden brash up to our local recycling center then about five years ago I bought my first garden shredder this was very cheap brand new from Screwfix;
https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb353shr-2500w-80kg-hr-electric-garden-shredder-230-240v/39931
Even today these Titan shredders are still cheap; at first I suffered lots of shredder blockages due to plastic "fingers" at the outlet; I completely removed these and it transformed the shredder; this obviously I cannot recommend doing and it immediately invalidated the warranty but now this cheap shredder did what it was supposed to do and I shredded mountains of brash using it; with the shredding completed I then sold this shredder recouping half the initial outlay so it proved to be a tremendous bargain. The downside was having to force feed it and it didn't like conifers but with a great deal of patience and lots of time it did a fair job.
About two years ago again now needing a shredder I browsed Gumtree and found a much bigger Bosch AXT 25 D advertised as new but with damaged packaging and it hadn't been used; I put in an offer which was immediately accepted and I collected the shredder.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-ax...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMC5zOHY1tYCFWqiUQodVV4ACw
This Bosch AXT 25 D is much more expensive than the cheap Titan but the extra money is well spent; I thought I'd add the story because I've just been using the Bosch to shred a big pile of assorted brash; as usual its another black hole today with rain forecast for later today which is strange because it seldom quits raining here; I dashed out at 8:15 and set the shredder up on our sloping garden power via a long extension lead the cable sockets placed in a plastic shopping bag as water protection; it's blowing the usual gale but by 10:15 I had finally shredded the entire pile; all during shredding I was buffeted with the wind bringing horizontal drizzle with it but now its raining. I try my best to enjoy gardening and to take it easy but I'm forever working just the right side of panic fighting our dire climate; I'm pleased however to get this lot shredded before it got another soaking and became covered with slugs and snails. I'm going to use the shredded material as mulch but at the moment have had to declare defeat the weather is too bad to carry on.
I never hire machinery because hiring is very expensive once all the extras are added like VAT and transport and then there is lots of pressure to get the job done in order to return the machine. I bought the cheap Titan shredder and did lots of shredding using it over a long period then sold it on so it cost virtually nothing; a few years ago I bought a brand new cement mixer which I used to install flood defenses; due to the dire climate the work took six weeks but once completed I sold the cement mixer for £30 less than I paid for it; I kept it immaculate so again another machine that cost me very little indeed. I'm keeping the Bosch shredder though and its already paid for itself since I bought it shredding masses of laurel and also this shreds conifer brash.
I only shred up to about an inch thick (25mm) anything thicker is saved and given to neighbours who own wood-burners. safety protection is needed because during shredding the material tends to whip around; I wear glasses and these double up as my safety glasses for such work; this Bosch is nice and quiet but I wear ear defenders and also thick rigger type gloves are a must especially whilst shredding brash from Berberis; Holly and brambles etc which are a real pain to handle.
I'm not a shredder expert but both the Titan and now the Bosch have been well worth buying and the shredded material makes good mulch; I'm not yet into composting but I feel this shredded material would be ideal for composting.
Here's how to mulch on a bigger scale which hopefully is of interest; Bron and I found it fascinating. I'm planning on mulching our entire back garden using wood chips.
Just passing a bit of time whilst the rain lashes down. The pictures are dark taken with the camera on "Auto" normally I use Gimp to brighten them up.
Kind regards, Colin.