Garden Shredders > JCB Garden Shredders

Advantages: Relatively inexpensive; shreds thinner stems well; solidly built and good looking.
Disadvantages: Can't shred thicker stems; jams too easily; fiddly collection bag.

I bought the JCB shredder to shred the heaps of shrub, hedge and rose prunings accumulating at the top of my garden. My plan was firstly to save a trip to the local rubbish tip, and secondly to acquire free bark chippings for mulching, as well as a useful addition to my composting bin. My early impression (I've only just bought it) is that it will indeed get rid of most of my prunings and provide bark chippings and compost, however I am disappointed ...
...a plus point though the JCB made short work of my Budleia (hardwood) stems, sucking them through the blades at speed and spewing out some lovely looking mulch chippings. I didn't like the collection box/bag arrangement - too fiddly, I would have preferred a rigid box though you can use your own container. This shredder is heavy so if I haven't put you off buying it make sure you get help to carry it into the car. One assembled it's easier to move ... Read review

Advantages: Makes twigs and the like easy to compost.
Disadvantages: Cost is about the only disadvantage..

...into the machine. The machine comes with a decent manual, giving all relevant instructions and information. Contact details :- J C Bamford Excavators Limited Registered Office: Rocester Staffordshire England ST14 5JP Website :- http://www.jcb.co.uk/ JCB Information Centre: Tel No. Freephone 0800 581 761 Happy shredding! ... Read review

Advantages: Good value for larger gardens
Disadvantages: Like a Fiat it has a few plastic parts here and there!

Winter's a comin' and the garden is full to bursting with hedge prunings, leaves, old branches and other detritus. You could have a good old fashioned bonfire but you might burn hedgehogs! Noone (that I know of) wants this; neither do we really want to lug it to the tip. Electric shredders have been frustrating in my experience. They seldom have the power to keep up when processing large volumes of affore mentioned detritus. I need something meaner. ...
...for this one. It was £100 cheaper then the equivlalent powered Eliet model and looked to me to be a more logical design than its Eliet or Mighty Mac peers in terms of clearing blockages (even a Timberwolf chipper can become blocked) and feeding. The first thing you will notice is an industry strength Briggs & Stratton Intek engine with 6.5hp (3.65KW). This sounds like plenty until you use something like a Timberwolf with a 45hp turbodiesel engine, ... Read review

Advantages: powerful
Disadvantages: heavy

This garden shredder is a very willing workhorse. i have had mine for 3 years with no problems. Its awkward to pull about from the front to rear garden as the handlle isn't placed where it needs to be. Another downer is the fabric collection bag which isn't stiff enough to stay in place so all the shreddings spill about. I solved this one by clipping it to the frame using the type of alligator clips used by market stallholders and standing it on ...
...The reversible cutting blades are a useful feature. As I am mean, I need to investigate whether worn blades can be re-sharpened to avoid buying a replacement set! I lent it to my neighbour who then went out and bought a similar model to replace the 'toy' shredder on his lawn sweeper/vacuum. It can be tedious unscrewing and screwing the very long screw to clear it if you are too enthusiastic with your shredding and get a jam, but I see the sense of ... Read review

Advantages: Seems to be unbreakable. Easy to use.
Disadvantages: Can't cope with wet stuff.

...shredder I use is a Bosch AXT 2000. It came from B&Q five years ago. Todays price is £179.98. It looks big and solid and it's turned out to be really robust. Nothings broken or stopped working. It's kept under cover as electrics obviously have to stay dry but it hasn't needed any maintenance as there simply isn't any required. It has about twelve feet of lead which I find too short as I like plenty of space round me when I'm using it. I always ...
...on the subject of safety I wear plastic goggles and big gloves too. It's easy to wheel out to where you want to use it. The big wheels go over bumpy ground fairly smoothly and the handle is moulded into the casing. I find it easier to pull it along beside me. Other people seem to prefer pushing it. At least there's a choice. There are two control knobs. These are a bit stiff to turn but I think this is to stop them being accidently knocked while ... Read review