Bandit Industries’ Intimidator 18XP is the company’s most popular hand-fed, drum-style chipper, with an 18-inch capacity and a slide box feed system.
Users report that disc-style chippers tend to produce more uniform chips and throw the chips more efficiently at a greater velocity than drum chippers. But disc chippers may also struggle with larger logs and pieces of brush. Drum chippers’ increased torque and lower revolutions per minute (RPMs) make the machines adept at handling larger logs and bushier branches. Op- erators of drum chippers also remark how versatile the technology is, allow- ing them to tackle bigger jobs. Today, many manufacturers combine the two technologies to create premier chip- ping machines.
ports them offsite. Stationary whole- tree chippers are available, but these are usually used in commercial mulch or land clearing operations. All wood chippers feature a safety collar, feed hopper, knives or another cutting mechanism, and a chute where the wood chips exit the chipper. While electric wood chippers are catching on, most models have an internal com- bustion engine fueled by either gas or diesel. Though similar in many ways, chippers are not the same as shredders, which are typically smaller machines armed
Vortex chippers use the best of both tech- nologies in a joint drum-disc system, ac- cording to David Daymon, products busi- ness development manager for DYNA, which joined with Vortex in 2023. “Ours is technically a drum chipper with an attached propeller or fan,” Day- mon says. “Typically, disc chippers don’t cut as efficiently as drum chippers, and drum chippers struggle with throwing chips. Our drum chipper has a propel- ler fan attached, so it throws really well, like a disc chipper.” THE RIGHT CHIPPER
with duller knives that can break down plant material into finer pieces, like compost and mulch. Some manufacturers do make “chipper-shredder” combo units that have the capability to do both jobs. Wood chippers are typically one of two styles: disc or drum. The first disc chipper was invented in Germany in 1884. Eventu- ally drum chippers gained in popularity and were known as "chuck and duck" chippers be- cause of how fast material was dropped into the drum.
While there are many things to consider when investing in a wood chipper, capacity, safety, and regional fit are among the most important. Capacity According to Lou Hicks, region- al sales manager for Morbark, LLC , the first question he asks potential customers is how much wood they expect to pro- cess. From this answer, Hicks can direct a customer to the ap- propriately sized machine, even if it’s a little bigger or smaller than their expectations.
Vortex chippers feature a skinless/pocketless construction that provides a more durable weldment and easier access for service.
16 | ArborTIMES Summer 2024
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