More manly shredder

[John Rumm]

My ancient Bosch "quiet" shredder (ATX 2000 HP) has reached the end of its useful life, its helix is getting blunt, and pricey to replace for a machine that is not really up to the current demands. (it never did green or lush stuff well, preferring woody things - it was slow to feed, and you spent lots of time unclogging it!) Add to that its pathological desire to fall over and attempt to twist your wrist off as you try to wheel it about, and I think its fair to say I have run out of love for it.

Anyone tried anything decent?

Electric or petrol. Would be nice if it could shred tree prunings without clogging (ideally up to 3", but 2" to 2.5" would possibly do).

[Adrian Caspersz]

Frankenstien ??

[Chris Hogg]

I went down the same route recently. My Bosch AXT 2000 HP had seized, and as I'd had it a while, it's helix was getting worn and was no longer cutting cleanly and ICBA to strip it down to free it up, having already replaced the helix a few years ago.

I got a Bosch AXT25 TC, which has a rotating cage of cutting blades, and am very pleased with it. I'm not sure it would take the size of branches you mention, although they claim up to 40mm, but it certainly copes well with most garden shrub branches. I believe it will also handle green stuff, but I don't see the point and just put that straight onto the compost heap; it all rots down without needing to be shredded.

The only thing I don't like about it is the built-in collector; I prefer a large rubber trug under the outlet so you can see how full it's getting, which you can't immediately see on the ATX25TC. But it won't run without the collector in place, so I intend to locate the offending microswitch and...er...remedy the situation WIGART!

You may get other recommendations on uk.rec.gardening.

[Jeff Layman]

I got the Titan TTB683SHR from Screwfix. Seems (from the spec) to do just about everything the Bosch does at less than half the price. It also has a transparent collection box. I've had it several months, and so far am very impressed. I just hope it proves reliable!

[John Rumm]

Yup same with mine, I replaced the helix once, but that was back in the days when I might want to shred the cuttings from a couple of trees and shrubs. Now when confronted with cuttings from twenty trees, it seems a bit less adequate!

I think its not so much the ability to shred green stuff on its own that matters much, but the ability to take a freshly cut branch say and not choke on the lush green stuff once it has done with the woody bit.

Yup I saw that in its spec sheet... nanny knows best ;-)

Ta.

[fred]

Had that trouble with the green stuff so got Bearcat petrol engined jobbie. No better. It needed removing 4 bolts to get at the innards to clear the blockage. I got so frustated I replaced the bolts with hinges

Typical piece of American machinery. Over engineered and under designed. The outlet was so close to the ground it needs to be cleared every turn around. PITA

[tabbypurr]

There are various sites & youtube channels showing construction of a small version of a typical industrial shredder. The blades are water cut 1/4" ste el plate or similar, and it runs at very low rpm. Output piece size depends on hole size of the screen fitted. Some of the plastic remanufacturing sit es/channels use these.

NT