10 hp Wood Chipper Shredder, Gas Briggs Engine

Chipper Reviews

Click here to review ALL of Patriot’s customer reviews and testimonials

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 04/18/23

The shredder works well. Items I wish were different:

1. Engine quieter. It is VERY LOUD. Perhaps a different muffler?

2. Larger wheels so it would be easier to pull around the property across debris and uneven ground.

3. I wish it came with a device to push debris into the top. I made my own.

4. Knives are hard to replace or remove to sharpen. I have done it once. Screws actually broke off.

5. Needs an easy way to drain gas from tank and carburetor between uses.

Regarding the materials that we typically shred, I was not aware of the other items we could shred like cardboard, hay, food waste, compost material.

Can those items really be shredded?

By Robb, San Jose, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 04/12/23

Although I have a commercial company “Tree Keeper” and do much work in the horticulture field my Patroit chipper is just for personal use on my farm and property. I value the machine so much that I need to keep it in premium running order and although I know it would hold up in a commercial application I do not feel that this is it’s worth or what it was created for.

This is a fine ,heavy duty tool for an individual to use in a home property setting. with care and judicious application I

believe it should last foe a few decades – it my case the rest of my life! thanks for creating a tool of great value and quality!

By John, Sunfield, MI

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 04/12/23

Composting is a priority in my gardens, and I recycle all yard waste plus Kitchen Waste. I have gardened for over 70 years, and composting is as important as healthy soil and growing crops. My compost area has 6 one yard compost bins. Three yards of compost are generated yearly and used as a soil amendment or mulch. All my leaves are shredded in the Fall and used to make leaf mulch. Being almost 80, I could not compost without the help of a shredder.

After twenty-five years, my Troybilt shredder needed replacement, and my top priority was to buy American. After detailed research and comparisons, I selected the Patriot Shredder and am glad I did. My satisfaction was enhanced after calling the help desk and finding that the person on the other end was an American and owned a Patriot, and he solved my problem in minutes.

By Jonathan, Vicksburg, MI

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 04/11/23

I LIKE THIS TOO BECAUSE IT STARTS EVERYTIME WITH JUST ONE STRONG PULL ON THE CORD. it IS LIKE MAGIC HOW EASY IT COMES TO LIFE SETTLES INTO A STEADY HUM READY FOR WHAT I FEED IT. IT IS ALSO EASY TO MOVE, GET INTO TIGHT PLACES AND SORES EASILY AFTER A FULL DAY RUN. IT STORES EASY AND DOES NOT TAKE ANY ROOM.

By Roger, Arbuckle, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 04/11/23

I purchased the 10HP chipper 5 years ago to clear my property of invasive kudzu and dead/dying trees. Very happy with the power and performance of the chipper. It starts easily, never stalls, and rarely clogs. Maintenance is simple and straightforward using manuals provided. Only minor criticism is location of fuel fill which I overcome with flexible spout and good lighting. Would I buy it again? Absolutely.

By Craig, Inwood, WV

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 04/10/23

We own six acres of wooded property. We have a lot of trees, branches and leaves. I can now make my own mulch and also reduce the size of the debris on the ground when trees, branches and leaves fall. The chipper shredder is very easy to use and moves around easily on our property. Also it starts easily and has been dependable. The customer service is wonderful and I was assured that service and repairs would be easy to find in our area.

By Patricia, Winder, GA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 04/10/23

Works great! Easy to use! The size is perfect as it’s not as bulky as other chippers on the market! Much more convenient!!

By Mark, Skaneateles, NY

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/28/23

I wanted a high-quality product that wasn’t too small or too big. My Patriot Chipper is a BEAST! The powerful engine and cutting knives sealed the deal on this premium product. Patriot’s superb shipping and customer service was icing on the cake.

By Paul, Toano, VA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/26/23

It seems to be a well made product and it appears to be built to last. I like the size of the chips / leaves that are produced.

By Byron, Loganville, GA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/20/23

I have had several chipper/shredders over the years and this has been the best I have had. It has had fewer problems than any other chipper/shredder I have had. It is also going on 8 years and going strong. A great purchase. Honestly.

By Ed, Radcliff, KY

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/18/23

I was using a smaller chipper that just wasn’t powerful enough. At the time I was 65 years old. I needed something powerful enough to lessen the burden of chipping and composting. I started searching for an American made unit and came across the Patriot brand. I ordered the unit immediately!

I have been very happy since my purchase. This thing loves chewing up the limbs from our trees, and makes good compost from our large maple tree leaves.

I would certainly recommend the Patriot chippers.

By the way, I ordered the unit with the 10hp engine.A good choice for my needs.

I also want to mention that the carb plastic bracket was broken during shipment. I called customer service and a new one was sent. I enjoyed my conversation with the individual that assisted me.

By Carl, Grants Pass, OR

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/18/23

I received the 10 hp briggs and stratton engine version of the Patriot Chipper when the pandemic first began and had some questions, which customer service answered, who were friendly and helpful.

After close to 3 years it starts up with just a couple of pulls. I have chipped the branches from at least 200 20 foot or taller trees from clearing my property.

I find the trick is to let the leaves die for a day or two before chipping, which makes it easier all around for person and machine.

As much as I brag about this chipper there are a few features that would benefit from a redesign. The way to attach the bag could be better designed to attach better andas does allow a small amount of chips to escape. Also a few of the screws holding the hopper are inside the hopper which I lost a few through the chipper as the vibration worked them loose.

I had researched chippers for the longest time, and the Patriot being a USA product, I would happily buy it again.

By Jason, Scott, LA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/17/23

This shredder has served me well more than 10 years. I replaced the carburetor (my carelessness with bad gas), but it has always run well. I like the chute design compared to Toro and others: it’s wide and low enough to make feeding quite convenient. I do not like how the collection bag attaches to the out portal: it could use a better design to make it easier to attach the bag. Overall, it’s a great machine.

By Bill, Black Mountain, NC

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/16/23

The engine has plenty of power. I feel the chipper shredder is very well manufactured. I’m glad I pick the patriot after reading other reviews from other people saying they should’ve bought the patriot in the beginning.

By Edward, Beatrice, NE

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/16/23

I personally think it’s a great chipper. After about 3 years of use the weld broke on the piece that holds the knives, but otherwise no problems.

By Timothy, Mount Pleasant, NC

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/16/23

This is my second Patriot Chipper and I could not be happier with my purchase. My last one was destroyed by fire in an outdoor shed. This new one has exceeded the prior one in several ways, 1 ease of start 2 quick to turn limbs into mulch for my garden and flower beds, 3 easy clean up and 4 no loss in value.

By Michael, Arlington, TX

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/16/23

Didn’t get a follow up response to a video I sent in. Was a little discouraged by that.

By Frank, Brooktondale, NY

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/16/23

Very happy with my CSV-3100B. Chews up branches with impressive power and ease. However, it does tend to bog a bit down when pushing the 3″ limit. Not a problem, but something to aware of.

By Jeffrey, Eagle Creek, OR

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/16/23

This is a well made machine. It has the weight and steel where it needs it to last a long time. I like how easy it is to work on, like the bearings that are not covered by plastic covers and can be greased easily. The pull start cord is long. I have not had any problems running or starting the engine when using non-ethanol fuel. It starts easily even after it has been sitting for months (again with good fuel).

The things I wish it was better at:

It is a top heavy when pulling it around the yard. The wheels could be a little larger and wider for more stability. The way the collection bag is connected could be better. But the collection bag has held well.

The top chute guard is useless and more dangerous than not having it on when dealing with leaves.

The limb chute is way too long and restricted, I ended up cutting a slice out of the top of the cone to be able to fit limbs with curves.

By Kevin, Whitesboro, TX

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/16/23

I bought my first 10 HP Patriot chipper in 1996 after we had a huge windstorm that took down HUNDREDS of trees. This is on a rocky island with no electricity. I needed a big chipper that was light weight enough I could move it around by myself. I looked at a lot of chippers before choosing the Patriot. We used it all day long for weeks and it never missed a beat. We continued to use it for 20 years with only a few knife replacements and one bearing replacement.

I just looked up the invoice on my “new” Patriot 10 HP chipper and it’s already 8 years old! Still runs as well as the day it was new. Still hauling it all over the rocks to where it’s needed. Still feeding 10′ white pine branches into it. If I live long enough I’ll probably buy another in 12 years or so.

By David, Taylors, SC

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/11/23

The chipper works great. It has plenty of power to chip up branches and when it says it can handle up to 3 in diameter, it truly can handle them. Very low maintenance and starts quickly even after sitting for weeks or months without use.

By Matthew, Great Meadows, NJ

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/05/23

I chip mostly pruned branches from lemon, lime, and mesquite trees and it does it well. It usually starts on the first pull. It does not handle green/wet material like leaves from banana trees, leaves from agave plants or nopal cacti. Those tend to clog it up. Also leaves from palm trees wrap around the spindle and require disassembling the hopper to get it cleaned out. I assume it isn’t made to handle those things so I don’t try that any more. It’s great for the things it’s built for.

By Charles, Elder, SD

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/03/23

The Chipper/Shredder has been a great investment! My yard is partially lawn and flower beds and partially wooded. The chipper makes excellent wood chips for my flower beds! And it is a great way to “dispose” of the fallen branches from the wooded areas. I have even tried shredding bamboo — it is more like a grass than traditional wood, but sharp blades will take care of it. I have also used it for leaves and twigs, but prefer to use the Patriot Lawn Vacuum for that chore.

Chipping branches does require some additional preparation — lopping off the side-shoot branches so that the branch is straight enough to be fed through the feeder-funnel. I have found that the prep work is worth the result of a bunch of chipped wood for my blueberry patch.

By M., Central, SC

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

It works well for me for a cleanup around my 5 acres

By Craig, Grants Pass, OR

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

Just a couple of things. The loader bins funnel to the chipper is too small. Dumping a decent size pile of leaves will jam the funnel and you have to use your hand or a stick to get them to go down the chute. It’s time consuming. I ve had to buy 3 sets of blades so that I can change them during a chipping session. They get dull quicker than I would like. Then I have to file or grind them to sharpen them for the next round.

By Norma, Paso Robles, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

My 20-year-old 3100 was a work horse. But even a work horse needs to be retired. I just purchased a new CSV 3100B to replace it. The support I received over the years from Patriot is a major factor in my decision to purchase again. If you need a sturdy machine with world class telephone support, the CSV-3100B can’t be beat! (and I have a few spare parts if I need them).

By Pat, Kasson, MN

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

Very powerful and starts on first pull every time

By Duane, Oak Ridge, NJ

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

This is an excellent machine! I bought the 10HP model and have never needed more power. It gets the job done! The B&S engine starts on the first pull and has been totally reliable, as has the entire machine. My neighbor has a smaller, less powerful chipper from a different brand and it constantly stalls. I’m glad I got this and wish I’d bought it 10 years earlier!

By Daniel, Richmond, VA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

The chipper performed well for the cost. Significantly better than the MTD Yard machine I have used. I suppose if I had a complaint it would be the amount of preparation needed to chip branches. You need to remove any excess branch and streamline the branches for processing if that makes sense. Of course it is not a
Self feeding machine like a Vermeer.

By Kevin, Campo, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

It’s very compact, very easy to use. Very powerful if you buy the 10horse power version. I use it a lot and it’s never skipped a beat. Chips a nice size chippings and will chip upto 2-1/2-3″ branches if you do it slowly with sharp

By Luke, Oakland, CA

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/23

Difficult to change out knives and hammers as I needed professional help and tech support from Patriot to get outside rotor off. Also difficult to free up jams internally.Brian gave me great tech support. I purchased the kit needed to remove rotor. It worked great. Locally mechanic could not get rotor off and charged me 99$$ for a failed effort.

By Michael, Northfield, ME

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 02/14/23

Packed extremely well and lots of info. Very happy!

By thegardenweaver

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 10/08/22

I have used this machine quite a lot. The chipper works very well. I just ran 1″ dia. limbs through it because 2″ and up I save for the fire place. The chipper whizzed through the 1″ dia. limbs.

I am somewhat disappointed in the leaf shredder. If you put very many leaves in at one time it gets clogged up and you will need to take the time to un-clog it . If you put a few leaves in at a time it works well but for me it is just too slow.

By Steel, Florence, OR

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/08/22

The chipper worked well on my fresh mulberry tree branches the first year. It did chip up to 3 inch material.

I swapped the blades to their second edge at the start of summer and did a little dry leftover branches. The blades dulled quickly.

I ordered new blades today. You must buy a kit with new screws and a long hex key, OK.

That’s $85.00. 1 year for one mulberry tree.

They will not ship any USPS, only FedEx, $27.00.

That sucks.

Check blade prices before you buy any chipper, that will be your main cost.

#Aloha

By Jim, Lake Isabella, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/12/22

I have had this chipper for 7 years. It still works perfectly. Changing out the chipper knives is very easy. Changing the hammers for the shredder is a bit tricky. Someone wrote great directions on how to do it in these evaluations. The motor still starts after a few pulls. I recommend this product.

By Kurt, Camano Island, WA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 04/25/22

I worked like a champ. Only con

The chock is horrible , very cheap, second time to use it, I had to fix it.

By Herschel, Oakland, NE

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/05/22

Putting gas in it is the reason I didn’t give it 5 stars all the way nothing I own needs a funnel with a tube except this.

By Harry

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/28/21

Did a lot of Research on Wood Chippers and ultimately went with this one.

Actually handles 3″ branches with ease. Easy to Start.

Be aware that Manual says that is best to use with green branches and not dried.

Also, the machine can only handle a small amount at a time so for very big jobs it will take some time.

By Amazon Customer

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/27/21

I purchased this machine because We have a property full of trees and pesky shrubs. I looked all over the internet, and settled on the patriot. There were comparable machines for a lower price, But I questioned the design and claims made. I think the 10hp is the ticket for heavier work. It also has a good airflow design, smooth interior surfaces , and sturdy construction. The manual states to avoid dead wood, but realistically , that is always going to be part of the job. The key is to treat the machine with respect and don’t be an idiot. Feed branches at a reasonable rate, and pay attention. I love this machine! easy to clean, and maintain. I spent the day chewing through a pile of dead branches and dead leaves. I would use a set of tree pruners to chop the branches into feed snout appropriate size. Pile them up, attach the bag and shred. Empty bag repeat. After a day of this I took the font of the machine apart to inspect it. Blades were decent, but because of the dead wood, I removed, and gently reground them. I would recommend buying a set of spare blades so you can rotate them. Buy the schedule 80 plunger thingy they sell as well. It is very handy! and guaranteed not to get into the works which would suck! I did like the manufacturing video showing the stamping of the rotor plate. My only complaint is the unit tends to walk on a hard surface. But a rubber bumper under the foot helps keep it from moving. I may retro-fit a simple brake to lock the wheels. I did replace the socket head cap screws with button heads inside the hopper to make the debris path smoother. The feed cone already has button heads. Great machine! A higher price, but worth the extra expense, you get what you pay for.

By Arnold, Somis, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/19/21

Ordered in May and finally used it today. Assembly was easy and straightforward and you can tell these instructions were updated to include every time someone didn’t follow the instructions, because it was made very clear…. “Don’t be that person!” Product only used once so far, and I’m hopeful there is some durability – it’s easy to pull back to the garage, it seem like a high quality product, and I’m happy to support them.

By kb

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 04/25/21

The Patriot 10 hp chipper/shredder was easy to assemble. After adding oil and gassing up it started on the first pull. She’s meant for business, and I am pleased with the results. Starts easily every time so far. I’ve only had this beast for two weeks but it’s making short work of my backlog of yard work.

By Dennis, Escanaba, MI

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 02/06/21

I would not recommend buying anything from Patriot. They build a solid chipper but lack in customer service when you need to help. They are rude and lack any concern providing the information or help requested of them. Providing customers information or support when asked of them, seems to be a headache they do not want to deal with. If you are willing to spend $1000 plus on a chipper to throw it away when it needs service then my all means you should buy a Patriot product. However, if like most people you buy something like a chipper to last, then you should look for a company that will provide the knowledgable customer service you may need in the future. Look online, there are several youtube videos and customer service problems found with Patriot products. Buyer beware.

By Amazon Customer

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 02/05/21

What an incredible product. We live on 2.2 acres in the woods on the lake. It has a vast amount of power and handles leaves and sticks with ease. It can be a bit cumbersome moving it up and down hills, but would make it very easy if I purchased a tow bar for the product. The customer service with this company is very important to them and if it came down to spending more money for their product I would just based on their customer service alone. If you are asking yourself if this product will help clear your yard of debris…the simple answer is yes. Don’t delay…free shipping is also a big deal!

By Dinah, Cedar Grove, TN

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 12/09/20

Heavy duty

By Stephen

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/21/20

The hopper on top is huge but narrows down to a small slit at the bottom that makes it completely useless for leaves and Pine needles. The chipper itself is ok downside is you have to cut off all the branches on the limbs because the cone-shaped feeder narrows down to 3 inches, nothing larger in diameter will hit the blades. I really stress it you need to read the manual, Motor does not come pre-filled with oil + the Manufacture suggests running the motor (I forget the details) to breaking in the engine.

By Evelyn

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/18/20

I just recently purchased this chipper/shredder and have used in several times already. It has measured up to all of the good reviews I have read. My assessment thus far:

Pros: Fairly easy to move around but it is a reasonably heavy machine. Runs a long time on a tank of gas. Can low idle while you move things around in between chipping. I have been careful to not overfeed or feed it too fast and have experienced no clogs as yet. I use a bag as it is a nice way to capture and then spread the mulch where you want it. A full back is fairly heavy but I have been able to fling it over my shoulder and carry it where I need to dump it and I’m 63 years old. I have also used a wheel barrow. I don’t really have anything else to compare it to but this machine is an animal when it comes to eating small tree branches, twigs, leaves, etc.

Cons: It starts after 1-3 pulls every time, but it is a really tough pull start. Not sure I will be able to do it when I am older. I get sore hands after feeding branches for a long period, but I suppose that is not the machine’s fault. The hopper for leaves, etc. is hard to feed through the narrow opening near the blades…need to feed just a little at a time. You really need a bag unless you don’t mind shooting debris you are chipping all over the place.

Suggestions: Would love an electric start, wider feed in the hopper, and a better way to drag it around my hilly yard and 18 acres.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with this machine, Just fill it with gas and let it eat!

By Bob

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 10/16/20

This equipment was easy to assemble, which is really important to me. It does a great job and is much easier to move around the yard than our previous chipper/shredder.

By SA

CSV-3100B – 1 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/17/20

This one lasted one year. Used it for regular jobs in my one acre home garden. Had the chipper cutting wheel re-welded. It broke again next year. Good engine but so what? This had been my second chipper after Earthquake one with engine failure. I am on the third one, made in USA and not through Amazon. Will see. If you are into buying one, do not spend too much thinking it will last.

By Hafciu

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/04/20

I have many mature hardwood trees in my yard so I collect a lot of fallen limbs. Add the annual trimming of various ornamental trees and the debris piles up. I was not allowed to burn the debris this year as in past years due to Covid 19 ( gov’t didn’t want to tie up Fire personnel to deal with the errant yard fires). So I decided to purchase a wood chipper to clean up the pile. After reviewing all the different products, I chose the Patriot chipper because of its apparent simplicity, sturdiness, two blades instead of one, and size of the engine.

It shipped quickly, arrived in two boxes as stated, and assembly was easy. To my surprise, it started on the first pull and has started on the first pull every time. I ran the chipper about 4 hours a day for two weeks and since all my wood was seasoned, it dulled the blades more quickly. I sharpened the blades twice during the two weeks of use. The good news is that removing and replacing the blades is about a 10 minute job, very easy. I have since purchased a second set of blades so I can always have sharp blades on hand.

I know this chipper is more expensive than other brands but I believe it is of better quality and worth the difference.

By Amazon Customer

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/01/20

Although it is not a commercial shredder, it does the job. I had a problem with the metal assembly for the branch feeder. I called the manufacturer, they were extremely helpful and overnighted a replacement part. Everything is good. I wear a mask to minimize inhaling the dust that is a byproduct of the shredding. The 3” limit on the branch chipper is not a straight across diameter measurement, it’s more like a 45 degree measurement as opposed to 90 degrees. It shreds really well. Small twigs can be annoying because they can clog the chute. If you feed it in slow it works fine. There is a learning curve, once you get the hang of it, it’s really efficient. The mulch is fine and consistently the same size. Always check the oil level before using. I haven’t had a problem but it’s 2 to 3 pulls to get it running. The main satisfaction for me was the support staff, I’m not the sharpest pencil in the box, they were patient and competent. Made in USA, means a great deal to me. I was thankful I wasn’t talking to someone on the other side of the world with a thick accent. I personally will not buy anything from China, nothing from that country can be trusted.

By Craig, Patchogue, NY

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/21/20

This little guy is a monster. Top chute won’t take even small branches but the specs warn you of that. The main side feed chute works great. Sorry we didn’t record how it works.

By Triple Nickle

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/27/20

Best home chipper on the market – after this you need real pricey commercial grade. I bought this model 8 years ago from the mfg, and they are still selling it at the same price today. 10 hp B&S was at first a put off but its been a very reliable beast And easy to maintain. I own 10 acres in NE PA – lots of different things to chew up but mainly maple, oak and pine varieties in the branch chipper and it takes care of woody brush like thorny Burberry and mountain blue berry as well in the shredder. All the wood Chips become trail path bedding through the woods in order to clear more area out. Over time you’ll invest in a new set of blades to keep sharp & rotate in to the chipper, bags to keep thorny Or noxious materials separate from Usable chips, the chipper buddy. Disassembly of the branch feeder tube to clear a clogged chipper or change blades Is a simple process of removing 3 bolt nuts where the tube meets the body Not the easiest thing to precisely move around but it leans back on the two wheels and feels like your moving a filled wheelbarrow. Basic maintenance of the B&S every spring (new plugs, air filter and oil change). Has kept this beast running smoothly and starting on the first pull.

By Da Big Guy

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/26/20

This product is a good example of ‘Buy American’ solid product and great support. This chipper is a beast…eats everything you feed it without hesitation! Very happy with the purchase and would highly recommend..

By Kyle, Coloma, WI

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 01/17/20

Low profile, easy to maneuver, chops up sticks and debris like a Ninja blender. Powerful 9 hp motor, good on gas and easy to maintain. The only negative was I used it all day without a wood pusher and my wrist was super sore the next week or so. It is a little louder than I expected, but who cares, I am chopping up wood, I don’t like my neighbors anyway:)

By David

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/11/19

Working capacity discrepancy needs to be addressed. One of two boxes delivered, but Kevin from Patriot helped to resolve it and I received the second box 2 weeks later.

Unfortunately, while unboxing I noticed that the feed chute says the “maximum capacity: 1/2” dia. x 24”, while the marketing description on Amazon says it will “quickly make mulch out of thick 3” diameter branches”. Waiting for a response from the manufacturer as to which statement is true!

No experience yet with the unit this needs to be resolved before I decide whether the keep the unit.

Revised Review: Keith from Patriot contacted me to point out that I hadn’t read the manual thoroughly, which was true (I was going step by step starting with assembly). In any event, his point is worth sharing as it would mean I drew an incorrect conclusion in my early review, ie. His response:

“Please spend a little time with your owners manual. The sticker that you are referring to is on the shredding hopper on the top of the unit. This is the opening where you process soft or flimsy material such as leaves and garden plants. You should never process branches down the shredding hopper. Everything that is rigid (branches, sticks, stalks etc) should be processed down the chipping cone on the front of your chipper. The chipper cone will accept branches up to 3 inches in diameter.”

So I’ll continue with assembly and expect a good result!

By Emory, Belvedere, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 06/13/19

Packed well. No shipping damage. Easy to assemble in 20 minutes with good instructions. Started on the first pull. The video is the unit running at Full Throttle. Now that I’ve done a few days of chipping and shredding I have some comments – I have Very Large Pine Cones on my property and they’re so big they don’t fall through the hopper slot into the hammers, you have to give them a push or feed them into the chipper cone. Not a big deal just a point of information. This thing chips 3″ diameter branches very quickly. The shredder hammers destroy pine needles and normal size pine cones in a fraction of a second, and the engine doesn’t change rpm’s one bit while it’s doing it. Plenty of power. Now we’ll see how it holds up over time.

By Wils

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/09/19

1. This is not a commercial level shredder, it takes time to do it’s work.

2. The extra time to push branches down the chipper may be worthwhile, but I was able to get by with a well shaped branch. Older wood especially tends to bounce in around.

3. If material is even mildly wet, expect the shredder to clog and require a handy stick to push stuff down.

4. For what it is, it is a good shredder, but don’t expect too much out of it, and chip the woof while it is still green if at all possible.

By Erebus

CSV-3100B – 2 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 12/06/18

I have an Earthquake 30520 Compact Chipper Shredder cost me $ 500 and it is much better than this expensive machine, I would really like to return this Patriot Shedder but the re-shipping costs and the discount they make to the refund when returning it is a lot, The problem with this machine is that where it passes the leaves is narrow and it takes a long time to grind leaves unlike the cheap machine. I would recommend not spending so much on this machine since a friend also has an Earthquake machine for 2 years and it works perfect and powerful almost the same as this expensive machine.

By Paul

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/16/18

It was easy to put together and looking forward to using it often..

By Amazon Customer

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/12/18

I have had this chipper for over three months and love it. I say this despite the fact that the engine would not start when I received it (was a Briggs & Stratton problem and not the manufacture). Received excellent and friendly support from the manufacturer and a local Briggs & Stratton repair shop fixed it (valves needed adjusting) at no cost.

After I got it running and got the hang of it (e.g., you are almost always are better off using the input chipping cone rather than the hopper — this will make sense after you have one) I can’t believe what a great job it does mulching. Twenty foot pine trees of < 4-inch diameter can pretty much be feed into it whole with no problem. I have 16 acres (13 of which are wooded with trails) and one of my biggest problems was always the accumulation of fallen/dead trees. Now, no problem, we (my wife and myself ) tow it around the property with a golf cart (would definitely recommend getting the optional tow bar, given that the Patriot is steel construction and consequently heavy) allowing us to spread the output mulch wherever we need it. Definitely would buy again. PROS 1) Unbelievable power, works as advertised. 2) Very sturdy construction. 3) Relatively easy starting for a 10 HP engine. 4) Great Support CONS 1) Instructions somewhat difficult to follow the fist time. 2) You need to be comfortable being a ‘shade tree’ mechanic to maintain the thing, not a big deal but any owner should be proficient at changing oil and minor mechanical service. By Kenneth, Dawsonville, GA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/06/18

a real horse !!!! This thing can handle the entire neighborhood! Plus customer service near Milwaukee was outstanding.

By Carl, Wheaton, IL

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 06/26/18

Overall: Great product with a couple of deficiencies that are easily overcome if you want to spend the additional cash.

Pros: The machine is a beast. It easily chips/shreds anything that fits the receivers. The chipper will strain the motor after about a 6 foot branch of 2 inch diameter, but simply pulling back momentary allows the engine to surge back to full strength. The machine runs quite a while on a single tank of gas and under more or less continuous use with little idle time…maybe an hour. Assembly is fairly straightforward and can easily be done by one person. All components are well made and the B&S 10hp engine should be easily serviceable. It’s surprisingly easy to maneuver on level ground given its weight, and even on slight slopes it’s still manageable if you’re reasonably fit.

Cons: The 10hp engine can be tough to start. It’s started every time on the first 3 pulls, but they’re not easy pulls. The shredder hopper is slightly too small and needs to be slow fed. Similarly, the chipper cone only accommodates very straight limbs. A battery start capability seems like a prudent optional upgrade, but it’s not available. A tow bar is really needed to move it over longer distances or up/down significant hills. Finally, you need to cover this thing while stored. These last two issues are to be expected…the problem is that neither product is available on amazon and Patriot currently wants $69 for a fitted cover (awkward size), $159 for the tow bar and finally $40.73 for postage. Having spent already $1500 on their premium chipper/shredder I find the pricing for these simple accessories exorbitant and mildly insulting (particularly the shipping costs) so I’ll fabricate a towbar and cover it with a tarp/bungees. Your call.

Unknown: I’ve used the machine for about 12 hours in total so far and haven’t yet sharpened the blades so can’t speak to the difficulty of this necessary maintenance. Also, I’ve not used the bag yet, but it’s large and seems like it would quickly get unwieldy/heavy if you’re mostly chipping.

By RJF

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 01/21/18

Shreds dry straw nicely but must carefully feed it-frequent pauses while running to use a thin branch to clear blockage in chute feed due to narrow opening. Have yet to try branches…

By Richard

CSV-3100B – 2 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 12/19/17

This is a functional machine. It’s pretty easy to move around and starts relatively easy. The machine does clog easily and the chipper only takes very straight pieces of wood. Not ideal to deal with the vines I run into in my property.

By Deborah, Montauk, NY

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 10/27/17

it’s a workhorse.

By Robert D

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/29/17

What a great addition to our land clearing tools. I bogs down a bit with green leaves on the limb chute when overloaded, but performs superb on wood that is within the specified diameter range. We found that if we let the limbs lay for a few days, they’re easier to chip when the green leaves have started to shrivel. This isn’t necessary, just helps if you are dealing with limbs that have dense large leaves like gum, poplar, sycamore, etc…

By Tiffany, Indianapolis, IN

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/13/17

This is it lot more expensive that I had originally wanted to spend, but after using the product, it was definitely worth the money. The simple, and efficient design makes this a real winner.

I have had it for only 2 days. I’ve filled 8 bags of wood chips, and I am impressed. It arrived early in shipping. I started assembling it minutes after it arrived, and found that the company has clearly thought about the assembly process and has very detailed instructions. This will tell you how amazing the product is: everything was easy, except for 2 of the screws that attach the “hopper” to the main body. It was difficult to match the screw holes of the hopper to the main body. I needed to put my phone light into the hopper to see where the hole was (flash light wouldn’t fit.. too small). Other than that the assembly was very easy. The 10HP Briggs and Stratton is clearly powerful enough (I wouldn’t go for anything less powerful).

I had previously rented one from Home Depot to take care of some of the work. It costs more than twice as much (to purchase, less to rent), and wasn’t able to do even a fraction of the work.

I was originally concerned about not having a neck to output the chips directly into a bin. It turns out that having the bag seems to be better. I am able to take breaks from chipping to empty it, and it gives me a unit of measurement for how much work I’ve done (I have a lot of trees, and a lot to chip).

This machine is amazing. Keep in mind that the chipper knives need to be kept sharp (using any standard sharpening method like a wet stone or grinder).

The branches from my trees have a lot of very small twisty turny branches that need to be pushed down the funnel. I’ve been trying to make do by using a larger branch to push the small branches down. I think I’ll purchase the Chipper Buddy to help with the problem.

By ML

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 06/22/17

First off, great packing! Packaged in two boxes, it easily arrived in one piece! With plenty of reinforcement in the box, metal straps, and liberal foam, this will arrive in good shape.

The unit is very nearly assembled. A few basic tools and about an hour or two should get you up and running. The instructions are very good and, low and behold, there is an extra of just about every kind of screw, bolt and nut! What a novel idea! Better yet, all the parts fit without hassle, when lining up the holes. Excellent job.The unit seems quite robust. It should last. I’m glad I bought the 10 HP model as the brush I am chipping has very hard wood. I find that green, 1/2″ branches shred with no problem. If the branch starts out thicker, no problem: I just chip it down to the point where the shredder can take the remainder. It rolls easily enough, but it would be nice to have an ATV hookup built into the unit. The wheels, while made of plastic, seem very durable. I would be very surprised if these ever become a problem.There is no arguing about the quality of the Briggs Vanguard engine. In fact, I bought this instead of the DR because the equivalent model DR had the lower grade engine. I’ll tell you what, though, I wouldn’t want to try and pull-start an engine any larger that this!I wish I could give it 4.5 Stars. I would take off 1/2 Star because I feel like the shredder hopper opening into the shredding chamber could be slightly larger. It’s a bottleneck of sorts. It is a minor complaint, however, and I feel 4 Stars would be unfair. So for now, I give it 5 Stars.UPDATE 6/30/17:

After chipping/shredding about 20 hours, my initial feelings are about the same. It works very well indeed. I did manage to overstuff the shredding chamber once so even the 10 horse engine bogged down. Easily fixed, however. Just loosen all the bolts, and pull the cover off. It took me 1/2 hour. A bit more care and I had no further issues. I did order the tow-bracket as it is bit awkward to move by hand.

For me, it would be nearly perfect with a larger shredding chamber mouth and a built-in tow bar.

By Rational

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/08/17

I’ve only used it for a total of about fire hours at this point. So far it starts and works great. A more telling review will have to wait for a year or so.

By J.B.

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 04/25/17

Used it about 20 times, no issues at ALL! Easy to put together and the engine is more than I expected.

By geno

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/27/17

Before deciding to buy this model, I carefully reviewed this and many others to make sure that I got what I needed. This one kept coming out on top. It arrived very quickly (three days), was easy to assemble, and easy to use. I am used to operating the larger Vermeers and Morbarks, so anything smaller just looks inadequate to me, but this powerful machine quickly chews whatever you feed it. It’s easy to move it through uneven terrain, and stable while you’re using it. It stores nicely as well, by using only a small footprint in the shed. I’d buy this one again if I needed to, for sure.

By Ryan, Hessell, MI

CSV-3100B – 2 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/10/17

This works well as a chipper, but not so much as a true shredder. As a shredder, this is designed to merely shred leaves. Even small branches with leaves attached must be fed through the chipper chute. That leaves a two person cleanup crew in queue to funnel all branches through the chipper chute. Small leafy branches get cut by the chipping knife instead of flailed by the J-hammers. The direct drive system makes it hard to start when the engine gets hot, or when the machine is clogged with green wood debris. You are not only turning over the engine, but also the flywheel, etc. I recommend that you test run this machine before buying off the internet to make sure it suits your needs at this price.

By Mark

CSV-3100B – 2 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/06/17

I bought this chipper directly from Patriot Products.

I bought this chipper with the expectation that I could chip branches up to 3” in diameter. I discovered that the practical limit is around 1.3” and that the wood must be nearly straight. When I took it out to chip a pile of small branches and sticks, I discovered that half of the pile would not feed into the chipper. It jammed three times, once on a single piece of wood and twice when I fed two small sticks into it. The first jam took about 25 minutes to clear and 4 trips to my house to retrieve tools. The feeder cone has to be removed and then the stuck wood has to be knocked out from the small end of the feeder, using a hammer. I was able to restart the chipper once, but the other two times, it would not restart (apparently flooded as a result of simply turning it off).

The thing that doesn’t make sense is why anyone would find this chipper to be useful. Even small brush will not feed though it unless it is first trimmed with a saw to remove any side branch bumps or Y shapes. It is a big machine for such a limited ability. If you only feed tiny, finger sized sticks into it, it probably will not jam. Go close to 2” and you are probably going to have to take it apart and then wait for it to no longer be flooded.

If the price were around $500, I would say it would not be worth buying. At $100, it might be useful for something, but you still have to find a place to store it and must follow the maintenance instructions (sharpening, oil changes, filter changes, etc.).

By R. Williams

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 01/03/17

one of if not the best rated for its type/size and I see why

By webreecows

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/14/16

After seizing the engine on a Troy Built Chipper Shredder due to my stupidity, I was suddenly in the market for a new machine. I chose this product due to the engine size and positive reviews. I own 1.5 wooded acres with a lake and use this machine primarily for leaf mulching and stick chipping. I could not be happier with my decision. The 3100B was easy to assemble, and it runs like a champ. Much quieter than my previous Troy Built model.

The thing I like the best is the lower height of the leaf hopper as compared to my previous Troy Built Chipper. When I do leaves, I use my John Deere Riding Mower (x320) with their Power Flow Bagger system. When my bags are full, I pour the contents into the hopper…NOT TO FAST to prevent clogging. Couldn’t be easier!!! The mulched debris shoots out from the top of the shredder over a hillside into my mulch pile. After 6 hours of mulching, I never had to rake debris away from the opening!

By Amazon Customer

CSV-3100B – 1 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/12/16

Slow. Under powered. Only doing branches or wood that is LESS THAN 2 inches in diameter. Blades are dull after just 10 hours use. YES, I am following directions. Purchased because it is made in America but wondering if a foreign built product would have been a better choice. Stuck with it. How would I even begin to return it?

By Jackie, Lowell, VA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/12/16

We have had the chipper for just about a year and I’ve waited until now, until I’ve had some experience with it before writing a review.

1) Assembly: Easy and straight forward. Good directions.

2) Starting: Reliable. One or two pulls at most.

3) Power: More than adequate for brush and small branches.

4) Issues: Once you get the hang of feeding small batches of cuttings there are no clogging problems. Don’t over stuff the hopper. It’s a good idea to have a 1 inch diameter branch around to push any stuck material into the machine. When the bag fills up, empty it. Very, very, very loud!!!! Hearing protection a must. Heavy. Dragging it around, especially uphill is a chore. We find it much easier to bring the brush to the Patriot.

Bottom line: This is a fine machine and there are no regrets. Would buy it again. We have 5 acres and now, thanks to the Patriot, we have no brush piles and lots of valuable mulch.

UPDATE (A year later): Still no regrets but a warning. I have experienced 2 jams, one worse than the other. The second required partial disassembly to clear the material. NOT FUN. The lesson: Avoid grass!!! Especially bundles of long, green grass blades. And feed material down the hopper in small batches allowing one batch to be shredded and ejected before adding more. Another problem: My wife loves this machine. I suspect she’s cutting and pruning things just so she’ll have more material to shred. As for the engine, after a winter in an unheated garage in upstate NY it started with the first pull. Still no regrets.

By Gravwell

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 02/27/23

At first it was a little upset at the cost, being in Canada this unit with a spare set of blades, cost me $2400 Canadian dollars by the time it got here. Let’s be clear after using it for a while especially getting rid of the black bamboo this machine does everything Keith said it would do. I have totally fallen in love with this unit it just keeps working. The people at patriot products are excellent to deal with and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a shredder.

By George, New Westminster, BC

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 02/27/23

This machine is a beast. No problem chipping 2″ branches. Very little maintenance. Large wheels allow me to roll it around the property to where I need it. The engine starts easily even after a long period of non use. No regrets with this purchase.

By Wayne, Seneca, SC

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 02/24/23

I freak out when I go to buy new blades. I think they are overpriced. I bought the tow bar option. It seems extremly flimsey for what it cost. It’s only a couple years old, I don’t tow it around much and already the rubber on at least one of the tires is cracking all the way through like it’s been in the direct sun for many years. I’m not sure why but I think this is only happening to one of the two tires. The cover for it is extremely thin and it doesn’t really fit when the tow bar is mounted.

Thank you for caring about my opinion.

By Richard, Nevada City, CA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 02/22/23

Starts very easily, however;

i wish the inlet to the machine was larger – easily clogs

I wish the bag connected differently – a support bar thru loops along the top would keep the bag from folding over and promote more efficient filling,

i wish the bag inlet connected other than with a rope loop that you pull down to the discharge shoot – doesn’t seal and you get sprayed with dust and product.

Need to replace another chipper/shredder and not sure i would get another Patriot

By Cary, Hoover, AL

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 02/22/23

The chipper shredder is very powerful but takes up little floor space. Perfect for storage at my cabin in Maine where I maintain 15 acres of woods. Starts every time. Hasn’t stalled out yet.

By Brian, Franklin, MA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/04/15

Found this product very reliable and easy starting. Started on first pull each time with choke on. Found that having a small stick in hand to keep the items in the hopper turning allowed fast chipping of anything put in and stopped all clogs. Ran unit for at least 8 hours a day for 3 days straight without issues. Easy to move about the yard even though the yard is uneven.
By Harrison

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Patriot Customer Review – Posted 03/02/15

It does great job on branches and woody material but was disappointed with ornamental grasses and vines. I had to disassemble and clean out the housing where they were tangled around the wheel. I am now very apprehensive about shredding the grasses this spring. The handle should be a complete round handle instead of a half circle.
By Michael, Dayton, OH

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 01/23/15

I have had the chipper for 6 months and have used it for several hours, as we have about ten acres covered with woods. In short, I’m very happy that I bought it – the high price had put me off for a couple years, but I now wish that I had just gone ahead and purchased when I first became aware of it. There is a reason that it costs: it’s a high quality machine that can tackle some pretty big limb pieces. However, I still would caution any new users not to rush the machine by jamming either limbs or brush in too quickly. I learned that the hard way. Most of the time, little jambs can be cleared with a piece of 1.25-inch PVC pipe with the motor running or at worst by shutting the motor off and removing the twigs etc using a gloved hand. However, one time, I had a major jamb that required disassembling the cutting unit – lesson learned! No more problems when I became a little more patient with shoving in limbs and brush. Note that the company sells a rod for helping to clear small jambs, but the pipe I suspect works about as well.
By James, San Francisco, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 01/17/15

My first chipper. Did some product review and Patriot was tops in my price/size range. I also wanted as American made as possible. Easy assembly. Easy operation. Excellent results.
By Chris, Moscow, ID

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/24/14

This product was purchased in May 2014 and was primarily used to mulch and chip brush, saplings and tree limbs of small trees. It has provided excellent results and produces nice wood chips. I have waited to review the item until after I was able use it to mulch leaves this fall. It makes short work of leaves and yard debris even damp leaves are not a problem. Some of the key features are the powerful 10hp engine, direct drive preventing bog down, and the gas shutoff (nice when moving around the yard preventing gas mixing). Overall very happy with the item.
By Heather

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 10/19/14

Good product; works as advertised. Use it to chip bamboo from my back yard.
By Peter, Columbia, MD

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 10/12/14

I live on 1/2 acre which backs to a live creek. With many trees and 76 rose bushes which continually get trimmed, I had many limbs and rose canes pilling up. I use the chipper about every other month to produce nice mulch for the flower beds and fruit trees. The chipper has also been useful during the one or two ice storms received in the Dallas area. This past year (2013-2014) was one of the worst winter seasons. We had a neighborhood with fallen tree limbs on homes, cars and pool decks. once we had cleared the limbs, I used my chipper and created many bushels of mulch for all my flower beds and trees. This has saved me money from not purchasing mulch. I highly recommend the chipper for medium sized projects around your home or small ranch or farm.
By Debbie, Wylie, TX

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/22/14

This is a workhorse. Great craftmanship!
By Weston, College Station, TX

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/15/14

It works and does a good job. My issues are
– At this price point there should be a mower hitch to pull it around the yard
– Plastic hopper with screws that are hard to get to.
– Hopper needs easy to undo latches so you can get the hopper off and remove clogs
– Small bag fills up fast. Once its full the unit is clogged and its hard to clear. (See hopper removal problems)
I have used this several times and it works good at chipping. The main problem is its not that easy to move around the yard the plastic hopper has handles like you would move a hand truck, but it seams a bit flimsy a mower hitch would of been nice. The small bag fills up very fast you have to keep a very watchful eye on it one over fill and the unit is clogged. After clearing the bag and you try to restart it but its clogged to the point of not starting you will have to remove the hopper. Hopper screws from the inside of the hopper out in hard to get to locations (4 quick latches would of worked here). Last time I used it I spent a lot of time concerned about the bag getting full later in the day it clogged. It did not clear and needed to be taken apart to get it to work again…… its still sitting in the garage. If it does clog on green leafs/fresh limbs and is to hard to clear the clog let it sit a day and dry out this loosens the clog up.
By Nigel, Karnak, IL

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/13/14

Reliable, durable, good value. Buy the towing attachment and make moving it easier on yourself. Though product delivers as promised, chipping with this is still a lot of work. The machine is small enough that it takes a little encouragement to get sticks through the chipper and takes a little time, while your back is bent. Leaves also require some stirring and shifting in order for them to mulch efficiently and wear a mask as it is very dusty business. The engine is also quite loud and you will need some sort of ear protection.
By Jacob, Lockport, NY

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/04/14

Tough and great machine.
When I chip, I chip… all day… till dusk. Over all I had no problems. On two occasions the machine jammed, but partially due to overfilling the bag, partially my son filling the hopper with wet, muddy, leaves and old mulch. Took few minutes to clean out and get going. I was very worried this summer when I found that my storage leaked water and right into the hopper. Rusty water was drained. I filled fresh gas, took a deep breath and pulled. WOW !!! I got a start on first pull. I shut down, did some cleaning, lubricating, sharpening and off we went to chip for the day. I have gas yard machines and a start up is often a problem. I am very happy with this PATRIOT. It deserves the name
By Daddy-can-fix

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/03/14

Works great with wood–took care of tree limbs left from some trees we had taken down. BUT–don’t load up with too much green plants & foliage. It jammed up! I was able to follow the instructions and take it apart and clean it out–so the instructions are very clear.
By Buffalo DIYer, East Amherst, NY

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/03/14

Purchased 11 months ago. Arrived as promised. Easy to unpack and start up. Worked as promised. Love it! Just 2 weeks ago, had a large tree lead fall out back in a storm. The chipper made a nice pile of mulch out of all the many branches and leaves that were down. Very little to haul away. Also use it in the Fall for all the leaves, with a 7 or 8 to 1 reduction in volume after shredding. Wish there was a good vacuum option for this unit, but apparently there is not. Requires a lot of bending over obviously and tedious feeding of leaves manually, but worth it in the end! Would definitely recommend!
By William, Warrenton, VA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/01/14

I use the chipper monthly. Very satisfied with the overall quality of the chipper and satisfied with the chips and material produced. I would recommend this product.
By Mike

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/31/14

I bought this chipper with high expectations, and I’m disappointed. Yes, it usually starts on the first slow pull, and the chipped product is nice, but lots of things in-between need work, in my opinion.

Worst is the bagging system, combined with the poorly designed exhaust chute cover. The bag is too short, and hangs down to the ground at an angle from the high exhaust chute. This puts a fold in the bag, and causes it to overfill quickly. There is a large amount of leakage at the bag-chute junction, and the unneeded long bolt at the bottom of the chute will surely wear a hole in the bag quickly. Using three fairly long branches, the unit went from empty to full and locked up due to clogging in less than five minutes. My previous chipper gave far more notice of the bag being full, the bag was longer, and the exhaust was closer to the ground, allowing the bag to lay flatter.

Design details are disappointing on a unit this expensive. Several assembly bolts are undersized for the holes they fit in, and the instructions tell you to install them in a manner that will obstruct the leaf chute. (Heads on the outside, with the bolt sticking in) The design of the exhaust chute cover has already been mentioned. The chute also clangs constantly when pulling the unit over uneven ground. The curved “kickstand” is undersized and for some mysterious reason, is installed with a pin and key, instead of a bolt, causing it to move around under pressure. The “kickstand” is open square tubing without a plastic cap, allowing dirt and debris to get into the curved metal piece.

It gets the job done, but at twice the price of my old chipper, and with more frustration. I would not purchase this unit again, nor would I recommend it to a friend.
By Robert, San Antonio, TX

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/25/14

Compact and well built, easy to clean and maintain. Makes quick work of yard waste.
By SWM

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/22/14

The chipper was easy to assemble, all quite straight forward.
I use this machine a few times a year, it always starts easily and up to this point I am extremely happy with the performance, no problems with jamming or anything like that – good product.
By MG, Santa Cruz, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/19/14

I’ve been using the 10 HP model for over two years and am very happy with it. It’s very easy to assemble and it has started on the first pull every time, except obviously when brand new, when gas has to first get to the engine! Most of what I chip is dead oak and I never chip 3″ diameter limbs; even though it’s capable of doing it, the engine tells you that that’s as much as it’s capable of doing, and I want to keep using this for many more years. It would probably have no problem with 3″ softer woods. Obviously with harder dead wood the blades have to be sharpened more often, but they’re very easy to remove and I sharpen them on a simple bench grinder, and I’m no professional. They may not stay sharp as long as if you had a professional sharpen them, but they definitely suck the limbs in and rip through them after I do it. This chipper makes a beautiful hardwood “mulch”. It’s a great machine and one where I feel if I treat it right it will treat me right.
By Al

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/19/14

I purchased the 9HP Briggs chipper in November 2010. I research extensively prior to the purchase of any product as I only want to buy it once. I own a certified tree farm of 43 acres and when I’m out in the field working I want dependable equiptment that produces. This machine has matched all of my expectations. I use it mainly in the fall and winter months when I thin forested areas from the smaller, undesirable trees or when pruning desirable trees. I chip up the unwanted limbs and small trees and use the chip as mulch in an appricot orchard. On my farm nothing is wasted. Niether is my time or money on inferior products. This is an exceptional machine, well worth my money. It is well made and very reliable. I follow the maintenance schedule per the directions as I do with all of my machinery and it has done a great job. It was a great investment for my needs in utilizing unwanted forest litter and recycling it to productive use.
By Michael, SC

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/18/14

The product arrived in a short time, in good shape and was very easy to assemble. The motor is easy to start and has plenty of power. On the negative side, it is quite challenging trying to run the fall leaves through it. I also find that It tends to plug up fairly easy when putting evergreens through it and is not the easiest thing to clean out.
By Penny, Paso Robles, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/18/14

Bought one of these in spring of 2102. It is great when used on green limbs up to about 1.5″diameter. Zips right through. Surprisingly easy to start but I found out just recently that it doesn’t want to run on the side of a hill (probably not safe anyway). It needs to be on fairly level ground. I have about 5 acres with a lot of trees and brush. A lot of oaks and red cedar. As long as the limbs are green it chews right through. It does not like dead limbs but then if I remember right the manufacturer tells you that in their literature. Most of the time, I just blow the chippings out on the ground under a bush. However, the chipper bag is very convenient if you want the chips or need to collect an move them. It also keeps the chips from damaging the turf if you are on grass.
About a year after getting the chipper I ordered the attachment that allows you to tow it behind a riding mower. Wish I had done that sooner. I have saved a lot of effort by taking the chipper to where the limbs are rather than gathering them into piles. Great, well made machine!
By Gleason, AR

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/14/14

Bought the 10 HP chipper to chip tree trimming. The chipper shout worked good and handled limbs up to tree inch fairly well. Wet or green branches will gum up the works. Pushing a mix of dry and wet helped. The shredder will gum up with green leaves. Used a garden hose while the chipper was running to clear the pasty compacted leaves from the shredder.

Over all quality is grate. The plastic hopper/handle is a question mark. How well it holds up is to be seen. Assembly was fast and easy.

Over all for a “SMALL” chipper this chipper works well!
By knifeuser

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/14/14

Though relatively small and portable, the Patriot chipper is a powerful and highly effective machine.
I purchased a Honda engine because I have several of the type and they are all easy to start but was concerned that the pull start would be difficult to operate because there is no clutch and the entire flywheel spins. However, the machine usually kicks off with one pull even after sitting unused for months.
Be careful when replacing the knives. My nephew moved the flywheel when he shouldn’t have and almost cut off his finger.
I liked purchasing from a Wisconsin company which is local for me.
By UD

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/11/14

I got this machine as a gift from my wife. It was delivered nearly a week earlier than scheduled. Assembly instructions were clear and easy to follow, and assembly took me roughly two hours (I am not what you’d call a handyman). I’ve been working through several piles of old brush, dead branches and leaves. The wood chips are nice, even, and roughly dime sized. Leaves produce a very fine dirt like mulch. So far everything that fits down the chute(s) the machine has processed without trouble. I’ve only had one problem. The machine starts well when cold, but after warming up if you need to stop to empty the bag or clear a jam it does give trouble. It usually takes at least three tries to get restarted plus fiddling around with the choke. Other than that I am pleased with it. I’ve never owned a chipper/shredder before this one so I can’t compare it to anything, but I’ll say this much: after using this machine for a couple months I wish I’d bought one twenty years ago.
By Gram

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/11/14

I used this to clean up the results of a hurricane that went through our area. It easily took care of small branches, leaves, etc. As others have said.. it has about a 3 inch throat. You will need to cut things down to that size and be careful with Y-shaped pieces, etc. I should point out that after about 15 hours the engine on mine blew out– oil went everywhere. I took it to a registered Briggs and Stratton shop who determined that it was faulty and they replaced it for no charge.

So… remember– this is not the kind of machine that can deal will really large items, but its great for small stuff. It produces lovely mulch for gardens!
By PCB, Charlottesville, VA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/10/14

I bought this about 1 1/2 years ago. It was easy to assemble. Just follow the directions The Briggs and Stratton engine started on the second pull and has every time since. I have many maple and oak trees around my house – hard wood – and it has been very effective. After over a year of use, I’m happy I made the purchase. Do routine maintenance, use common sense, and I think you’ll be happy.
By Donna, Hobart, NY

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/10/14

This machine is a beast. It is self feeding and will pull the limbs you are chipping right out of your hand. Even though it has a recoil starter, it does start easily.
By Susan, Jonesville, NC

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/09/14

I can’t say enough good things about this chipper, starting with the on time delivery, the unit was packaged very well and the instructions were clear and informative it took about an hour to assemble and started on the second pull.

I have used the chipper 5 – 6 times and it preformed as advertised and beyond, the knives are still sharp and pull the debris in just like the first day. I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend this machine to my friends.
By Donald, Grove City, OH

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/08/14

I have about 3 acres of property with mature trees and low growth (e.g., forsythia, etc.). Over the year, there is a steady stream of dead branches, the occasional tree trimming, the occasional tree that needs to be taken down, leaves in the fall season, as well as occasionally cleaning up from storm damage.
My goal is to recycle all the organic material and pour it back into mulch around fruit trees and leaf mulch for my patches of berries and garden vegetables.
I debated purchasing a chipper-shredder for brush and small branches (~ 3-inch diameter) or occasionally renting a higher capacity chipper-shredder (which would also accommodate larger diameter (~6-inch) branches. Rental of such chippers is on the order of $200 per day and $600 per week. I swayed to the side of purchasing a residential chipper-shredder (on the order of $1,000), as I did not want to see huge piles of brush accumulate over the year and then try to tackle them at one time. Obviously, a residential chipper-shredder cannot handle larger diameter branches, thus, my pile of logs for my fireplace is a little larger.
I purchased the gasoline-powered Patriot CSV-3100B Chipper-Shredder in September 2013, which comes with a B&S 10 HP engine. The packaging was secure to avoid damage during shipping. The assembly of the unit took less than 30 minutes, which is essentially installing the plastic hopper and the chipping cone on the unit, filling the engine oil, and lubricating the grease fitting on the shaft.
The B&S engine is bullet proof. I have never had a problem in starting it up cold (on full choke) with one pull of the cord. Starting it up warm is equally easy, but the choke has to be adjusted to accommodate warm starting. Having been exposed to commercial chippers that throw material out of a chute, originally, I was not sold on the idea of chipping into a collection bag for the CSV-3100B. When the bag is full, the engine is shut down for the bag to be removed, emptied, and re-attached. The whole process is unobtrusive and takes a minute or two. You should definitely work with larger collection bags. I empty the collection bags into a wheel barrow and then use the wheel barrow to distribute the chipped material.
Shredding leaves and thin woody debris is done through the hopper. There is significant suction on dry leaves, pulling the material directly into the flails. Mixing in thin woody debris or damp leaves, however, tends to clog the hopper and it is necessary to use a stick to dislodge the material in the hopper so that it falls through the hopper and into the flails.
Unfortunately, I am not always grinding leaves immediately after they fall, and thus, I find myself dealing with damp leaves. I would not use this equipment on soaking wet leaves, as I think you will be struggling with continually clearing clogs from the chute where the collection bag is attached. Even with damp leaves there is build up in the chute where the collection bag is attached and you will have to watch that chute does not become clogged. Also, I find that shredding damp leaves yields buildup of wet material on the walls where the wheel rotates and where the collection bag is attached. To clear this, I keep several branches that I chip through the chipping cone; adding “fiber” to the diet clears blockages and cleans the pipes.
The grinding of larger diameter woody debris and branches up to 3 inches in diameter are fed through the chipping cone. The branches need to be trimmed so that they are more or less straight. Thus, one has to keep this in mind while trimming up brush so that you do not have to stop and tend to this step during chipping.
There are 2 blades on the wheel to chip branches. When the blades are freshly sharpened, branches are pulled down the chipping cone; one should not have to force or push branches down the chipping cone. If you find yourself pushing branches down the chipping cone to engage the blades, the blades likely need sharpening. The manufacturer says that blades should be sharpened after 8 hours of use; however, I find that the type of wood that you chip plays a big role in how quickly the blades become dull. From my experience, dealing with dead wood or wood that has dried for some period of time tends to dull the blades more quickly. This past weekend, I was chipping for less than 2 hours when there was a noticeable change in the capacity of the chipper to pull branches down the chipping cone. I would avoid trying to chip branches when the blades are dull, as this places unnecessary pressure on the shaft which can ultimately lead to the misalignment and cracking of the shaft.
Access to the chipping blades on the wheel is straight forward; it requires removing the 3 nuts that secure the chipping cone to the unit and removing two screws that secure each blade to the wheel. Unfortunately, I do not have access to the equipment or experience in grinding steel blades to avoid excessive heat and maintain the original angle on the blades. I have invested in a second set of blades and accept that I need to visit my local lawn mower repair shop for sharpening the blades. In general, I find myself chipping branches once a month or once every 6 weeks, and I consider it part of the routine to remove the blades and have them sharpened. Thus, the cost of sharpening the blades on a frequent basis should be factored into the routine engine maintenance and greasing the shaft. I am quickly approaching the time when I will need to replace both sets of blades. The cost of the blades is $70 from the manufacturer.
In theory, the flails should also be serviced. Accessing the flails is a little more involved process, which I have not tackled yet. I have only been using the flails to grind leaves and thin woody debris and I have not seen deterioration in the operation of the flails over the time that I have owned the machine.
Overall, I have been pleased with the operation of the Patriot product. I am accepting of the limitations of residential chippers such as these. It fulfills my need to chip/grind organic material once a month or once every 6 weeks and pour this organic material back into the soil.
By Stephanie, Great Falls, VA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/06/14

We live on 3 acres of former pasture land that was dotted with small trees, including fir and wild fruit trees. This shredder has performed as advertised, with no problems chipping all branches that fit into the chute. The side discharge is very convenient for attaching the collecting bag or directing chips into a pile. It always starts with one pull. The blades seem to stay sharp for a long time, and are easy to remove for sharpening. The only small drawback is the size of the hopper chute, which narrows down to a few inches and makes it a little difficult for irregularly shaped small branches to feed by gravity from the hopper. Just requires a poke or two.
By Sue

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/04/14

I picked this up after an intense Winter storm leveled several large branches on my property, and have used it several times since here and helping neighbors. The ability to mulch and compost the products rather than drive to the county dump was the goal, and I’m glad I picked this particular machine. It is big enough when used with a small chainsaw, and it is has been very reliable. I’m normally more of a Honda fan, but the B&S engine has lots of power and always starts on the first pull. Note: I always run the gas all the way out (a must for Honda, but I think the B&S benefits too).

I was initially drawn to the idea that Patriot is an American company, and was looking for gear that would last years instead of months. This purchase was on target. No issues with blade life, and the engine is strong and reliable. Have a wrench nearby to remove the cone for clogs – an exercise that will be infrequent after operating once or twice. Safety features are good. I recommend this machine.
By Neil, McKinney, TX

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 08/01/14

This is a great tool! During fall leaf season I use it 2-3 times per month. It produces excellent mulch that I collect in the cloth bags and spread in the flower beds and garden. I no longer put leaf bags on the street for the city to pick up. There is a learning curve in putting material in the hopper. Too much at once will obstruct the hopper requiring manipulation of the leaf bolus with a rake handle or a stick. It is rare to have the shredder damage the rake handle but if it does there is no real harm done. I have had no success with the tool that Patriot sells for this purpose. It works better to manipulate the leaf bolus side to side rather than trying to force it downward to the shredder. I usually rake the yard in fractional areas and then put the material in the hopper by hand, releasing it slowly rather than dropping a large bolus at once. I have been very happy with the operation of the machine. It cranks easily with one or two pulls. I have not used the chipper a lot but I have no real complaints. It doesn’t handle limbs that are crooked very well- they get stuck in the hopper.
By Amazon Customer

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/31/14

I bought this chipper shredder in December of 2012 and have never regretted it for one minute. It does just what the seller says. It has plenty of power with a well-known engine and I would suggest that you buy the hitch for towing on the tractor as that was a real blessing. If you need help the people at Patriot are very knowledgeable and helpful for questions and answers.
By Robert, Daytona Beach, FL

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/31/14

I bought the 10HP Patriot for my husband. He said it’s very powerful, chips great and easy to maneuver. The chips are smaller than the ones from a large commercial tree chipper. He said that it usually starts by the 2nd pull but requires a lot of strength to pull the cord and wishes that the engine came with a compression release. I told him that it’s more practical than going to the gym.
By Betty

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/30/14

We have three acres of land, some of which got very overgrown while the children were growing up, and after trying and failing to make much headway with hand tools I ordered the Patriot chipper/shredder. It arrived well-packed and with very clear assembly instructions. If you’ve bought anything made overseas recently you understand how refreshing clear instructions can be. Assembly took about 45 minutes or so. I took it out to my accumulated brush pile (somewhat taller than I am and about fifteen feet long) and in about two hours the pile was reduced to chips and spread on my garden for mulch. At that point I was so impressed with it’s performance that I began to throw a lot of other neglected stuff into it, some of which was too soggy and bound it up. Back to the clear instructions in the manual, a couple of wrenches, a little work with a stick and all was well again. I’ve never bound it up since. In three years that’s the only problem I’ve had with this unit. The construction is very robust and operation has been faultless. It’s been well worth the price. I’d be glad to recommend it to anyone.
By Philip, Amherst, MA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/30/14

this chipper/shredder is fantastic…we have a large tree covered yard and shred the leave each year for munch around our plants…needless to say we are unable to do all at one time and many of them sit around for months becoming wet and rotting…the Patriot chipper is the first unit we have owned that does not bog down or become blocked with the wet leaves mixed with small twigs and such…would highly recommend
By John, Watkinsville, GA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/30/14

I really like my wood chipper, am amazed at how big the branches it will chip. Make sure you change your bag before it gets too full otherwise the insides can get jammed up. If it does get jammed up make sure you turn it off before you try cleaning it out. You won’t have a problem if you empty the bag before it’s too full.
By Laurie

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/30/14

I bought this chipper back in 2011. It still runs just as good in 2014. Very powerful, and it starts up on the first pull most of the time, and definitely by the second pull all the time. Definitely get the bag that goes with it, if it is not included.

I bought it because I have a lot of trees on my property, and I am always having to get rid of branches and was sick of throwing them in the woods. It will definitely handle the thick 3inch branches, but you can hear the engine slowing as it is ripping through them. I just hold on to the branch, pull it back every couple of seconds to let the engine get back to speed, and there is never a problem. Small stuff it eats up with ease. It works best on fresh cut stuff, as opposed to dried out stuff that has been sitting around for years (it will still chip up the old dry stuff, but it takes longer because the dry pieces will bounce around in the tube until they are chipped). The design allows for the cutting device to grab the branches and pull the stuff in, so often I just drop long branches in and let it do its thing. I dropped in 16 foot pine branches, and just guided it in, but otherwise it did the job.

Definitely worth it to me. I think it is better to pay for more power than to get a lower powered one and have to take longer or really strain the machine.
By Tony

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/29/14

Great Chipper ! Glad I purchased the 10HP for the power and ease of chipping old dried branches. The engine starts easily and has plenty of power. The CSV-3100B has a heavy duty bearing that really requires a Puller in order to remove it and access the Y-hammers. I have used the machine aggressively shredding older dried branches by dropping them into the Hopper. So I have rotated and now replaced the original set of Y-Hammers. In my opinion, the wear and tear has been very acceptable and justified based on the heavy duty use I have been putting it through.

Great machine and well worth the price.
By Gregory, Cornville, AZ

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/29/14

I have had this product for a year now and love it! From the first time, the motor has started with one pull. This unit is powerful and makes short work of brush. Assembly was easy and delivery was a breeze. I haven’t had to do any sharpening, but it looks to be easy to disassemble. This machine appears to be well built and looks like it will serve our wooded one acre property for many years. Big plus that it is American Made!
By 687river

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/29/14

Overall good design, solid construction, and with plenty of power to handle the material it is designed for. I’ve had it for about four years, and it has performed as advertised, giving no problems. My only complaint would be that it’s harder to move than it has to be because the handle is incorporated into the plastic chute, close to the center of gravity, which makes it awkward to move, especially over irregular ground. It needs a sturdy handle that stands out far enough from the machine to move it more easily. It’s also a good idea, for more efficient operation, to remove and sharpen the blades after every ten or so hours of use. It has been my impression, listening to others talk about their chipper-shredders, that it would have been a good idea for them to have spent some extra money to buy the Patriot machine.
By Steve, Racine, WI

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/29/14

I spent $500 to hire a tree service to chip up 15 years of brush piles in my back yard. Though that amount is cost effective compared to the price of Patriot Products 3100B Chipper/Shredder; I bought one to eliminate brush piles themselves. It works as advertised making short work of tree branches and bush trimmings. Engine is very powerful with deep, mellow exhaust sound. I just love listening to it. It starts on the 1st or 2nd pull, though pulling is not easy because of the weight of the flywheel/cutter. The mulch it produces is a nice, small size which stays in place and decomposes quickly. It also is very effective at shredding leaves in the fall, shrinking my compost pile and speeding compost production. The major drawback to this chipper is the need for the branches and limbs to be nearly straight. So i spend a lot of time cutting them into straight pieces. So a wider hopper-like feeding system rather than a cone would be nice. All in all, a very good machine and I would recommend it.
By Debra, Eagan, MN

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/29/14

Received the chipper in three days. Easy to assemble. Fired it up on the first pull. A bit heavy (two man job) to lift into a pickup, but easy to roll around the yard. This is my first chipper and I am glad I went with the Patriot after reading the reviews. Mulch size is perfect. Great machine!
By Britton, Portland, OR

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/28/14

Chipper arrived on time without damage. I use it 2 to 3 times a year with good results. An excellent product, does the job I expected.
By Raymond, Stephens City, VA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/28/14

A pricey but high quality chipper. Handles most chores with satisfactory results. The unit will stall if the bag is not removed before it is filled to capacity, then it is difficult to unclog the machine. This is the only operational problem with the chipper. Only disappointment with the machine itself is that instead of semi-pneumatic tires, it came with solid rubber tires. This short coming does not affect the performance. I did not rate it five because the replacement knives are very pricey as are most of the accessories. I can do without most accessories but knives must be replaced.
By Stanley, Mountain View, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/28/14

I’ve had my CSV-3100B for several months and I’ve put around 8 hours on it so far. During a long session, it chips and shreds without any hiccups or slow-downs. I use mine primarily for leaves and light brush and it tears right through them. The chipper itself is easy to maneuver around my yard and the Briggs & Stratton engine starts with a single pull. Assembling the CSV-3100B is not difficult, but I do recommend having another person on hand to help as it is very heavy and you do have to put one of the wheels on yourself (Patriot included an amusing note that they ship with one wheel in a different package to get around UPS weight restrictions). The manual is comprehensive and written in a fun, conversational tone.

One tip I’d give is when you’re shredding leaves, pour the leaves in; don’t dump them. This tip is in the manual, but it’s really important. If you dump the leaves in, you’ll usually end up having to get a stick to push them down into the hammers. If you grab a handful and slowly pour them in, you can keep going with no interruptions.
By Thomas, Raleigh, NC

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/28/14

The unit is compact and does a great job of chipping and shredding. Having the blades clutch in automatically is a great feature. So far I have had no issues with the operation.
By Ken, Clayton, DE

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/26/14

The Patriot CSV-3100B has proven to be an outstanding tool – my grandfather always said buy the best tool you can afford and it will serve you well – and that is true of the Patriot Chipper/Shredder.

I wanted a chipper/shredder that could mulch our landscape and fruit tree trimmings for top cover and for composting use. We are trying to recycle back into our land. I researched a variety of brands and units and landed on the Patriot. Prioritized reasons were: 1) Power to unit size ratio, 2) Up to 3 inch wood chipper and 3) Made in the USA. Reviews on Amazon and other tool sites were very positive averaging to the 4.5+ range. Those that were negative tended to be on delivery service issues or lack of reading instructions and NOT the Patriot unit.

The Patriot chipper was delivered on time by Amazon Prime. Very easy to assemble with basic hand tools. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Patriot offers a help line but I did not need it. Just fill with 10W30 oil and gasoliine and in one pull the B&S engine came to life. I have run about 50 hours over the last year – fruit tree leaves and branches, landscape trimmings etc through the unit and it eats everything I have fed it and spits out really nice mulch. We have used the mulch in our raised beds, around the fruit trees and in our compost bin – its great to give nutrients back to the soil as well as building up the soil till.

This unit is NOT an industrial chipper. If you are mulching a forest of trees or have branches over 2 inches this is NOT the unit for you. If you want a tool that is USA made, powerful yet portable and a reliable chipper for home or small farm uses like ours – this is your chipper.

There are other variants of the CSV-3100B including a Honda engine and electric start and different HP engines with different model numbers and price points . For the value, this unit is the one that offered the best over all value for my needs/uses. I will definately by Patriot again.
By Jim, Westlake Village, CA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/26/14

CVS 3100B. Does a great job shredding tree leaves which we have a lot of. Falling dead branches are quickly and thoroughly chipped into very small pieces. It was well worth the money.
By Kenneth, Great Falls, VA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/26/14

Have had this product for a year and it operates as advertised. It’s able to process a tremendous amount of leafs in less than half a day and never more than a tank of gas. Shredded product is good for use as mulch. The chipper is great as well, as long as you follow the operating instructions (which are common sense). Keep the blades sharp, I just use a file, and it’ll handle anything within the described dimensions.
By Alice

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/25/14

Have used for 1 year, 2 seasons, very sturdy, does everything I was hoping for. Have run machine for 6+ hour sessions some weekends. Assembly was straightforward, would buy same product again!
By Amazon Customer, Indianapolis, IN

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/25/14

I purchased this chipper because I wanted to add some coarse materials to my compost pile and pruning my trees in the spring gives me a lot of the basic resources to do so. Before the chipper, I had a large pile of branches to dispose of each year. Now I have a nice pile of compost to place in my garden and flower beds. We’ve also had fun with it as we tried apples, corn cobs, corn stocks, and broccoli stocks in it. We barely finish using the chipper and then the cows, chickens, and turkeys show up to clean up the edible parts. I am planting more corn this year just so I can run it through the chipper.

The chipper cleans up nicely with very little effort. This is my third summer with the chipper and it starts easily every time. I store it in a shed so I am sure that helps keep it in good operating condition also. I have sharpened the blades twice and it is not difficult to do.

I have not used any other chippers and so I cannot compare this model to others.
By GVW, UT

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/14/14

wow
By Geraldine, Gainesville, FL

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 06/28/14

Patriot probably makes the finest chipper/shredders out there. You get what you pay for and you pay for this one! I can drop a 2″ – 3″ limb in the chute and that thing is essentially sucked in by the chipper blades eating it up and spitting out 1 to 2 inch chips. I am very impressed by the heavy duty build and overall quality of this unit. I don’t see anywhere that corners were cut to save weight or to be just “good enough”. Assembly is a breeze as long as you follow instructions and pay attention to what you are doing. A little tip, when attaching the hopper, get some foam or some other material to block the bottom of the opening into the chipping/shredding housing. If you drop one of the nuts it doesn’t drop in and you don’t have to turn the machine upside down to get it out! Unit is easy to move around and position where you want it. I have the 3100B which has the 10hp Briggs engine and it starts with first pull every time. Be careful, this engine uses a high compression start and its about pulling hard and steady, not as hard as you can and fast. My first time pulling on the cord I about broke my arm trying to yank as hard and fast as possible. Also works great as a leaf shredder, takes a bazillion leaves and makes a nice manageable pile that gets composted back into the garden. This machine as my title states is “BAD A**”!!
By Team HD, MI

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/30/14

What a great machine. It starts right up every time and does a great job on every branch. Everything is as advertised.
By Leslie, Belvedere Tiburon, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/14/14

After receiving shipment, engine would not start. Most likely cause was bad oil level sensor which prevents starting if oil is low. Oil level was fine, but no spark. Long story short, the president of Patriot products personally delivered a new unit to my door and took the other one away. He had me start it and gave me a rundown on operation and maintenance procedures before he left. I’ve used this new unit close to 20 hours of major chipping and it’s fantastic. It eats 2 inch saplings as fast as I can feed them into the chute. Chips are roughly 1/2 inch. Starts on first pull and is easy to push around the yard. Be careful, not to overfill the mesh chip bag or to allow the bag to block the exit chute on the chipper. This will clog the unit and require disassembly of the chipping chamber. If you take those two simple precautions, this thing will run all day without a hiccup. Very highly recommended. One other suggestion is renting one first to try it out. Ask Patriot where to do that in your area. You won’t be disappointed and you cannot beat the customer support. I know!
By Jimmy

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/07/14

This made cleaning up my badly neglected yard a breeze, and it solved the problem of my neighbor’s annoying dog! A fine product that’s worth every penny!
By Jill

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/08/14

We love this chipper/shredder. It’s very easy to start and runs smoothly even after 6 or 7 hours of constant shredding. We have a yard that encompasses 7 acres of 100 ft tall pine trees, magnolia trees, oak trees, overgrown azaleas, other shrubbery and much unwanted volunteer mystery greenery. The CSV-3100B chipper has been very reliable in keeping the overgrowth under control in this heavy use environment.
By Cowgirl

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 02/26/14

I picked this one because I don’t have a lot of storage space and this machine seemed to pack the most capacity into the smallest envelope. Overall I’m happy with it. It’s first job was to chip oleander trimmings. Between pruning and chipping, I was able to fill 6 Herby Curbies (2 per weekend, over 3 weekends) working 4 hours a weekend.

Impressions:
The motor is top notch. It is supposed to be relatively quiet, but make no mistake about it, the thing is loud! The motor starts easily when cold, not so easily when hot. It has a throttle so the motor can be throttled down when not actually chipping, for instance when emptying the bag.

The hopper has a narrow throat and material bridges easily. This is probably my biggest source of dissatisfaction. Have a stick handy for clearing jams. Loosening the jam by lifting seems to work better than pushing it through. I like to use leftover PVC pipes because accidental contact with the flails just breaks off the end, with no tendency to pull the pipe into the machine.

The machine does not like wet material. Wet material tends to clog the outlet. You must not clog the outlet as it can lead to a stall with material still in the machine. A failure of this type will likely result in some degree of dis-assembly to clear out the machine before it can be restarted.

It does not like dry or dirty material. If you use the thing to chip roots, the knives will become instantly dull (said experiment performed by my spouse).

Sharpening the knives requires power tools. Knife maintenance is part of the cost of owning this machine. Personally I’ve had good results using Grizzly wet grinder. They aren’t as pretty as new after sharpening, but they cut almost as well.

The exhaust faces down and will burn your lawn. Don’t use it on the lawn.

If you use it on hard surfaces, it helps to have some heavy blocks. The vibrations will cause the machine to walk around.

All in all, I am happy with the machine and it has been quite helpful in maintaining my yard. There is a definite learning curve with this machine. My biggest gripe is the easily clogged hopper which is why it only gets 4 stars.
By Wise Guy, San Jose, CA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 10/15/13

I bought this mostly to chip/shred scrub oak and it works great. I did get it jammed early on but put too large of a branch in the shredder & didn’t have the choke on full blast. Read later that at my altitude 7500 feet choke has to be full on for motor to work right. I have also used it to chip pine tree branches and have been pleased but I’ve been very careful about cutting branches up first so I’m not stuffing too much in at once. This is definitely a home machine & not to be confused with those big industrial ones. I would buy this product again.
By Carol, Morrison, CO

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/12/13

After researching all the reviews and ratings of several chippers as a gift for my husband, I finally chose the Patriot CSV-3100B on the basis of so many outstanding reviews. We have a large garden and use organic gardening methods so he wanted a chipper that would take brush, corn stalks, huge sunflower stalks and put it as mulch back into the soil. He had been borrowing a friends large, well known brand chipper but because of the top heavy weight distribution, nearly had a serious accident when they were unloading it from the truck. So I decided he needed one of his own and started the search for the right one even though I know virtually nothing about chippers. The reviews of the Patriot very important to the selection process.

My husband is thrilled with it and how easy it is to handle and move since the center of gravity is low. The engine is easy to start, very powerful and produces a very fine grind. He states it’s quality produced of excellent materials. We are also pleased it was manufactured right here in the US. He is singing its praises and would recommend it to anyone thinking of purchasing a chipper.
By Marion, Alpena, MI

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 06/22/13

I had to really rationalize this purchase. The cost was way beyond what I wanted to pay for a chipper shredder, but I love it. It used to be tat I would avoid pruning because I couldn’t deal with the branches. That resulted in som pretty wild looking trees and shrubs. No more. It works well, is very powerful, and produces great, fine mulch. I love it.
By Steve, St. James, NY

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 06/07/13

It’s changed my garden forever. Before the garden was littered with branches and other material that wouldn’t compost on its own. All of this is now gone, having been handily dispatched by “The Beast”. It’s very solid and if you’re an American, you can be proud to purchase this fine domestic product. Bravo to Patriot Products.

Back to causing shredder-envy with the neighbors now…

IMPORTANT UPDATE: In order to replace the rotor hammers you will need to remove the rotor assembly from the crankshaft–not an easy undertaking given that the instructions in the manual DO NOT WORK, will lead to frustration, and may damage the unit. No amount of prying per the manual works.

1) Buy a fully-threaded 9/16-18 2″ bolt, preferably made of strength 8 steel, preferably longer. It’s important that it’s fully-threaded. You may have to order one, since most stores only carry 1/2″ and 5/8″ bolts.
2) Buy a 3/8″ steel rod 5″ in length. I used an old drill bit. Any larger diameter might damage the crankshaft threading, any smaller and it may bend under load (see below).
3) Follow the directions in the manual which explains how to get the metal casing off, exposing the rotor assy.
4) With the casing off, remove the 5″ bolt that secures the rotor assy to the crankshaft.
5) Drop the steel rod into the hole. It will seat itself against the bottom of the crankshaft’s threaded female well.
6) Screw the 9/16th” bolt on to the rotor, which is also threaded specifically for rotor removal. You will need to screw it all the down. As you do, it will make contact with the steel rod and slowly push the rotor assembly straight off of the crankshaft.
By John, Oakland, CA

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 04/25/13

I have a very specific skill set which requires lots of chipping and shredding things. Anyone in my business, and there are not many of them, know that cleaning up is the hardest part. The patriot CSV-3100B really makes short work out of tall projects. It can be a little cumbersome with wide loads though. I would highly recommend this product.
By Heuberger

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 04/20/13

Have just assembled and used my Patriot 10HP Chipper/Shredder (with my wife’s help) and it is fantastic. I have never owned a product like this so had nothing but product reviews of other companies offerings to compare it to. There are no belts to break or replace and it certainly is not underpowered for winter debris and the early spring growth I need to create mulch from. Hats off to the folks from Pewaukee WI. By Papreck, Marshall, MO

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 02/18/13

I am very satisfied with everything about this purchase. This Patriot CSV-3100B 10 HP Chipper has very strong reviews that are well deserved. Everything about the transaction went smoothly. The unit was shipped timely and was received in 2-3 days in perfect condition. It was very well packed with very good instructions on how to assemble. The unit started easily and performs extrremely well. I was glad that I chose the 10 HP unit with the Briggs/Stratton Commercial engine. I have used the unit several times and each time have been completely satisfied with it’s performance. After doing a lot of research and comparing of different units, I am glad that I chose this product and I highly recommend this product for anyone who is looking for a first quality wood chipper.
By papa bear

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 12/31/12

Did quite a bit of research on the different brands and related cost. The 10 HP was selected since it was more powerful than most and not that much more in price. Engine started on first crank and have used it 3 times since purchased to start clearing new lot 1 acre. The chipper chute is narrow so the items that are being chipped need to be trimmed to fit down the chute.

Be sure to put oil in the crankcase because when you check it looks like there is oil in the engine but there is none. Patriot Products is very clear that oil needs to be added so don’t be fooled.

Delivery was quick and simple and assembly was just as easy.
By John, Conroe, TX

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/19/12

The CSV-3100B arrived in two boxes and took approximately 30 minutes to assemble. The assembly instructions are well written and easy to follow. After filling the B&S engine with fresh fuel and oil it fired up on the second pull. I let the machine warm up for a few minutes before I began to feed it. After nearly 8 hours of use over 2 days here are my pros and cons:

PROS:
– Powerful machine, has no problems handling 2″ dry branches
– Easy to move, one side of the hopper has molded handles which makes it simple to tilt the machine back and push/pull it into place
– Makes a beautiful shred product. Most of our leaves were very well shredded. The average size was less than a US Dime.
– B&S engine fired up without any problems. The pull start requires a nice, steady pull.
– Engine throttle allows the user to throttle down the unit when they aren’t shredding. Greatly reduces noise levels.
– The standard bag is easy to move and unload. Larger bag is nice, but can get quite heavy.
– Unit includes a pair of safety goggles. I already own several pairs, but its a nice touch by Patriot to stress the importance of eye protection

CONS:
– Small branches hidden in your leaf piles can cause “bridging” issues in the feed hopper, no tool is included to help clear clogs
– Branches must be fairly straight to feed into “cone of destruction” (kids name for side feed)
– Bag attachment point appears to be a bit “rough.” If the bag is not perfectly placed the unit will blow shredded product all around

To expand on a few of the cons – unclogging can be a challenge at first. I found that using a straight piece of wood (in my case a 1.5″ dia branch) to stir the material at the point the feed hopper narrows worked very well in clearing the hopper. The unit creates quite a bit of suction so the issue was usually related to small branches in the leaf pile bridging the opening and causing a backup well above the actual shred point. I also noticed that feeding it a bit slower helped greatly reduce this issue.

The area that the bag attaches to the machine needs a bit more work. I’m looking into fitting it with a rubber or plastic baffle/collar that the bag would fit over. This should make operation a bit tidier and result in less shredded material being blow around the unit.

The Patriot CSV-3100B is not perfect, but the “CONS” are so minimal that they come no where near negating the usefulness of this shredder. It does exactly what you expect it to do and does so very well.
By Dennis, Trenton, MI

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/11/12

Worked as advertised. I have a 1.5 acre lot and have been accumulating a large pile of limbs and small trees so I finally broke down a bought the chipper. Not cheap but it handled everything I threw at it. Tree limbs that were very crocked did require trimming to get down the shoot but some straight small pine trees less than 3″ at the bottom when thru limbs and all. Would a cheaper chipper have worked, don’t know, but I am very pleased with the Patriot Chipper and nice to be able to buy something still made in USA.
By Maine12

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 04/27/12

My Patriot chipper shredder started on the first pull. I put it to the test right away but didn’t really know what I was doing. Don’t put too many twigs through the shredder part of the machine and don’t try chipping too many evergreens with it. Believe me…the evergreens have a pitch/gooey sap and it creates a glue type substance that makes everything else stick to the inside of the chipper housing. It will build up to the point that it plugs completely and lugs the engine. After a complete tear down and cleaning…which was not that easy to do (the plug inside was really a hard mess), I sharpened the knives and put it back together. It chips and shreds like it is suppose to. It gobbles up hardwoods like nothing. The mulch that it makes is really nice. I like the Patriot chipper. Just use good sense on what you chip. Any good green hardwood 3 inches or less and any and all leaves in the shredder part and all will be fine.
By Dangit

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 04/23/12

Received the chipper in three days (great shipping time). Put gas and oil in and fired it up on the first pull. Spent five hours chipping and this machine is incredible and smooth. I will know more after using it a few more times but so far it is worth every penny. I went over the whole machine and it is a very well built, solid chipper. Set up is easy but it is a bit heavy to lift in a pickup (two man job)hence being well built. This is my first chipper and I am glad I went with the Patriot after reading the reviews on a couple of the others I was leaning towards. There wasn’t a branch that it didn’t eat, be careful as the bigger ones will get pulled right out of your hands. The mulch is a perfect size and my wife loves the fresh mulch for her garden, flowers and trees. Great machine!
By nlar

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/18/12

I have had one of these for about 15 years and replaced the key on the flywheel and the plate that holds the chipper blades and knifes, but over all it is a very good machine along with the vacum attachment it makes easy work of leaf clean up and reduces volume by 40% or so , but remember not to vacum wet leaves or they might clog in the tube, I use a sillage rake from tractor supply and dump them in the hopper. you won’t be disatisfied if you buy one.
By Robert, Bayville, NJ

CSV-3100B – 3 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/22/11

Good for small brush or properties 1 acre or less. found it to be a bit smaller than expected. You should have a chain saw handy for curved branches.
By Don

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 11/12/11

Fired Up in a short time and we were chipping away….. Leaves branches and everything in between. I have used it 5 or six time and it has fired up every time with very little effort. Some times the leaves will clogg up in the hopper and I have used a stick to keep it free fl0wing and the branch chipper needs straight branches that need trimming to fit
By Kevin, Canyon Country, CA

CSV-3100B – 4 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 06/01/11

Easy assembly. Engine started on first pull. Quickly chips even large branches. Only down side is that the gas tank is under the hopper and it is awkward to fill.
By John

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 03/13/11

Quite simply put you cannot find a better value than a Patriot wood chipper. I have had mine about 20 years. They used to be sold at Home Depot long ago, but discontinued their relationship because the Depot used to take back everything for any reason and they got tired of accepting return units with nothing wrong with them. Anyway, the true beauty of the Patriot chipper besides it’s lnongevity, is the power and size ( if you take off the cone you can store’em anywhere). They out perform other chippers that take up far more space but offer no more output or capacity. If you would like a testimonial speaking to their toughness…I was clearing brush on my property (the previous owner threw anything back there) And tossed a piece of re-bar that had been mixed into some brush. The unit stopped cold and I was sweating bullets that I had killed it. I opened it up untangled the steel put’er together and it started 1st pull. That was 7 years ago. The support they give you is terrific. Keep the oil changed and the knives sharp and you will have a companion for life. One suggestion: do opt for the electric start on the bigger HP units. It’s one of my favorite tools.
By Todd

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 10/30/10

This chipper/shredder is so easy to use. It is very portable and moves around the yard with no problems – even uphill. The directions were very well written. They stress to keep the machine in good order regular maintenance is needed, which is no problem. We trimmed branches from 4 mature trees and this machine went right thru them. Best to cut out any stout “Y” branching for ease of getting into chute. The capability of chipping anything up to 3″ diameter took care of everything we had to do. The larger branches are going to be firewood. And the chips are now mulch for my backyard plants and hillside. Best money I have spent.
By TLM

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 09/07/10

I have a rather overgrown lot, and had been considering a chipper/shredder to help with the debris from clearing it out. I had been considering one of the better known brands, but after reading some unfavourable reviews, and seeing it in person, I decided to do some more research. I found this unit on Amazon, and after looking at the manufacturers website, decided to give it a try. I placed the order through Patriot Products Amazon store, and called the next day to get the shipping details so I could make sure I would be home when it arrived. When I called, I’m pretty sure it was the president of the company that answered. He directed me to the shipping manager, who promptly answered my questions and scheduled delivery so it would arrive on a day that I would be home It arrived just as promised three days later. Great service!

The chipper arrived in perfect condition, and well packaged. There were only a few things that needed to be attached before putting it to use. It took about 10 minutes, and it was time to fill oil and gas and fire it up. Started on the first pull!

I put it to good use over the weekend chipping and shredding bamboo and oak saplings up to about 3″. Although it did bog a little with the bigger stuff, if still pulled through and chipped everything I threw at it. Anything smaller than 2″-2.5″ didn’t even slow it down. It just sucked it in and spit it out!

The unit seems to be well constructed. The unit is constructed out of heavy stamped steel, and it bolted together, rather than pop-riveted like some of the other ones I looked at. Also, the engine is the Briggs and Stratton Vanguard commercial unit, rather than the cheaper 1150 series in the other one I looked at. The only plastic components are the two chutes, but they appear to be of good quality, and are rather thick. I suspect they will hold up quite well. Overall, I am very impressed with this unit.
By Oyvind, Jackson, MS

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 07/18/10

My wife and I bought this wood chipper because we have two acres of mature landscaping and just could not even keep close to keeping up with trimming the lower branches on all the trees and dispose of the limbs and branches. Our trimming pile at the edge of the woods had grown to a monster and was threatening the back of the garage. Researched several websites and decided on the Patriot.

After the first day of chipping – about 8 hours and 15 trees and lilacs worth of lower limbs and branches, I am impressed. First, the 9HP B&S engine did start on the very first pull. Later in the day on restarts, it sometimes took a twiddle of the choke and at most 3 pulls, but starting was impressively easy, and almost always on the first pull. I limbed about 4 trees at a time, cutting off the biggest stuff for burning in the fireplace, about 2.5 inches or larger. The rest, my wife used large branch clippers to take out ALL Y shaped branch joints (necessary to be able to feed through the funnel tube), and I fed these branches and twigs through the chipper. Very nice!! Blows cleanly into the catcher bag, wich I’d dump into the lawn tractor utility trailer to take to the mulch pile at the edge of the woods. Three loads for the whole day of trimming! Would have been a pile the size of my garage otherwise. On the third bag of chips, we experienced a small jam. Was able to clear by (first unplugging the spark to make sure couldn’t start) taking off the funnel feeder (three easily accessible nuts), use a 1″ stick on the outlet to back the disk bit by bit and clear the input port of jammed up mulch. I think I must have let the bag overfill, or feed branches with lots of leaves in too fast. Never had a jam afterwards. By the way, those chipping knives are sharp. Be very careful (use only sticks, etc) to clear the openings.

So, we’re finished the first day of chipping and am very pleased. This was a pretty spendy unit, but it came through as expected. Very easy to move around the property by hand, even with our hills. No need for the attachment to the lawn tractor, which had the dump bucket attached anyway. I do feel, however, that Patriot should make the tractor attachment a standard item instead of pricey extra!

Would I recommend – you bet. Remember I do not have experience with other chippers, however, but this unit is small and compact but stable, seems to be very powerfull, even on solid dry old branches that have very hard wood, and ate green vines easily if fed into the chipper along with small branches. Nicest part was chipping up some old cedar branches and making cedar wood chips to spread around a couple of trees as mulch. Smells great. Hope this helps your selection. Oh, and seems to be built really solidly, even though this is a small unit. Right as I assembled it (very fast and one spare part of every screw, washer, etc)you could tell that the machine is very solidly made. Happy so far.
By kenb

CSV-3100B – 5 out of 5 stars – Amazon Customer Review – Posted 05/07/10

This machine does everything as advertised. You should read and follow the instructions on installation and operation, but my machine started on the first pull, and has worked extremely well. As you are working with the unit, watch the bag and be sure to empty it before it is comepletely full.
By Meyer, MO