Wood chipper from a washing machine engine

Many different devices are used in gardening, some of which can easily be made by the business owner himself. Let's take a wood chipper for example. Grinded twigs, weeds and branches make it possible to prepare high-quality compost. In this article we will figure out how to replenish your gardening equipment without breaking the bank, namely, how to make a garden branch shredder from a washing machine engine.

Requirements for the future device and how does it work?

So, the task of the chopper is, naturally, to chop stems, branches and other vegetation, but so that the movements of the blades do not create a strong air flow and blow the greens out of the tank. The casing solves this problem.

It is not easy to transport the contents of the shredder ready for compost, so you can make the device itself transportable by placing it on wheels. In general, the specifics of its operation resemble the specifics of a food processor. The device includes a tank for receiving material, a shaft with blades, a motor, a frame and a box for crushed material.

How does the device work? The receiving tank and the tank for chopped branches are connected to each other by a casing. The blades are attached to the shaft. The material is placed into the receiving tank, the motor is turned on, which drives the shaft and, accordingly, the knives. The crushed material is blown from one tank to another.

Parts of the future shredder

There is nothing difficult about making such a combine from a washing machine engine. The main thing is to use the motors of semi-automatic machines (for example, domestic models “Malyutka”, “Fairy” or “Oka”).The engines of modern SMs are less suitable, so it is unlikely that they will be adapted.

Minimum motor requirements: speed 1350 rpm and power 180 W. There is no upper limit for either power or speed. The higher these indicators are, the greater the volume of branches available for simultaneous processing and the thicker the branches will be amenable to the shredder.

Important! The Fairy washing machine has a centrifuge, thanks to which the motor can reach very high speeds with relatively low power.

Make sure the receiving tank is strong. Sometimes stones or metal elements can get there along with grass and branches. If the strength is insufficient, the tank will be easily damaged and the shredder will become unusable. It is best to use a metal bucket or garden barrel, reinforced with iron sheet if necessary. The washing machine's tank will also work, but it may be too long. In this case, shorten it with a grinder. If the shaft rotation speed is too high, part of the contents of the tank flies out; this problem is solved by a lid.

The hole for removing chopped debris is located at the bottom of the tank, at the level of the blades. You can solder or otherwise attach a piece of metal in front of this hole. Thanks to this, the chopper will chop the contents of the basket more thoroughly and finely. But remember that the corner should be located below the level of the knives, otherwise it will interfere.

Anything can be used as blades. Some people remove discs from lawn mowers, others even make them themselves from old saws or an entire hacksaw blade. There can be only one blade. The number of knives and their size depend on how finely you want to chop the branches.Typically, several knives are used in the form of rectangular blades, sharpened on one side and attached to a shaft.

How to make your own knife? Take a blade and cut out the required number of rectangular plates with a hole in the middle for attaching to the shaft. Leave the short sides unchanged or grind them down, and make the long sides sharp. Knives with sharpened short edges (diamond-shaped) are good for cutting grass. When choosing a blade size, keep in mind that the lower the engine power, the lighter they should be. Remember to match the size of the cutter to the size of the tank so that the knife is not too long (then it will hit the side of the box) or too short (then the grass will wrap around it).

Now let's talk about the casing. Some connect the receiving box and the box for the finished material directly, without a casing, but this is unsafe, and this design is too cumbersome. The casing is made from a sheet of metal and then attached to the tank with screws. As a result, particles of branches and grass do not scatter in different directions, but are directed through the casing into a container for ground particles. A good blank for the casing can be the remainder of a metal or even plastic pipe.

The box for the finished material can be absolutely anything. Buckets, basins, large pans of any shape and material are suitable. The main thing is to place them under the casing. It is better to do this at a slight angle so that the garbage does not fly in all directions, and it is convenient to collect it. Some people prefer to leave the receiving box without holes and then empty it, but this is inconvenient, since you have to stop the motor every time, wanting to empty the basket.

Manufacturing instructions

Now let's talk in more detail about how to assemble a branch chopper yourself using the engine from a washing machine as a motor.

• As when working with any electrical appliance, you should first disconnect the washing machine from the power supply. If you are dealing with an activator or inverter type motor, you must fix the rotor or hold it with your hand to avoid rotation. If the motor is stuck in the groove, carefully pry it out with something sharp.
• Make a receiving tank. Everything is simple here: take the selected container and use a grinder to make a hole at the bottom to mount the motor.
• Make a stand for the combine. Weld together several metal corners and, if necessary, attach the wheels to the structure.
• Order a bushing from a lathe with mounting holes on one side and threads on the other. Approximate size – 5 cm.
• Attach the motor to the receiving box from below vertically. It is recommended that you first make a test “fix” to mark the height of the blades and the location of the outlet.
• The blades are bolted to the sleeve through a hole at the bottom of the tank. Place them at a height of 6-8 cm from the bottom. If your knife vibrates when you use it, try sharpening it on the other side to reduce its size and weight.
• On the side of the box, drill a rectangular hole 7 cm wide and about 20 cm long at the level of the blades or just below them. The hole for the waste outlet should not be too narrow, otherwise the chopped greens will be problematic to come out.
• Attach the casing with bolts

Now you need to prepare the engine for operation. You will need a cord with a power plug at the end and a stripped core.Connect the cable to the start button on one side and the motor winding on the other. If there are four wires coming from the engine, then the ends of the starting and working windings are connected and connected to the button. After pressing the button, the current flows to the starting winding and powers the motor; if you release the button, only the working winding will remain energized, and the starting circuit will open. If you press the button again, all wires will be open.

Making a chopper with your own hands is not that difficult. The main thing is to connect the engine correctly, but if you look carefully, this should not cause difficulties.

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