I lastly got my practical a bluebird 4 inch chipper this weekend, and even honestly, my backyard has never appeared better. If you've ever spent a Saturday dragging enormous piles of brush to the curb just for the town in order to leave them generally there for three days, you know exactly why I made the decision to go this route. There will be something incredibly gratifying about taking a disorderly mountain of divisions and turning it into the neat little heap of mulch within about twenty a few minutes.
I've used a lot associated with different lawn tools over the many years, through the flimsy electrical shredders that choke on the twig in order to the massive commercial machines that feel like they could swallow an entire tree. This Bluebird model sits right in that "Goldilocks" zone. It's sturdy enough to manage the serious things although not so large that are needed a semi-truck to move it close to your property.
Why 4 Inches is the Sweet Place
When you're looking at chippers, you'll see a lot of 2-inch or 3-inch models. On papers, that sounds fine, but in reality, shrub branches aren't right dowels. They have got knots, bends, and side shoots. The bluebird 4 inch chipper provides you that extra clearance that makes a global of difference. You don't possess to spend half your time "pre-processing" the wood having a chainsaw just in order to get it in order to fit into the particular hopper.
I discovered that with a 4-inch capability, I could supply in most associated with my oak plus maple pruning without having a second thought. If the part fits in the particular chute, the machine usually takes it. That saves a lot of time. You aren't standing there battling with a branch, seeking to prune away every little lateral twig just in order to get it in order to slide down the particular throat of the machine. It simply eats.
Power and Performance Below the Hood
Most of these types of units come outfitted with a Ford GX engine, that is basically the precious metal standard for small engine reliability. It started on the first pull intended for me, even right after sitting in the particular shed for some time. A person can hear the strength when the cutting blades start spinning—it offers this deep, mechanical hum that let us you know it's ready to work.
The carol system on the bluebird 4 inch chipper is usually where the magic happens. It utilizes two heat-treated steel blades that rotate at high rates of speed. When a branch hits those cutting blades, it doesn't simply cut; it brings. There's a bit of a self-feeding action happening right here. You shouldn't just let go and walk away, obviously, but you don't possess to shove the particular wood in with all your might possibly. After the blades catch the wood, the particular machine does the particular heavy lifting.
I noticed it handles "green" wooden much better than dead, brittle wood. If you're chipping branches that you simply reduce down, it slices through them like butter. If you're dealing with aged, dried-out hickory that's been sitting for two years, it'll still do the work, but the device works a little bit harder as well as the noise is a little more piercing.
Maneuverability and Construct Quality
Let's talk about moving this thing. It's heavy—don't let the compact look trick you. It's constructed with thick-gauge steel, which is ideal for durability but means you won't end up being picking it upward to place it within the back associated with an SUV. Fortunately, it comes with solid tires and a well-balanced frame. We were able to wheel it throughout my lawn without tearing up the particular grass, though I did have in order to put some muscle mass in it when heading uphill.
1 thing I truly enjoy is the elevation of the release chute. Some chippers just spit the mulch out in walk out, leaving you with a mess to rake upward later. This one enables you to direct the chips right in to a garden bed or a wheelbarrow. It makes the cleaning process almost non-existent. I really used the particular chips to mulch around my blueberry bushes, and they look professional—much better than the dyed stuff you buy in luggage at the big-box stores.
Will be it Loud? Properly, Yeah
It's a wood chipper, not a sewing machine. If you're planning on using the bluebird 4 inch chipper on a Sunday morning, your neighbors might not end up being your biggest followers. You absolutely need hearing protection. I'd also highly recommend attention protection and some decent gloves.
The sound isn't only the motor; it's the actual physical impact of the cutting blades hitting the wooden. It's a rhythmic thwack-thwack-thwack that may be pretty intense. Yet hey, that's requirements of productivity. I'd rather listen to that for a good hour than invest six hours carrying brush towards the drop.
Several Ideas for Best Results
If you decide to buy one or rent one, here are the couple of issues I learned hard way:
- Don't overstuff this: Simply because it can take a 4-inch log doesn't indicate you need to feed this a continuing diet of them. Blend a few smaller stuff to let the engine maintain its RPMs.
- Watch for rocks: This seems obvious, but if you're picking up limbs off the surface, make sure a person aren't grabbing small or dirt. It'll dull those expensive blades faster than anything.
- Check the bolts: After a few hours associated with vibration, it's usually a good idea to perform a quick walk-around create sure everything is still restricted. Vibration could be the enemy of all machinery.
Maintaining the equipment
Maintenance is pretty straightforward, which is a primary reason I such as the Bluebird brand. The blades are accessible, so when they eventually get dull, you can sharpen them or exchange them out without needing a degree in mechanical engineering. Maintaining the environment filter clear and changing the particular oil regularly will certainly pretty much guarantee this thing lasts for a decade or more.
It's also surprisingly easy to clean. As soon as you're done for your day, you can blow out the particular dust and particles with a leaf blower or the compressor. Keeping the particular internals free from "gunk" prevents rust plus keeps the total amount associated with the cutting drum where it wants to be.
Who else is this Chipper For?
I actually think the bluebird 4 inch chipper is perfect for someone with an acre or even two of land. If you just have a little provincial lot with 1 ornamental tree, this might be overkill. When you possess a lot associated with mature trees, the long fence line that grows more than, or you're continuously battling invasive clean, this machine will pay for itself within saved time plus dump fees.
It's also the favorite for rental yards. That informs you a lot about its durability. If a machine might survive being rented out to people who don't know how to use this, it can definitely survive your yard. It's built like a tank, and this feels like a piece of "legacy" equipment—the kind of device you keep in the family for a long period.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, using the bluebird 4 inch chipper turned the chore I usually dread into some thing that was really kind of fun. There's a genuine sense of achievement if you look in a spot that will used to become a tangled clutter of branches plus see nothing yet clean ground plus a pile of fresh mulch.
It isn't the cheapest tool in the lost, but it's the powerhouse. It handles the "real world" wood that cheaper machines can't contact, and it also does it with a level of dependability that's hard to find these types of days. If you're tired of the brush pile earning the war against your backyard, this particular might be precisely the reinforcement you require. Just grab several earplugs, check the particular oil, and allow it rip. Your garden beds will thank you.