Your Guide to Buying 5 Inch Wood Chippers

Looking for a reliable model with chipping capacity to get rid of your yard debris? Here's what to look for

If you're looking to buy a small wood chipper for tackling fallen branches or doing property cleanup, there are certain features you should consider. 

Wood chippers are incredibly useful pieces of equipment, and a 5 inch chipper is a practical option for homeowners who want routine yard cleanup without stepping up to larger equipment.

This guide will help teach you everything you need to know about 5 inch chippers before you buy, including why owning one can be more economical than renting equipment and what factors you should consider before your purchase.

Let's get into it.

How do wood chippers work?

There are many types of wood chippers out there, but most chipper models utilize a flywheel for chipping. This flywheel has hardened steel chipping knives attached for chipping wood material.

When sticks or branches are fed into the infeed chute, these branches come in contact with the flywheel which reduces larger material into wood chips. The wood chips then travel through within the flywheel housing to the discharge chute.

On a single flywheel model, the discharge paddles are welded to the chipping flywheel, which means chipping and throwing is happening at the same speed. On Woodland Mills exclusive Twin Flywheel models the functions of chipping and throwing are split between two flywheels. The second flywheel spins at twice the speed of the chipping flywheel, increasing airflow, which keeps light weight and leafy material in the chip stream, helping to prevent clogging.

The Woodland Mills TFG55 GAS is a chipper that features Twin Flywheel Technology, giving it an edge over other small wood chippers when chipping freshly cut branches, and has a 5" infeed opening that can chip branches up to 3" in diameter. Meanwhile the TFG55 PTO has a 5" opening and can chip branches up to 5" in diameter.

What are some of the different types of 5 inch wood chippers?

Five inch diameter wood chippers come in both gas-powered and PTO-driven models, since those models have strong power sources that can chip small-to-medium sized materials.

Electric wood chippers can typically only chip smaller materials, usually less than 2-3". Meanwhile the chipping capacity can be higher with PTO-powered chippers that are compatible with larger, higher horsepower tractors.

The most important features to think about for 5 inch wood chippers include:

• • Size: 5 inch wood chippers tend to be smaller than their larger 6 or 8 inch counterparts, while still having enough capacity to chip most common sizes of branches for typical yard cleanup work.

  • Portability: A gas wood chipper has its own engine, so you don't need a tractor to operate it. This makes gas models a practical option for homeowners and landowners who want a standalone machine for property cleanup, trail maintenance, pruning and processing fallen branches. Meanwhile a PTO chipper can be conveniently carried behind your tractor via its 3-point hitch.

  • Gas vs PTO: Because the power source is built into the machine, gas chippers can also be moved independently around a property. Depending on the model, they may be towable behind an ATV, UTV or other vehicle. A PTO wood chipper connects to a tractor's power take-off (PTO), using the tractor's engine to power the chipper and are popular for acreage owners who already have a compatible tractor and are available across a wide range of chipping capacities and configurations.

  • Gravity-assisted vs. hydraulic infeed: Gravity-assisted wood chippers use the design and angle of the infeed chute to help guide material toward the chipping flywheel. Hydraulic infeed chippers use powered rollers to grip branches and pull them into the machine. Neither system is right for every user. The best choice depends on the size, volume and type of material you regularly need to process.

Because of this, a heavy duty 5-inch wood chipper is ideal for both residential properties handling smaller yard waste cleanup tasks or those who need to navigate rough terrain with their chipper regularly, as well as rural landowners looking for a model that can handle routine jobs on land with moderately-sized trees and branches.

What can I use wood chips for on my property?

Wood chips are an incredibly useful resource than has many practical applications.

• • Mix with compost and let it age to turn into a fine mulch that is more useful for composting.

  • When used as a garden mulch, wood chips retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Wood chips also become a nutrient-rich mulch that's great for new growth.

  • Can be used as in-fill for low-lying wet areas, soft footing for footpaths and trails, or as bedding for a playground or animals.

  • Wood chips make a great biofuel for wood stoves or bio-mass boilers.

A powerful chipper can be a useful tool for generating wood chips for your land. Even if you don't plan on using them for another purpose, having a pile of wood chips makes for easy disposal over your loose branch piles.

What should I look for when buying a 5" wood chipper?

When comparing 5 inch wood chippers, don't focus on chipping capacity alone. The best wood chipper for your property should match the size and type of material you regularly process, your available power source, and how often you plan to use it.

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a wood chipper:

• • Match the wood chipper capacity to your needs: A 5 inch wood chipper can be a practical choice for property cleanup, tree maintenance and processing fallen branches. Consider the size of material you typically need to chip rather than simply choosing the largest capacity available.

  • Choose between a gas or PTO wood chipper: A gas wood chipper provides its own power source and doesn't require a tractor, making it a versatile option for many property owners. A PTO wood chipper uses your tractor's PTO to power the machine and can be a good choice for rural landowners who already own a compatible tractor. Always check the required PTO horsepower and three-point hitch lift capacity before choosing a PTO model.

  • Consider what type of material you'll be chipping: Fresh branches, leaves and other green material can behave differently than dry, heavier branches. Chipper design can make a significant difference when processing this type of material. Woodland Mills' Twin Flywheel Technology separates chipping and throwing between two flywheels, creating additional airflow to help keep lightweight and leafy material moving through the chip stream and reduce clogging.

  • Compare gravity and hydraulic infeed systems: Gravity-assisted wood chippers use the angle and design of the infeed chute to help move branches toward the flywheel. Hydraulic infeed wood chippers use powered rollers to grip and pull material into the chipper, making them well suited to larger material and higher-volume chipping.

  • Choose a chipper built for demanding work: Look for heavy-gauge steel construction, quality components and a robust flywheel system. A well-built wood chipper should be designed to withstand regular use around your property for years to come.

  • Consider wood chipper maintenance and replacement parts: Chipping knives naturally wear with use, so replaceable and re-sharpenable knives are important. Before buying, also consider how easy the machine is to maintain and whether replacement parts and manufacturer support are readily available.

  • Compare wood chipper warranties: Warranty coverage can tell you a lot about how confidently a manufacturer stands behind its equipment. Compare both the length and terms of the warranty when researching different wood chipper brands. Woodland Mills wood chippers are backed by a 3-year warranty.

  • Read wood chipper reviews from real owners: A specification sheet only tells you so much. Look for wood chippers with a large number of verified customer reviews to learn how they perform in real-world conditions. Owner reviews can provide valuable insight into reliability, ease of use, maintenance and performance with different types of branches and material.

  • Think about portability and storage: Consider where you'll use and store your wood chipper. Gas models with pneumatic tires and tow hitches can be moved around a property or towed behind an ATV, while PTO wood chippers travel with the tractor they're attached to.

Models like the Woodland Mills TFG55 PTO features all of the above to ensure an easy experience in chipping and maintaining your machine.

Looking for a more powerful chipper?

If you're wanting something with more than a 5" capacity, you may want to consider models like the Woodland Mills WC68, though these larger PTO models are less compact and need more storage space than a 3-inch gas unit. These PTO-powered chippers feature a 6" capacity, and utilize your tractor's engine to power the flywheel. They also have hydraulic infeed, in which rollers grip and pull material to the flywheel, assisting with feeding.

If you want to go even bigger, there's also the Woodland Mills TF810 PRO, featuring a 8" chipping capacity and Twin Flywheel Technology.

In Summary: What should you know before buying a small wood chipper?

If you own a small property with small branches, a gas-powered wood chipper may be right for you. These are more powerful than electric models and can handle 5" thick branches.

Some things to remember include:

• • Most 5-inch chipper models are gas-powered and feature engines with 8 or more horsepower.

• • Wood chippers process fallen branches into nutrient rich mulch.

  • These models feature a high level of mobility, great for ATV owners who want to take them deep into the brush.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is 5 inches sufficient for dealing with regular tree waste?

A: For many landowners 5 inches should be enough to deal with fallen branches and other yard waste. With 5" chipping capacity you can reliably chip a variety of common branch sizes, but there's plenty of room to go up to a larger one.

If you need more capacity, consider larger wood chipper models with capacities up to 8" in diameter, such as the Woodland Mills TF810 PRO.

If you're unsure whether a single flywheel wood chipper will handle fresh, leafy material, regardless of size, you may want to consider a PRO model equipped with Twin Flywheel, which more provides a more consistent chipping experience regardless of material.

Q: Are 5 inch chippers small enough to store easily in the winter?

A: A big advantage to small wood chippers is that they're very easy to store for the season. Just put it in your garage, barn or workshop and put a cover over it, and you can keep it ready to use come the next spring. Their size is also a big factor in their portability too, making them easy to haul behind an ATV or tractor too.

Q: Is Twin Flywheel Technology useful for small wood chippers?

A: Yes, Twin Flywheel helps with chipping green, leafy materials. If you're a residential landowner, you may not have the space to let your yard debris dry out before it can be chipped. That means you're more likely chipping fresh, green materials. Twin Flywheel can effectively chip and throw these materials without needing to mix in heavier, dryer materials.