Harbor Freight Wood Chipper / Shredder Predator Unboxing, Setup, and First Start and Thoughts

[@MBGAdventures]

That is a really good purchase. I was going to comment about not wearing eye and ear protection. Great video and please don't shred your hand off. Be safe man!

[@gamingwithmr.fregles8802]

Not to be rude or anything, It looks like you are really struggling with putting branches into that chipper. If I were you, I would have gotten 1 of those chippers with only 1 chute. They are way easier than trying to shove a big branch into a small chute like that. I would be frustrated in 5 minutes, and asked for a 'refund'

[@PH-qt6fj]

Just bought one. Works well. The dryer the wood the better. Lop branches to fit. Homemade mulch. I keep larger branches for the fire pit.

[@jrockgto3894]

A lot of work to get anything to fit, it will work but exactly weird angles or anything won't go.. One small pile was an 8 hr fight.. Gonna have to rent the 6" vemeer which seems might handle what I got a little better

[@simsimtvph]

great device.perfect for many diy projects

[@charlescoker7752]

I wood put a bigger clean out plate on the side. Large enough to see all the shredder blades. Put wing bolts on the clean out plate, and the limb chute. So it would be easier to remove them to clear a jam. Put solid rubber tires on it.

[@randyman8984]

I have a bunch of ornamental grass that I put through my predator for my first hour or so of use. I knew I was getting this machine so ive been piling up limbs and these grasses up for the last 4 weeks so they have been sitting. The ornamental grass did better for me in the top BUT if you let it go it would really bog the machine down. So I started feeding a little at a time by gripping it tightly and slowing feeding it through the top(caution: be very careful if you try this). It worked great in the limb feeder but couldnt get the grass to feed consistantly in the side, but think thats because of that stiff saftey guard which I will be removing before I use it again.. You are probaly wondering why I am cutting ornamental grass this time of the year, Most of my grasses flopped on me with all the heavy rains we had this summer. So had to cut them down to the ground and when theyb started putting new growth I glyphosated them. I will never plant another ornamental grass again. Also after mulching up this grass it looks just like wheat straw excpet this is shread so much better IMO.,. I bet it would be great for someone seeding thier lawn to spread over the top to hold moisture and keeping the seed in place.

[@brianmoody3532]

$500 chipper versus $3 worth of gas and a bic lighter.. we people with brains gonna have a weenie roast every time....

[@AAPHomestead]

🙌🙌🙌wishing you a flawless work week👽✌

[@dirtynewschannel]

I bought one like that once and the small opening irritated the hell out of me because larger, twisty limbs and anything with multiple branches wouldn’t pull through. I bit I got a larger one and it better, but not much. I’ve seen attachments for his skid steer and fully hydraulic at trade shows starting around 4K.

[@KenMrKLC]

Yes I was looking at skid attachments and almost bought one but I don't really want to bring skid with attachment for small brush jobs ... I find it therapeutic almost like splitting wood... I am going to setup a little chipping area at my shop with a paver 10x10 pad up against my concrete wall and just drop my brush next to it and once a week or whatever I will fire it up and chip up whatever is there. I'll find uses for the wood chips as the pile builds. I don't come across that much brush each year... if I did I would (and will) get something larger. But this will test the concept for now on the cheap. I have been doing a lot of that, buying a tool fairly low quality cheap to get the work done and if/when I wear it out or it breaks I will replace it with a quality piece if I know I use it enough. I would rather have 20 tools to do all kinds of jobs easier than 2 really nice tools that I have to turn away 18 jobs.... Whatever it takes to get it done... The higher volume services get the quality long lasting tools

[@KenMrKLC]

I found out after the video that my small M12 Milwaukee sawzall with a nice aggressive wood blade is killer for breaking the branches down... Loppers for 1" and smaller and the cordless small sawzall for 1-3" I can bust down a branch to straight enough REAL quick. Like I said if I end up with more than a pickup truck every 2 weeks which is about my current volume... I will consider something bigger. At that time I sell this for $300 and it cost me $200 to use it which pays for itself in just 2 small pickups full of brush between $40 fee and time and gas driving to dump.... Maybe even just one load. There is no regrets here on this little machine... Despite me always trying to buy the bigger and better of things.

[@MerkleAkrunphleuphle]

Do you not check if the wood is treated before burning?

[@randyman8984]

I wanted to thank you for this video. I followed your instructions instead of the manual and it came together great. I subscribed!! Couple of questions. I removed the saftey rubber thingy from the top feeder before using it and now after an hour or so of use I am thinking I will do it to the limb feeder too. Do you think these saftey guards do more harm than good? I am sure they have to put these on these units before they can sell them. A few videos I watched some had the top off so thats why I dediced to do it while I had the tools out. I just think the saftey material is too thick. Its like having a weedeater and running it without the saftey guard, almost every one does it. The top handle bar was easier to put on with out the guard in the way too. Do you know why the stand has the square pieces wielded on the stand? IS that for extra support?? You dont get as many turns with the acorn nuts on the front as you do with the back. Are you from boston area? That accecnt ha

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

Even for homeowner use, it's pretty much a toy. Branches have to be straight as arrows to get anywhere close to chipping 3". More like 2". And trying to shove branches thru the mulcher is a pita - hopper 'looks' large but there's only a small opening that constantly snags branches. I made the mistake of first buying a cheap electric chipper. Quickly found it was next-to-useless for anything other than minor clippings. Then decided to 'bite the bullet' and buy this chipper. Another mistake. Pissed away hundreds on half-assed junk. Should have simply got into a small commercial chipper and saved the headache. Live and learn.

[@JonsDailyHustle]

I've been wanting to get a cheaper wood chipper just for those reasons, I just didn't want to pay the couple k$ to get one, it would be much nicer just shredding it

[@wilsonjohnson1868]

Please make sure you read the initial run times it's usually about 3 hours for the initial run or AKA break in time make sure you read the instructions fully should have a corner that says break in time or initial one time normally it says break in time make sure you read that the manual thoroughly don't do what I did ask screwed up a long time ago I didn't read the card that came with it and that's why I screwed up not that model but one similar to it long time ago

[@hpw59]

could you just use the top chute and bypass the little one?

[@KenMrKLC]

The cutter wheel has 2 sides, the branch side which has actual chipper blades, and the other shredder side which has like swivel loose cutter arms almost like a detacher that spins around. Entirely different sides of the wheel they lead to and entirely different cutting methods. So no...... I thought about that too at first

[@Well_I_am_just_saying]

@@KenMrKLC How does it work on dry leaves such as Maple and oak leaves? I am planning to compost a large amount of leaves this fall and I am looking for a good method to chop them up before putting them into the compost pile. I am mainly concerned about how fast leaves can be fed through it and how fine they come out. Thanks.

[@ourv9603]

OK, Nice intro vid on this machine. NOW, make another vid on how to go about removing & sharpening the blades. !

[@j1gly-pq576]

This chipper is tedious to use and doesn’t work quickly. Feeding it requires excessive pruning or physical force which is tiring and branches will beat you which means obviously wear a long sleeve and getting it sweaty. The top feed jams with twigs, it’s made for only leaves. Oh and the engines exhaust cover will fall off as the metal expands and contracts from heat to the point where the bolt that holds the cover won’t thread. I have 30-40 hours behind this little piece of 💩, it works, but I struggle to agree that it’s worth it’s value. Edit: I forgot to add; I returned mine after a good 30 hours or 4-5 days of use which might sounds like a bad/rude customer, but in that short period, the machine already had pieces falling off that couldn’t be reattached. In pure irony, my father-in-law buys another and probably used it for a similar length of time and the machine was already falling apart in the same way. Noise complaints were also an issue and neighbors even went as far to say, get a real wood chipper cause it’s just taking too long.

[@KenMrKLC]

Thanks for all the input... I'm sure this will help people on the fence... I ended up using it in the video and finishing the pile and it sat up until about 2 months ago I sold it for a $250 loss...

[@SonikJesus]

@@KenMrKLC Why’d you sell it?

[@cristianstriblea792]

I got mine today with coupon 20% off .

[@from-brittany-with-love73]

Awesome new toy! 🤣

[@MerkleAkrunphleuphle]

I literally can’t get my wheels on

[@jdleitner]

Just remember, you get what you pay for! I don't care how much your coupon reduces to purchase the Harbor Freight Chipper/Mulcher. ITS NOT WORTH IT! I had mine for one year and it worked ok. It DOES NOT TAKE 3" limbs...... The shaft sheered the following year and of course i did not take the extended warranty. The Customer Service line is a joke. You have to have a lot of time to stay on hold until anyone answers. Once answered, the Customer Service rep. stated i could purchase another shaft for it. I did and it was not really that expensive. They also sent it pretty fast. Well, that was a joke. You literally have to be a small engine mechanic with all the tools to tear the entire engine apart to install the new shaft. A friend told me it was cheaper to purchase another engine with the shaft. So, i called back, waited an hour and they took the part back. I ordered the engine for $120 but now the shaft does not smoothly fit the hub. Very long frustrating time latere, i sold the entire piece of crap on Facebook to someone for $50 and bought a REAL CHIPPER!.

[@jrockgto3894]

Yes agree with below eye and ear protection shlda be worn its a fight all day and loud

[@davesnothere3425]

His body his choice karen

[@lawncommander]

I don’t know what happened, he just fell into the wood chipper

[@williamhollie7817]

You talked almost half the vid about unnecessary life info?

[@KenMrKLC]

This channel isn’t for you. I didn’t force you to watch it. I share my experiences with running my landscaping business and my day to day activities. If you are not entertained you have the power to skip to another channel. I accept criticism but not going to stop verbalizing my stories and thoughts

[@RoeRoe123]

That's not nice. You shoulda got a good blister at minimal for putting us through that 😡

[@bgregg55]

Don't you love garbage company jurisdictional monopolies? Cost about same here.

[@alaskanglenn]

Wont work on our 4 in spruce branches, worthless

[@williamowens21]

Fence repair channel...

[@grasshoppercrews1296]

You doo doo head you 🤣🤣🤣

[@KenMrKLC]

Hey, I am not the one who came to his friends channel to watch him chop his fingers off you sick F! LMAO

[@grasshoppercrews1296]

@@KenMrKLC 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣