A wood chipper can be an extremely useful device for individuals that are needing to regularly dispose of large branches or other pieces of wood. Preventing problems or safety issues when using a wood chipper is not difficult, but it will require a basic understanding of operating and maintaining a wood chipper.

Have Suitable Safety Equipment

Before using the wood chipper, you will want to wear safety equipment. At a minimum, this should include goggles to protect your eyes against flying wood chips and dust. If these materials get into your eyes, they can quickly cause extensive and extremely painful damage. In addition to goggles, you may want to wear thick gloves. This will reduce the risk of getting splinters or cutting yourself on sharp edges.

Avoid Exceeding The Limits Of The Wood Chipper

Every wood chipper will have a limit on the size of the wood that it can process. Individuals will often fail to adhere to this limit, but this can pose serious issues. When a piece of wood that is too thick is put into a wood chipper, it can jam the unit. In addition to the risk of it jamming the entire unit, this mistake can also break the teeth of the chipper, which can severely reduce its overall effectiveness. Both of these issues can require major repairs to the system, which can be disruptive to your project and a large additional expense.

Regularly Clean The Wood Chipper

Failing to keep the components of the wood chipper fairly clean can lead to the system suffering extensive degradation. This occurs because the wood that the system is processing will contain some moisture. As the moisture collects on the moving parts of the system, it can make it easier for dirt, dust, and other materials from the wood to get stuck on the system's components. Eventually, enough of these materials can collect to form a sticky residue that can jam the system or prevent it from properly processing the wood that is put into it. Making sure that you are following the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning the system after each time you use it can be essential to avoid this source of performance problems.

Consider Uses For Your Wood Chips

While a wood chipper will make it much easier to bag and throw away wood, these chips can be extremely useful, and you may want to avoid simply throwing these chips away. Some of the uses for these chips can include using them for mulch, compost or decorative highlights.

For more information on finding wood chippers for sale, contact your local heavy equipment supplier.