Garden shredders are very useful tools that are used by a lot of people to clear away all forms of debris from their yards. These could be small branches, autumn leaves or other types of waste material. The high level of efficiency provided by this tool makes it easy to clear the yard within a short period of time. It can also be used to turn the waste material into mulch or composting material. However, it takes a lot of skill to use this equipment safely. It is vital for individuals to learn how to properly operate this machine in order to avoid endangering themselves or other people around them. This is why this article is focused on the safe usage of the garden shredder.
Shredders can be grouped into two major categories. The design of some shredders makes them to cut and crush waste material without making much noise. A high level of force is used by the gears to cut the branches that are pulled towards the teeth of the machine. Several of these quiet shredder models have a cutting screw mechanism which makes very little noise when it is working. The only drawback is that these models are not appropriate for shredding large sizes of tree branches.
Impact shredders are designed to handle larger objects. They are able to take in leaves and branches quiet easily. They have light domestic arms that make it easy to push the materials through. The moment they are in, the shredding is done with a pair of very sharp knives. Other garden shredders in this category make use of hammers and flails within steel boxes in addition to a fly-wheel to do the shredding and chipping. These types can accept bits of material that are thrown inside from the top. There is also a screen that is used to control the size of the output. These are usually the most dangerous types of shredders to utilize.
Individuals who want to use any of the above shredders safely have to keep some points in mind. Some of these points may look obvious but there are some that should never be forgotten.
The first thing individuals should remember is never to push their hands through the feeder neck because the branches that are being pushed in can drag the hand into the machine's crushing unit. The hand should also not be inserted into the outlet to clear away debris as long as the machine is still connected. It is important to always put on a pair of safety gloves as advised by the manufacturers.
Secondly, one should also put on eye protection since several garden shredders have the tendency to eject bits and pieces of materials back out. This is also very important since a single piece of wooden flint or branch has the potential to cause great harm to one's eye and even blindness since the materials are flying out at such incredible speeds.
Thirdly, it is indeed a good practice for one to help ensure that the outlet is kept free of an accumulating pile of shredded materials since this commonly leads to a jam or an overheating problem. This is dangerous since a large volley of materials trapped behind the outlet may and will eventually burst out and release shards of hazardous materials in all directions.
Lastly, always ensure that the debris that one is clearing does not exceed the cutting diameter of the machine, as doing so might eventually also lead to the problem with blockages as mentioned above. It would also help matters a lot if one inserts the stouter end of the branches through the machine first whenever possible. At the same time, one should also try to avoid shredding older and dryer pieces of wood which are both stiffer and harder to cut then fresh pieces.
With all that has been said, it will be very useful to be able to go through the entire procedure of starting and operating the garden shredder completely. The first thing to be done is to find a convenient position for the garden shredder on the lawn. Ideally, the machine should be placed in an area that is not too far from the debris or material that is to be shredded. It should also be close to an electric outlet if it is an electric powered model. Generally, a flat part of the lawn is ideal for this purpose. The operator should also ensure that he or she puts on the proper protective gear before using the machine.
It is important to know the size of material that fits in based on the design and size of the garden shredder. This is done by placing a wheelbarrow or yard cart under the outlet of the machine. A little time should be spent to gather the waste that will be shredded together in one spot. This will make it much easier to do the job without moving up and down.
After all these have been done the equipment can be switched on for the work to begin. You can use a rake or your hands to pick up bundles of leaves and drop them into the machine from the top or through the ramps that are located at the bottom of the shredder. This will depend on the design of the machine. The leaves are sucked up quickly, shredded and ejected out of the other side into the waiting tarp.
After the leaves, twigs and other smaller wooden material can be thrown in. They are usually dropped into the machine the way leaves are dropped in. It is vital to go through the instruction manual that came with the equipment in order to know the largest thickness of tree branches that it can handle without jamming.
The final thing to do is to move the shredded leaves in the tarp to another area of the yard and replace it with another one. The last items to be shredded are the bigger branches that have been separated from the smaller twigs and leaves. Replacing the tarp is necessary for people who want to use this shredded material for mulch around bushes, trees or bedding plants.
Using a garden shredder may sometimes be difficult and dangerous. However by knowing how to use a garden shredder safely and following the above steps, one can save him or herself lots of injury in the long run.
Shredders can be grouped into two major categories. The design of some shredders makes them to cut and crush waste material without making much noise. A high level of force is used by the gears to cut the branches that are pulled towards the teeth of the machine. Several of these quiet shredder models have a cutting screw mechanism which makes very little noise when it is working. The only drawback is that these models are not appropriate for shredding large sizes of tree branches.
Impact shredders are designed to handle larger objects. They are able to take in leaves and branches quiet easily. They have light domestic arms that make it easy to push the materials through. The moment they are in, the shredding is done with a pair of very sharp knives. Other garden shredders in this category make use of hammers and flails within steel boxes in addition to a fly-wheel to do the shredding and chipping. These types can accept bits of material that are thrown inside from the top. There is also a screen that is used to control the size of the output. These are usually the most dangerous types of shredders to utilize.
Individuals who want to use any of the above shredders safely have to keep some points in mind. Some of these points may look obvious but there are some that should never be forgotten.
The first thing individuals should remember is never to push their hands through the feeder neck because the branches that are being pushed in can drag the hand into the machine's crushing unit. The hand should also not be inserted into the outlet to clear away debris as long as the machine is still connected. It is important to always put on a pair of safety gloves as advised by the manufacturers.
Secondly, one should also put on eye protection since several garden shredders have the tendency to eject bits and pieces of materials back out. This is also very important since a single piece of wooden flint or branch has the potential to cause great harm to one's eye and even blindness since the materials are flying out at such incredible speeds.
Thirdly, it is indeed a good practice for one to help ensure that the outlet is kept free of an accumulating pile of shredded materials since this commonly leads to a jam or an overheating problem. This is dangerous since a large volley of materials trapped behind the outlet may and will eventually burst out and release shards of hazardous materials in all directions.
Lastly, always ensure that the debris that one is clearing does not exceed the cutting diameter of the machine, as doing so might eventually also lead to the problem with blockages as mentioned above. It would also help matters a lot if one inserts the stouter end of the branches through the machine first whenever possible. At the same time, one should also try to avoid shredding older and dryer pieces of wood which are both stiffer and harder to cut then fresh pieces.
With all that has been said, it will be very useful to be able to go through the entire procedure of starting and operating the garden shredder completely. The first thing to be done is to find a convenient position for the garden shredder on the lawn. Ideally, the machine should be placed in an area that is not too far from the debris or material that is to be shredded. It should also be close to an electric outlet if it is an electric powered model. Generally, a flat part of the lawn is ideal for this purpose. The operator should also ensure that he or she puts on the proper protective gear before using the machine.
It is important to know the size of material that fits in based on the design and size of the garden shredder. This is done by placing a wheelbarrow or yard cart under the outlet of the machine. A little time should be spent to gather the waste that will be shredded together in one spot. This will make it much easier to do the job without moving up and down.
After all these have been done the equipment can be switched on for the work to begin. You can use a rake or your hands to pick up bundles of leaves and drop them into the machine from the top or through the ramps that are located at the bottom of the shredder. This will depend on the design of the machine. The leaves are sucked up quickly, shredded and ejected out of the other side into the waiting tarp.
After the leaves, twigs and other smaller wooden material can be thrown in. They are usually dropped into the machine the way leaves are dropped in. It is vital to go through the instruction manual that came with the equipment in order to know the largest thickness of tree branches that it can handle without jamming.
The final thing to do is to move the shredded leaves in the tarp to another area of the yard and replace it with another one. The last items to be shredded are the bigger branches that have been separated from the smaller twigs and leaves. Replacing the tarp is necessary for people who want to use this shredded material for mulch around bushes, trees or bedding plants.
Using a garden shredder may sometimes be difficult and dangerous. However by knowing how to use a garden shredder safely and following the above steps, one can save him or herself lots of injury in the long run.
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