FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Woodland Mills Wood Chippers

Learn more about PTO and gas-powered Woodland Mills chippers with these common questions

A wood chipper can be a great investment for your property, able to reduce your wood waste and create a great resource for your land. 

But what is the best wood chipper for you, and what features should you look out for when making an initial purchase or upgrading?

Here are some frequently asked questions by landowners looking to purchase a wood chipper, so let's get into it.

What is the best wood chipper for me?

We usually recommend going with the biggest chipper your tractor can handle. Start by checking the horsepower at your tractor’s PTO, then match it up with the compatible chipper models.

If your budget allows, go for the highest capacity chipper that works with your tractor's horsepower, ensuring your tractor can safely lift it. That way, you’ll be able to chip the largest material possible with the equipment you already have.

At the end of the day, the right chipper is the one that balances power, compatibility, and what you need it to handle.

What's the difference between Single flywheel vs Twin Flywheel?

Single flywheel chippers use one flywheel to both chip and throw material. That means it has to strike a balance between chipping power and airflow. It works well, but with light or leafy material, you may need to mix in heavier branches to keep it moving through the chip stream.

Our patented Twin Flywheel design, seen on models like the TF810 PRO, separates the functions of chipping and throwing. One flywheel chips at the ideal speed for powerful chipping, while the second flywheel spins twice as fast to create strong airflow and throw chips farther. This allows it to handle light or leafy material more reliably, no mixing required.

Bottom line: twin flywheel means less prep, smoother operation, and better performance with all types of material.

Is a gas-powered or PTO-powered wood chipper better?

Gas-powered wood chippers like the TFG55 GAS don’t need a tractor, so they’re more mobile. Many of our customers tow them behind an ATV to reach spots a tractor can’t or if they have multiple properties that the chipper will be used on. They’re great if you need flexibility and more mobility.

While gas chippers have great mobility, PTO-powered chippers typically offer more power. Running a chipper attached to your tractor means you'll have one less engine to maintain on your property. They often feature higher capacities because they're driven by your tractor's horsepower.

So the decision to choose gas or PTO power is mainly about deciding between mobility and cost, versus capacity and time saving. If you need help deciding, feel free to reach out to our customer service team and see what they suggest.

What's the difference between gravity infeed and hydraulic infeed?

Our gravity-assist infeed system relies on the steep angle of the chute to naturally guide larger materials into the chipper, requiring you to push or assist some smaller material in. Once the material is engaged with the flywheel, the 3-blade design facilitates a smooth and consistent draw. However, the amount of effort needed to assist material in can vary depending on the type and size of what you're chipping.

On the other hand, our hydraulic infeed system features an infeed roller that actively grabs and pulls material into the chipper making for a very efficient process. It also provides a consistent feeding action and allows all types of materials to be handled in the same way, regardless of shape, weight or size. Also featuring forward, neutral and reverse feeding directions with variable speeds, this system is typically considered a superior feeding system over gravity-assist infeed systems.

Both systems are effective, and the choice often depends on budget, the types of material you expect to process most often as well as on how hands-on you'd like to be during material preparation before chipping, etc.

Could I use a Woodland Mills wood chipper for commercial purposes?

Many of our customers will use their wood chippers commercially, using them to chip material for their tree care businesses or to clean up neighboring properties to make some cash on the side.

We’re all for it. We love seeing our equipment help people grow their businesses and put their machines to work.

What type of maintenance do wood chippers require?

We design our chippers to be easy to use and easy to maintain. Like any machine, there are a few key things to keep an eye on:

• • Bearings require regular greasing
  • Belts and the bed plate should be checked and adjusted
  • Blades will need sharpening or replacement over time

Your owner’s manual has a step-by-step guide, so be sure to follow that for the best results. Keeping up with routine maintenance will keep your chipper running like a champ.

Do wood chippers come assembled? And if not, how long does assembly take?

Your chipper shows up mostly assembled, with just a few final steps left to get it ready. For most, it takes about two hours to finish the build.

Every step is clearly laid out in the manual, so setup’s pretty straightforward. We have invested alot of time in creating easy to follow manuals to ensure the instructions don't leave you scratching your head. Before you know it, you’ll be up and running and ready to chip.

Note: Your manual is included in the black tube on the machine and can also be viewed in PDF format here.

How do I choose a wood chipper for turning tree branches into a pile of wood chips at home?

The first step is deciding whether a PTO wood chipper (tractor attachment) or a gas powered wood chipper makes the most sense for your setup.

If you already have a tractor, a hydraulic wood chipper that connects to your 3-point hitch is a natural fit. Models like the WC46, WC68 or WC88 are commonly used for turning brush piles and yard debris into wood chips using your tractor’s power.

If you don’t have a tractor, or want something more mobile, a gas wood chipper like the TFG55 GAS gives you the flexibility to move around your property or reach tighter areas.

From there, it comes down to the type of material you’re working with and how often you’ll be chipping. If you’re mostly dealing with lighter pruning and occasional cleanup, a smaller model can get the job done. If you’re regularly working through larger brush piles or mixed material, and your tractor has the PTO horsepower to support it, stepping up in size can save you time and effort over the long run.

Features like Twin Flywheel Technology, found on models like the TF68 PRO and TF810 PRO, can also make a noticeable difference when working with green, leafy material by helping it move through the chipper more smoothly with less preparation.

How can I compare different PTO wood chipper models to find the most durable and affordable option?

When comparing PTO wood chipper tractor attachments, it really comes down to matching the chipper to your tractor and the type of work you’re doing.

Start with your tractor’s PTO horsepower and lifting capacity. From there, look at chipping capacity and how much material you plan to process. If your tractor can support it, stepping up to a larger-capacity chipper can save time and reduce how much prep is needed when working through bigger brush piles and yard debris.

For lighter, occasional cleanup, models like the WC46 can be a practical fit. If you’re regularly handling larger volumes or mixed material, stepping up to models like the TF68 PRO or TF810 PRO gives you more capacity and a smoother, more consistent chipping experience. These models also feature patented Twin Flywheel technology, which improves airflow through the chipper, helping process leafy and green material more effectively.

At the end of the day, the most durable and affordable wood chipper is the one that fits your tractor, matches your workload, and keeps you moving through material efficiently without unnecessary effort or downtime.

What is the most powerful portable wood chipper suitable for large rural properties?

The capability of a PTO wood chipper ultimately comes down to how well it matches your tractor’s available horsepower at the PTO. The more power your tractor can deliver, the more capacity you can take advantage of.

Within our lineup, the TF810 PRO is the highest-capacity wood chipper tractor attachment, designed for landowners with larger tractors who are handling regular, high-volume chipping.

With an 8" chipping capacity and an 8" × 10" infeed opening, it’s built to process larger material and wider branch bundles with less prep. It’s compatible with tractors producing 35–100+ PTO horsepower, allowing you to make full use of higher-output machines.

It also features Twin Flywheel Technology, which increases airflow through the chipper and helps carry lightweight, leafy material through the chip stream more effectively, making it a strong choice for mixed material and ongoing property cleanup.

If your tractor is in a lower horsepower range but you still want similar performance characteristics, models like the TF68 PRO offer a smaller-capacity alternative with the same Twin Flywheel design.

At the end of the day, the “most powerful” chipper isn’t just about size, it’s about choosing the model that makes the most of your tractor while matching the scale of work on your property.