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Wood chippers convert bulky yard waste into a manikin that score excellent mulch , compost promptly , or is well bag for curbside disposal . Whether reducing the bulk of fall foliage , removing toss off limbs after a summer storm , or put away of light touch and branches after spring pruning , these political machine process the debris wherever it falls and limit the routine of tripper to carry it away . I recently tested theEarthquake K33 chipper shredder — along with several other mannequin — during a crepuscle landscape cleanup project , and the results were outstanding .
Shoppers have a choice between either electric or gas - powered wood chippers . Although compact galvanising models operate quietly and do a fine chore on smaller cloth , those with larger properties , or lots of Tree , often regain that gas - powered chipper shredder are a better primed . Gas wood chippers bring quicker , oblige big arm , and access remote parts of the yard much more easily than their electric vis-a-vis . The Earthquake K33 Grant Wood chipper that I used bear out among the trial group , performing those tasks at a high level . In this review , I will share the pros and cons of buy and operating this machine and equate it to a few other chipper shredders I have tested .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Earthquake K33 Wood Chipper Shredder: At a Glance
Rating:9.2/10
SPECS
PROS
CONS
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For more options , see our full buyer ’s guidebook onThe Best Wood Chippers .
What is the Earthquake K33 chipper shredder?
After spending an time of day grind up branches and brush piles with 10 dissimilar Sir Henry Wood chippers , I awarded the Earthquake K33 chipper shredder as “ Best Overall . ” The heedful design , durable construction , powerful engine , and simpleness of transport all immix to make this model stand out head and shoulder joint above the rest of the group . It was not the cheapest or — while pricey — the most expensive chipper , but it was arguably the most capable machine of the mathematical group .
A 301cc 4 - cycle flatulence engine powers the Earthquake K33 . The 3 - inch ramification chipper chute run to a dual - tongue chipper wheel , while the 17 - inch - long by 14 - inch - all-inclusive hopper sit atop the whole to funnel little junk down through an 8 - inch - long by 4 - column inch - full opening night into the shredder . Four hammer gathering ( two watt second - hammers and two tri - hammer ) spin on a shaft inside the shredder , pulverizing foliage , twig , pine cones , and other grounds waste .
This chipper is make somewhat like a handwriting truck to navigate gibbosity , side , and odd terrain . It rolls on two 11 - inch airless wheels . The axle is mount below the shredder housing . A handlebar fish upwards at the rear of the hopper , allow user to well lever back — put forward the fixed kickstand ( mounted beneath the engine ) off the footing — and labour or pull the machine to the worksite .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
The locomotive engine is fit with an on / off switch , backlash entrant , and the usual 4 - hertz lawn equipment controls : fuel flow shutoff , choke lever , and throttle lever . The fuel tank has a generous 1.72 - gallon capacity for extended work Roger Sessions .
The chipper also sport a 36 - column inch - long by 24 - inch - extensive discharge bag . Instead of sequester over the discharge slide with a string like other chippers , this bag has a twist - lock system that clamps down very securely . The bag also include grummet along one side that slide over a support rod so it is held up and out and able to fill completely with no allowance needed on the part of the manipulator . A heavy - duty zip on the base of the bag allow for fast unloading .
Is the Earthquake K33 wood chipper easy to assemble?
I foregather the Earthquake K33 by myself in about 30 transactions using only a few wrenches and socket . It is authoritative to remember that this machine weigh 140 pounds , so moving and take out the boxful may be easy with a helper . The instructions were quartz glass clear , and there were no awkward here and now when I felt I need a third hired hand to complete the assembly .
I did feel one top dog - scratching moment after assembly . As a 4 - cycle machine , railway locomotive oil is require ( 10W-30 ) . The kit graciously include a 20 - ounce bottle to get started — most of the other models did not — but the railway locomotive oil capacity is 37.2 ounces . When I added the included bottle and checked the oil color , it scarcely express up on the bottom of the dipstick . Users will want to be prepared with an excess quart of oil .
Is the Earthquake K33 wood chipper easy to operate?
begin theEarthquake K33was alike to other throttle chippers : Turn the switch to “ on , ” launch the fuel valve , set the choke , and deplumate the cord . It always started on the first or 2d pull . In cognitive process , a few detail made this wood chipper easy and more well-off to apply than most of the other manakin , starting with the size of it of the machine .
With the hopper lip at a height of 35 inches aboveground , or a little below my shank height , it was easy for me to load the shredder with small junk . This was especially noticeable when I was ditch leaves from a crank can . Two other framework were similarly construct , but another two model were much taller , with their hopper rims about 42 in high . The added pinnacle made loading a little more difficult because of the need to lift and hold the can higher . Shorter was better in this representative .
The added engine power was another helpful divisor . Thanks to its 301cc engine , the Earthquake K33 was the only gaseous state chipper that did n’t bog down down or stall out throughout testing . The other chippers , with engine ranging from 212cc to 224cc , either struggled through thick , hardened ramification or gag on piles of leaves .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
I also prefer the disposal bag on the Earthquake K33 . Some of the wood chippers I tested did not include bags , which meant I had to run down up the mess afterward . plainly give a disposal suitcase gave this machine a wooden leg up . Then , among the sacking models , this chipper excelled . The turn - ringlet connection head was fantastically impregnable compared to the drawstring bag that risked slipping off the detritus slideway . The blade rod support anatomical structure allowed me to fill the traveling bag without have to hold back and shake down the material and restart . Additionally , the zipper worked flawlessly without snag on threads or becoming clog with woods fiber .
How powerful is the Earthquake K33 wood chipper?
While comfort and ease of transport factored into my preference , the biggest difference between this chipper and the other gas model was world power — specifically the high torsion evaluation . Torque is a measurement of rotational military unit , and in this lawsuit , the energy behind the chipper blade and tear up hammers . Most of the other gas models carried torque rating around 11.1 lbf - ft , but the Earthquake K33 is rated 13.28 lbf - ft , which is 17.9 percent higher than the other models .
In legal action , the difference of opinion was pretty obvious , as this chipper easily jaw through dried hardwood subdivision that bogged down or stall out every other machine in the psychometric test grouping . gamy torque allowed it to make good use of the threefold chipper tongue configuration . It maintained steadfast engine speed and break off branches faster than the competitors , in add-on to give a notable effect on the shredder scheme , so that I rarely used the hopper choke home plate to control the current of junk . I can not imagine the need for more power without also increasing the chipper shredder intake sizes .
Is the Earthquake K33 wood chipper worth the money?
While it is not the cheapest available gas wood chipper shredder , the Earthquake K33 is a note value pick for regular class - round use on a midsize or tumid property . At $ 1,000 or a little less , the Earthquake K33 is worth the money . Certain design inside information , engine power , and general build up quality comparison very favorably with other models priced likewise . In many way of life , it ’s a veridical standout among the other available Grant Wood chippers on the market .
Three primal details set this unit aside from the competition in my test group . First , the engine size was much larger than the other models , with the next closest sporting a 224cc engine . Next , the two-fold - knife chipper wheel , rather of a single knife , allowed the Earthquake K33 to operate more quickly with a reduced likeliness of bogging down or conk out on great branches . Finally , the sliding choke plate between the grounder and the shredder compartment made it easy for me to set the flow of small-scale debris to avoid overfilling the shredder . None of the other models do outfit with a flow accountant of any kind .
Should you buy the Earthquake K33 wood chipper shredder?
For those who are shopping for a succinct Sir Henry Wood chipper to recycle limbs and leaves on a little urban lot , I recommend avoiding flatulency - powered equipment in favor of an electric model like theEarthwise GS70015 electric chipper shredder . In my mental testing , this quiet , compact , and lightweight machine easily handle branches up to 1.5 inches chummy as well as leaves and small detritus , all while avoiding gasoline .
Those in search of a lineament but more cheap gas - power Sir Henry Wood chipper for a slightly larger landscape might consider thePredator 6.5 HP 212cc chipper shredder . It ’s a footfall behind the Earthquake K33 in term of mightiness , but the dimensions are quite similar . It struggled while nick the tough branches but was more than adequate for midsize branch and brush . It costs about $ 400 less than the Earthquake K33 .
shopper who do n’t mind paying a little more for excellent power and performance will find the Earthquake K33 chipper shredder to be an excellent choice . It is easy to move , the right size for comfortable operation , and features muckle of power to handle all kinds of branches and yard junk .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Where to Buy the Earthquake K33 Chipper Shredder
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product quizzer with an all-encompassing background signal in the nursery and landscape gardening industries . For more than twenty years , he mowed , edged , planted , dress , train , irrigated , and renovated beautiful landscapes . Now , he test and write review about the latest outdoor big businessman equipment , hand tools , lawn care product , and other outdoor life goods .
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Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
