A mate of mine brought over a Red Gum Chipper he bought some years ago for over $1000, he used it once on a job and thinks he used it for about 5/6 hours. Totally disappointed with it because the time it took to cut up the hedge clippings was as long as it took to trim the hedge. Never bothered using it again. My father years ago bought something similar, well made rugged machine that looks like it is built for the task but sadly the same experience, he didn't say anything but I borrowed it and I thought it was a waste of time. I have passed it on now to my grandson who thought it would be a help in his gardening business but sadly I think these machines are a complete waste of garage space. Now what to do with my mates one, it has a Honda motor on it that is as near new and I think is the only thing worth salvaging off it, the rest might as well go to scrap metal. These things seem to be a complete waste of money and it isn't my money that has been wasted on them but just giving a heads up to anybody thinking of buying one of these domestic chipper/mulchers
Might be ok for chopping up twigs and leaves. The one my father bought has a big flywheel probably 400mm in diameter with 2 big fixed blades, get them razor sharp and it sort of does the job but only suitable for somebody with plenty of time to achieve not a lot
We knew a family with a 74 Victa VC -125 mark III who would just rake up a pile of twigs and leaf matter and run it over. it worked satisfactorily, but I hate to think how the blades looked. The simple round blade disc on earlier series Victas like that one might have been an advantage over the later type with all those fancy shapes pressed into it, which would probably jam more easily. I remember they didn't rev the engine too much and took it easy when doing it.
Last edited by Mowerfreak; 26/04/1809:27 PM.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Thought about a Scotty but I just don't have that sort of time, I am swamped with stuff at the moment and am making little head way. Every day brings its own projects that need immediate attention