If you want to manage your large garden cost-effectively and adequately or are professional in land maintenance and industrial wood raw material production, renting a chipper always skyrockets your final cost.
To effectively run your business, a drum chipper is a preferable choice because they are gasoline-powered to manage the heavy loads as well.
This article is going to introduce you to the drum chippers in a profound analytical way.
What Is A Drum Chipper?
Drum wood chipper is a particular machine used for chipping. It is used to chip wood logs, branches, tree stumps, and wood refuse from industrial production.
It is also effective for cutting non-wood materials, such as sugarcane, bamboo, straws, stalks, etc.
Drum chipper is popular among shaving boards, cardboard, paper, biomass, and other related industrial production. Chip dimensions are adjustable as per the requirements.
Parts Of Drum Wood Chipper
As the name suggests, it comes in a drum-shaped appearance. Two drums are attached in the parallel direction and the sharp blades or knives in the horizontal direction.
Drum wood chipper assembly is made up of base, blades or knife roller, feeding hopper, belt conveyor, and hydraulic mechanism.
The main body is protected by welding with a highly resistant steel plate.
Feed Roller
Drum chippers are available with one or more feeding hoppers attached with a conveyer belt to the pulley system. The speed of the feeding can change on the control box.
The hydraulic mechanism in the chipper makes the operation of feeding the material run smoothly and securely.
Cutting Blades
In the knife roller, knives are installed for cutting jobs. The quantity and efficiency of the blades determine the wood chips you get upon chipping.
These knives are of robust steel or chromium alloy to avoid early weariness.
As per the model, the blades are provided with individual shafts or with a single supported platform.
The machine with shafts rods is efficient, and the chipper with no shaft is slower, but the wood chips obtained are uniform.
The hard-wearing parts used in the drum chipper allow it to process heavy loads in the thick and fibrous material.
The Working Mechanism Of Drum Wood Chipper
A drum wood chipper performs its function in a sequence order mentioned below.
- The feeding material draws in by the hydraulic system, which then propels towards the cutting blades. The cutting edges are connected with gear equipment to make adjustments in cutting speed.
- The motor in the chipper generates its energy from the gasoline in order to perform high-efficiency work. The engine helps to rotate the cutting blades in the chipper.
- After being cut, wood chips are thrown outward through the exit chute into the collecting bin.
Benefits Drum Wood Chipper?
While buying a drum chipper, other than the chipping efficiency, several features must be well-understood to get the best possible model available on the market.
Listed below are the key factors that should be assessed when you are purchasing a drum chipper.
Potent Engines
How powerful your engine is, determines the chipping potential of the drum chipper. In addition, the engine should be of high capacity to deal with the fibrous and thicker wood parts and residues.
The engine drives energy to power the cutting blades. Gasoline-powered drum chippers have the tendency to pulverize heavy loads.
Engine capacity is measured in horsepower. High horsepower means more blade rotation concerning time and a quick outcome.
Equipped With Belt Tensioner
The drum chipper having a pulley and belt mechanism should have an automatic belt tensioner. It prevents wearing down other parts, conveyor belt slipping, and motor damage. It also reduces manual labor and time.
Safety Plugs In
Drum chippers without safety features cost your life and may cause the motor and other parts failure.
The emergency shut-off button and automatic shut-down sensor mechanism are the essential safety features considered while purchasing a drum chipper.
It helps to stop further damage to the chipper.
A Prompt Start
In order to avoid the hassle of hours starting your chipper, you must consider buying a drum chipper with a quick start feature.
Gasoline-powered engines do not come with a quick start feature, but you must ensure the engine should rapidly drive power upon pulling the cord.
Chipping Capacity
The capacity to chop the feed material varies from model to model. Some drum wood chippers cannot chip the wood pieces not more than 4-5 inches in diameter. Some chippers can deal with large materials up to 20 inches in diameter.
It would be best to consider buying those chippers that can handle the material you need to chop.
Quiet Operation
The gas-powered engines emit a lot of ear-splitting noise. It is unpleasant for some users to work with louder equipment. Furthermore, it is unacceptable to your neighbors as well.
Some users preferred buying drum chippers with reduced noise, and some used the alternative called noise canceller to facilitate the buying cost.
Sturdy Makeup
When making a good choice for purchasing a drum chipper, you should not end up with the chipper assembly with loose metal makeup.
The base and the assembly should be made up of quality metal covering to provide all the parts of the machine with protection. In addition, it increases the life of your chipper.
Maintenance Of A Drum Wood Chipper
Accidents are more likely to happen during maintenance procedures, so you must follow the guidelines while providing your chipper maintenance service.
Bring The Machine To Complete Stop
Before starting cleaning and maintenance steps, make sure the machine is in an appropriate state.
Turn off the engine, remove the ignition key, battery cables, and clutch. Set the feed control box to the neutral position.
Place the Cutter drum lock into the cutter lock tube. Wait a little while to cool down all the heated parts of the machine.
Air Filter
- Inspect and clean the air filter daily.
- Replace the air filter if it is damaged or cleaned six times.
- Replace the safety filter.
- When performing cleaning, close the inlet openings to avoid any dust going inside of the engine.
- With a piece of cloth, clean the filters, housing, and cover.
- Inspect the filter thoroughly. There must be no broken damage.
Radiator Screen and Fans
- Examine the radiator screen and find all possible foreign particles, including dust, oil, leaves, etc.
- With the help of the pressurized air, clean the screen and fins. Always clean from the backside of the screen.
- Inspect the damaged fins, fan blades. Check all the bearings, connections, clamps, and seals for any breakage. Then, replace or repair the damage.
Change The Oil and Oil Filter
It is advised to change the oil and its filter after 250 hours of operation or 3 months.
It is preferable to use the manufacturer-recommended oil and filter and follow the manufacturer guidelines to change the oil and filter.
Coolant System
- Check the coolant level daily when the engine is off and other heated parts come to cool down.
- Open the coolant filler cap to reduce the pressure.
- While adding coolant to the tank, the space between the coolant tank and the bottom of the filler pipe should be ½.
- Cleanse the coolant cap and check for gasket damage and leakage of the coolant system.
- It is necessary to replace the filler cap before starting the engine.
Feed Control Box
- Before operating the machine, check the reverse, stop and forward switches as they are correctly functioning.
- The grease fitting present on the feed control box needs greasing after 30-40 hours of use.
- Weekly lubricate with oil the feed control connectors.
Chipper Hitch
- Check the bolts and nuts of the hitch of the chipper and the bolts of the tow vehicle. If they are not tightened properly, fix them to the specified torque.
- Inspect for the breakage and distortions of the nuts and bolts and replace them if required.
- Keep the pintle ring of the chipper oily to increase the life of the hitch.
- If the pintle ring is damaged or loose, replace it as soon as possible because the flexible attachment causes the chipper to move violently while transporting. Check the hitch of the tow vehicle, also.
Apart from these, feed tension wheels, jack stand, light wiring, breakaway witches, assembly frames, and other permanent parts of the chipper should be inspected from time to time.
Troubleshooting Of Drum Wood Chipper
Here are a few tips about troubleshooting drum wood chippers. Just scroll down and read more about drum wood chipper troubleshooting.
Incorrect Size Of Chips
Check for the knives if they are weary, and both blades are not identical. Repair or replace them.
Check the non-cutting corners of the blades. Its damage sometimes tends to cause incorrect chips.
Check the placement of the blades at a correct angle with the base.
Exit Chute Is Not Propelling Chips Outward
Increase the engine speed to return the material. If the engine does not take momentum, use the feed control box to make adjustments.
If the clogging persists, replace the discharge tube.
Keep the air ventilation open around the chipper.
Auto-Feed Failure
Check the wiring of auto-feed control if it is damaged or broken; repair or replace the wiring.
Reset the setting on the feed control box.
Overheated Chipper Bearings
Oil your chipper bearings routinely with the manufacturer-recommended grease.
Check bearings, replace or tighten them.
Overheated Hydraulic Oil
Check the hydraulic pump. Its damage may heat the hydraulic oil, replacing the pump if required.
Replace the leaking hose of the hydraulic system.
Check the wheel bearings of the feed. Lubricate them.
Check the level of the hydraulic tank. It should be ⅞ full.
Replace the hydraulic oil if it is contaminated, and check the hydraulic filter, clean or replace it if dusty.
Sometimes, hydraulic oil viscosity does not complement the atmospheric pressure. In this case, contact your manufacturer.
The Engine Does Not Start
Check the battery, charge or replace it if required.
Check the clutch engagement. It should be disengaged.
Check the hook lock pin of the cutter drum, and safety buttons must be kept in the correct position to start the engine.
Inefficient Performance Of Feed Wheel
Inspect the motor and flow divider. Reverse the pipes of the flow divider or replace the motor if the problem continues.
Inspect the feed wheel valve properly from outside or inside. Then, clean or replace as per the requirement.
Reset the pressure of the feed wheel of both the top and bottom.
Check all the bearings and lubricate them properly.
Check the level of the hydraulic oil tank.
Safety Precautions While Operating A Drum Chipper
A significant number of precautionary measures are listed below to minimize the risk associated with the drum chipper handling and make the chipper run smoothly.
Avoid Improper Clothing
When you are using the drum chipper, always dress in formal clothing set by the engineer. Wearing tight clothes may prevent your clothes from being kept in the feeding hopper. Furthermore, the wearing of jewelry items is prohibited.
Wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves, ear protection, head cap, boots, etc.
Gradual Feeding
Do not feed the material all at once. Instead, gradually build up the material quantity to give the machine time to take momentum. While providing, maintain the distance with the chipper.
Not Considering Manual Guide
Manual compiled by the manufacturers constitutes the valuable information required to deal with the emergency operation. Do not discard manuals.
Set The Lowest Speed In Start
Operating the machine at a lower speed helps you locate any possible damage in the chipper parts.
The Surrounding Area Should Be Empty
Do not operate the chipper when people or animals are in the surrounding area. The chips exit outward with force hit severely.
Check The Feeding Material
Before feeding the material into the hopper, check that it must be free from rocks and other foreign waste that may accumulate and choke the hopper and the exit chute.
Conclusion
As explained earlier, drum wood chippers come with additional features; however, it is ultimately user analysis to opt for what type of chipper. In order to avoid being overcharged or buying the wrong chipper, this article contains valuable buying and other related guidelines.
