If you have some clean up to do on a property with a lot of trees it usually involves a lot of running around picking up sticks and branches that get blown down by the wind. Especially during storms and especially if a lot of trees on the property are older or a type of tree that sheds loads of small branches.
For a lot of folks using a wood chipper rental is a good way to actually turn all that waste material into something useful or at least make it easier to transport. It’s pretty tough to carry a load of sticks since they don’t stack well and point in different directions trying -and succeeding- to catch on clothes, other branches and so on.
If you can reduce those individual sticks down to wood chips it makes everything a lot easier and you can even make use of the material for mulch or compost. But how do you get the job done?
Well, one way we talk about here on the site is by getting a wood chipper rental unit. Renting a wood chipper can be great since most of us don’t need to buy a wood chipper because it’s really something we’d only use once in a while.
Buy a Used Wood Chipper…?
For some people though -maybe you included- there’s a more serious need to have one on hand most of the time either because of the size of your property of because of the prolific rate at which the trees tend to shed sticks and branches.
Buying a new wood chipper seems like a kind of expensive way to go about acquiring the ability to finely shred bits of wood but getting a used wood chipper can be a compelling option.
You’ll have to decide if the cost of a used wood chipper is worth it in comparison to the cost of renting a wood chipper for enough time to get the job done.
Renting can cost over $100 per day so if you use a chipper several days a year then it’s pretty likely that you will be able to buy a chipper and save money in the long run.
Probably the best way to get started shopping for a used wood chipper is to check sites like Craigslist and eBay. You can often find equipment both places for pretty good prices and Craiglist gives you the chance to go see the equipment in person to inspect it’s condition and haggle with the seller if that is your type of thing.
You might also be able to find a used wood chipper at a local dealer but there is a good chance they will want to up sell you into a new unit so if you are committed to buying used as a way of saving money be prepared for that and don’t be swayed by the sales pitch.
Sizes of Used Wood Chipper Units
You probably have in mind the size of used wood chipper you will need but if not it’s a good idea to do some research on what size is best for your needs and what type of equipment you will need to transport the unit.
Some wood chippers are pretty big and will need to be towed by a truck but chances are you are looking for one of the smaller units that can fit in the back of a pickup or minivan.
Vermeer is a popular maker of wood chippers and you can probably find other lower quality brands that retail new at places like Lowes and Home Depot. Obviously if you buy a used wood chipper that started life low on the ladder it won’t hold up as well as a quality unit but it may be priced competitively. Generally though buying for quality is the way to go.