Do you have a hobby of gardening? Of course, and you are planning to generate revenue from your passion for gardening. There are lots of ways to make money from gardening. Among them, wood chipping is potentially lucrative because wood chips tend to have diverse functions.
For this purpose, you need to have more robust and durable wood chippers that tend to perform their functions smoothly without interruption.
Gas wood chippers are the ultimate tool that offers its users a combination of features that helps to save time and maximize the outcome.
This article will familiarize you with the diversities in gas wood chippers, all the information related to its operation and maintenance, and answer your questions that come to mind before buying the gas wood chipper.
If you are going to purchase a gas wood chipper so first of all read out our detailed review about the best gas wood chipper. It helps you to select the best gas wood chipper according to your budget and requirement. Scroll down and read more about gas wood chippers.
What Are Gas Wood Chippers?
The motor in the gas wood chippers generates power from fuel which makes them perform much faster. They are considered more reliable than electric wood chippers.
These chippers are on the market both as portable and non-portable styles. The additional features associated with the chipper decide its cost.
Gas wood chippers can handle more fibrous and thicker pieces of wood, and their material capacity is even more significant than their electric counterpart.
Gas wood chippers are coupled with different functional parts to ease the laborious task of chipping. Hence, they are classified into different categories.
Based on movement, the gas chippers are available in two different styles.
- Portable Gas Chipper
- Tow-Mounted Gas Wood Chippers
- Gas Wood Chipper Only
- Gas Wood Chipper With Shredder
- Gas Chipper Shredder Vacuum
Portable Gas Chipper
These portable chippers can chip branches and twigs up to 3inches long, and they can convert around 20 bags of wood chips into one load of manure. They are convenient to use for domestic applications. The wheels attached to its main body make its movement smooth.
If you own a small garden and you do not perform chipping frequently, portable gas chippers are an economical and powerful tool you buy than renting them. However, landowners of several acres should avoid purchasing this chipper.
Tow-Mounted Gas Wood Chippers
These chippers have tremendous power in that they easily handle wood logs around 7 inches in diameter.
Landlords and professionals own these chippers as they are a surefire solution to chip more extensive woods for regular hours. Additionally, several acres of land are easy to clean up with these models.
Unlike portable chippers, you need to attach these chippers with some kinds of vehicles such as tractors, trucks, etc., that must be compatible enough to hold your chipper and how the hitch is to be tightened.
Besides shifting your gas chipper position, it also comes in different styles to provide better additional functions.
Gas Wood Chipper Only
If you require pulverizing extensive material approximately 3 to 4 inches, gas chippers without shredder is a quick fix solution. These chippers are fashioned in a way that contains a flywheel that creates momentum to the blades that chop wood pieces in an efficient and uniform style.
These chippers without shredding function are helpful even for those lawns and gardens having massive plantations and where regular trimming is mandatory.
Due to their efficiency in dealing with fibrous and larger pieces, they are also owned by professionals.
Gas Wood Chipper With Shredder
Rather than accumulating the leaves and small branches as waste in the corner of the land and putting them in the fire, turn them into something valuable to save the environment and your cost to buy mulch for your plants.
Gas wood chippers with shredders possess one horizontal hopper that feeds in larger wood pieces to chop into chips. In addition, there is another hopper attached vertically with the main body, which is used for shredding small materials. With the gravity principle, the shredder pulls the branches and leaves towards the blades.
Both professionals and home gardeners own these dual-function chippers.
Gas Chipper Shredder Vacuum
It takes more time and effort to collect the branches and leaves, turn them into their respective hoppers, and save them in the bag. Instead, using a gas wood chipper shredder vacuum cleans up your garden or land in a single step and requires little effort.
These vacuum chipper shredders are best to clean up small branches and leaves, but they do not possess the power to transform nuts because of their smooth covering.
Despite the excellent variations in the design to make the model as attractive as possible, the engineer cannot avoid the drawbacks altogether.
Gas wood chippers have the following pros and cons in their models.
Benefits Of Gas Wood Chipper
- They are more powerful. Smaller gas units can deal with up to 3 inches of branches. Larger assemblies can chip up to 7 inches of branches.
- Gas-powered wood chipper runs with an increased rate of speed per hour and handles heavy loads with ease.
- It is designed with additional shredder and vacuum functions, unlike its electric counterpart.
- It does not need a power cord to start. You can use it anywhere.
- It is the most widely used chipper where the electric power cost is high or frequent power breakdown areas to avoid interruption during the operation.
Drawbacks Of Gas Wood Chipper
- It is not safe for the environment. Carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases released from the chipper accumulating in the air, making the ecosystem unsafe.
- As it requires more power to cut and chip, it actively contributes to the noise pollution. You cannot use these types of chippers in the gardens of the medical facility.
- They are considerably higher in price than the electric counterpart but lower than the more powerful PTO counterpart.
How To Maintain Gas Wood Chipper
If you want to maintain the efficiency of your chipper in the years to come, follow the below-listed guidelines. Diversion from these guidelines may make your chipper more prone to damage and inefficient performance.
Checking and inspecting chipper parts after recommended time makes the chipper run smoothly with the optimum outcome.
However, cleaning and maintaining parts of the chipper if they are getting dull and liable to damage.
Cleaning Of Clogged Debris:
During the operation, certain small branches and chips dried or wet, stems, and wood dust accumulated in the hopper, chipper chute, and around the engine.
It is recommended to clean the clogged waste every time before using the chipper.
Drain Out Dirty Oil And Add New Oil:
The used oil may be harmful to the other parts of your chipper. You need to change the oil after every 25 hours of use.
- Find an old container to drain the oil and place it under the oil plug.
- Then use a spanner of around 5/8 ̎ to unscrew until it becomes easy for you to unscrew with the finger.
- Use your finger to drain the oil completely.
- When it fully drains out, screw the oil plug tightly to prevent oil drainage during operation.
- On the top of the machine, there is a cap. Open it and pour the oil with the help of a funnel as recommended by the manufacturers.
Replacing Of Air Filter:
- It is recommended to check and replace the air filter after every 25 minutes of operation.
- Unscrew the air filter cover by using a 5/16 ̎ socket wrench.
- Open the lid and remove the filter.
- Inspect the filter thoroughly. If it does not need cleaning, remove the dust and place it back in the position.
- If it requires cleaning, clean it with a soft brush or replace it if it becomes unable to use further.
- Washing with water is not prohibited, but it should dry out entirely before fixing again in the machine.
Inspecting Spark Plug:
Checking of the spark plug is recommended after 100 hours of operating the unit.
- With the use of 5/18 ̎socket spanner, unscrew and remove the spark plug.
- Check the wire for any damage. If it is corroded, replace it with a new one.
- Screw the spark plug tightly and then reattach the spark plug wire and ensure it is intact in the plug.
Apart from the above principles, it is also advised to:
- Lubricate and oil all the moving parts of the chipper after every 8 hours of use.
- Replace and sharpen cutting blades after 25 hours.
- Wash the collecting bin annually.
Troubleshooting Of Gas Wood Chipper
Here are a few faults and troubleshooting of these faults. Just scroll down and read the complete guide.
The Engine Becomes Halt
If the engine does not start or takes current, there might be several technical and non-technical causes. Listed below is how you can confront the problem.
- Check the ignition switch is on.
- Check that the fuel shut-off cap is off.
- Check the oil. If it is dirty, change it or use an oil stabilizer if you cannot change the oil.
- Inspect the spark plug. Replace the plug if it is corroded or dirty. If it is oily, remove the oil from the plug by pulling the recoil cord a few times to collect the oil in the cylinder. Wipe the plug and then insert the plug.
- Check the oil tank and if the oil is below the standard level, refill it.
Inefficient Working Of Engine
If your wood chipper is getting a stop during operation or performing at a slower rate and creating wood chips not in uniform size, follow the listed guideline to tackle the issue.
- Check for the lever is in the run position.
- Check for the spark plug as mentioned in point 4 of the heading “engine becomes halt.”
- Check the amount of the oil and its quality.
The Engine Is Creating Smoke
- Smoke production from the engine is not safe. Turn off the chipper unit and follow the steps below.
- Examine the air filter and replace or clean it if it is grimy.
- Check the oil level in the oil tank on the top of the unit.
- Make sure that you are using the right oil, as mentioned by the manufacturers in the manual.
- Cleanse the ventilating fan if they are dusty.
Chipper Assembly Starts Vibrating
- Check the blades are in their position or screwed tightly.
- Check the wheel of the chipper is not getting hindrance.
If the problem persists, contact the specific manufacturer to send the technical staff to locate the issue.
Safety Precautions While Using Gas Wood Chippers
Operating a wood chipper with safety precautions may prevent you from life and property loss. A number of general guidelines necessary for using the wood chipper are recommended.
However, listed below are the precautionary measures associated while dealing with gas-powered chippers.
- Wear all the PPE required for operating gas wood chippers, such as gloves, footwear, ear protectant, eye-protecting cap, etc.
- Do not run the gas chippers of any style under the closed room. It should be operated in an open area as it creates fumes.
- Place all the oil and fuel required for gas-powered chippers in a closed cabinet and avoid contact with heat and open flame.
- Rubber fuel lines should be replaced when it starts damaging or after every five years of use.
- At the time of fueling the gasoline tank, the engine should be off and cool. Fill the gasoline tank in an open area.
- Do not try to move and repair the unit when the engine is on. Turn off the engine, remove the spark plug wire, take it away from the spark plug, and wait at least 5-10 minutes to move and repair.
- A fire extinguisher should be located onsite during operation.
- Do not allow anyone to smoke in an area where gas chippers are operating or a chipper storage facility.
- If the gas spills during fuelling, do not start the engine without cleaning the spill. Wait until the gas vapors evaporate, wipe the area with the cloth, and dispose of it properly.
- Do not place the cover on the machine when the muffler is hot.
- Operating the machine while the air cleaner and the carburetor air intake cover are not in position can trigger a fire outbreak.
- Do not change the governor setting of the engine. It is the maximum safe operating speed. Increasing the speed can badly damage the engine as well as another part of the chipper.
- The engine and the muffler may be hot enough to cause a severe burn. Do not touch these parts.
- Cool the engine before storing it in a closed facility and check the gas tank must be empty before storing.
Conclusion
This article is a valuable source of guidance about gas wood chippers, from buying a product to operating it in the years to come.
So, this article is written to make you understand gas-powered wood chippers from all the possible perspectives. What is a gas wood chipper?
How beneficial is it to the user? How to avoid possible ways to prevent wrong buying of gas chippers? How essential is maintenance? How can you handle it safely?
