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While electric leaf vacuum shredders have gained a good reputation, a common refrain is that the accompanying wood chipper is not powerful enough because of the limitations of the average domestic electricity supply. Hence, when Patriot Products claimed that its electric wood chipper/leaf shredder could cut thick wood into coin-sized pieces while performing leaf vacuuming and shredding tasks, many veteran gardeners responded with skepticism. In the following paragraphs, we shall see whether such skepticism is sustainable in light of the unit’s features and overall performance.
Patriot Products CSV-2515 is ideal for….
- People with medium to large-sized gardens have significant numbers of large trees. As they would benefit from the excellent wood chipping capabilities of the unit. Users of even small plots who live in storm-prone areas and hence regularly suffer from the branch and twig-littered gardens. They should find the rapid digestion of large branches to be a boon. Last but not least, the environmentally conscious and those with limited access to gasoline can achieve sufficient garden clearance at an unmatched price.
Notice for Buyers
Patriot Products CSV-2515 is the only one of its kind on the market today with best-designed, best-built.
Patriot Products CSV-2515 Electric Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder
Low Weight and Compact Size
Considering the cutting potential of the unit, it is surprising to see that the unit weighs only 95lbs. Coupled with the rather compact design, this enabled users to take the unit into narrow passages with substantial leaf and branch build-up.
Of course, even 95lbs would be difficult if it were not for the pair of wheels that have been integrated into the product.
Excellent Leaf Vacuum and Shredder
Contrary to what many users initially thought, the unit comes with an integrated leaf vacuum that allows the product to remove wet and matted leaves and twigs with relative ease. Once such leaves have been fed into the shredder automatically, it applies the blades rapidly to churn out fine mulch in a very short time.
Powerful Wood Chipper
The real USP of the unit is however the wood chipper. Capable of handling branches having a diameter up to 2-1/2 inches, the chipper can be started simply by feeding the branch through the top opening (hopper). Some users suggested that the unit might clog up if it is allowed to consume wood at its own speed because it often takes in more wood than the chipper can handle. However, when the user controls the wood movement himself/herself, no problems occur.
In fact, the ability of the chipper to cut the wood into fine chips extends to both green wood and dry wood that other products would not be able to handle. Unless the wood is really old, it is unlikely that the product would suffer from any difficulty in cutting it up rapidly.
Easy Operation and Maintenance
Since the product only requires about 20W of power to run, users found that they had to make no special arrangements to achieve the required output. Maintenance and repair are equally easy. Because of the simple steps for disassembly that are clearly explained in the user manual. Finally, if the repair does not work, Patriot provides all the replacement parts at a minimal cost.
Pros
- Low product weight and compatibility with 20W outlets make this product ideal for operation from the ordinary garage/patio.
- Fast operation of both leaf shredder and wood chipper ideal for those with limited time, inclement weather conditions and/or huge amount of debris.
- Included leaf vacuum allows for easy collection of waste leaves and automatic feeding into the shredder.
- Simple product operation instructions and easy availability of maintenance parts make for peace of mind even if there is any malfunction.
Cons
- Product is not able to handle extremely dry and old wood and palm fronds without clogging.
- Consumes wood at a pace faster than what the motor/cutter can handle under ordinary circumstances. Careful feeding of wood, however, can easily alleviate this problem.
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Conclusion
While the need to feed wood gradually prevents the operation of this unit from being completely automated, the fact that the unit can consume huge amounts of leaves and even hardwood without clogging up. It provides users with a level of versatility that to date only professionals with huge gasoline machines have enjoyed. Combine this with the ability to remove leaves using the in-built vacuum and the easy maintenance and operation systems. You have a leaf vacuum shredder that can handle your yard regardless of the type and amount of debris that has piled up.