Trying to take care of your yard is going to be a lot of work, but that’s par for the course as a homeowner. If you don’t keep up on it, your yard could quickly become the next Amazon jungle if you aren’t careful! However, you can keep on top of it by pruning and trimming your shrubs and bushes regularly.
But, what are you supposed to do with the left over branches and limbs? You can run them through a wood chipper like the Sun Joe CJ601E 14-Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder.
In this review, we are going to talk a little more about the features of the Sun Joe CJ601E 14-Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder, but we are also going to give you an overview of what people who have purchased the wood chipper had to say about their overall experience with it.
Then, we’re going to give you our recommendation on whether or not this wood chipper is something you should consider purchasing for your next yard cleanup project!
About The Product
Unlike other wood chippers you’ll find on the market, the Sun Joe Wood Chipper/Shredder uses electricity instead of gas, which means it is going to be a little more environmentally friendly. With this chipper, you don’t have to worry about fumes like you would with a gas chipper.
Also, unlike gas chippers, you aren’t going to have to worry about maintenance concerns like always having gas when you want to use it, doing oil changes and tune ups. Electric models like this one are less prone to breaking down and they are much more affordable, which is always a big benefit.
Sun Joe CJ601E Electric Wood Chipper
- Ideal for turning branches and twigs into nutrient-rich garden mulch
- Powerful 14 amp motor effectively chips and shreds branches up to 1.5-inches thick
- Compact design with 6-inch wheels for easy portability
- Safety hopper with locking knob prevents the motor from operating when opened
- ETL approved; Full 2-year warranty
When you use this wood chipper, you will be able to change the debris in your yard into nutrient rich mulch in very little time. The machine will chip limbs, sticks, leaves, and brush quickly. You can also chip pine cones, which will give the mulch a nice red color to the mulch, making it a nice way to add some more color to your garden.
Because the chipper is powered with electricity, it is perfect for when you have light jobs. It’s easy to assemble and easy to move, so when you have to clean up debris in other areas of the yard, all you have to do is tip it back on the wheels and move it to the desired spot. You will, however, need a long, heavy-duty extension cord to do so.
What Others Say
When we looked at the user reviews, we saw that 68% had great things to say about the Sun Joe CJ601E 14-Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder and left 4 or 5-star reviews. Of these reviews, people commented on how nicely the chipper chips wood that is within the size limits. They do recommend that the branches you put through the chipper be as straight as possible, because the machine could get caught up on knots and any Y sections.
They have also stated that they liked that the blades were double sided, so they didn’t have to be sharpened often. Customers feel that this is the perfect tool for the weekend cleanup job.
So what did the remaining 32% of customers who left 3-star or below reviews have to say? The most common complaint customers had was that the blades on this have gotten worse over the years. One customer stated that when they bought replacement blades, they were only able to use the chipper for 10 hours when the blade snapped.
Another customer said that the chipper wasn’t able to handle branches that were 1.5 inches, even though the device said it was designed for that sized branch. Also, customers have pointed out that this chipper had a tendency to get clogged relatively quickly, which greatly impeded their yard cleanup.
Our Recommendation
When it comes to an economical solution to chipping wood that isn’t going to put more pollution into the environment, it’s understandable that you’re going to want to go with an electric wood chipper like the Sun Joe CJ601E 14-Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder. With this chipper, you have the convenience of being able to simply plug the chipper into an outlet (or an extension cord) and taking the tool wherever you need some limbs or branches chopped up.
With this tool, you are going to have a 2 year warranty, so if ever you find that your chipper stops working for whatever reason, you’ll be able to get some kind of repair service with no cost to you. Since the chipper is priced below $100, that is quite a good deal.
We do want to point out that there have been some concerns about how effectively this chipper is with cutting green wood. Some people have said it is able to cut through it with no problem, but others have said that it binds up and causes the chipper to get clogged pretty quickly. Fortunately, unclogging it isn’t too difficult. It is more of an issue of convenience.
When we take into consideration the price point of this chipper and the overall rating of the chipper, we feel that this is a good option. While you may have instances where you will have to unclog the machine from time to time, it is an affordable option that will finely chip your yard debris into useable, nutrient dense mulch for other parts of your garden.
We’re sure that if you give this chipper a shot, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its effectiveness.
