Gas-Powered Wood Chippers Explained

We explain how easy it is to get chipping with a gas wood chipper

When it comes to wood chipping machines for your property, you have a couple options.

PTO-powered wood chippers are usually a favourite choice for those who own tractors, since they're able to convert your tractor's horsepower into wood chipping power. But what if you don't own a tractor? Or maybe you want to bring your wood chipper somewhere your tractor can't reach?

Woodland Mills now offers the TFG55 GAS, our first gas-powered wood chipper giving landowners an accessible and portable chipping machine. 

What's the difference?

There are two fundamental types of wood chippers you'll be considering as a property owner:

PTO Wood Chippers: These machines connect to the PTO shaft on your tractor, utilizing your tractor's PTO to power the flywheel. This results in powerful wood chipping action, able to use every bit of your tractor's power to quickly turn tree branches and brush into a pile of chips.

Because Woodland Mills offers multiple models compatible with many different types of tractors which cover a range of horsepower, you'll be able to find a machine which best suits your needs if you want a wood chipper attachment for your tractor.

PTO Wood Chippers make use of every RPM from your tractor's engine, meaning the more powerful your tractor, the more quickly and efficiently you can chip.

Gas Wood Chippers: The big difference from PTO wood chippers is that these tools have their own power source, a gas engine, so you don't need a separate device to power your wood chipper. The primary benefit of this is having greater versatility, taking your chipper to places a tractor would be unable to go.

Or perhaps you're a small property owner and don't own a tractor with a PTO? Either way, these wood chippers will ensure you have a stump grinding option no matter what kind of property or set of tools you have at your disposal.

Small gas wood chippers are also affordable, entry-level options for hobby farm owners or those just getting started with chipping. If you don't want to own and operate a tractor, opting for a gas chipper can save you a ton of money.

Reasons for and against gas chippers

For

• • Gas Powered Chippers don't require a tractor or separate device to use them. This makes them exceptionally mobile and great if you don't own a tractor with a PTO

  • With a hitch you can connect it to an ATV, or haul it on the bed of a truck to take it anywhere

  • The TFG55 GAS comes equipped with Woodland Mills patented Twin Flywheel technology, creating a more consistent chipping experience regardless of the material you feed it.

Against

• • The TFG55 GAS is a smaller model, capable of taking material 3" (8 cm) in diameter, but the 5" infeed opening still allows you to feed bunches of brush or irregular-shaped branches

  • Since these chippers have their own engine, they will need to be refueled and serviced

Why would I consider a gas wood chipper?

A gas wood chipper might make sense for you if:

• • You own a small property like a hobby farm and don't need a high capacity wood chipper

  • You don't own a tractor, or your tractor doesn't have a PTO

  • You want to take your wood chipper places where your tractor can't reach

  • You want to chip wood but don't want to use your tractor to do it

Meanwhile a PTO wood chipper may make more sense if:

• • You own a tractor with a PTO

  • You want to chip branches larger than 3" (5 cm)

  • You only want to fuel and maintain one engine

The benefits of Twin Flywheel

One of the benefits of Woodland Mills TFG55 GAS Wood Chipper is that it comes with Twin Flywheel technology.

Woodland Mills' base model chippers come with a stock, single flywheel. This system uses paddles on the back of the chipping flywheel to regulate airflow in the machine and assist in sending chips out the discharge chute.

Twin Flywheel chippers use two flywheels spinning at different speeds. The first one chips while the second spins twice as fast generating increased airflow. This helps ensure lightweight and leafy materials more reliably, without requiring mixing in heavier materials.

The great thing about the TFG55 GAS, as well as the TFG55 PTO model, is that this feature is part of the base package, so you can feel confident as you feed material into your chipper that it will get the job done.

Anything else I should know?

You should pick a wood chipper that's easiest for you and makes sense for your needs and your property.

For more information about your wood chipping options, check out our store page, where you can browse customer reviews or even read the manuals for all our products before purchasing. Subscribe to our email newsletter too for more offers and customer stories about chippers.

You can also check out the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group, to see more satisfied property owners using their gas wood chippers to clean up their land.