How do you chip wood without a chipper?

Chipping wood without a chipper can seem daunting, but with the right techniques and tools, it’s very achievable. Chipping is the process of breaking down logs, branches, and other wooden debris into smaller, uniform chunks of wood called chips. Chips have a variety of uses, from landscaping mulch to stove fuel to animal bedding. While most large-scale chipping operations use heavy-duty wood chippers, there are several methods that work well for chipping smaller amounts of wood by hand. This article will explore the most effective ways to manually chip wood using hand tools, without the need for any powered chippers. We’ll go over the pros and cons of different techniques like chopping, sawing, splitting, and pounding to break wood down into chips. With some strategic thinking and elbow grease, you’ll be able to chip wood at home quickly, easily, and safely.

Why Chip Wood Without a Chipper?

There are several good reasons you may want to chip wood without using a powered chipper:

– Cost savings – Chipper machines and shredders can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to purchase. Doing it manually allows you to chip wood for free. This is ideal for small yard projects.

– No noise – Electric and gasoline chippers can be very loud when operating. Manual methods let you chip quietly. This is considerate if you have close neighbors.

– No maintenance – Chipper machines require regular maintenance and cleaning to keep functioning well. Hand tools have minimal upkeep.

– Portability – Large equipment lacks mobility and can be difficult to move around a property. Hand tools are light and can go anywhere.

– Safety – Powered chippers have more risk of injury due to fast moving parts. With manual labor, you control the process.

– Small jobs – Larger chipper machines are overkill for chipping a few small branches or logs. Hand methods allow small scale chipping.

For these reasons, chipping wood manually can be an excellent option, especially for homeowners doing occasional lightly chipping around their yard and garden. The techniques allow precision and control without a costly, noisy machine.

Tools and Supplies

To chip wood without a chipper, having the right hand tools for the job is key. Here are some of the most useful implements for effective manual wood chipping:

Hatchet or axe – A sharp hatchet or axe is perhaps the most essential tool for hand chipping. The sharp blade can easily split and chop wood into chips. Aim for a 1.5 lb to 3 lb head for sufficient chopping power without excessive weight.

Mallet – A wood or rubber mallet helps drive the axe or hatchet blade through wood. Choose a 2-4 pound size with a 12-18 inch handle. Rubber protects your striking arm from vibration.

Sledgehammer – A 8-12 lb sledge can split tough logs with heavy blows. Use caution to avoid glancing blows. Wedge the log first for clean splits.

Wedges – Wedges help split logs by driving into the grain. Use metal or plastic wedges around 6-8 inches long. Soak hardwoods first to ease splitting.

Hand saw – A sharp 15-21 inch hand saw is ideal for pre-cutting logs and branches before chipping the segments. Select coarse teeth for quick cuts.

Loppers – Bypass loppers let you trim branches down to size in advance of chipping. Look for 24 inch or longer handles for best leverage.

Protective gear – Gloves, safety goggles, steel-toe boots, and hard hats greatly reduce injury risk from flying debris.

Having these tools on hand will enable you to take on most manual wood chipping tasks with success. Well-maintained edges and protective equipment keep the work safe and efficient.

Techniques for Chipping Wood by Hand

When equipped with the right tools, there are several effective techniques for chipping and breaking down wood manually:

Chopping – This involves swinging an axe or hatchet down onto a log or branch to chop it into smaller pieces. Aim for a clean follow-through to maximize impact force. Watch for rolling logs.

Splitting – Logs and rounds can be split using a heavy sledgehammer and wedges. Drive wedges into the wood grain, then strike with the sledge to separate pieces.

Sawing – Use a hand saw to cut logs and branches into shorter segments. The pieces can then be chopped, pounded, or split into chips.

Pounding – A mallet can be used to pound logs and stubs directly into chips. This works well on punky, dried wood. Support the wood to absorb the blows.

Crushing – Place small wood pieces on a hard surface like concrete and use a sledgehammer to crush them down into chips. Control the swing for accuracy.

Boring – Drill holes across the grain using a large auger bit, then split the log apart. The ridges left by the drill help guide the fracture.

With practice, you’ll learn which methods work best depending on the size, shape and wood species you’re working with. Combining techniques like sawing then pounding is often most efficient. Always work safely with full control of tools.

Chipping Different Types of Wood

Not all wood chips and breaks down in the same way when chipping by hand. Here’s how some common species compare when chipped manually:

Pine – Soft pine is relatively easy to chop, pound, and saw into chips. The soft grain tends to split cleanly along growth ring boundaries.

Oak – Dense oak requires very sharp tools and heavyweight swings when chipping by hand. Quarter-sawn oak splits evenly.

Maple – Hard maple has excellent resistance to splitting, so it must be sawed and accurately chopped into chips. Use wedges on logs.

Birch – Paper birch is amenable to manual chipping if the wood is dry and free of knots. Dull tools will tend to tear out ragged fibers.

Willow – Fast-growing willow has soft, brittle wood that chops and pounds easily. Green willow is very wet and heavy.

Cedar – Aromatic cedar can be brittle and splintery when chipped. Avoid rapid hammering, and saw cleanly first.

Aspen – Trembling aspen is low density, yet tough to chop manually. Use a sharp blade and square-end mallet for best results.

Try working with a variety of wood species to get a feel for how each needs to be addressed when chipping by hand. Adjusting your approach will lead to greater success.

Tips for Safe and Effective Chipping

Manual wood chipping takes some technique and practice to become efficient. Follow these tips to get the best results from hand chipping:

– Always use sharp tool edges. Blunt axes and saws make you work much harder.

– Cut logs and branches to 2-3 foot lengths before attempting to chip them by hand.

– Let logs dry out well before chipping to reduce weight and improve splitting.

– For tough woods, start splits with a wedge before pounding them apart with a mallet.

– Position logs up on blocks or stumps so you can chop downwards rather than bend over.

– Go slowly until you learn to read wood grain and identify ideal chipping spots.

– Use overhand chopping strokes as they will be more powerful and accurate.

– Protect your eyes, wear sturdy boots, and keep your legs clear of rolling logs.

– Take breaks often, as chipping builds up fatigue that raises injury risk.

– Maintain proper technique so the tool impact goes into the wood, not your joints.

With attentiveness and common sense, chipping wood by hand can become a rewarding, worthwhile skill. Always emphasize safety and efficiency in your work.

Benefits and Uses of Chipped Wood

After putting in the labor to hand chip logs and branches, it helps to understand the range of benefits provided by wood chips:

– Landscaping mulch – Uniform wood chips spread on paths and beds deter weeds, retain moisture and improve soil as they decompose.

– Playground surfacing – Shredded chips make an excellent impact absorbing ground cover under park and backyard play equipment.

– Stove fuel – Dry wood chips burn cleanly and efficiently in wood stoves and fireplaces for home heating.

– Smoking chips – Hardwood chips like hickory and maple add wonderful flavor when used to smoke meat, cheese, or other foods.

– Compost amendment – Chips blended into compost piles add valuable carbon content and improve aeration for enhanced decomposition.

– Animal bedding – Pine and cedar chips make clean, absorbent litter for chickens, horses, and other livestock housing.

– Garden walkways – Decorative pathways can be created by using colored wood chips and edging borders.

– Wood pulp – Clean aspen and poplar chips can be processed into paper products.

Knowing your wood chips will serve a purpose makes all the hard chipping work worthwhile. The right application depends on chip characteristics like size, wood type, and moisture content.

Storing and Handling Wood Chips

To prevent deterioration or spontaneous combustion, freshly produced wood chips require proper storage and handling:

– Allow chips to air dry until moisture content is well below 30% before piling for storage.

– Keep stored wood chips in a location with good airflow, such as a wire box or vented barn aisle. Cover tops but leave sides open.

– Check piles daily for the first few weeks. Use a temperature probe to detect any hot spots over 150°F.

– Turn and mix any overly hot chip piles to release trapped heat and moisture.

– Handle chips carefully to minimize dust, which poses a fire and respiratory hazard.

– For compost and mulch use, stockpile chips loosely to promote aeration and biological activity.

– Store chips intended for fuel or bedding in more compact piles to conserve space and slow decomposition.

With attentive pile management and monitoring, you can store home-chipped wood chips safely for many months. Proper drying and ventilation prevent dangerous fires or unhealthy molds.

When to Use a Powered Chipper

While manual wood chipping has many benefits, there are situations where a powered chipper is more practical:

– Chipping waste from felling or trimming large trees

– Managing a high volume of brush and debris clearing

– Shredding mixed green materials like leaves and vines

– Producing very fine, uniformly-sized chips

– Chipping material over 6 inches diameter

– Chipping wood too hard or knotty for hand tools

– Quickly producing chips to meet demand

– Chipping for extended periods or large projects

– Operating a landscaping or tree service business

In these cases, the efficiency and capabilities of powered chipper machines justify the significant investment. But for smaller property owners chipping occasional fallen branches, hand chipping is often the better choice.

Gas vs Electric Chippers

For larger chipping tasks, chipper shredders come in both gas and electric models. Here’s how they compare:

Factor	Gas Chipper	Electric Chipper
Portability	Highly portable for outdoor use	Less portable due to power cord
Power	Can handle tougher chipping jobs	Lower strength models suitable for lighter work
Convenience	No cord, direct outdoor access	Nearby outlet required to operate
Emissions	Creates engine exhaust fumes	No emissions produced
Noise	Gas engines generate significant noise	Much quieter electric motor operation
Cost	Higher equipment purchase price	More affordable models available

When choosing between electric and gas chippers, consider your budget, chipping volume, work setting, and environmental factors. Select the one best aligned with your needs.

Conclusion

While a wood chipper makes quick work of chipping logs and branches, there are many techniques to accomplish the same result using only hand tools. With some strategic thinking and elbow grease, it’s possible to break down scrap wood into usable chips without costly power equipment. Hand chipping is an eco-friendly, quiet, and cost-effective solution for small-scale wood recycling. Try out these methods for cleanly converting sticks and logs into mulch, fuel, and more using axes, hatchets, wedges, and other simple implements. Working carefully and efficiently, you can reap the benefits of wood chips without an expensive, noisy chipper. Hand chipping takes more time and effort, but the trade-off in cost and quality make it worthwhile for homeowners and gardeners looking to recycle yard waste. With practice, anyone can become skilled at safely producing wood chips by hand.