CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/19/23

Good product for my needs

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?

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/17/23

Has done a great job on chipping branches and mulching leaves. Replaced a gas chipper/shredder produced by another company. The Patriot electric chipper/shredder out performs the other companies gas version. Has more power than I expected. If this one wears out I will purchase another one.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/16/23

The electric shredder chipper is adequate. I previously had a different brand gas powered unit so that is obviously more powerful and what I was use too. It works great if I feed it slowly with dry material. Lately for leaves, I find it easier and quicker to pile them and shred with several passes of mulching mower. I not totally disappointed in the electric machine and its great for small tree limbs. It was an expensive machine for the return usage. I'm glad it is American made.

For a small property it would be excellent. Unfortunately, I border a state park and a ton of leaves blow down onto my property so clean up is constant during fall, winter and early spring.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/16/23

It shreds branches (fig, redwood, peach, apple, liquid amber, & flowering pistachio) just as advertised. I amazed, even after 22 years of using it 3-5 times/yr. and never yet having sharpened the cutting blades! (I'm not at all mechanically inclined; so I haven't yet sharpened, or had someone sharpen, the blades (which most likely need resharpening), and it still works very well.)

Drawbacks:

1) I had one of the 2 bolts that connects the Shredder Hopper break. They should be stronger.

2) Sometimes small branchlets (part of the bigger branch that I put in together) don't shred completely and come out in 6-inch lengths. Sometimes I re-shred the, but most times I just use them as part of the mulch around the trees I shred

I wish I could get other American-made garden electric tools as good as yours! (Cultivator, etc.)

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/15/23

I have had 2 electric patriot chipper shredders. I work the heck out of them and I am really happy with them. The first one was in fine shape after 15 years but I gave it to a grateful neighbor when I moved across country about 8 years ago, and bought a new one. I have to be sure to use an extra duty power cord and run it off a 20 amp outlet/circuit. I have solar panels so the electricity is pretty much free, and I get free material for compost, mulch and floor bedding for the chicken run.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/14/23

I love having an electric chipper/shredder. (I previously had a gas one of another brand.) I'm convinced the Patriot design is optimal, or very close, for an electric unit that can run on a 20A circuit. Complaints I've seen in reviews all seem to stem from unrealistic expectations for that amount of current or poor operating procedure. Like most tools it has a learning curve for efficient use. Ear and eye protection are a must.

Depending on circumstances, face, nose and/or hand protection (for feeding hard woot into chipper) may be needed as well. I made the mistake (against directions) of using an old broom stick to stir leaves, which bent the rotor. The factory was very helpful in fixing it and showing me how to do similar future repairs. (The main bearing is very tight, as it needs to be.) Of course the shredder is much more practical w/o the safety shield that all similar shredders have to keep fools safer.

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!

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.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/12/23

Works well on smaller branches, leaves and yard material. Very handy to have when I Need it.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/11/23

This is a good consumer level product. The electric motor is reliable and trouble-free. It is not so heavy that it can't be easily moved to the location you need. I have had a problem with overlubricating the bearing because the required amount of grease is very small and it is hard to calibrate the grease gun for so small a charge. I have been lucky, though, and have not ruined the bearing.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/11/23

I like that it reduces leaves 10 to one. Can get clogged if leaves are too green or wet. Makes short work of tree branches. Anything too big to chip is firewood anyway. Love that it is electric and no maintenance on a gas engine. Had to change the rotor and struggled getting old one off until I sprayed shaft with penetrating lube and waited overnight. Otherwise, replacement directions were helpful.

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.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/11/23

Replaced a 25-30 year-old Troy chipper that had internally destructed and for which replacement parts are unavailable. Throughput of Patriot is lower and requires more care to avoid jamming debris. Positives: Instructions for assembly and operation uncommonly good. Chipper relatively light weight and easy to move around. So far, materials seem durable. Suggested improvements: Better design to attach the collection bag. Design consideration for engine maintenance (e.g., oil change)

Note in addition to, but not part of, the above: Initially discouraged on delivery. Driver merely left the packaged shredder at rear of garage - blocking in my auto - and did not bother to announce the delivery. Perhaps this was because one edge of the main package was crushed and the "up" arrow on the box pointed directly down. This required me to modify your otherwise excellent un-packaging instructions. The upside was that your packing did prevent damage to the shredder.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/11/23

Looked at many different products before purchasing the patriot csv-2515. Considered the power of gas and the easier maintained electric motor. We have several lawn mowers, wood splitters and other gas powered products. Decided to purchase the electric one.

Quickly noticed that it needed a designated 20 amp circuit which was a problem when I tried using it at other homes. Realizing that it was electric with less power it has been fantastic. By taking the time to only use smaller branches which is mainly what I have with trimming shrubs. The larger branches are used in our wood burning stove. The shredded material is dumped by our tractor into our compost pile. Works out great every year! Made in USA very important.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

I had high hopes for the chipper shredder considering the money I spent on it. In truth, it's not as powerful as I need it to be. Also, even though I had an outdoor electrical outlet installed by a licensed electrician, the shredder trips the breaker too often and I need to wait for the machine to cool down before using it again. Overall, it's not capable of handing the piles of branches that I have in my yard that need to be processed. I've resorted instead to moving branches to the woods.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

This chipper works well for my needs. It is a little picky with the material it will process. Too dry (hard and brittle) or too wet (soggy or gummy) can overwhelm it and cause me to go very slowly. I run a variety of plant material: sage brush, pine needles and branches, ornamental maple brush/bushes, Russian olive tree branches, elm tree branches, and aspen/birch branches. The chipper is good for incidental yard maintenance but not all day clearing. I would like a 240v/60hz version.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

As a woman in my sixties, I consider this unit to be a safe, efficient, sturdy and vital garden tool. Has been easy for me to maintain and operate over the years. I love having my own mulch for garden

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

I generally love my chipper. It works great at chipping the materials I accumulate from my property. I do find it a bit cumbersome to move due to the weight but the wheels and learning to balance correctly help. I sometimes struggle with keeping the machine clear but have found calling for help and reading the instructions over again get me through. I also wish it took bigger branches. I also wish the shredder hopper took materials fedI would buy it again and hope to have it for many years.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

This chipper works great for twigs and branches dry leafs, the only problem is with wet leafs as they can gum up the machine. Sometimes small sticks make it into the collection bag but that is cured buy a second trip through. All in all I do not know what I would do without this machine.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

It took a while to figure out the best way to feed various materials in so they would not bind up. Obviously rigid material feeds easier. The softer things were the problem, and it slowed the process down a lot, even when I was very careful to only feed reasonable amounts. If I could change something, it would be to make the soft things feed easier.

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.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

There is a learning curve to using the machine and not clogging it with leaves, particularly if they are a little moist. Also, I often need to use a plunger to clear the hopper when shredding.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

This is one of our best gardening tools, very solid, reliable, robust and sturdy, real old-fashioned American machinery quality you can hardly find nowadays. Easy to use, easily operated (and enjoyed!) by my wife. The only required observation - avoid jamming the branches, no hurry in supplying, and sharpen (or replace) the bladed regularly. Assembly/maintenance is pretty straightforward. Appreciate your business. With love from Japan, Vlad

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

I live on 3 wooded acres. After every winter there's enough fallen branches to run the chipper for about three days. (Professionals with truck-mounted chippers could run though the pile in a couple hours.) I like having the option to chip the branches myself. Sharpening the blade is an art I still have yet to master but I'm getting better at it.

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

I have owned my chipper/shredder close to 20 years. The first 15years it was flawless, in the last 5 years I have replaced every part of this machine but it's cheaper to keep her than to buy another. I called the service dept. once when the 10 hp Tecumseh spun the crank off like an soft serve ice cream, actually talked to the owner and had a very pleasant experience. I like that your owners' manual is actually a service manual. Saved me a ton of money.

I wish there was some kind of clutch system rather than the direct drive start, tuff on my 70 year old shoulders but the tecumseh always starts on the first or second pull. I always get these streamer wood pieces when I chip small branches the tolerances are a little loose here. Love my chipper. I chip once a week from May to October. Only thing I didn't like about Patriot was the work gloves. Wore out in less than 2 weeks

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!!

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

My Patriot Chipper Shredder is my most cherished piece of equipment that I own. It is super awesome!!! I like showing people how it eats up anything you feed it. The only things that I have found that it does not do well chipping is leafy, very hydrated materials like banana trees or palm fronds.

I did have a scary accident one day where I left the collection bag on top of the shredding housing with the unit running full speed and the collection bag got sucked into the shredding housing.

The extreme torque caused the unit to jump into the air and do a complete circular flip. That was very scary!!! The only thing that got damaged was the bolt that is used to attach everything to the motor. I had to take it to a repair shop to remove the bolt because it was bent and I could not remove it with the tools I had. For suggestions on how to fix it, I called Customer Service. I ended up drilling and tapping the hole using a larger screw.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

My 3065-B does everything I need it to do. Maintenance has been minimal, starts easily, chips and shreds easily. Oil changes are easy. Removing chipping blades for sharpening was easy. Instructions for this was straight forward.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

Great machine, makes short work of branches up to about 2 inches diameter. Having used other inferior electric chippers, I was impressed by the power of this thing. Having used smelly gas chippers, I was pleased with how this one is electric.

I appreciate that Patriot sells replacement parts and includes a comprehensive service manual. I loaned the chipper to a friend and he overtightened and cracked one of the threaded posts on the fan housing, and I was able to order a replacement and install it and get back up and running quickly.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/23

Work pretty well but occasional jam of wood on blades requires opening up to clear. Engine has gotten hard to start.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/06/23

Great for what it is: a small, reliable chipper/shredder. Easy to pull out and use for small jobs, no hassle as with gas tools. Takes some practice to avoid overloading or stalling, which can trip a breaker. Overall quite happy with the purchase.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/03/23

This product has three major flaws that could be easily fixed. Although the unit has an electric motor rated at 14.2 A, it regularly trips a 20 A circuit breaker. Since the unit is operated outdoors, often far from the home electrical panel, this requires a long walk to reset the circuit breaker. The unit could be improved by having a 20 A breaker built into the unit. The second problem is that the unit often clogs with debris. When the bag is attached, it partially blocks the exhaust of chipped material. This results in debris build-up that shuts the unit down to a current draw greater than 20 A. The third problem is the vent cover for the motor is easily dented if the chipper is placed on its side for removing a clog. I was not able to undent the cover sufficiently to allow the motor to spin without the "fan" hitting the cover. Therefore, I need to operate the unit without the cover. This is dangerous. To fix this problem, they need to have more clearance for the fan!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/31/23

I have a hard time with gas engines, keeping them tuned, starting them, etc. The electric chipper starts every time I flip the switch. I have to keep the material path cleared, sharpen the blades, etc. All of these steps are also true of gas versions. The big deal about the Patriot chipper over other electric chippers is the hp of the electric motor. It requires a 15amp circuit and a special heavy duty/higher current capability extension cable. It is well worth it.

I had a lower hp electric before the Patriot. It would often get jammed or just not chip a larger branch.

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.

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.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/23

Extremely satisfied with my made in USA Patriot CSV-3090H chipper/shredder. Easy to start requiring only 1-2 pulls (great for 56 year old like me). Machine used for chipping branches up to 2in diameter and twigs. Used 5 times with no issues. Makes great wood chips. Pet peeves: 1) Difficult to attach hopper bolts on front side of machine during assembly 2) Difficult to keep collection bag from flying off during use 3) Difficult to use oil fill (doesn't anyone make real dipsticks anymore?)

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/20/23

Have had chipper for several years now and am still happy with it. I knew going in that it would be under-powered compared to gas models but not having another gas engine to take care of definitely makes it worthwhile. It is important to prepare your material prior to chipping- strip the branches of any side shoots which are strong enough to hang up in the chute and make sure leaves are dry. Wet leaves are my biggest problem here in the NW but, if they are dry, the chipper works well to create mulch from them. The small wheels make it a bit difficult to get around on uneven ground but I can see no way they could have avoided that in the design. Well-engineered and well-built, this machine will do the job and last a long time if you accept its limitations.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/22/23

I needed to replace an Ardisam chipper shredder that I ran for 20 yrs but became extremely difficult to start. I was concerned that I needed electric start on the next one. Keith discussed the ease of starting the Vanguard engine with me by email and so I moved forward without electric start. He was spot on and the engine is extremely easy to start and the whole unit has worked wonderfully through some tree trimming and one fall season of leave mulching.

I did make my own pusher though with about $15 in plumbing parts at Menards 🙂

Overall, extremely happy with the purchase. Thank you.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/21/23

This is my second Patriot Chipper. I purchased the first one about ten or fifteen years ago. It had a Tecumseh engine. It was very hard to start. Nevertheless, it worked. I performed almost no maintenance. I never changed the oil. I never changed or sharpened the blades. After years, the oil ran very low. I topped it up. The engine blew a couple of weeks later. I mean it shattered in pieces. The chipper part was still good. I bought a replacement. The Briggs engine is tremendously better

When I got the new, replacement chipper, I assembled it carefully. It started the first pulled. It starts immediately each time with no effort. The Tecumseh engine was junk, but the Briggs engine is great. I intend to maintain it this time. I like the grease nipple that was added to the shaft. The only issue I have is the way which the bag attaches. It works, but sometimes one side blows off while I am working.

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.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/19/23

I have had many chippers over the last 50 years, and this one is the best! I have had no problems with it. Had it for 7 years and chip 12-15 bags at a time, 10 or 12 times a year. Works great every time. As long as you keep the air filter clean, it starts up easy, even at 25 degrees. Sharpen the blades regularly, and it chips up saplings easily. My only gripe is that the spare blades are so expensive, and the screws that hold the blades are not sold separately.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/19/23

I had a gas patriot shredder but a bad neck made it hard to manage the pull start, so i converted to the electric version. It does not do as well with twigs/branches, but it does a great job with the garden debris. I shred raw materials and then reshred before spreading and it achieves a lovely texture to enhance the soil in our gardens. It is also pretty easy to unclog if wet materials cause a problem.

The power is consistent with the recommended electric power cord

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.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/18/23

My use of the the Patriot 6.5HP chipper is perhaps a little different than most. Living on the wetter side of one of the Hawaiian islands, I feed the chipper a different mix of cuttings than probably most do, and those cuttings are wetter than typical. The leaf mulcher basically doesn't work in this climate...the material is too wet, and just clogs the system. However, the chipper is a must-have for the many palm leaves, branches, and other drier, more rigid cuttings found in my yard.

Before I purchased the chipper I called the company to see if they had experience with its use in this climate. They were up front about the fact that some material just wouldn't break down, and they were right. Shipping to this island is expensive, and the owner of the company offered to split the cost with me, which was an incredible offer that I couldn't pass up.

I love the chipper. It's not perfect, but I am not sure anything could be.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/18/23

Very happy with this new shredder my wife purchased for us. It should last me my lifetime.

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.

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.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/23

This chipper is great to hook up to my UTV and move around the estate and use where I need it. Has reliably started every time. I'm just an old lady, and have no issues starting and running it. Has not failed to do anything it was asked to do!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/23

My chipper-shredder has been an amazing, durable workhorse. Contrary to popular belief, the electric version of the chipper-shredder is quite powerful and does what I need. I have an organic vegetable and herb garden and fruit orchard, and I make my own compost. I bought the chipper-shredder years ago to process yard waste for my compost, because I hated giving it up to my municipal waste collector.

Before I got the chipper-shredder, I used to chase my municipal tree-trimming trucks that came around periodically to get barrels full of wood chips. I am glad to be able to make my own, and my garden is happy too!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/23

The electric chipper does a good job of chipping up downed branches and other debris from our 5 acre heavily wooded lot. By having two blades I’m able to stay ahead of my chipping work, since the blades seem to dull fairly quickly. I had the blades shaped at the local Ace hardware store. My main reason for not giving the chipper 5 stars is that it’s VERY easy to trip 20 amp circuit breakers, which quickly gets very annoying since it’s a long walk to reset the circuit breaker, from the yard.

My main work around circuit breaker tripping is to feed only small amounts of tree branches into the chute at a time (which, of course, slows my rate of work). Having the reserve blade also helps prevent breaker trips, since the chipper doesn’t bog down as much with a fresh blade.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/23

I like that it's been very reliable, for a long time; but branches don't have to be very big (way smaller than the throat of the chipper) before they take forever to chip, if the branches have dried out. Also, the cone loosened, but I was unable to tighten the bolts holding it on because the small end of the cone opening is too small to hold a tool to do the tightening.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/23

My Patriot electric chipper-shredder has more than met expectations. I'm using it mainly to chip hardwood branches and saplings (up to ~2.5' dia), adjusting the feedrate for diameter and wood species (lots of oak!). It's has good power when fed from a 20 A circuit, and has been completely reliable for chipping. I'm less impressed with the shredding function (seems to clog when only moderate batches of leaves). The manual is super detailed and clear, which I greatly appreciate.

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.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

Fantastic tool, I have enjoyed working with my chipper for almost 10 years and other than replacing the blades and 1 bearing it has preformed beyond expectations. I chip mostly pine branches, and pine cones for bedding in our chicken yard which helps with smells and makes great Compost.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

The leaf shredding function did not work at all, the leaves just jam up. I do not care about that cause I use my lawn mower to pick up and shred leaves anyway.The branch chipping is great. Disadvantages: 1. I go through blades quickly and they cost $50 + and are not easy to install. 2. When I am chipping in spring, I think it's ash branches that do not shred but form long strips that wrap around the rotating part and jam it. Big pain to clear that that out.

Also, when I first got it, the casing around the cooling fan must have gotten bent in during shipping, because a fan blade was impinging on it. I did not catch this but my sister did, she noticed the noise. We bent the casing out and everything was fine.

Otherwise the chipper has been wonderful.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

Only real limitation is power, with a 20 amp breaker I can only be about 50 feet from my outdoor outlets. I have nearly an acre lot so I have to bring everything to the shredder. Normal spring cleanup is a breeze. I previously used a gas model, CSV-3100B, but got complaints from my HOA.

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.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

I have always been in love with the idea, but the electric bogs down and doesn't seem to do a very thorough job. Its also very hard if any of the product is damp or wet. I will not buy a newer gas model because Ive liked the idea of electric. I will keep using and adapting to make MY use helpful.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

It almost makes the chips too small. It is a great addition to my garden tools.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

My Patriot Electric Chipper has functioned very well over many years of use. I only have two issues---one operator error and another a needed improvement. (1) If I get too ambitious with material feeding, the chipper will occasionally bind up and I will have to do a manual cleanout. If I am careful about feeding rate---that's not a problem. (2) The sheathing on the short electrical cord coming out of the motor has pulled out, exposing the individual wires--better design/strain relief needed.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

I needed an electric chipper with enough power to chip up to 2" diameter branches (ramial wood), and the Patriot is the best one I could find. I like the quieter volume, no gas smell and low maintenance. I had to learn how fast to feed branches, but once I figured that out it's been a breeze.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/23

Since I have the electric version, I can’t change the blades. Why would you ship me extra blades, if the electric version can’t have the blades changed.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/11/23

I've used the electric chipper through the fall and early spring primarily for leaves and small (<2 in) branches from tree trimmings. I use the leaves and chips for compost and around garden beds. It works great for this purpose. My first time with Patriot, and the customer service is exceptional. Would buy from Patriot again.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/07/23

The Patriot Shredder works exactly as expected. It has good power and handles long days well. I bought it primarily to help deal with our efforts to clear an invasive buckthorn forest. We have 50 acres of woodland and the buckthorn was overwhelming every nook and cranny where the sun touched the ground within 200 yards of our house. Everything 4 inches and over went to the firewood pile - all the rest went through the chipper. Leaves got shredded. Upwards of 600 trees worth without a blip

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/03/23

This has been a great product for us. I wish it had more power, but the 20A circuit is a limit. We really didn't want to deal with gasoline. It can reliably chip branches to about 1 1/2", and we can do thicker stuff, up to 2 1/2" in a pinch. Very dry wood is more difficult to chip. You do need to be careful not to jam the chipper, as it can be difficult to clean out. If you have any sense that it is slowing down, pause to make sure the chipper clears itself before proceeding.

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.

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

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.

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!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

I have owned a number of chipper/shredders before the Patriot and this is the best! I plug it into a 20amp dedicated circuit, take the blade to a machine shop when it stops self feeding branches, empty the bag before it complains, it never lets me down!

If I had any suggestion for improvement it would be to supply sheet that defines when a blade can not longer be sharpened as the manual says the minimum distance between the mounting hole and the base of the knife is 1/4" however that is more or less saying that the knife is at the end of its life when you get one. If the design was to move the knife through its life (again using some supplied template) there would be more service life to the blade. Otherwise, perfect machine!

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

Very powerful and starts on first pull every time

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

I am happy with my shredder. The only negative comment is when I shred moist leaves, it gets stuck and stops working which requieres me to manually unclog it. In my opinion, it is a well built machine and is easy to maintain.

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).

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

I would give it 5 stars if the chipper knives were a better quality cutting steel. I had to change them out after about 3 hours of use when I first got the machine. I had them sharpened and have used them another 3 hours and they're dull again. After contacting customer service, sending photos, and explaining I was chipping green pine branches, some elm branches and green willow cuttings, they sent me a new set of knives under warranty. I Have installed them and so far have about 2 hours on

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

My chipper has done exactly what I purchased it for, chip hay into smaller lengths to diminish waste.

Very durable product that I have had no problems with.

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.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

I had some issues with the chipper when I first bought it in the customer service I received was excellent. I can count on this to meet all of my half acre yard needs and an extensive garden in a woodland setting. It is superb. I would buy another one, if I would ever need it, and I certainly recommend this to everyone else.

CSV-3065B - 2 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

I bought mine about 20 years ago. For the first year it worked ok.After that it was mediocre and really hard to start.For the past 15 years it has lived in a corner of the barn.I can't get rid of it because of California environmental laws.So no I'm not jazzed with a $2000.00 chipper.Ya live and learn.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

I purchased my electric shredder pre-assembled in September 1997 at Home Depot (for $399) and it has been a really useful tool for turning yard waste into much-needed mulch. Through the past 25 years it has given me excellent service, though I have had to replace several components, such as the motor, rotor and chipper blade. When the motor burned out in 2009 it appeared to be due to a manufacturing defect so Keith sold me a replacement at his cost. Customer service is outstanding.The reliability of electric power outweighs the power limitations compared to gas. This product is highly recommended.

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

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

After a short familiarization, the machine performed flawlessly. Normal maintenance includes greasing the rotor bearing, sharpening the knives at the correct angle, and changing the engine oil per the owner's manual. Shredder stage must be "fed" carefully with reasonable amounts of dry material to prevent overloading. Gas tank fill port was a bit hard to access, but I devised a hose-and-funnel arrangement, which works very well. A powerful machine that stores easily in a corner, and is USA made.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

The shredder works great. It is a bit difficult to start after sitting all winter, even though I drained the gas in the fall. The shredder I very noisy which requires the use of headphones.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/02/23

This thing works great for my city garden- it chips branches easily and bushes/plants to make it easy to compost in my home compost pile. I haven't had to sharpen the chipper blades after using it 5 times a year over the last 5 years!

Good: Quick and easy most of the time.

Maybe slight improvements: wetter leaves tend to get stuck in the output chute, but can be freed by adding water, but that's messy.

I store this outside with the optional cover on top, but I had to make a plywood "lid" so rainwater wouldn't just collect in the hopper.

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/23

I did a lot of research… At first, the price of the Patriot seemed a bit much…When I saw the features…take larger branch size...Heavy duty Electric motor… small chips… The Patriot is in a class of its own, It's a good deal, compared to the cheap plastic, no horsepower, small branch competitors..One time I overdid it and jammed the machinery… it was pretty hard to unjam it… despite its industrial quality… It has its limitations.. Knowing the limitations, I never had the problem again.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/25/23

I love chipping with this machine. It's quiet and will easily chip anything that fits in the hopper. The patriot 100' cord allows me to move to where I debris piles are and it never resets the breaker. I use it spring and fall to clean up limbs on our 2 acre property. Highly recommend.

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.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/24/23

I carefully researched many brands, and bought the larger 9 horsepower Honda engine model on the advice of a man I visited who lives about 3 hours away. He showed me how his chipper / shredder worked, and ran some branches through it. He had tried other brands, and was quite satisfied with this model as the best for the power to handle bigger jobs. He had been using it for years in his large garden and yard with trees, with relatively low maintenance. I even emailed him several times to remind me of the brand, as it was several years before I could afford it. It has been very useful on my small acreage, creating lots of mulch from tree prunings and brush clearing. Keith has been very helpful to answer my questions, for example, how to properly use and sharpen the blades - I've bought several sets. I feel very blessed to have purchased the chipper/shredder when I did, as the price has since been increasing - quite likely due to inflation, supply issues, and price of parts.

CSV-2540H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/23/23

This product has been extremely dependable and effective. I use it about 4 times a year and it starts up with ease each time and does a great job of shredding smaller branches and acres of Sycamore leaves. I Highly recommend it. If there is anything that can be improved I suggest a stronger/tougher collection bag. I have been through a few, but to be frank I have not compared it to other products on the market and It might well be one of the better ones.

The strongest praise I can offer potential buyers is for the service provided by Patriot. When you pick up the phone there is someone there that genuinely cares about the use and success of their products... not just making a sale. In today's Amazon culture, thats more than a bonus.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/23/23

The Patriot electric shredder is an essential partner in my urban orchard. I have 30 fruit trees, and a 100' border hedge provides all the chips and mulch I need to keep the ground covered. Other leaves and trimmings contribute to garden mulch (I have 100+ square feet of organic vegetable garden). I previously had a Yardmachine gas chipper, well worn out, and this electric replacement is easier on my shoulders, quieter, etc. Highly recommended.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

This is far better than a gas model for me. I'm 73 and don't need all that noise. As long as you use a dedicated 15amp. circuit ---no problem. Just wish sharpening the blade was easier.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/23/23

When I ordered my wood chipper I had a pile of limbs and pine cones the size of a large pickup. The chipper took care of the pile very well. The dry wood was a little tough on it but it handled it great. Real amazed at how well it takes care of Pine cones. Simple and easy just plug it in. Flip the the switch and mulch. Have used old home model mulches for year this is the best for the money.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/23/23

I have the electric version and bought it to chip up branches. I do use it with the Patriot extension cord. I have found that when plugged into a 15 amp circuit that it very frequently trips the breaker. Using an outlet on a 20 amp circuit works well. The chipper works very well for our purposes. The chipper has jammed a few times, usually because I fed it something vine like (long, thin, green branches from shrubbery).

I had previous experience with a gas engine chipper and don’t remember any issues with it jamming. The electric chipper instructions are pretty clear on how to use it properly and following them to the letter helps. I really do like this chipper and would buy it again as it is able to do the tasks I bought it for and further allows me to move away from gasoline powered yard equipment.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

Like it a lot.

Make loud noise, we need to protect our ears.

I would appreciate a larger bag, or tube for extra large job.

Thank you Patriot.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

Beautiful running electric chipper. I use a 10 gauge extension cord, and have had no problems.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

Annual trimming of a flowering crabapple tree, a lilac bush, and a long cotoneaster hedge produces cuttings of very hard wood. Small pieces of wood are rarely put through the hopper. Chipping speed is excellent, and produces a nice mulch for an indoor-outddor pet cat. Replacement and re-sharpening of the knives is easy, thanks to fast shipping, excellent instructions, and attentive employees answering the telephone. The units is heavy, but well-balanced on big wheels.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

I only wish they offer with more powerful 220v motor. Shredding would be much .faster

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

I bought this machine as an upgrade to the electric Simplicity/Baker made by Ardisam which I bought before. I still have the S/B because it has two chipper blades rather than one. I wanted to upgrade because the S/B jams too often. Your machine does not have that problem, but two chipper blades in my view are better than one so I don't know why you didn't put two chipper blades in your design. Other than that, I use the machine all during fall and periodically after to keep up with the leaves.

This year I had to make a repair to your motor (and I replaced the bearing as well) due to flooding from a hurricane but now your machine works perfectly again. Note you say in your online information that the bearing must be replaced with the same design as came with the unit which for my model was the bearing with metal plates rather than a flange. In fact, a 3 bolt flange bearing fits perfectly.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

I love my electric chipper as it saves me hours each month. I use it to run two inch strips of cardboard through which in turn spots out amazing cardboard fluff for my worms bedding. Cardboard fluff now makes up nearly 40% of their diet. I burned through a $200 fancy paper shredder before ending up on this electric chipper.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

My electric chipper has saved me hundreds of dollars a year since I bought it 4 or 5 years ago. We have large (3~4 hundred year old) fir trees on our property which shed branches, twigs and pine cones year round. An arborist used to cost me $500 a visit to come and clean it up, but now I saw up the larger bits for the wood stove and the rest goes through the chipper and onto my compost pile which has resulted in about 5 or 6 yard bags of fantastic soil/mulch for our garden. A win, win scenario.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

Wish I had purchased gas model. Two inch branches can trip circuit breaker if not going very slow. Does a good job on smaller branches.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

The Patriot chipper is awesome. I have had it since June 2015 with no problems. I have a lot of oak trees in my yard and I use the chipper to make mulch. The oak leaf mulch is better for the plants than store bought mulch and it costs nothing. Before I bought the chipper, I was buying eleven yards of mulch.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

I use the chipper/shredder mainly for brush and smaller branches. I seldom use the large hoppers/input; the chute for branches seems best for what I do. I did clog the intake on the large hopper when first using the unit for leaves and clearing it was a time consuming task, but the instructions were clear and I was able to get back to shredding soon.

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

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

Hardest thing for most chippers in the hardest hardwood and thick branches. This goes through those, although not as easy as the softer branches. Straight branches of soft wood are really fun. Not need to push, and you may have to hold back on it. Other branches are harder just because they go in several different directions and need to be pushed hard enough to get them into the blades. Super sharp blades work so much better which I why i sharpen as best as I can, and buy new ones may once a year or two. All other uses are easy. Corn stalks, raspbery canes etc/

CSV-3050 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

Have owned my chipper since 2006. Regularly change the oil and run carb cleaner gas additive twice a year. I always run the machine out of gas between uses. Have only needed to lube the gears of the chipper mechanism. When I first bought the unit I used it 100% of the time chopping up oak leaves. Now I use the chipper to chip small branches, less than 2" in diameter, after a wind storm.

CSV-2540H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/23

I have never done anything as far as maintenance for our Patriot Chipper and it still starts up quickly and reliably. Since we have been using it for over five years, it does jam more on larger pieces, but I think it just means I finally have to get the blades sharpened. The only thing I would change is to get a larger one. When the time comes we will get another Patriot Chipper.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/20/23

I received one of these units for free, the original owner had it stored for about 6 years. When I heard electric I almost said no I did not want it, but when I showed up and saw it was a patriot I thought OK now I can see what all the hype is about. I have used electric chipper/shredders in the past and I have always stopped using them grabbed my 193T saw and just cut up the wood and piled up the brush, this unit after cleaning, regreasing and sharpening the blade and going through a quick learninig curve of what it likes, I was completely satisfied. the hopper for brush is a little moody but works well the 3" cone portion for chipping branches was great, long branches you tend to self feed so you dont trip the breaker but it was stil fast and once you know what it will and wont do it works very very well and there is no 2nd place close to what this chipper did. I took 2 piles of debris and about 15 minutes to go through them and spread the results over the yard. I didnt think much of electric actually never thought I would even entertain using one again after my initial experience. This chipper is now part of the various pieces of machinery that I keep to get jobs done and it isnt easy making that list!

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

Packed extremely well and lots of info. Very happy!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/10/23

Great machine for limbs or fallen leaves that are dry. Fresh cut green limbs will clog up shredder, but for basic wood chipping I love it! Lot of power for plug in!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/17/22

Go very slow if leaves are wet

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/24/22

This chipper does what the manufacturer says it will do. The newer cut branches just ripped through like a champ. Equal size older (dried out) branches took a little more care at feeding through the hopper and in some cases when getting to the end would kick pieces back out. I was still able to grind all of the old stuff. The instructions have a lot of detail addressing safety and operating. Make sure nothing else is plugged in or running on a minimum15-amp circuit especially when cutting older dried out branches. It took me 20 minutes to reset the circuit breaker and find and unplug everything else. No problem afterwards.

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

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/02/22

I’ve used this shredder/chipper for about 10yrs and learned it’s strong and weak points. Here are useful things to know about it. There are grease fittings on the bearings which should be regreased now and then. If you leave it outdoors and it rains, the body quickly fill with water and stays full till you empty it. The leaf hopper clogs easily so keep a stick handy to push thru. Screws that allow access to the chipper blade become frozen and makes resharpening an ordeal. Use a strong electrical circuit (20A + heavy duty cord) to avoid motor overload and overheat.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/30/22

Weather is not cooperating so haven’t used it yet but it’s all assembled and waiting . I was impressed with the instruction manual and when I called to ask the company a question I was very satisfied.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/11/22

I had bought another leaf shredder on Amazon last spring to shred waste from our garden to make compost. It cost $200+. It didn't last a year before 2 of the cutting blades broke and the plastic shell shattered around the bolt holes probably from the blades being out of balance after they broke. Replacement blades for it were out of stock, both from the company itself and on Amazon. I was done with that one anyway so that made it easier to move on.

Looking to replace it and not wanting to make the same mistake again. I wanted to stay with Electric since it was needed to close to where there is 110V power and it isn't used all that often so taking keeping a gas engine running out the mix was desired. I did some research and saw great reviews for the Patriot shredder, someone commented that it is the only electric shredder that can keep up with gas.

When I found out that it was a lot more expensive than the cheap options, I was a bit hesitant but decided I didn't like the cheaper options so I order it.

When it arrived , it came in 2 boxes, upper bin and lower motor. I was very impressed with the packaging of the motor unit. In a cardboard box, with a wooden floor, formed Styrofoam padding, with metal strapping holding the unit in place. Box was marked that it weighed 112 lbs!

The motor unit is very solidly built and is so different in construction and quality over the cheaper "alternatives". The instruction manual is very thorough and well written. Everything about this shredder is quality / top notch. All the parts were there (plus spares) and it went together pretty quickly.

Once together, this unit made it through the pile of garden debris that we'd built up that we had accumulated in about an hour after we'd struggled to complete it with the previous shredder before it broke.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/16/22

Electric, no pull start, no filling with fuel. No winter storage issues. Chips great. Not to heavy to move around. Excellent value.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/22/21

More than happy; The quality and workmanship is excellent. First things first. I read the instructions and chuckled when it said i would clog it up. I Shredded a pile of corn stocks and sun hemp in 5 minutes. It worked like a charm. Spent the next half hour clearing the the jam after the bag overfilled and the rotor was stuffed with materiel.

My two cents worth of recommendations;

1) add a viewing window to monitor the rotor chamber

2) Add a second exhaust chute to the flail chamber that can be opened when wet materiel is shredded.

3) Add a drain hole or removable plate to the bottom for cleaning with a water hose. to prevent corrosion and clearing clogs.

Add an accessory ramp and winding wheel so I can load it into my SUV. Or, I need to save up for a second one. At 75 I still have muscle memory. I can remember when I had some ;o)

I love my new Patriot Shredder. Good work and thanks for your service.

The G-Man

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.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/22/21

Not my first rodeo with chippers - I've been taking care of 1+ acre with tons of trees in a residential setting for a while now. I truly regret getting this chipper -- by far the most overpriced, underperforming equipment I've ever owned. My last chipper was earthquake and it was light years above this one. It was a costly mistake as the returns are paid by the buyer so get ready to lose few hundred more after you realize how bad this thing is.

This chipper is very underpowered with a dinky 1.5 hp motor. While it will take care of straight, dry branches, it's completely inadequate as a mulcher due to very poor reduction ration. The media generated by the hopper/mulcher is equivalent in size to the chips generated by the chipper so you will not get further reduction of your chips when you decide to run it via the hopper. And if you do run it via the hopper, you'll be standing for 10-15 minutes slowly dumping the bag to avoid overwhelming the motor. Should you be unfortunate to stall the motor -- good luck as it's a nightmare to unclog. Because it uses a electric motor you'll end up overheating it tripping the heat circuit breaker having to wait while the motor cools down. What's worse, if you get any moist media, you can call it day cause it will take you hours to unclog it. The Q&A suggestions say to run water through it -- yeah, ok, do that on an electric chipper not only risk electrocution but you'll be rusting and dulling your blades in no time. Literally, out of 6 hours of work time, I spent 4 hours unclogging the unit from a stall due to moist leaves (and they were not very wet either). After wasting better part of the day trying to make this electric chipper work, I finally threw in the towel and asked for a refund. I could not accomplish the task in 6 hours when the same job would take me 2 hours with a gas powered chipping.

The unit has a very primitive bagging system - you'll be working with a lot of chips flying out of the bag and much dust flying around. Very very dirty chipper compared to the Earthquake machines.

Other than that, the wheels are great, the idea of removable blade is good. Too bad the rest is absolutely useless. As much as I loved the idea of buying USA made equipment, I was severely let down by the value and the lack of efficiency and and power. Do not buy unless you're looking to chip dry, straight limbs only - this is really a very expensive dry wood chipper only.

Be aware that the return shipping will be paid by YOU (the buyer) and I can't wait to spend few hundred dollars shipping it back hoping it makes it in one piece. What a waste of money and time. In the end I am sending this one back and I went with a replacement earthquake chipper which is cheaper, more powerful, has a better warranty and it has phenomenal reduction ratio. It's a shame that this is even being offered as a product -- it just doesn't cut it (put intended).

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/13/21

I wanted an electric one. So many times it’s a couple of branches down. So you wheel this baby out and you have chips. No old gas issues. I went off the reviews so I knew that it’s good but 2 1/2” is asking too much. That said when you get use to its pretty good for 2” and under. It’s a bit pricey and I haven’t sharpened the chipper blades yet. Hope that’s easy.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/25/21

We are suburban homeowners who also love to garden. We have 11 fruit trees that must be pruned every year. In the past, we have taken the branches to the dump, but now that we have the Patriot electric chipper/shredder, we turn the pruned branches into compost and mulch for our garden. The chipper makes short work of those branches, which can be up to around 2 inches in diameter. The instructions said to feed the branches in slowly, but the chipper kept up to our pace easily. The assembly instructions were clear and easily followed. The product is sturdy and I foresee many useful years of service.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/14/21

Not easy to use. It clogged continuously in our rainy northwest. Not returning fue to difficulty to pack back and weight.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/13/21

From the quality of the packaging, to the detailed instructions, to the quality of the parts and pieces, to the mobility, to the power, this machine is simply the best!! With 2+ acres to maintain, this machine has turned our annual clean up nightmare into an adventure. We actually look forward to getting out under the trees and cleaning up. Way better than hauling stuff to the fire pit and burning, and the chips are great for land fill. Yup, simply the best!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/11/21

It’s very easy to handle and safe to use. I compared with other machines, this price is average. It’s a right choice.

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.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/18/21

If the chipper needs repair, good luck!! The local repair shop listed on the web site is non-existent. Calling the 800 number is no help. "Customer service" is arrogant and dismissive. Repair parts are shipped out with written instructions, when followed, are impossible to install. A call to the company results in being informed that you did something wrong even though you did everything written. Other simple questions are ignored. BTW, before I retired, I was a mechanic in a factory and maintained equipment more complex than this machine.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/18/21

The unit is heavy duty and pretty well made. Assembly was easy. If I was to give it a thorough critiquing, there are some design features I would tweak a bit, but overall it works as expected. The only reason I can't give it the 5 stars, is that the motor rotation was wired backwards straight out of the box. So when I fire it up and load it, it doesn't want to chip anything. Didn't take too much sleuthing to realize the cutter head was turning the wrong direction. Having some electrical knowledge, it was easy to go into the motor housing and switch the wiring, but for someone without that expertise, it might be a little intimidating. Once working properly, hold onto your hat, it will chew up some stuff!

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.

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!

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

Heavy duty

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/30/20

We have a mixture of brush, fresh cut pruning of both evergreen and deciduous, and also old dry windfall of these. I even had some old logs too rotted to even burn. I split them up and fed the splits thru my grinder. It worked great. Once I did feed in a lot of leaves, too much to damp, too fast, and feared I would have to dismantle the grinding chamber; no, just followed the directions about flushing with water and manually working it backwards and it cleared itself out. Feeding in damp leaves I found that the tamping tool provided did not help as much as I had hoped. I used a long stick at the very edge taking care not to go in so far as to touch the blades. Sliding up and down encouraged the leaves to move through in small clusters. Do keep the diameter limits in mind. I would strongly recommend it. I did not comment on because have no idea what "stretch" and "sheerness" point to.

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!

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/18/20

Couldn’t handle 2 inch thick branches. Broke. if you’re in UK or EU, I recommend FM4DDE electric chipper; cost less than half price of this chipper.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/14/20

The instructions were great. Easy unit to use &Transport.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/07/20

The Patriot Electric is a solid machine. If you work with it awhile, you will learn how to flow things into it without jamming. I have used it only for leaves, as I like to burn stuff. For example, after about 20 years of burning through paper shredding machines, I decided to just burn my clinical files in an outdoor fire, for which I need small branches. Autumn leaves, I spread them around the garden. And the Patriot is less frustrating to use than hand-held yard vac/shredders. The plastic straps or fingers that are positioned at the top of the bin and cover most of it work perfectly to feed the leaves gradually. Put a rakeful of leaves on the fingers, and the vibration of the machine will ease them into the hopper at a digestible rate. On occasion the machine jams -- often when I'm ready to take a break from bending over to pick up leaves -- and unjamming is easily accomplished by swishing a stick around in the bin. When I first used the machine, it blew a fuse in the basement every time I turned it off. After reading a few articles in Home Electrician magazine, I was about ready to go to a local store to buy a higher-amp fuse. But after noticing the Obituary column in Home Electrician, I decided to call a professional. He pointed out that on a previous visit, he had installed a 20-amp circuit for my irrigation system. So we switched the Patriot from the 15-amp circuit I had been using to the 20-amp, and it's been running fine, no more blown fuses. It's a solid, thoughtfully-designed, well-made tool that suits the hobbyist leaf mulcher.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/22/20

Not too long to fit the pieces with a few tools. I was lucky that I had the drive sizes for my ratchet set to assemble. Found operating it was easy to use on branches. The inlet tube necks down so wide branches had to be trimmed to feed properly. Did a great job turning the branches into a fine residue that was used as a much. I did buy the optional tool to push the branches into the tube. Numerous uses and no problems with it.

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.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/11/20

The machine does a nice job on brush and on branches of about 1" or less. Anything else has to be fed in with care and great patience. You have to learn how quickly to feed materials, sensing when the motor is being taxed and backing away so as not to have the thermal overload trip. Once it does, you need to wait 5 minutes or so before it can be reset. Yes, this is with a short, heavy gauge extension cord. So using the machine for big jobs takes a lot of patience and developing a feel for how to use it. Many materials chip to dime-sized pieces as claimed, but know that lots of 3-5" lengths of smaller diameter branches will sneak through. Also be aware that the company notes that just-cut material will go more easily than wood that's had time to dry. But be aware that 1 1/2" material from branches that have fallen over the winter or from pruning the same day will both challenge the machine.

My bigger warning: After maybe 100 hours of use over several years, our abruptly failed. The large steel disc holding the knife (which I kept sharpened) is welded to the shaft in just two places and those welds cracked, bringing the machine to a sudden stop. On top of that, the disassembly instructions in the printed manual that came with the machine were wrong. In any event, I have been unable to disassemble using either the printed instructions or those provided separately by customer support. The shaft appears to be frozen to the main bearing even though the machine has been stored in a closed garage at all times and there is no rust.

Customer support says that this is my fault for not sharpening the blade (I did). They say I can try to get the part welded somewhere, or pay them $277 for a new rotor, IF I can get the unit apart. If I can't get it apart, it would be far more money for a new rotor, housing half, and bearing.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/08/20

I used a 10 horsepower Patriot sjredder for about 14 years so I'm completely familiar with their operation. I chose the electric one for the convenience of not having to mess around with a gasoline engine. While the electric version isn't as powerful as the gas model, iIt works just fine for our use which is turning everything into mulch. Flip on the switch, throw in the cuttings, out blows the mulch. I don't even bother with the bag, and run it with no flap on the exit so it never gets clogged. I simply rake up the mulch and put it to use. I really like Patriot shredders because they get the job done. Everything else is just kid's toys so don't even bother with them.

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.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/17/20

light weight shredding....doesnt do dry stuff (like manure) very well

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/01/20

My property after one month looks so amazing with all the dead material mulched and chipped. Well made machine. Good purchase.

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.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/07/20

I purchased this chipper from Amazon because it was made in USA and I wouldn't have to deal with gas engine hassles.

Bottom line up front: not worth the time, effort and money.

I read the instruction manual carefully and completely, and followed the instructions on assembly and operation. The shredder hopper was tedious to assemble. Easy to drop bolts or nuts into rotary cutter housing, which would require disassembly of chipper to retrieve.

Shredder hammers worked adequately with leaves at my mountain house.

I bought the Patriot electric cable to prevent tripping a circuit breaker. It worked well at one house, but not at another. Breakers tripped constantly at one home.

Chipper jammed frequently with small twigs and branches less than 1 inch. Hard jam required 2-hour disassembly and reassembly of chipper. Sharpened knife, chipper still jammed. Spent most of my time clearing jams and maintaining unit.

When it did run, after 2 hours, I ended up with 1 wheel barrow load of poorly-chipped mulch. I could have purchased 1 bag of mulch for much less than the price of this chipper. I ended up loading my truck with lawn debris and taking it to the county vegetative waste mulching station, which was much faster and cheaper.

Your time is worth money. I wasted time, effort and money when I bought this product. I'm going to look on Amazon for a leaf shredder with a good customer rating and just take the branches to the county vegetative waste mulching station in the future.

If you are going to buy a wood chipper, get a gas model with adequate power and just deal with the gas engine maintenance hassles.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/07/20

Most of the negative comments are because you want this machine to do something it can't do. We bought the chipper to get rid of the branches when our goats finish eating the leaves on our Goat Farm. It works perfectly for this... The manual is quite accurate on what it can and can not do. Be sure before you buy this chipper you talk to the company, measure the branches that you want to chip and see if this machine can do the job. Every branch needs to be chipped. Leaves can be shredded.

Assembly is easy but you do need to identify each part and get a good idea on where they go before you start. It took about an 90 minutes.

This is a good machine for the price.

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.

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..

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:)

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/23/19

This looks like a serious chipper-shredder, but it's not. It's light duty and jams constantly. Honestly, I end up spending more time trying to get the darned thing unjammed than I can spend actually using it. If all you've got are some loose dry leaves and a few small freshly cut branches, you'll be okay. But it jams on just about anything else. And it's not easy to get it working again. I've wasted hours that could have been better spent.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/23/19

The Patriot CSV-2515 is a great chipper shredder for yard clean up and leaf shredding. We bought this machine to clean up our Florida beach property and shred both palm fronds and sea grape branches. It did a great job with those materials and totally destroys leaves well too. The secret to any shredder chipper is learning how to feed material correctly. We own a 40hp diesel chipper for 25+ years so I’d say we have a bit of experience with chippers. The a Patriot is no different in that regard. We learned you could shred palm stems with the knife chute and then destroy the palm leaves leftovers with the shredder hopper. Leaves are decimated in the shredder hopper but again you need to feed them slowly and gradually. It works best with fresh cut material as the manual says. Dry branches put much more of a strain on the machine. It’s important to cut everything straight going into the machine. We always say “I’s not “Y’s”. An important lesson is running it with the heavy extension cord on a 20 amp breaker. Additionally, let the machine cool down every hour or so. It’s a great portable chipper, easy to assemble and operate. Wear eye protection and ear protection. It’ll create mulch you can use for landscaping and clean up your yard nicely. Don’t bother with anything smaller. This machine is the best electric sold on Amazon.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/07/19

$1000 when I purchased Stalls out and short circuits constantly. Get a gas one.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/30/19

This product does run quietly, and it makes beautiful fine chips...if you use tiny twigs with no leaves! this chipper regularly jams, and makes chipping jobs take FOREVER because it gets gummed up with plant material so easily. I loved it at first, now i loathe having to work with this machine.

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!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/21/19

As advertised

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/11/19

Gets jammed if forced to fast

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/24/19

I've been very happy with this product. Particularly because the size of the output is exactly as advertised, which allows me to mix the many oak leaves back into my lawn and plant and tree beds.

I've used this critter for about 6 hours (non consecutively), mulching leaves and shredding branches and it has performed as advertised. Per the manual, I'm probably going to have to sharpen the blades soon, so we'll see how that goes.

When mulching leaves, you have to slowly feed them so as not to get the hopper throat clogged. Also, any dampness in the leaves will cause the same issue. I used a 1/2 inch width, 24+ inch long branch to poke it down (this is the max size that the shredder size will take, so when your stick pokes into the blades, you aren't harming the machine, just the stick end gets shredded).

If you over feed the hopper, you can wedge the cutting wheel and you will have to clear it to proceed. The two methods I've found are to flip it upside down and give it a shake (the unit weighs 125 lbs, so get help if you need it) or remove the cone hopper so you can spin the wheel and clear the blockage. Also, use the aforementioned stick to clear the exit hopper. UNPLUG THE DEVICE BEFORE DOING ANY SORT OF MAINTENANCE! It has a power feed and an on/off switch and it takes at least thirty seconds from OFF to full stop You also need to keep an eye on the motor, because if there is a jam, it may trip the electrical breaker on whichever socket you are using.

To reiterate, I'm very pleased with this product and can highly recommend it if used within the proscribed parameters.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/01/19

This chipper shredder would work fantastically with a 10hp motor. The electric motor is very anemic and requires careful feeding and slowing down to allow it to catch up every time. The catch bag is OK, but as it starts to fill it can back up and seriously jam this unit, if you don't pay careful attention you have to disassemble the entire unit to clean it out. The top hopper seems like a good idea but doesn't work well, requiring feeding material in a special way to allow it to self-feed. The branch grinder works better - I end up using that 85% of the time ( yet another frustrating thing)

I don't know if they don't pack them all well from the factory or it was just mine. The box arrived with a number of punctures and the unit came undone from the fasteners and proceeded to destroy the box from the inside. The unit is made out of a reasonably thick steel so little damage was done.

Moist material can gunk up this unit to the point it must be disassembled. This takes about an hour to take out the numerous bolts and clean out. This chipper shredder was NOT designed for maintenance. There are flats on the shaft that you can try to rotate the unit manually but these are not adequate. In my case that was not adequate to clear the unit. Taking out the dozen or so bolts, reaching into the hopper to remove the two hard to reach cap head screws and removing the bolts for the catch back, then lifting the separated unit out and cleaning the gummed up bits are what is required.

I really wanted to support getting a high quality electric chipper shredder, really trying to avoid getting a gasoline unit...

All in all - this is just barely ok and is 4-5 times the cost of the competition. I would say overall I am very disappointed with the performance, this looks like their small gas unit with an electric motor - and does not act like it was designed around a lower horsepower electric motor. Unless you have a strong green initiative if you really want to grind up your yard waste - get a gas unit.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/19/18

I have only owned this product for just a couple months and have used it several times and wow what an awesome machine this is. It completely did the job that I had hoped it to do chewing up small limbs with no problems what so ever. It did clog up on me once and that is 100% my fault because I chose to mulch wet leaves and rose bush trimming all while shoving too much in the shredder container... (just testing the product, I said to my wife) A quick garden hose wash out and I was back up and running in minutes. This machine is awesome and I highly recommend this product. Please follow instructions that are provided and you will absolutely love this machine.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/06/18

I've had this unit for two years now. Due to drought and subsequent beetle infestations, I've lost quite a few trees on a steep 0.4 acre lot in Marin County, CA. It munches 2-1/2" pine and oak limbs without much grief. The shredder feature is excellent, and I'm amazed that I haven't had to change the shredder forks, given that I've regularly put 3/4" branches down that chute. It easily takes care of the the oak leaves and pine needles. There is a single chipper blade that requires sharpening every 30 +/- hours, but it's easy to change (they give you an extra blade) and it's $10 for professional sharpening. The gas powered model is surely much more powerful, but I have to haul the unit up and down a steep lot, so it was just too heavy and not practical.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/14/18

This works great for shredding leaves and small twigs in my Colorado yard. Easy to use.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/27/18

I like doing my own yard work. I have forsythia, mulberry and other shrubs that get pruned yearly, creating piles of small branches. For years I have been shredding leaves for compost, and I have been irked that I can't compost these branches. I didn't want to have to deal with a gasoline powered chipper.

This chipper went together easily with the step by step instructions. I advise reading the instructions. Works great with the size branches I'm generating.

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..

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.

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/11/18

This may be a 5 or 3 star product . . . I really have no experience with chippers to compare it to, but I have 6 to 8 hours using it, mostly in 10-20 minute stretches over two weeks getting rid of a mix of branches collected over the past many years as well as a couple of leftover Christmas trees and bunch of pruning from bushes. It was a mix of hard and soft woods, recent and old. I did manage to stall it three or four times. Once on a rock and two or three times feeding some pine branches with the needles attached. The first time I called the tech number, a man answered immediately and talked me through the simple process of clearing the obstruction. It seem to work well with both hard and soft woods, though, occasionally the shape of the wood will keep it from being chipped even if it gets to the blades. Since this only chips up to 2.5 inches (I think) most people are going to need a plan B for some things anyway. The machine seems well built and sturdy.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/19/18

It doesnt work well .It's expensive junk. I do not recommend this product. stay away.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/10/18

WOW - after 2 winter storms and lots of yard debris and one burned out chipper I finally decided to ‘invest’ in a real (heavy) one. Delivered last night (thank you UPS specialist for your great service!), assembled this morning and then, I just wanted to try it out quickly; nope - I couldn’t stop until everything was gone in record time. Patriot Products says you can return it within 90 days - NO WAY, not gonna happen...

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/28/18

It's a workhorse and we've chipped a lot of cedar branches into wonderful mulch. It doesn't handle branches as large as advertised so I will still be burning some but not nearly as much as when I didn't have the ability to make mulch! My trees are happier to have new revetements and cedar mulch!

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/12/18

Thinking about buying this piece of garbage? It looks like a really powerful unit.

...but once you get it home, it is just a paperweight.

This is one of the biggest swindles I have seen on the Internet. It is a product that was not well-engineered for its task of chipping and shredding. A small handful of leaves can jam it. It jams and trips your circuit breaker. Double bonus! For $1,000 plus you would expect a lot more functional chipping and shredding. I got through a handful of twigs and an armload of leaves before it jammed. Oh and the manufacturer will suggest you read the manual, which you get after you buy the product. Duh doi! You can only put a little itty bitty amount of leaves and a tiny fragile twig at a time into it or YOU are the cause of the jam. Typical snakeoil salesman tactic of blaming the customer for your piece of crap product.

This machine is a wimp masquerading as a chipper/shredder. Don't waste your hard earned money on it. IF you them to make good on the return policy good luck. You'll have to send it back in mint condition and in the original box or no return.

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…

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/27/17

This is a really fine chipper shredder. Any other brands you see on the internet pale in comparison to the performance this machine delivers. There is some assembly required (not difficult and very good instructions) when you receive it. The time spent on assembly will give you some appreciation on just how heavy duty the parts are -- like the shredding "hammers" and the slicing blade. The motor is a heavy duty, totally-enclosed-fan-cooled motor (keeps ALL the dust out) from one of America's premier motor manufacturers. I think for most home owners, this electric unit has plenty of power to deal with the leaves and branches most folks encounter combined with the convenience of just wheeling it out, plugging it in and flipping the switch. They even supply safety googles -- wear them! A dust mask is a good idea, too. The only other thing you need is a slender "push stick" (like a dowel rod or thin bamboo) to help the leaves once in a while down the chute - no fingers please!! You'll probably be amazed at how a big pile of leaves reduces to a small dense pile of finely shredded mulch. It's great. Buy it once and enjoy it for life.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/26/17

It works fine as long as you have thin straight branches to chew. Does not work for entangled branches like live oak.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/13/17

I used it this weekend for the first time

Chipped Bamboo like a dream.

Need to be feed slowly to prevent clogs.

Overall very happy with the chipper.

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

it's a workhorse.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/16/17

good

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/27/17

Quiet, it is not. You will need to wear hearing protection. It does work very well and we really think we made a good choice in purchasing this product. But, the reason for 4 stars: 1. It seems to clog up easily it you try to grind up green leaves and you usually have to physically dig the debris out the the discharge shoot. 2. Branches get wedged in-between the flywheel/cutting blade and the housing such that you have to take a vise-grip wrench to clamp onto the shaft and forcibly turn the flywheel to dislodge the offending branch.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/05/17

It runs much quieter than gas powered chipper. No problem with power. It ate up a 2" limb of a fig tree in a few minutes.

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...

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/28/17

I have now had my Patriot for 11 years (Purchased on August 14th 2006) I have used it every year since and have not had any problems except with my learning curve. I have not been very nice to it on many occasions and have been rewarded with a clog that quickly teaches you to not force it and to mix wet with dry when shredding. I have learned to mainly use the chute for branches and the hopper only for leafs and very small branches. I recently ordered a new bearing which is fairly easy to replace, (reading the manual would have made it easier) but this is where the learning curve kicks in again. Over all i am very satisfied with my Patriot, and after 11 years and spending only $32.00 on maintenance that's spectacular ! Customer service was very friendly and courteous and my new part was sent out immediately. 4.5 Stars

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.

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/07/17

Great product. Lasted for about five years. Couldn't get it repaired. Gave it away. It does not shred pine straw. Leaves and small limbs yes....pine straw no. Pine straw wraps around the blades and clogs the mechanism. Electric model was convenient for starting. Be sure not to scoop up any small pebbles in the leaves or pine straw. It will jam the machine. You will have to take it apart to get it free from the jamming. Decided to bag all debris and haul it off. Not worth the trouble of raking leaves, lifting and putting in shredder. Solid product if this is how you would like to shred small limbs and leaves....not pine straw.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/30/17

Works as advertised. Jammed it the first time I used it. Operator error: needs to be fed slowly. Not nearly as noisy as the gas version.

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.

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.

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.).

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/03/17

Makes short work of brush & branches. I get a lot of droppings from Giant Sequoia & Coast Redwood trees all year long. I call my Patriot 'The Beast' because it is loud, beefy, & processes everything, leaving beautiful mulch that I use all over my 1/3rd acre. How nice NOT to have to pay for mulch or wood chips. Thanks so much for such a great chipper/shredder!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/03/17

It took a bit for me figure out how to put this one together. The instructions with pictures are not that great. It helps if you have a natural ability to put things together.

I love that this does so much and runs on electricity. No smelly gas fumes and running it out of fuel when I am done. Just do some minor cleaning and roll it into its storage spot. It took me a couple uses to figure out the proper feed rate. I haven't used it long enough yet to need to sharpen the blades but the instructions are very clear so I don't foresee an issue there.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/05/17

Would give it six stars if I could!

I've used a few electric shredders and they were not in the same league as this one. It's still possible to overload it but it operates much better than anything but a good sized gas powered unit.

I've mulched all my tree beds from the fall leaves we get in CT and have shredded hundreds of feet of branches from an 80 foot tree that feel in the back yard.

The company is also great - the instructions have a bit of a sense of humor and it's incredibly well made.

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

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/22/16

had to return, not suitable for leaf mulching which was my reason for buying

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/28/16

Seems well built. Will update review after the chipper has been in use for a while.

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?

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/31/16

Great product. Easy to assemble and well packed to ship. When I turned it on the unit blew out packaging foam an the seized up. I call customer service and he was a bit arrogant and condescending as I explained the issue. I get these calls all the time he stated. Great then you have a problem. He gave me a few suggestions on what to do and it worked. However what fell out was a plastic packaging corner. Very strange. Company did not seem too interested. again great product sub standard customer service.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/04/16

Years ago, I had mixed experience with a gasoline-powered Troy Bilt ChipperVac. I bought that way back when Troy Bilt machines were actually being built in Troy, NY instead of China. It was effective at what it did, but what a job to manage that giant machine and keep it in repair. They don't build them like that anymore and it's a good thing that they don't! This electric unit is much better suited for what my senior citizen body is doing these days. It's easy to roll around, has no gas engine issues and pretty effectively chips branches up to a couple of inches in diameter. I've also been using it to grind pine needles and cones. The volume reduction is impressive and makes disposal or recycling much easier. The same caveat applies here as applies to any chipper: One can't feed it material faster than it wants to be fed. What little time one might save by shoving in wood or other material faster can be lost when the chipper becomes overloaded, gummed up, overheated, or whatever. That said, the electric motor on this chipper is very tough and thermally protected, making a shutdown/unplug/clean-out/restart cycle quick, safe and easy. Well, easier than a gas engine, anyway. I expect that a machine like this will be needing parts over time. Patriot Products at least appears to be a stable domestic source. I'll update this review, and perhaps add or subtract a rating star, when repair time comes.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review

I am very happy with my 10 hp B&S Patriot. I previewed a lot of different models and quite honestly was concerned that none of them would do the job. After 5 chipping sessions I am ready to give it the 5 star review. First I really thought the assembly instructions were excellent (and funny!) and the assembly engineering was extremely well thought out. The chipper is easily handling the brush from our 5 acre piece and it chews up 2-3 inch pieces of wood easily, with tolerable vibration. The leaf shredding is even easier and that fall project may actually be enjoyable this year. The chipper bag is holding up well and I am thinking of ordering a 2nd bag just so we can keep shredding while one of us dumps the chips. And the chips are great. We are using them all over our trails etc. Hats off to the manufacturer on this one - a great product that does its job as advertised.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/29/16

The only complaint is that the upper shoot clogs too easily if you put a fairly small amount of leaves in it, causing them not to reach the blades. It takes a little getting used to. Other than that, it's quite impressive what it can chip. It's going to take care of at least 95% of my yard waste.

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/24/16

Works pretty much as expected. Assembly instructions might have been a little clearer--e.g., it would have been helpful if they revised the instruction manual instead of including a separate "addendum" (which I didn't find until later) that explains where the main instruction manual is no longer accurate, and low-quality photos are hard to interpret. And it was disappointing to read in the owner's manual that you only get "normal" life of the chipper blades (i.e., time before you have to take them out and have them sharpened) if you chip "green" branches. Am I the only one who needs to chip mostly dead branches that fall off the trees on my property? Not sure whether this is a problem of this particular chipper or just a fact of life for chippers generally. On the plus side, it appears that the blades can be removed for sharpening relatively easily--though I haven't actually done that yet.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/06/16

This is a very good shredder/chipper with a powerful electric motor. It is relatively easy to use. You have to be careful not to feed material too quickly as it has a tendency to jam if there is too much stuff in the top hopper. The chipper works well for branches up to 1.5 inches. You need to use the bag for output; otherwise it flies all over the place. The bag is a little tricky to attach, but works well once you have it correctly in place.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/22/16

I still haven't used it yet, so I may update later, but surprisingly easy to put together after actually getting it out of the box. Getting it out of the box was rather difficult, but well worth the effort. The great packaging that made it difficult to get it out of the box also protected the machine beautifully during shipping.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/17/16

I really love the chipper when it works, especially for long 1-1/2" diameter branches or less. But often I'll have problems when I trip the electric breaker, like when green material gets gunked up and bogs down the machine, hard branches bog down the machine and dance around in the cone sometimes shooting back out, or wood gets stuck in the blade of the chipper and spins around making noise. I wish I had more uses for the shredder top bin but most things seem to just clog up the shredder. I may have been better off with a more powerful gas chipper. (But didn't want the maintenance) Other than that, it works great! Still worth the cost and seems like it's in good shape.

CBV-2455H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/15/16

I was skeptical that this lawn vacuum would perform in the wet falls of the Pacific NW, but with a magnolia tree dropping leaves all summer, and after talking with Keith, I made the purchase. It arrived in mid-summer and exceeded my expectations with the magnolia leaves and performed well through mid-October before the rains came. It did take me a while to learn that it was more efficient to blow the leaves together into long lines, then work the machine more like a home vacuum, than to push it like a lawn mower. I learned another lesson when I attempted to vacuum very wet leaves after several days of rain. What I didn't expect was how waterlogged and heavy the cloth bag would get. That was one long and tiring day. The next time I cleaned up leaves I let them dry a couple of days. While still not dry, they were much easier to deal with. All in all this lawn vacuum has exceeded my expectations and does a better job than anything I have tried. I would definitely make this purchase again.

CBV-2460 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/14/16

My Patriot Vac/Chipper works great for leaves and chipping small branches. I had to replace the original collection bag. The new bag was of better quality than the original. Only, I would like to see the zippered flap open from the top down instead of the bottom up. That would allow me to place the flap partly in the leaf bag for collection removal. Thanks for making a great product.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/14/16

Pretty weak. Branches and leaves must be very dry or it chokes. I'm pretty disappointed with it.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/13/16

Easy start. easy to replace blades.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/11/16

I like how easy the start is compared to a gas engine. I have plenty of power for my needs. My chipper helps keep my yard and large garden neat and productive by processing wood chips, leaves for mulch, and compost. Shredding ingredients speeds up composting, and gets the nutrients back to the garden quickly. I have had gardening friends come look at the shredder to see if it would help them with their garden.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/04/16

I've used the chipper shredder for a variety of home & garden waste along with 3 evergreens & maple trees that were more than 20 feet tall. Shredded branches up to 2 inches in diameter. I used this mulch and chips around several of the displays in the front and back yard. Only had to purchase a new replacement knife blade #8100-901-2 from C&J Equipment in Wilmington, MA.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/01/16

No problems so far. Will take the larger diameters with some 'care in feeding'. Runs like a champ!

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/01/16

Meets perfectly my needs for spring and fall yard cleanup. Shreds nicely - a good source of garden and flower bed mulch.Always starts for me, minimal maintenance so far.

6F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/01/16

1. Tecumseh engine hard to start. The thing I dislike most. Probably not relevant since not available anymore. 2. I like the mass of the flywheel, it takes a lot to slow it down. 3. The feed rate of the chipper side works really well, I have used it a lot to clear brush piles for others. 4. I have a Sycamore Tree and the large leaves do feed well into the top. They tend to stick to the sides of the hopper and block the exit. I still have all the safety guards in place and use a wood stick to unblock the chute. The stick is small enough so that it is ok if it gets sucked into the shredder. 5. More suction on the shredder side would be good. 6. Shredder tends to walk on smooth surfaces. Don't know what to do about it, but I end up using sticks to chock the wheels.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/01/16

I don't use it all that often, but overall it does the job. My only complaints would be, while it can handle up to a 3" branch, the branch has to be perfectly straight else it wedges in the shoot. Also wish that it chipper output was slightly smaller.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 05/01/16

It does a pretty good job as long as you do not overload the hopper with too many leaves. You really have to meter the amount going into the hopper so that it does not get jammed. Additionally, the chipper function works pretty well on branches two inches in diameter and less. It does have a tendency to bog down a little bit when chipping hardwoods like oak, but this is to be expected since mine is the electric version.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/30/16

The electric model was a very good tool before I installed solar panels and an inverter. Now I feel as though the chipper/shredder use gives me all the benefits with even less carbon footprint. Outstanding. I am, however, daunted by sharpening the knives. It is well past time to sharpen them, so I can give a better review after I attempt that task. I have found that the chipper has a hard time with honeysuckle that is far less diameter than the chipper can handle on other woods. That complaint is less on my mind now though because the municipal composting facility will accept it. It is too bad that I have to transport honeysuckle though because that increases my carbon footprint again.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/30/16

I like this machine It came quick and was easy to assemble and its very easy to maintain. It can be wheeled easily around the yard to where I need it. It takes care of the 3in branches with ease, even red oak. Its fantastic for fall cleanup because I have lots of leaves.

CSV-3060 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/30/16

Having repaired lawn equipment, some years ago, that were powered by either a B&S or a Tecumseh engine, I almost passed on my Patriot model because it was fitted with a Tecumseh engine. That said, the engine has been completely trouble free (kind of a shocker) and has almost always started on the very "first pull." While the chipper hasn't been used more than two or three times any given year, there have been all day chipping marathons, when the fuel tank had to be refilled. It's a large tank but that's a lot of chipping! I've replaced the main flywheel bearing and the three cutters one time since purchased but have never replaced any part dealing with the shredder. Lastly ...A lot of surveys tend to ask if one would recommend their product to a friend etc (I usually roll my eyes)...however, whenever I've been asked, I have spoken highly of the model purchased. I did notice that Patriot only uses B&S and Honda engines now. Shame, the Enduro was/is a great engine.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/30/16

This is a good chipper that is mainly used when we clear brush around our cabin. The only reason that I gave it four stars is because after a day of chipping and shutting the chipper off but still rotating it sounded like it blew up as a blade broke into pieces and blew through the housing and almost scared me to death. I'm just glade it didn't blow at full speed and hit somebody! I contacted Patriot about the what happened and sent them the pieces of the defective blade and they sent me new blades and a new housing. I put it back together good as new and it has been good ever since. But I never stand along side of it any more while its spinning!

CBV-2460 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

The machine performs well, but there are two weak areas. First, I had to replace the plastic housing after a few years because it cracked. Second, the most serious design defect is the bag assembly. It is hard to empty the bag, which requires getting down on hands and knees to pull out the contents. The bag zipper is placed right where it drags on the ground when the machine is in use, which results in needing to replace the expensive bag quite frequently. Instead of the free flail blades, I would prefer a new bag, because mine will need replacing again before the next fall cleanup season.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

Overall, very satisfied with Patriot, especially reliability, portability, and simplicity, and I would buy it again but with the Honda engine. The Briggs engine can be temperamental, especially restarting when hot. I like the company, you seem to care. Areas that could be improved: it is easily jammed (doesn't handle tall grass at all) and too sensitive to anything but slower feed rates, it is too difficult to disassemble (to sharpen the blade or remove tightly wound tall grass) often requiring pounding parts that should not be pounded. That said, it has a hard job and, once you learn the machine and do what it wants, it always performs.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

Excellent machine for Fall leaf & lawn care. The unit starts every time and performs very well. Hate to rake leaves & this unit eliminates that chore.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

I actually have two chippers a 4 hp Honda & a 9 hp I purchased to deal with dead ash trees branches I use both very regularly I grow garlic and use my shreaded leaves as mulch also great for spring and fall clean up have a lot of mature trees that are always dropping branches very good machines.

CSV - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

I find that the shredder is very good for leaves to prepare them for compost. It has good vacuum power to suck leaves through the collection hose. The plastic intake section of the hose where the handle attaches is weak and I have had to repair it where the handle has torn out. I am most disappointed with the chipper. Trying to send anything larger than a 1/4" down the chipper chute means there will be a long wait for the item to chip. The narrow throat of the chipper prevents sending even small branches in until I have stripped all of the branches off. Curved branches will not go either. The chipper does not self-feed so I have to stand there and shove each one in. I have given-up using the chipper portion of the unit.

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

Have always been impressed with how easy it starts in spite of its infrequent use.

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

The wheels could be larger as it can be hard to roll. An on\off switch would be nice.Having a hopper that would fold down, making leave raking easier.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

Things I love: bulletproof engineering, made in USA, patriot products customer service Things I would add or change: - add a storage hook for safety glasses, hearing protection and extension cables -- I need to hunt these things down every time I use the shredder - find a way to make changing knives easier - provide a mail-in service to get my knives sharpened (obviously for a fee) - an option for bigger wheels - I have to lug my shredder up two sets of stairs to get to the back garden and he wheels are just a little too small. Bigger wheels would prevent the engine cowling from banging on the concrete stairs. Thanks for a tremendous product. I love using it. I make great mulch and compost with it and that makes my garden happy

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

I absolutely LOVE my Patriot Chipper/shredder. I garden in a larger yard, and every year cut down all of the growth, plus the leaves from a large mulberry tree, and needles from Ponderosa Pine, and shred them to use for mulch, garden paths, and to use the leaves to create compost. My husband bought my chipper/shredder for me, and teases me by telling others that most wives would like diamond rings or jewelry, but Mary wanted a chipper/shredder!!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

I have had my electric Patriot Chipper for eight years. Although the electric is not as powerful as the gas version, I preferred the electric for its lower maintenance and quieter operation. It handles everything fed to it except when I get too eager and attempt to chip branches a bit too large. I have learned to use better judgement with experience. The machine is well designed, built sturdily, and reliable.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

I think I've had this chipper for at least a dozen years. I have replaced blades and flails which is to be expected. After we were flooded by hurricane Sandy ( Chipper lives outside in the yard and was completely under water in the event) I had to replace the motor. While this machine is not in constant use, it has lasted far longer than I expected and continues to perform as it did when it was new. I live in an urban area with a small growing space and make the most of it with decorative plants and vegetables. This shredder has allowed me to keep almost all the plant waste from my garden area in the garden after I shred it and compost. The benefit from that is a lush and vibrant garden on a continuous basis.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/29/16

I use the chipper/shredder on shrub and tree trimmings to turn into mulch for composting, The good: The shredder generally does a good job chipping branches and shredding smaller branches and leaves. I wish it were better at shredding. It doesn't get things small enough and that results in fairly large stringy pieces in the bag. And these large stringy pieces tend to clog the discharge port, which means I have to stop the operation and unclog the port. When I first began using the machine, I would have to dismantle the whole front of the chipper section to unclog it. Now that I am more familiar with the machine and its operation, I can tell when it is clogged and can free the clog at the discharge port without dismantling. Part of my solution is to feed most branches of any size through the chipper and just put the small ends that are left slowly through the shredder hopper.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

This is the best garden tool I have. Living in and around a mixed evergreen and redwood forest in California, it is super important to keep the ground and lower limbs clear. This is a constant job each summer/fall, after the rains, to reduce fire risk. The large branches and dead trees are harvested for firewood and all the small branches and leaves go into the chipper and come out as trail beds, mulch for compost bin, and providing an organic base for micro organisms and bugs to thrive and transform the forest floor into nutrients. The cycle of live continues. All this is facilitated by the chipper. It has never failed or needed repair. The blades are simple and easy to replace. It handles like a tank in terms of its design: strong, functional, and indestructible. One of the top 5 purchases ever.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

I've owned my electric chipper for over 12 years. I use it infrequently to chip a collection of pruned branches, including a discarded Christmas tree and other vegetative materials. I use the chips as mulch material in my landscape. Overall it does an excellent job. Occasionally I find that harder material may cause it throws a circuit breaker, and I have learned to feed it slowly. What I love best about it is that I don't need to change oil, and mix oil, or even worry about old gas fouling the engine because I haven't run it in awhile.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

I've owned the 2515 Electric Chipper for two years now and have been mostly happy with its performance. I tend to work the chipper pretty hard and only run dry leaves through the shredder. I've learned that getting the most out the machine takes some practice, but nothing a little common sense can't cure. I've sharpened the blade once so far, which definitely helped with keeping things running smoothly. Two things I've noticed that I feel need mentioning is: 1) The shredder hopper seems a bit too tight at times for some jobs, even leaves. Yes, I know you're supposed to feed it slowly, but the rate of speed needed in order to completely have it work seamlessly is just too slow at times. This seems tied to the size of the hopper, since clumps of leaves tend to fall out of bags naturally and that isn't conducive to the machine getting any work done. You are forced to feed the machine one handful at a time. This is just too slow for most shredding sessions. Secondly, some of the hardware on the machine are not stainless steel. I hate that. I can't stand rust on my tools and it wouldn't be a huge additional cost to make everything stainless. I store my chipper indoors all winter long, so no extreme cold or snow is getting near the machine. All in all though, it's performed pretty well. I would recommend it to others with similar size yards to mine, which translates into .25 acres or less.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

The chipper/shredder clogs easily and also frequently trips the circuit breaker. Clogging necessitates taking it apart. Resetting the circuit breaker requires a trip to the basement, (changing shoes, and unlocking doors to get there). I find these two items to be time-consuming and therefore I not use the machine as much as I would like to. I do not have time to stop in the middle of a gardening session to deal with these problems, as my time in the garden is limited to evenings and weekends. When either happens I just stop using the machine and put the cover back on it and wait until my husband is available to deal with this, since he has a lot of time on his hands (he is retired but does not live with me), but he curses the thing out when he has to take it apart to get rid of a clog. I do not like to use gas-powered devices, which is why I purchased the electric version. I suspect that the gas versions that have greater HP would not have the clogging problem. When this is working, the chips/shreds produced are very nice and we find this a satisfying way to recycle pruned shrub/tree material onto the property. We typically use the shredded/chipped material on paths in our woods.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

The powerful shredder helps cleaning up trimmings effectively. The shredded stuff is good for mulch and compost. The best investment for our garden.

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

The chipper has been resilient and works well. The Tecusah enhine is not the best feature, its required repair a couple of times. The chipper blades are robust and fairly easily accessed for sharpening. I tried to grind plant material once and thoroughly plugged the chipper housing. It took two hours to disassemble and clean out so i stick to branches and leaves. For my modest needs it's worked well.

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

The Chipper is compact which is great for storage. I use the shredder for 3 or 4 days in the spring and again 2 to 3 days in the fall. after the fall use I change the oil, air filter and sharpen the blades. I have been using the chipper this way for 8 years and it has served me well. It has always started with no trouble. In the spring I shred twigs downed branches and leaves which I use as mulch for my flower beds. In the fall it is much the same. I have a wooded lot, so the trees prune themselves and I help them. The chipper's compact size makes it easy to move around and it has enough power to get all of my work done. Larger branches are cut to fire wood size and burned in my fireplace.

CSV-2540B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

This chipper works great. We fire it up and cruise through a pile of pruning materials. It handles both larger, up to 2 1/2 inch limbs and smaller clippings with ease. It is great to have chips and mulch without going to the store.

T4-CBV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/28/16

I have had my T4-CBV for 18 years. In the 18 years I have had to replace the bag 4 times and the Flail blades twice. To me that is not bad at all. It is one of the most reliable pieces of law equipment I have. I have replaced my lawnmower 3 time during that time. I have at least 12 hickory and oak trees in my yard and use it at lease 30 hours per season. Hats off to Patriot for making such a reliable product.

CSV-3100 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/18/16

I give it a 4.5. Always starts right up and chips and shreds everything it's suppose to. I'm amazed how fast it chips branches. My most reliable garden machine I own. Would be a 5 but there are two issues with the chipper. Leaves get stuck on the left side of the hopper if you're facing the handle, where the hopper curves, as opposed to the right side where it drops straight down. This causes the shredding of leaves to go slowly since they can't just be dropped in by the handful but instead must "sprinkle" in. Second, the plastic cap that goes over the chipper to create more suction for the hopper is too small and just misses fitting over the opening. It therefore always falls off during operation. It looks like it's a re-purposed coffee can lid instead of a lid actually made for the chipper. Lastly, the accessory suction hose I bought always gets clogged very quickly due to the corrugated design. Even when the plastic lid stays on. Great idea but unfortunately it doesn't work well. I would put extremely likely for questions 14 and 15 below, but for 14, I'd have to see if there were any design changes and even if not, the positive aspects of your product would make me seriously consider buying another. For 15, I'd recommend it but with the caveat regarding the slow loading of leaves and the ill fitting lid.

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/12/16

We really like our chipper/shredder - we used it on branches as well as leaves and dried seaweed. It's very powerful. Our biggest problem was liquids can collect in the bottom of the shredder and its difficult when this happens to drain it. If you don't drain it, it can cause clogs and jam up your machine.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/12/16

Have very large, old Maple trees that create debris for 3 out of the 4 seasons. This makes my job in keeping my property and street clean an easy chore; I even do my neighbors' property so leaves don't blow onto my property. Very easy to use and does a great job. My least favorite thing is emptying the bag but it is much easier than previous machines that I've owned. My only negative is that it leaks oil. Is this still under warranty and is there anything we can do to correct it? I'm pretty anal about my property and gardens looking clean and neat and this machine makes my life my easier...couldn't live without it. All-in-all, I love it!

CBV-2465B - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/11/16

Doesn't work good

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/16

I love the chipper and it does everything I need it to do. the technical support has been very good and a positive experience. I mention this support as I have had to replace the chipper wheel twice as the weld to the shaft broke. not a difficult job and the replacement part was an exact fit.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/09/16

Works great, did expect the power it has, gets the job done quickly and easily. Would recommend to anyone who needs a great product. Friend borrowed twice and loved it, too.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/16

In December, 2006, I received my Patriot leaf vacuum. I chose the Honda option, it has never burned nor leaked oil, it's a great engine. I have 2 Pin Oak trees that are about 80 years old, 100 feet tall with a spread of 80 feet. And a large White American Birch of the same age. To keep the peace among my neighbors, I need to clean up the leaves on neighbors lawns on either side of my property, as well as across the street. From early October through the end of December, I run the leaf-vacuum 3-4 times a week, for 2 hours with each use. First, I work back and forth across the hillside, blowing the leaves into a center collection point. Then, I switch to the vacuum to chop & bag. Chopping reduces the volume of the pile approximately 50%. I vacuum collect, then wheel the machine over to a tarp, where I open the bag & empty contents onto a large tarp. The tarp gets dragged to a recycling area. The zipper on the bag failed after 7 years, & was replaced by sown on Velcro strips. It was extremely disappointing to me that Patriot was not able to supply a new, replacement zipper. I ended up having to hand sew the Velcro to the bag which took great strength to push the needle through the bag. Broke a bunch of needles, but now the durable, original bag is usable, again. It pleases me that the Honda engine does not use much fuel. Also, that it is relatively quiet during operation. The chipper is good for disposing of very small branches, while vacuuming. It is a nice convenience to have it on the machine. Changing the engine oil and sharpening the flails is pretty easy, illustrated in the service manual. It is a well-designed work-horse for cleaning up fallen leaves. Wouldn't want to go back to manual raking.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/16

Our Patriot electric chipper is extremely reliable and user friendly. We garden in Phoenix and our desert soil is super hard. We chip tree branches, leaves, shrubs, anything that's green and fits in the hopper to create the perfect soil amendment. Our garden yields vegetables year round because of our Patriot.

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/08/16

My patriot chipper is great,plenty of power,handles decent size branches,sharpen the blades as needed,easy to tow around the yard with the tow bar,2of my neighbors have other brands,mine outworks theirs.the only issue I have is this chipper is hard to start,wish it came with electric start,other than that I would buy one again.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/08/16

I like the electric chipper/shredder because I don't have to deal with gas and oil. It is, however, a little underpowered for the work I do. I had to learn how thick tree branches could be before the breaker would kick out. I have mostly desert trees, paloverde, acacia, Texas ebony and desert willows. If the wood is still green, I can chip branches up to about an inch thick. If they are dry and hard, 3/4 of an inch is about it. Branches from the Texas ebony are quite difficult to get down the chute because they zig zag and are very thorny. The others trees are fairly easy but do require the side branches to be trimmed off. Dried leaves from broad leafed plants go through the shedder just great but if they are green, the shredded material tends to gunk up at the exit chute and plug it up. I use a long thin bamboo stick to scrape the gunk off the exit chute area while the shredder is running. I know this isn't quite kosher, but if I do it after stopping the shedder, the gunk goes to the bottom and prevents the flywheel from moving and the breaker kicks out. Most everything I put in the shedder gets shredded well except the long thin branches from my paloverde tree. These branches are usually a foot or two long and about an eighth inch thick. When green they are very willowy and take two or three trips through the shedder to be cut down to an inch or so. So through practice I have figured out how to make the machine work for me and overall I'm happy with it. The chipped and shredded material is great for my compost pile.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/08/16

Great machine. The motor on the electric does the job shredding leaves and small branches. Let me say...I am a fan.

CSV-3100B - 1 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/05/16

I have been disappointed with the unit since I received it. I repeatedly attempted to chip branches and was disappointed that about the only thing I could chip w/o stoppage were twigs. I had also purchased the leaf vacuum attachment hose device that repeatedly jammed if the leaf was the least bit moist. I've used the machine for a total of less than 10 hours, as I found that it was unsuitable for my needs of property maintenance. I would gladly exchange it for your Patriot Lawn Sweeper for leaf pick up only. It still looks brand new, and has been stored and covered in an outdoor storage shed. Unhappy owner of your Patriot chipper. It did not live up to your advertising claims of tasks that could be accomplished with your product. Thank you for your kind consideration in this matter.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/04/16

Great product for properties with a lot of trees and bushes. Last spring we trimmed down a 40 ft. long hedgerow from 20 ft. high to 4 ft. All of the green trimmings (up to 1-1/2" diameter) went through this powerful trimmer without problem. This has been my wife's favorite yard tool for the last year and she mulches her various gardens with the clippings. This product is well designed and simple to use.

CSV-2540H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/04/16

Rugged, dependable, starts every time, and is tireless in chipping everything to near powder. Not least among its many attributes is its capacity--it fills the bag very fast. For the large yard or small farm--can't be beat.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/04/16

I like my chipper shredder. It works well as designed. It works well when the blades are sharp and I therefore frequently sharpen the blades. Removing the blades to sharpen them is kind of a pain and you could have better directions in the manual. I sometimes wish I had a bigger chipper that would handle bigger branches but that doesn't happen very often. The first time my wife did"t empty the bag soon enough and the chips backed up into the flywheel was a learning experience. Overall I'm quite happy.

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/01/16

This has been one of the best, most reliable purchases I have made for our 4 acre property. The 10HP CSV is able to chip or shred virtually everything I throw at it. If it fits, it chips. We have been clearing cedar trees and it works like a charm. Quick to start, easy to service (including blade sharpening) and very manageable moving around a hillside with stones/boulders. Customer service from Patriot is stellar to boot. Would highly recommend to anyone.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/01/16

although my community now has a yard-waste recycling program, I still use my patriot several times a year. I get some good dirt out of the compost pile, and often just spread the chipped stuff on the various beds around the house

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/01/16

this is a great chipper! In ten years I have never had start-up problems and chips everything I throw at it. Replacement parts are available if you happen to mess up (like I did once)you can repair the chipper and it just keeps on going. Some shipping costs are a little extreme (cone cover price quadruples with shipping)so you have to be aware of what you order and get spares when the shipping allows.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/29/16

This is my third chipper in twenty-five years. Each time I had to buy bigger as my yard grew. Now I have two homes I take care of and this machine never lets me down. Even after seven years of hard labor. Last one I'll ever need!!!

CSV-3060 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/29/16

I have had my machine for at least 20 years. yes that is twenty. I replaced parts that wear from normal use, the blades, wacker arms, hopper, and the front bearing. This does all and more than I thought it would do. Well built, diffidently made to last. You have to watch how you feed, the hopper as well keep an eye on the recovery bag, as it will get plugged and requires dismantling the machine to clean it out. Common sense! I have had to replace oil and spark plug on the motor, normal maintenance. . Great product, can't go wrong!

This has been one of the best, most reliable purchases I have made for our 4 acre property. The 10HP CSV is able to chip or shred virtually everything I throw at it. If it fits, it chips. We have been clearing cedar trees and it works like a charm. Quick to start, easy to service (including blade sharpening) and very manageable moving around a hillside with stones/boulders. Customer service from Patriot is stellar to boot. Would highly recommend to anyone.

The Patriot Chipper/Shredder is a fantastic tool that has helped me with my chores for 3 years now. I can do spring cleanup in 1/2 the time it took to burn everything. Or summertime cleanups after wind and thunderstorms the chipper makes short work of small to mid size branches. In the fall, I can shred all of the old plants from the garden and either compost or feed to the worms. Plenty of power and great fuel efficiency.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/28/16

In general it works great, but only if I properly prepare the branches for smooth feeding and nothing over 1 1/2" thick. I have to feed carefully so not to slow it up, but that is probably the correct way. Otherwise, it will stall or trip the interrupt. I have no problem sharpening the knife which I do before each session if needed. I would really like if Patriot could find a service provider in Santa Clara County. The nearest now is Fremont and they don't like to work on electrics for some reason. I think it is time for a good cleaning. Many thanks

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/28/16

The chipper jammed with leaves in the first week of use. To fix I need to take it apart, but have never done so, so it sits in my shed reminding me of a poor choice I made.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/28/16

The Patriot Chipper Shredder (CSV-3100B) works exactly as it states in the description of the product. It works perfectly for the smaller limbs that are 2"-3" in diameter. It will start to jam up if too many limbs are forced in it at a time or if you try to push much larger limbs through. If you find yourself in this predicament, it is pretty simple to unjam using either the chipper 'buddy' or another limb. We've really been happy with this purchase even though it is a relatively high ticket item--it is definitely worth the money and you won't find a better product in this price point!

CBV-2460 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/28/16

Without this machine, I would be unable to live in my current house because of the large number of trees on the property. It does an excellent job of blowing or bagging the leaves and chipping all of the branches that fall from the trees. My only gripes are the small wheels that make it extremely difficult to push the machine on an uneven surface (like a lawn that has been ravaged by moles), and the flimsy design of the lever/door that directs the air between blowing and bagging. (I had to fabricate a new lever/door after the one on my machine broke.)

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/28/16

I have owned this for over 5 years. The spring and fall sees its most use. I am on my second vac bag and have replaced the valves once, but still runs strong. I have replaced the wheels with pneumatic wheel. Very useful in cleaning and moving leaves. The chipper is very handy for small branches. Gloves should be worn. Cleaning the yard is made much easier, (about an acre and a half) Was well worth the invesment.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/27/16

I've had this electric chipper for about 9 years now. It will reduce a large pile of tree limbs (1.5" or less diameter) in no time to a small mound of mulch. For my 2 acre property with a dozen trees it's the perfect size. If you need to use a chipper more than a few times a year I'd probably go with one of the gas engine models, though. Plugging in to a 15 or even 20 amp breaker you have to be careful not to go too fast to keep from blowing a breaker. After a few trips to the breaker box, though, you quickly learn to recognize the motor's limit.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/27/16

It is a great machine for general yard clean up work. The Patriot chipper makes clean up of pruned tree branches and storm damaged tree limbs fast and easy. The chips are small and suitable for mulch. Leaf clean up in the fall works well using the shredder and has the added benefit of improving garden soil quality for the following season. Maintenance/access of the chipping blades is good. The manual start for the 10 hp model with large fly wheel can be difficult at times so it is recommended that the user keep the engine tuned and use storage additives for the fuel over the winter.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

Powerful and chips and shreds effectively.

CSV-3065B - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

I don't use the chipper shredder as much as I thought I would in part because I don't have as many branches to shred as I used to (some trees were removed). When I use it, it works ok, but is really a lot of work to get the right size branch to feed into the shredder and it's very loud. The blades have gotten somewhat dull and I need to sharpen them, but haven't had the time to do it.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

It's great. The fuel filter fell off and I discovered that the plastic threads had been stripped in the installation. I've also had to learn how much to feed at a time but that was my learning curve.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

Best lawn vac that i have ever owned. I owned two other brands that did not work that good before I saw an ad for your machine in a gardening magazine more 12 years ago. Your machine is the only lawn vac that I know of that can actually be used with damp/wet leaves which happens a lot in the fall. I don't have put off getting my leaves up waiting for a prefect day or conditions. I have gone through several collection bags because the zipper has separated and would not close anymore. I have bought replacement zippers and repaired some of the bags; other have gotten rips or tears where the bag connects to the plastic shoot. Those are two thinks that could be improved. A few years ago I bought your wood chipper - that is also a great product. Thanks

5F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

bought my Patriot in Milwaukee circa 1995 while attending grad school there after checking out other chippers, still works fine now in Vermont, starts up every spring and fall. Good customer service since then through web site for collection bags and other accessories. It's just the kind of durable, well made machine that stands out in this throw away/disposable era, would buy another one in a minute if I needed it! Please note the shipping/assembly questions below don't really apply.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

Serves its purpose.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

My 1 acre size yard has a combination of pine needles,leaves and small twigs along with larger branches. Nearly every time I used it, the chute gets clogged, I have to take it apart, clear the clogged leaves, put it back together again to have it get clogged again. Can only put a very little amount in the top maybe a hand full at a time,therefore a VERY slow process. I have to separate the pine cones from needles and leaves in order to chip them--very tedious. I have often given up and just raked the stuff into a pile and burned them in the outside fireplace. I have considered selling it. I would not recommend this machine to anyone. Machine seems very noisy, need to wear protection.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

I enjoy the chipper for fairly small jobs taking an hour or so. Great for getting rid of fallen limbs in the Spring, and for branches when I take down a tree maybe once or twice a year. Everything that's too small for firewood gets chipped. I use the electric, no gas smell or storage, no real maintenance (except for sharpening blades). Just plug it in and an easy start. I can use it for just a few minutes or for hours.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

this is a very handy portable unit, makes yard clean-up a lot easier and you get mulch chips as a bonus. good unit.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

The chipper works fine most of the time. It does jam on pine branches or any green material if fed too quickly. Would a more powerful engine do the trick and make it jam up less often. When it does jam it takes a while to clear. I often wish that I had purchased the more powerful gasoline model but I am satisfied with this one and will continue to ue it and be careful not to let it jam.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/25/16

This is a powerful, well-built machine that does it's job better than any that we have tried before. It is extremely reliable and heavy duty. My only criticism regards the difficulty in changing the knives and inner hardware at where's (appropriately) overtime. Unable to do it myself, I brought it to a professional machine shop who were also unable to remove the necessary bolts to get to be able to replace the parts. I was told I had to bring it to an authorized dealer at this point for this job to be done successfully.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

I have a small lot but I have many trees including evergreens, ash, cottonwoods, ornamental fruit and fruit trees. I also have a large garden on the south side of the home and two flower gardens. I could not keep up the maintenance on the property without the Patriot. The electric motor is still cranking after almost 5 years and I typically sharpen the blade 2-3 times a year. I love the electric option as I don't like things that I have to put gasoline in. I have a moderate amount of leaves that I shred for compost in the shredder as well as garden waste and tough compost. I never have to buy mulch or commercial compost. The Patriot has saved me probably $200-$300 a year at least on mulch and compost. I love the mobility of the Patriot, I can move from the front yard to the back yard to the garden and set it up anywhere on the property. It was a breeze to setup and get started chipping. The Patriot is also really easy to clean with a garden hose after chipping.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

It has helped with limb disposal which the city charges for. It gives me a good supply of mulch. I wish that it would branches of a slightly larger diameter. Sometimes leaves and branches don't feed in easily through the top, that is, they don't drop all the way down and get clipped

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

Live in a gated community and with the electric chipper we haven't received any noise complaints. Chips small oak tree twigs and leaves very well. We burn small branches in fireplace.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

This is a great little chipper. It does so well, that you have to remind yourself to take it easy on feeding it too fast or too large an object. The one thing that stands out is the safety features. I do not have the 'Ram' that was offered, but do not worry when feeding because the passageways are small and hard to accidentally put your hand into. I have never feared being 'pulled' into the unit, however, I do watch my gloves...just in case. Another thing to be careful of is not dropping a tool into the hopper. Like I said, this little beast just chips away and you forget it has limitations. The only down side are the wheels. Since it is only used once or twice a year, they tend to freeze up. Luckily, the unit is small enough to drag across the yard, if you run out of WD-40. Definitely, one of my better decisions on buying this. Thanks!

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

My Patriot Chipper does a fantastic job chipping branches. I live in a no burn area and it makes yard (5 acres) maintenance a breeze. The main thing I like about the Patriot is the technical support I have gotten from the company. I bought my Patriot chipper used and it needed some work. The folks at Patriot told me the "tricks" on how the get things apart and repaired. A special thanks to Bryon there. It is also nice to be able to get parts even though my machine is over 20 years old. I would highly recommend Patriot wood chippers.

CBV-2450 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

Over the past 10 years I have been very satisfied with my 9 HP chipper. The only problem that I have had is a couple of screws vibrated loose on the muffler. It is truly a quality product.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/24/16

This is my second chipper/shredder from you. The first one had the techmsuh motor which self destructed on its first use. You assisted me with its return. I then bought the one with the Honda engine. What a difference a quality engine makes. I learned that I was wrong trying to save some money. I bought the top of the line model and have never regretted this decision. It starts on the first pull. No feed of limbs, branches, twigs or leaves has ever slowed it.The engine is quiet and smooth. I grease its support bearing, change its oil, use quality oil and high test gas in it. I check its air filter regularly, but have only cleaned the pre filter. The main filter still looks like new. It has been prepped for long term storage for about three years now. However, with a new house on a wooded lot, I will be taking it out of retirement later this Spring. It is truly an excellent unit!

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

This is the only chipper I've ever owned or used, so I can't make any comparisons, but this thing does just what I need it to. It has ample power to chip large diameter branches, doesn't get clogged, and produces nice, uniform chips. It was very satisfying last fall to reduce a brush pile that I'd accumulated over several years to a tidy pile of chips in a matter of about an hour. I also used it to shred leaves last fall and I was very impressed with it's ability to reduce them to a size perfect for composting.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/20/16

Trying to remove knife blades to sharpen and the screws stripped out.I oiled them overnight and did not help.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/19/16

The shredder has never worked well for me. It trakes hours the shreed leaves and small branches. I need to turn it off often to clean out stuck leaves. It often blows a fuse in the house and I can only put a small amout of leaves in at a time. I don't use it often because it is a pain to use. I have never been happy with it!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/19/16

The electric model is sufficient for my needs, and once you figure out how it likes to work, it works like a champ. Especially with larger limbs, you have to control the feed rate and using the sound of the motor can keep the machine from overloading as it works. It easily handles limbs up to 1 3/4". It's rated to take larger limbs but I think it's better to come in under the maximum limit. I would recommend this chipper to anyone looking to purchase one, particularly homeowners with larger holdings or anyone who is really serious about gardening. Only one criticism, the wheels are made out of a cheap material and don't hold up to even normal wear.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/18/16

Great tool for managing my property and saving money on wood chips. I've had a few trees come down that would have required huge burn piles, instead the chips dress my trails and pond areas beautifully. Wish I had more time to put it to use.

CSV-3100 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/18/16

I bought the Patriot CSV-3100 chipper with 10 HP Tecumseh engine as hardly used machine in the spring of 2008. The machine was built in 1997. I use the chipper monthly and have rebuilt and replace parts due to my long term use. The product runs extremely well due to its fly wheel design on the cutter head. I highly recommend this machine.

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/18/16

This has been a great purchase for me. I use it several times a year to chip all the fallen branches and pruning in my yard. It starts reliably every time, has sufficient power, and most importantly it just works. The simplicity of the design keeps maintenance to a minimum, and keeps it reliable. I have been using it for 10 years now and all the parts are still available, can't beat that. If I had the choice, I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/18/16

The unit works well for small branches--I have many of those--and leaves--too many of those. I will shred and store the leaves in the winter and then shred them again late winter for adding to my garden. Often the leaves, did I mention too many, are simply scattered back into the landscape. There have been a few times when I would have preferred a larger, more powerful unit, but with a bit of patience this unit has served me well. Although I tend to put things together backwards, in this case assembly was a accomplished by simply following the clear instructions provided. Keeping it clean is easy, too. My collection bag is holding up well, but two repairable holes appeared this winter. This was a good purchase for me.

CSV-3060 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/16

I love my Chipper Shredder, and also the vacuum attachment. It makes picking up leaves a BREEZE, and doesn't seem like work. I got the Patriot as a wedding anniversary gift years ago, and it has outlasted the marriage 🙂 (Just seeing if anyone reads this, but it IS TRUE!)

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/16

My chipper has served me well now for years, turning prunings, leaves and weeds into mulch and compost. Experience has taught me not to shred material that is too wet, and alternate green and dry material to prevent clogging. I don't shred long fibrous material like ornamental grasses because they tend to twist together & clog the machine. The chipper is easy to maintain and changing blades is easy too. The blades are sturdy and can be resharpened 3 or 4 times before they must be discarded. If the chipper does clog it isn't difficult to clear it. It is best to run the chipper on a firm unpaved surface, as it can ' walk' on concrete.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/16

The unit easily gets plugged up, spend as much time cleaning it out as I spend using it. Have to very carefully and slowly feed it. We use a very heavy duty extension cord (10awg) and plug in to an outlet near the breakerbox, but still have trouble with the motor overheating. Can not remove the blades to sharpen them as they came so tight from the factory that the screws stripped out trying to remove them. Overall,I want to love the unit, but have so much problems using it I just can't say that I like it.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/16

Never a problem so far so good it does what it suppose to do just for leaves alone but I use it for a chipper too starts after sitting all winter plus being a Honda engine doesn't hurt.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/17/16

The screws that hold the blades would not fit flush, poor machining of the original blades, new blades solved the problem. No help from factory. Also the shaft bearing went bad after two months, I replaced it with a sealed bearing. The original bearing was not a sealed bearing which let dirt get into it. Again no help from factory. After I fixed these small problems the unit has not missed a lick. I would not trade it for anything. One more thing, the motor came loose during shipment and put a dent in the valve cover but I was able to live with that. On a scale from 1 to 10, I would give it a 9. I am very satisfied.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/16

I use the chipper mainly to chip my tree branches that I trim from my trees every year. It works well as long as I take it slow and easy. I have had to stop and clear the blade by removing the housing usually once or twice each year. But it is usually because I have allowed the bag to get too full I think. It always starts on the first or second pull. The green wood chips better then the dry but builds up a residue on the blades. The size limit means I have left over branches that I need to haul off to garage pit. Overall it saves me a lot of work getting rid of the trimmings as all have to do is dump the bag in my yard and allow them to decompose.

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

A very good tool for backyard works. The 10 hp shredder is very powerfull. Motor always start, even after season rest. Knives are easy to sharp. It's worth to pay for such quality made in USA machine. Great!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/16/16

Don't use as much as I used to, which was 4-5 times a year in the gardening season, but the few times I still use it, it works very well. I like the fact that I do not have to use gas. It works every time I need it. I have used it mostly to chip small trees into mulch and shred the old vegetable garden. Does an excellent job. I have made great compost with the shredded material. Without the shredder it would have taken a very long time to compost this material.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/30/16

gets stuck on anything of any girth. Pain in the rear to unclog. ughhhh Not powerful enough. If you just want to pulverize small plants and tiny branches it's ok, but even those created a need to unclog the entry.

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/27/15

It is a very nice machine that does what it is supposed to. Customer support is outstanding. There were a few discordant notes as I assembled it (assembly is relatively easy). However, a quality control issue popped up as holes did not quite match up in one of the places needed to put the hopper on. I'm surprised because the rest of the unit seems quite well made. But that, and the poor quality of the reproduction for the instructions (just go on line and download the pdf_ it has much clearer pictures), stopped me from giving it a 5. Oh, and there seems to be a small oil leak but we'll see how that goes over the next couple of weeks: it could just be a loose plug. The second thing to note is that for the 10hp engine, you are going to need to have some reasonable strength to get it started. Assuming you use fresh fuel or a stabilizer, the engine WILL start on the first or second pull (I've found that I do need to open the choke even if the engine has only cooled for a couple of minutes). But you are trying to turn over a 10hp, high compression engine that is directly linked to a 20 lb flywheel. So you're going to need to use some muscle. If you've had a shoulder injury or have a torn rotator cuff, don't even try! I look forward to many years of service from this machine- it looks as if it is built to last and overall, I'm very satisfied with its performance so far.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/20/15

Not impressed ... very underpowered and that makes for a long day of slow shredding. Mine lasted a couple uses and then stopped working, completely dead. Waste of money in my opinion ... aND at $1,000 these aren't cheap. Would have been far better off renting or buying a gas chipper.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/05/15

Works great. Came on time.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/12/15

This electric wood chipper was a terrific purchase. I just finished cutting down a 27-year old, 140-foot long, 20-foot wide, 12' high, Double File Viburnum hedge (see photo of first 40 feet removed). This chipper efficiently dispatched all branches 2" in diameter or less, and I ended up with approximately 7 yards of chips to be used as garden mulch. Here are some thoughts: 1) Follow the user manual! 2) Use 20-amp circuit 3) If you feed large limbs too quickly, it will blow your fuse. 4) I live in a residential area, and my neighbors love the machine, because it is quiet. 5) The bagger that comes with the machine works great. 6) Its extremely convenient to use and exceptionally well built

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/18/15

Arrived with rust covered parts inside the chopping chamber. Directions for assembly have missing instructions for which screws to use to attach the leaf hopper etc., ended up with lots of spare screws without any idea what they're for. Used it once, it worked okay, but it spit out some 2-inch diameter branches like a two year child that doesn't like dinner! Cannot recommend.

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

Have only used it for about an hour. Starts easy. Does a great job so far. Mostly pine branches and pine needles.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/03/15

I inadvertently dropped a root ball down the leaf hopper and predictably damaged the shredder. My bad. There was only one bent part I had to replace, so I called Patriot. Keith, the owner, answered the phone. Rather than sell me an entire replacement shredder assembly, he found a spare part in the back room and mailed it to me, FREE...even though the machine was out of warranty. Spectacular customer service. To fix the shredder, I had to take the cutting assembly apart, which gave me a chance to see the innards of the machine. It is a very well built machine, well-designed, and clearly meant to last for years of heavy use. Highly recommended.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/06/15

Bought the shredder earlier this year and finally got a chance to assemble and use it. Works well for brush and yard waste. Follow instructions as to what to put in and you will do fine. Looking forward to mulching my fall gardens with the chipped brush.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/30/15

We moved to La Paz Mexico and use this to keep our yard tree cutting cleared up work good if you feed the tree cutting's in, one to two at a time

CSV-2540H - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/15

Broke on first use. Extremely cheap item.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/15

I have had this for three years now and it's still going strong. I clear brush and trim trees on our 2 acres and this will mulch most everything I give it. (I probably max it out with 2 inch diameter branches.) What I love most is that I just plug it in, wheel it out of the garage and it's ready to go! I did remove the safety plate where the mulch is ejected, though. It just seemed to cause clogs more often which would tempt one to do exactly what it's there to prevent. So now I fasten the bag on and then wrap the drawstring around the cone to help hold it on. I wear ear protection when I mulch, but it is not nearly as noisy as a gas powered machine would be. The mulch is not as pretty as the kind you buy at Lowes, but it is valuable stuff here in the Texas summers. And this is the best way to dispose of yard waste and keep it out of the landfill.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/28/15

This is a powerful chipper and I would have given it a 5 star except that it is very finicky in terms of chipping. You can't load woody parts in the large hopper because it will stop the motor. The feeder for the woody parts is very narrow so that if you have something that isn't straight you have to cut it down so that it is. I regularly have to stop and clear the blues from material that has built up. It does give nice small chunks for the most part and makes creating mulch easy. The bag attachment also means that I can chip in the driveway without the output flying all over the place, though it does add another thing that stops the grinding process. I have chipped branches that are about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and they go through easily. Easy to put together, though I did lose a washer in the blade housing which took a little ingenuity to get out.

CSV-3100B - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/16/15

I purchased that product from Patriot about 3 years ago and it has worked fine for most of that time chipping miscellaneous tree branches and smaller items from trimmings around my yard. This year I began to use the chipper more frequently and have been disappointed with the life of the blades. I have found that a new set of blades will last 3 -4 hours when chopping newly-cut branches between 1 and 2 inches in diameter. Initially, it will pull in the branches and cut them very nicely. But, in a very short time, the blades begin to dull and it is necessary to push the branches into the blades. The blades are easy to remove but require very precise sharpening for them to effective. It is expensive to send them out for professional sharpening when they last such a short time. I recently discovered that the flywheel that holds the blades has developed some "play" of 1/4 inch or so. To determine the problem, I have tried to remove the housing but have found it impossible to remove. The first problem is that the owner's manual gives incorrect information about the removal directions and when asked about this, the management representative said "Oh yea, we should probably update that". I have tried using a gear puller to remove the housing bearing from the drive shaft, but there is no give. The company graciously sent me a puller that they designed especially for this, but when I received it, I found that the holes were misaligned and useless (see photo). So, in summary, the machine works well for anything less than 1 inch in diameter, but for material larger than that, the blade life is very short. The company is lacking in effective customer support and seems unconcerned about resolving problems.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/11/15

Surprisingly powerful chipper considering that it is electric. Not too noisy. Easily chips up to about 1 and 1/4" branches. Bogs down a little at 1 and 1/2". Recovers well once you slow down on the feed. I would definitely buy this one again.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/08/15

Excellent product. The unit fires up on the first or second pull and, as the User's Manual states, just a gentle pull is all that is necessary. I would strongly recommend that anyone ordering this unit go ahead and add the tow-bar accessory for use with a tractor or ATV. This thing is HEAVY, and when moving up inclines or over rough terrain it can be a real challenge.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/06/15

As an amateur in the yard, this proved a little more difficult to get going than most other users' experiences. I made sure to read the full manual, but it is a lot of information to take in all at once. I believe the spark plug was disconnected for shipping, so I was pulling on the starter (after putting oil and gas in, of course) to no avail. By the time I got to double-checking the spark plug, the engine was probably flooded from all the previous pulls. Who knows. Dismayed, and with a tired arm, I called it a day. The next day, I tried it again and it fired up first pull. Let me just say, this thing is powerful! It will take branches as big as most forearms. Anything smaller than your wrist you can probably just fire it right down the feeder. However, if it's actually as big as your forearm, feed the large end first (so you can hold onto the small/thin end of the branch) and only feed it about 6 inches at a time. When the branches are this large, it will slow the engine down a little, so if you just fed a 3 foot branch without letting the engine rev back up, it will likely cause the engine to stall. 6 inches, then wait like 1 second to let the machine get back up to full speed, then 6 more inches, and so on. Like I said, anything smaller than your wrist (which is still a big branch) and you don't have to be so cautious. I shredded for a few hours and got about 4 full bags of mulch emptied out when I finally clogged the machine. The bag was way too full this time (I just got caught up in the moment of seeing how awesome this thing is) and caused some of the more damp wood chips to build up in the housing. Shucks. I tried to restart it, but the rope at this point was locked in place. It's not that it was hard to pull, it was impossible. So I needed to disassemble this bad boy and clean it out. After unscrewing about 15 nuts (and two little hex screws requiring a standard sized, maybe 3/8, allen wrench not included with the machine), the front bearing was a beast to remove. I'm still not sure of the best way to remove this, but I do eventually get it off with a flathead screwdriver and a bit of elbow grease. Once this bearing is off, you can remove the front panel. Set this panel UNDERNEATH the machine to prop it up while you continue to work. I failed to do this and we instead set this machine on its side so we could work on it. In the instruction manual, when assembling the machine the first time, it instructs you to tip the machine over if you accidentally drop anything inside it (such as a washer or screw). Because of this, I thought tipping the machine was acceptable. Not so! Once this thing has oil in it, you do not want to tip it. Like I said, I'm an amateur. This stuff is probably really obvious to folks who regularly work on engines, but that's not me. I regularly sit on the couch and occasionally I work on the yard. Anyway, we cleaned it out. Lots of damp wood chips all built up around the wheel. Easy enough to remove by hand. I went ahead and took the time to switch the blades (I purchased an extra set) because I read on one of these reviews that they are difficult to change. The old blades were hardly worn at all from multiple hours of use, but I switched them anyway. I later realized these blades are quite EASY to change simply by removing the front cone. Okay, so we put the whole thing back together and couldn't get it started. The rope still wouldn't budge! "But I cleaned it out... why is the rope still stuck?" Googled a lot of things and eventually came across the information about "tipping" engines. I called the Patriot help line a few times and got voicemail, but I needed immediate help so leaving a voicemail wasn't going to work. After dialing the number about 4 times, I reached a human. Not too shabby. This human advised me to remove the spark plug because the chamber could be filled with oil. I removed the spark plug and sploosh, oil shoots out. I try the rope and it's no longer stuck! Thanks, human! Unfortunately, even though we can now pull the rope, this thing still won't start. The air filter was soaked in oil from the tipping incident. I ordered a new air filter (about 12 bucks at the time of this review) and spark plug (a 3 dollar add-on item) from Amazon and got them within a couple of days. I replaced both items on the Patriot and eureka! Back to normal operations. So to recap: 1.) When first assembling, be sure to follow all instructions, and double-check the spark plug connection even though it doesn't instruct you to do so. 2.) Once you've got oil in it, never tip this over on its side or it will create a little headache. 3.) The blades are very easy to change, unlike previously posted in one of these reviews. 4.) Empty out that bag occasionally so the wood chips have somewhere to go! and 5.) This thing is extremely powerful.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/02/15

How unfortunate that some try to mulch wet debris with this fine piece of equipment. Does your lawnmower get clogged, when you mow a wet lawn? Same principal! Of course; something with a 10HP gas engine will better handle that kind of mess. This chipper/shredder works absolutely FINE, when used according to it's intended purpose. LOVE MINE!

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/24/15

Very Pleased - I have owned this machine for several months now and I have no regrets buying it Living in S California, we don't have a lot of 'heavy brush' that other areas of the country have to deal with. I was looking for a chipper/shredder for yard cleanup - hedge trimmings, occasional tree branches,etc. Several years ago I purchased a fairly inexpensive electric shredder - and it simply did not work. Constant jams that would trip the breaker and then you would have to disassemble the thing to clean it out and get it to work again First of all, I was on the fence on which Patriot Product to buy. I had narrowed it down to the Electric CSV-2515 or the 6.5hp Briggs & Stratton model that was a couple of hundred dollars more. I then realized there is more than a difference between the electric versus the gas motor - the gas motor actually has two cutting "knives" and the electric version only has one. So I bought the gas version Shipping was via UPS, and it came in two large boxes. The box the heavier parts came in was actually beat up quite a bit and the styrofoam packing inside had seen better days. But the machine actually came through ok, other than a slight dimple in the tube that holds the 'leg' on - which I was able to bend back out Assembly was quite straight forward, the manual is pretty well written, but I had a question about how much oil to put in - I called Patriot to inquire. The president (Keith) actually answered the phone and got me back on track. How is that for customer service? I really was surprised when the engine fired on the first pull. I usually prefer Honda powered outdoor equipment - but the Briggs has not let me down yet. I did learn the hard way that you do not want to shut the engine down if there is any material still inside the chute! (You need to pay attention and not let the bag fill up completely so that it will cause things to back up into the machine). Because when you go to start it again, the rotor/cutting assembly will not be able to rotate/ The first time I made that mistake, I had to unbolt the front (fan housing) to clean things out. After using it for a couple of hours in one spot - I noticed a nut and washer on the ground and tracked it to one of the mounting bolts for the engine - so be sure to check things are tight every now and then It really is pretty small and compact - especially compared to some of the other machines that I was looking at in this price range

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/11/15

As many have mentioned it is easy to be hesitant about an electric chipper/shredder because there are so many underpowered chippers out there that are inexpensive and pretend to have what you are looking for to cleanup your yard, however this is not one of those underpowered wastes of money! This chipper gets the job done, sure it draws a good amount of power but that is also because it has enough power to chew right through branches and make a nice spreadable chip for your landscaping needs. I have found that buying an extra bag or two makes it easy to run everything through the chipper side and then run it back through the shredder side to make a nice consistent chip size. I have also been using the chips produced by this product from my apple and cherry trees around my property for smoking and have made some fantastic smoked cheeses and meats (dry the chips out by laying them out flat on a metal pan until they are dry to the touch for smoking). Overall I would say that this is the electric gardening tool that everyone should have. It is substantially quieter than its gas powered counterparts and has more than enough power for even large jobs. Don't hesitate, buy this chipper to not deal with small gas engine maintenance and just know that when you plug it in, it will work and help you keep your yard in excellent shape!

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/07/15

Great product, and American made.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 06/01/15

When you feed the chipper properly it works very well indeed. I have two Magnolias in my front and back yard as well as two gum trees and their balls. I mulch them twice and return them to the flowerbeds as mulch. Certainly beats sending the debris to a landfill. I depend on the chipper to manage this waste, otherwise I would have probably taken down these stately old trees, much to my chagrin.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/27/15

We are loving this chipper. The 10HP engine starts on a single pull and is very powerful. Despite the weight of the unit, it's very easy to roll around. We've put long skinny Palo Verde branches (about 16' long and <1" thick) through it and it's a riot to watch the chipper suck them through. Smaller weeds and branches go through the hopper quickly and easily. We don't have leaves to rake so I can't address use with leaves. Everything goes onto the garden mulch pile. We did have a problem in starting the unit once after stopping to empty the bag. It turned out that the mechanism was still full of mulched matter. I cleared it by disconnecting the spark plug and rotating the unit manually with a large ratchet while cleaning out with a shop vac through the outlet port. The lesson learned is to 1) not overfill the bag and 2) don't stop the chipper until it's cleared all the material out.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/25/15

Well built. Uses every bit of a 20amp circuit. Doesn't like wet stuff. Will grind up the big branches but don't force them. Turns dry leaves to powder for great mulch. Remember to wash out after use.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/23/15

This thing runs like a champ and has the horses to chip through any branch that you put down the chipper. The chips produced are clean and look great. Packaging was well thought out and assembly was very simple.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/08/15

The Patriot 9 HP Honda Engine driven chipper is a great machine! It is however, not made to digest trees, but does well with small diameter branches up to about 2 or 2 1/2 inched in diameter. All kinds of yard waste, with diameters of 1/2" or less, can be loaded into the top of the machine where you avoid the two sharp knives and go directly to the swinging hammers. This is great for leaves. All branches of between 1/2 inch diameter and about 2 1/2 inch diameter can be fed into the cone shaped feeding device and will be chopped up by the two hardened steel knives, which can be removed for sharpening or replacement. Long branches, with leaves attached, can be loaded into the chipping cone and will be nicely chopped up into coin sized pieces. This machine will take some learning to best use its capabilities and not overburden the function by feeding branches that are too big to digest. A 3" branch will work if fed slowly so as not to overload the capability of this fine chipper. Having sharp knives helps considerably. The 9 HP Honda Engine is a quality engine and should last a long time. It starts easily, usually on the first or second pull, and is fairly quiet. However, both ear plugs and goggles are needed when using this machine. The Honda Engine has a fuel shut off valve and a carburetor drain, so if you use Sta-bil fuel stabilizer, you should be able to leave the gas in the tank for storage after draining the carb. This is a great and well made chipper, but it is a dangerous device if not used correctly. Don't forget to add oil before starting the engine for the first time.

CSV-3100B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/21/15

We are entering our second season of Patriot wood chipper ownership. The 10 horsepower unit we purchased has served us well thus far. The machine is easy to start and delivers solid performance when 2-3" thick branches are fed into the chipper inlet. It is easy to move throughout our yard as needed. This unit would merit five stars if the shredder hopper did not have a tendency to clog when shredding greenery. We would not hesitate to recommend this outdoor gardening tool to a friend.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/16/15

Works as described. Perfect for my needs. Easy to start. Easy to move around. I love this product.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/15/15

I have a half acre of lawns and live in the woods so each fall and spring there is plenty of work for the patriot! All I have ever had to replace is the bag. The first two each lasted about one season as the zippers finally gave out. The latest one is in it's second season and is working fine. That bag is much heavier than the original one and the zipper is too. It would be nice if it would chop oak leaves a little finer as we have a lot of oak trees around the property. However, it does eliminate most of the raking we had to do prior to getting the Patriot.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/14/15

I have just less than 1/4 acre and I use mt chipper/shredder mainly for tree-trimmed branches (plum, apple, fig, redwood, lemon, cherry) but also for anything else that can be shredded into mulch (trimmed bushes, grape vines, & leaves), and it does a great job for being only electric. I was initially impressed that it easily handled the diameter it claimed. And I still am impressed. So far, I haven't had to sharpen it, though I believe it's almost ready for it. If I had a bigger yard I'd get a gas-powered one. But these machines really work!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/14/15

The chute that feeds the shredder is very narrow and restricts the feeding leaves. Experience frequent clogging of the shredder; should have purchased a gasoline powered unit. Learned to feed leaves at a slower rate to reduce clogging. The technical service is excellent at Patriot. Nice purchasing something that is made in the USA.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/14/15

Wouldn't buy from Patriot if they were the last company that sold the product....

CBV-2470 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/14/15

The ability to vacuum, blow and clip in one machine is great. Every feature is used every year, sometimes every week. My Dad had a Billy Goat which was good but only vacuumed leaves. It does have larger wheels which makes it easier to push. If I were going to make a change to the Patriot it would be to give it bigger wheels. My Grandfather had one that had wheels in front of the nose so the nose did not dig into the ground which is a problem when the grass is tall and/or the ground is uneven. Not sure what machine that was and have not seen anything else like it. Another change would be to make a turned up or rounded nose that bounces off the ground instead of digs in. I use it to get up grass clippings. I mow the grass to produce windrows and then come along with the vacuum afterward. It holds much more grass than the mower's bag. I pull it to pick up grass because I can go quickly and the nose digs in if it is pushed. Have not seen anything better on the market. Regarding question 15 about buying another Patriot product. I do not have need for the other things you sell. So I am unlikely to buy another product until/unless the vacuum wears out or gets stolen. If my circumstances change and I need a chipper then your products would be the first place I would look. Regarding question 14. My grandfather had a machine that shredded the leaves finer but it also regularly clogged up. Your solution never clogs up but I have seen finer shredded leaves. Regarding question 13. If there were a rake attachment that could be used when leaves are down in the grass that might be helpful. I still have to use a rake at times. The rake attachment is not something that would be wanted most of the time. This would require some experimentation to see if it is workable.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/12/15

Have used this chipper for two years for mulching yard waste from 1 acre home lot. The Honda motor is extremely reliable and starts every time. The power is very adequate for reducing all but 2 1/2 in. or larger limbs. My personal observations are: The top hopper is small and requires much time to feed materials other than leaves, and is even slow when feeding leaves. This may relate to the intentional design for producing very small size mulch. I also find that the ejection chute is short which makes attaching the collection bag slightly more difficult. If these minor shortcomings could be re-engineered to speed processing, I would rate this machine ideal. In other terms, the machine is relatively easy to assemble and to maintain. It requires little floor space to store. A final caution: Do not allow mulched material to back up by overfilling the collection bag. This will lead to the mulching flywheel becoming jammed by the material and it is very difficult to clear.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/11/15

I use this chipper to chip branches from trees that I trim or cut down on my land. I also use it to shred branches and trimmings from landscape bushes. I use the shredded/chipped material for mulching my zero-scape yard. The machine has worked well for me for branches from arbor-vitea, pine, fir, oak, willow, sweet gum, etc. Points I learned. 1) Limit how fast a branch feeds into the shredder. It will feed it self too fast and the clog up. 2) Don't let the output bag get too full. If you don't watch it you risk having it get completely full and causing the machine to clog up. To clear the clogged machine, you have to open the housing around the knives. A bit of a pain.

T4-CBV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/15

I have had my Patriot Leaf/Blower Vacuum for 18 years and I have not had any major problems with this machine. I use it mainly for the fall season because I have quite a few trees and the leaf production is quite extensive. I am very please with how it makes my yard work easier. I vacuum, shred, blow, and chip branches with my Patriot and it does an amazing job. I even got my neighbor to purchase one as well. I will certainly purchase another Patriot product for it's reliability and performance, if or when my machine wears out, but after 18 years, that may be a while. (smile)

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/15

I have used the chipper mostly for leaves and small branches and twigs.It has lots of power with the 9 hp Honda engine.It does a great job cleaning up leaves in the fall and twigs and branches from pruning and spring clean up.I like the fact that it is easy to move around since it is compact and not too heavy.Thanks for making a product that is easy to handle and easy to use and does the job

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/15

I was a bit sceptical when I first got it, as it seemed very powerful, but with a little help from my cousin and my husband, in no time I was a pro at using it. I learned very quickly how important it is to where leather gloves as the branches can sometime spin when inserting them into the blade. I can't wait for the weekend, so I can put "Brady" to work!!! Get it....it's a "Patriot" .....my favorite NFL Team! lol and I LOVE both of them! With the chips I was able to add the beauty to my flower gardens and in no time had my beds looking fresh and beautiful!

CBV-2460 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/10/15

I used my chipper quite frequently after I first purchased it. I used it on my own lawn as well as neighbors who had many leaves drop in the fall. I have had 2 issues with the chipper over the 10+ years I have owned it. One, when I first used the Patriot, it was "front heavy" and I ran the plastic leaf inlet hood into the ground and cracked it. I expressed my concern to Patriot and was sent a new front end piece. Since my mishap, I learned to compensate for the front heavy nature until the bag accumulated some yard waste. I also had a minor issue with the bag's zipper that I was able to fix myself. Overall, however, I am very pleased with my chipper and the many different tasks I can accomplish with it. I make sure that I take care of routine maintenance tasks, and as a result, the Patriot has served me well for at least a dozen years, During some recent spring clean up it worked as well as the first year I owned it.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

Love the easy start. Would have liked better instructions on sharpening the blade. When replacing blade x1 instructions didn't work plate came off as center column had expanded mechanic said probably d/t excessive heat. I have been able to make my own mulch using what I have and saving money buying some. Great for cleaning up after storms.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

I bought the chipper shredder primarily to shred leaves but find it takes a very long time to shred any significant amount as it has to be fed very slowly or it jams. Unclogging with a slender branch works but takes time to do as the leaves have to be pulled back a bit so they will fall into the chute properly. (A narrower chute might help prevent this overfeed problem) The leaves I have are a large white oak and it might work better on smaller leaves. However the chipper is great and works well if you remember to feed it only straight branches with no big forks. I break off or cut off any forks or bends that won't fit the feed. Haven't yet had to replace parts so I don't know how difficult that will be. Be advised it is a heavy (read sturdy and well built) beast so getting it out of the shipping box and set up does require a bit of muscle.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

This is probably the best electric product in its class. The one drawback is that it quickly jams and trips circuit breakers whenever the material to be shredded is damp or its moisture content is a bit high, even when the feed is slow and light. An easy to access clean-out port would be helpful whenever jams occur. Overall, this is an excellent shredder for smaller jobs and backyards; and, its one I would recommend.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

As with any shredder, you have to learn how best to feed it. My major complaint with the results is that too many leaves get through unshredded. Also it's noisy -- user needs ear protection and the neighbors are unhappy. Reversing/replacing the flails is a major operation. The first time I had to take off the outer cover, I needed wedges and a sledge! Since then it has been easier. Scroll pins are tricky to insert. I don't like having to buy new spacers along with new flails. The spacers don't need replacing. I use the machine regularly, and it works well.Electric motor provides adequate power and is much easier to use and maintain.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

I really love my shredder BUT there is a learning curve re damp leaves, how much material can be put in the hopper without clogging, and vines. My biggest frustration is how difficult it is to clear material that has clogged. The prongs on the electrical plug were so thin that they wore down and the plug now needs to be replaced. The one time I did bring it to a repair shop it was such a unsatisfactory experience that I contacted Patriot and was thrilled that they stepped in to resolve the situation. Over all I would recommend this shredder for home use. I particularly liked how fine the material was shredded when the blades were sharp. Not sure how to sharpen them myself. Having more repair shop option would be helpful too.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

It works great, makes a pile of leaves into a teeny pile I can throw back into my garden beds. Its a quality product, not a cheap plastic one with a string. I like it very much.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

So far,the chipper/shredder has worked very well. I use it about 60% for branches, 40% leaves. The Tecumseh 10 hp engine is extremely loud so everyone has to have good ear protection. The only complaint is that I remember the exhaust gets red hot after using for 40 minutes or so. I just take a break and let it cool down for awhile. Also, the machine tends to walk around so I usually clamp the foot down to the ground. Depends on the rpm I'm running it at. I use it about twice a year for 2-3 days each time. You have a good product and I'm still glad I purchased it.

CSV-3090B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

Purchased this chipper 6 years ago to manage 1 acre of land full of shrubs and a variety of trees including oak, eucalyptus, and pine. The price was pretty steep, but I wanted something powerful and durable and I did not expect to find something like that at the local home and garden store. In my experience the price was well worth it. The 9 hp Briggs engine handles all varieties of tree branches up to 2 inches (green or dry) pretty easily. Smaller clippings from hedge trimming also get reduced to very good compost sized bits. My biggest complaint with the machine is that you have to "clean-up" the tree branches quite a lot to prevent them from clogging the approximately 3" opening. The clogging can be a bit of a pain, but after a while I have gotten used to what the opening can handle and if it clogs I have a nice ram-rod to push the clog through. With moderate seasonal use and regular sharpening, bearing grease and oil changes the chipper has not broken down once and still starts with 1 or 2 pulls. Overall I'm very happy with this chipper and pleased to say there are still good American made products out there...

10F-CSV - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CHIPPER SHREDDER BEFORE I HAD HOPED THEY WORKED BETTER. IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR CHIPPING BROOM STICKS IT ALSO HAS TO BE FORCE FEED LEAF MATERIAL WET OR DRY. BUT THE SHREDDED MATERIAL DECOMPOSES A LOT FASTER AND TAKES UP LESS SPACE.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

The Patriot 10hp chipper/shredder is a great garden tool when you have a lot of shrubbery to keep trimmed and no place to dump the trimmings. It is easy to roll around in the yard, so you can trim and shred without hauling the branches. Mulch is much easier and quicker to hall to the compost pile or just put back around the plant you just trimmed for mulch. Leaves can be raked up and shredded and used for mulch or added to the compost pile. Just do not try to shred wet leaves or grass clippings. Waite until they dry and they are a breeze. The 10 HP is well built with heavy gauge steel that holds up to heavy use. I am glad I bought it.

CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

I've had this Chipper so long I not even sure of the model. but it's been reliable, dependable and a good work horse. it's starting to get near it's end of life and I do plan to replace it with another one in the next year or so. I wouldn't even think of another brand when I do. Fulwider outdoor power equipment has taken good care of it even when I sometimes haven't. My next one will be bigger.

CSV-2540H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

It works well starts right up is easy to clean The bag is durable the vacuum works well too it does blow hard

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

A BEAST. Not in how it beats you up, but how it eats up the stuff. Very reliable, easy to load and the bag fills up just about the same time you need a break anyway. When I called up for questions to be answered, english was well spoken, and honest advice give. Just a great machine if you want it to run every time, and get the job done with no excuses.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/09/15

My biggest problem with the Chipper Shredder is the plastic hopper for leaves. It is just too soft to meet the standards of the rest of the chipper. If the hopper was made from steel or a heavier plastic, I would have rated it 5 stars. Mine has broke and has a large whole in it now. The other item that should be considered is to make the hopper end that goes to the shredder larger so that you don't have to take a branch and use it to stuff the leaves into the shredder. I hope these comments help make your tool a better more user friendly device.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/08/15

Purchased three weeks ago. The owner of Patriot split the extra cost of shipping to Hawaii, nice!. Was real happy with the easy assembly and use. Pleasantly surprised how large the collection bag was and that it does not fill up too fast making it a useful tool. I really like the side discharge because I use the chipper without the bag most of the time in my mac nut orchard for leaf disposal. The chips and debris blows 15 feet away instead of piling up at the foot of the chipper as other brands do making the operator have to monitor the chip discharge so it does not back up into the machine. Starts easy and has a lot of better engineering to prevent the irritating little problems that other machines have such as more cutting teeth and side discharge.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/07/15

This works great and seems very sturdy. The only issue is you have to not over feed and watch the chute where the mulched items exit. If the bag get full and you don't notice it gets clogged big time. Happened to me twice the first day and I spent 20-30 minutes getting it cleared. As long as that doesn't happen it works fine. My mother in law has a Sears gas model and it works better but it's very noisey, hard to start and extremely heavy. Over all the electric works well for my smaller yard needs.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 04/04/15

I like the chipper/shredder for shredding raked leaves in the fall to add to my compost pile for quick composting. I also chip most branches that I have pruned from my many ornamental shrubs. However, the machine is very finicky with other materials. Dry ornamental grasses seem to shred OK, but parts of them fall into the bottom of the shredding blade compartment, and clog it. Other garden plants, if they are too wet, or if they are added too quickly, also clog the chamber and overburden the motor, blowing the fuse. It has a limited use. I'm glad I have it, but it would be nice if it worked with a wider range of materials!

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/02/15

Purchased the Patriot Chipper last fall and it has lived up to it expectations. Does a great job on shedding leaves and also limbs which I added to my garden, I would recommend this unit.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/02/15

My husband has really enjoyed using this chipper. Powerful and works like a champ! So glad we made this purchase. He is very pleased with the assembly-had not problems at all! The size of the output material is adequate.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/30/15

I have been using several different devices to help in cutting up leaves and branches. I found your company on the internet. I was delighted that you sold one that was electric, since I am trying to refrain from gas engines, leaving as I do close to a city. I showed my wife and she surprised me with it for a Birthday present. It has great power and much better than the other two electric machines that I have.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/29/15

I purchased the Patriot Electric Chipper in 2013 and have been very satisfied with its performance. We have a half acre wooded lot, and we frequently are chipping branches and other small saplings. This is a perfect product for home owners with significant need for chipping and shredding. The chipping makes excellent mulch for our garden and outdoor beds.

CSV-3090B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/28/15

Very few dealers to work on machine in thhe Northeast (NH). Blades dull too quickley causing jams that have to be poked out with a stick. It is a work horse and overall does a good job except for what i mentioned.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/27/15

I very much like the chipper, especially the quality and engineering, and I very much like the electric version but I could wish for more power (HP). I recognize there are problems supplying power if the motor HP goes up but some of us are capable of supplying it and it would be nice to have the option. For example, for my purposes 2 or 3 HP would make my electric chipper just about perfect for my needs.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/26/15

I purchased the chipper to avoid the need to burn or haul a substantial volume of hardwood and softwood branches. Composting large branches is challenging in the high desert where we live. The chipper has worked flawlessly on everything from black locust (an extremely hard wood) to aspen and seaberry. It is important to sharpen the blades before they get dull and definitely follow the advice about not overfilling the bag. It is a b$&ch to get cleaned out. My only complaint has nothing to do with function; it is very loud. If I was in the city I'd go for the Honda version.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/26/15

I bought the 10HP chipper/shredder primarily for turning limbs into mulch. My property is surrounded by junipers and cedars. The wood chips make a great looking mulch around flower beds, trees, and walking areas. It has done a great job over the past year, and I've run at least a couple of thousand limbs through it of various sizes averaging around 1 to 2 inches in diameter. For the types of wood I'm chipping, it works fine up to around 3 inches in size. If a limb isn't very straight, I cut it at the bend with a chainsaw to make sure it'll feed fine through the cone. I began using it again recently after the winter and it started right up. I would recommend getting the jumbo bag since the small one will fill up rather quickly. If you're just working in the yard close to where you store it, the built-in pull handle is fine. If you need to move it to locations further than that, you would want the tow kit. Wear a dust mask, safety glasses, and hearing protection.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/26/15

I love my electric chipper - being a woman of 86 years old, I am not able to pull the starting cords anymore. With this one - just plug it in and flip the switch and away we go. It does all of the chores without any trouble. I am quite happy that I bought it after my husband passed away One has to learn quickly how to do-it-yourself.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/26/15

I am very happy with my electric shredder/chipper. I can plug it in whenever I want to clean up my yard using it to shred material that has dropped from my trees or pruned branches from my shrubs. I like not having to fill a gas tank or deal with starting the engine. During leaf season I use a long heavy duty extension cord and position it in the yard to shred leaves. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it occasionally gets overwhelmed with large volumes of material. Once you know the limits you can feed materials in at a steady rate. There is one plastic part (the impeller???) that I wish was metal

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/22/15

This is a great machine! It took about 4 or 5 pulls to start it the first time out of the box but it has started on the first pull every time since. It was packaged well and it does well on leaves, which is all I've used it for yet. Now that I've had the machine for awhile, I can say that it still starts every time on the first pull (unless I forget to turn the gas on), and it does a great job chipping up anything that will fit through the opening. I highly recommend this machine.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/20/15

The electric shredder works well and doesn't require the maintenance of a gas-powered model. Our branches are small - if we had larger branches we might require a gas powered model. We did need to purchase a long extra-large extension cord to power the device. Overall we can definitely recommend the chipper/shredder.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/20/15

Perfectly sized for cleaning up the flower beds ... makes quick work of getting everything down to size for the compost pile.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/20/15

What I appreciate most about my chipper shredder is the ease of starting the Honda engine even after it's been sitting in the shed for months. We have poplar trees that are trimmed heavily each year to preserve our view. I chip or shred all the trimmings that can be fed through the machine and use it either for mulch in my garden or compost it and then put it on the garden. The Patriot shredder does a good job of reducing it to a fairly coarsely-textured mulch. I also like the fact that the machine is small enough for me, with a little help from husband, to move it up or down our hillside. We have had to take it apart just twice, once to clear a vine that had tangled the mechanism and other when I lost track of how full the bag had become and jammed the disk. The simple straight-forward design made it possible to disassemble and clear the machine.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/19/15

I have never owned or used a chipper before so when I decided to buy one I read customer reviews of several different brands to get an idea what was out there. I liked what I seen with the Patriot but had a few questions and when I called the company to get answers I was very surprised to actually talk to the owner. Keith gave me straight and detailed answers about his chippers and I made the decision then to buy one. My chipper was shipped promptly and was packed very well. I spent less than an hour assembling it thanks to great instructions. I had a huge overgrowth of Forsythia bushes that needed to be cut and chipped so I could reclaim some of my lawn. I spent about 3 days cutting the bushes down and worked the chipper for about 10 hours mulching them up. I am very impressed how well my Patriot chipper did the job and I had no problems whatsoever. It is a very well made machine that I know will last me for decades. I am very pleased with my Patriot wood chipper and would recommend it to anyone looking to purchase a quality machine

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/19/15

I don't usually post reviews on Amazon as I am very busy But this chipper is great! It's electric so theres no fumes,quiet enough that my neighbors don't mind and I'm really close.It is powerful enough for me, I have shredded branches up to Two inches no problem and bags of leaves you need to take your time though ! don't just stuff them in or you will jam it! It make a really fine mulch for compost! The customer service is amazing,I had a question when I was assembling it and the owner of the company stayed on the phone for over twenty minutes talking me through it! try that with a chinese manufacturer1

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/19/15

Ooh, an opportunity to provide an HONEST review... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Patriot Electric Chipper so much that I stalk my neighbors for their leaves and twigs. Unfortunately for my neighbors, my chipper is NOT available for loan. Admittedly, I am very protective of it, though I haven't gone as far as to give it a name... hmmm, I ponder. I have recommended this product to many, many folks and will continue to do so. Thank you for a great product!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/15/15

The chipper is adequate for taking care of my back yard tree debris and cut branches. The cutting action goes much slower with thick (1"-2") dried hardwood branches. Since I use the mulch for our flower garden, I've had to rechip a 2nd time to get the wood chips small enough so the chips don't penetrate thin soled footwear when stepping through the garden. The chipper is rugged and sturdy and has held up very well in the nine years of use.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/13/15

I bought my 10 HP Patriot Forrester chipper shredder second hand. It was hard to start. After a year I discovered that the bolts holding the shredder housing to the engine had backed out due to vibration. This was not the manufacturers fault. The person I bought it from had apparently broken a shredder flail and not replaced it causing a vibration from being out of balance. I downloaded a manual from Patriot, bought parts and disassembled the unit. The rotor is difficult to remove but Patriot had an excellent piece on how to do it. One of the best repair pieces I have ever read. I got the rotor off repaired the mounting bolts. Had to retap some and added lock tabs to prevent a repeat. I greased the shaft well and now remove the rotor every 2 years to make sure it remains free. The engine now pulls and starts easily. Replacing the flail solved the balance vibration. I am very happy with my Patriot. It is a simple, easy to work on, easy to maintain, very tough machine. The support from Patriot is excellent and parts are easy to obtain.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/13/15

A perfect chipper/shredder for home use, although not as powerful as gas powered ones it is much easier to start and to maintain. Works pretty well for small branches and dry leaves. It does not take long to figure out how much leaves to put into the hopper so that it won't clog. Y shaped branches won't go into the chipper's funnel shaped feed tube and have to be cut into more or less straight pieces first. I have had this machine for less than a year so I have not had to change any part yet. I have a pretty big yard with many oak, maple, and pine trees, the machine makes Fall cleanup much easier and produces nice mulch for the garden and material for the compost. Overall a well built machine for home use. I would recommend it.

CBV-2455H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/11/15

I like the CBV-2455H. I use it to clean the yard of pine cones and needles. My wife often walks the dog in an area where the cones proliferate and they have caused her to slip and fall in past years (which is why I bought the CBV in the first place). The suction power is good and even with the long hose does a fair job of pulling up our cones and needles, even when they are wet and heavy. I had some problem with the flail blades breaking early on, but through practice and diligence, have gotten better at avoiding the densest and heaviest wet cones (and the occasional rock). Better to vacuum on a nice warm day when everything is dry, but not always possible (so I double up the flail blades on wet days). When I did have a problem, Patriot support was helpful and assisted me in resolving the problem. CBV usage has gone down the past couple of years, but that is due to the weather here and a low count of pine cones.

T4-CBV - 3 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/11/15

ONE OF MY BETTER PIECES OF LAWN EQUIPMENT I'V HAD THIS ONE SINCE JULY 1997 STILL OPERATES GREAT!

10F-CSV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/11/15

I have had a Patriot CSV for about 8 years and have used it extensively to keep up with brush and trees that occupy my 1 acre yard. It is a well made, well engineered, simple machine and would not hesitate to buy another one in the future.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/11/15

I purchased this chipper a few years ago to help manage our 1 acre yard, which has several different types of trees and shrubs. It does a great job reducing the bulk of the trimmings from all these various plants and allows me to use most of the output for mulch. The chipper portion handles the Live Oak branches easily and can even handle smaller Cedar (Juniper) branches which are lot harder than the wood from most trees. I also use the chipper portion to reduce the fronds from our sego palms that tend to be pretty unwieldy and hard to dispose of when left full size. The shredder portion works well for small twigs and branches. It also does a good job on larger leaves like Red Oak and Magnolia. The small Live Oak leaves are more of challenge and are not reduced as much but it still helps with getting a big pile of leaves into a smaller one. The motor starts every time with 1-2 pulls and has plenty of power. The unit requires minimal maintenance, so far just routine oil changes and sharpening of the chipper blades. The other big plus for me is the product is made and sold by a US Based company. The instructions are clear and easy to follow as well.

CBV-2460 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/09/15

Needs some design changes. I had to reinforce the handles to keep them from bending. I did this by cutting some triangles out of cedar and wire tie them to the handle at the bending point. I also removed a couple bolts on the cowl to give it some play so that it would not snap when it snagged on the grass or a root.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/08/15

Honda engine: excellent; starts easily, no repairs, oil changes only in many years Chip/Shredder: very good. Would be excellent except; 1. debris catches where plastic chute meets bottom (exit side), sometimes jams in under edge, hard to remove 2. plastic "guard flap" on top wore out quickly, just hangs in & does nothing 3. diss-assembly to sharpen chipper blade is way to complex! Big job for me, & haven't found a repair shop nearby that will do it.... 4. Maybe not really a design fault, but here in the PNW, we often have no chance to shred dry leaves; shredded wet leaves (no matter HOW slowly you feed them) will gradually plug the outlet, so you have to shut down to clear & or (if caught in time) run water thru it pretty often FYI: I have a suburban yard with many trees. Also chip fo a neighbor's similar yard debris. Yard debris pick up is of insufficient volume and is costly. Thank you for your product.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/05/15

I put the chipper through it's paces, chipping branches that can get up to 2 1/2". I actually broke the welds on the rotor and had to replace it, but even that was fairly simple to do thanks to the craftsmanship of the machine.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/05/15

I use my Electric Chipper to chip/shred when I trim trees. Learned early how to keep the shredder from clogging by using a small branch to work the buildup from the damp leaves loose. I probably do extra work by trimming small branches from the large, down to a size that drops into the shredder, then feed the straight branches in the chipper end. Some times the thinner pieces do not shred very well and have to be run thru a second time.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/05/15

Since I don't seem to have the knack for keeping gas engines running, I sought a suitable electric chipper. I read all the reviews and comparisons I could find and took the plunge with the electric Pateiot chipper. It came in two packages as indicated, was quite heavy, but I managed to assemble it inside the front door and then rolled it out the back, and off the deck onto the yard. I did order the 100 ft heavy gauge power cord as suggested and found an old hose feel to corral it as it is quite cumbersome as well. I composte all my yard waste...grapevines, tall castor bean plants, 6 ft. Cannas, rose canes, dropped branches from several mature trees, weeds and fall. Gee table garden remnants. Many items were taking way too long to break down, so I needed the chipper to accelerate he composting. Only once, so far, have I jammed it. The jam took a lot of grabbing with various tools and my small hands...until finally, I removed had to remove the cone feeder chute to get everything cleared. I will be very cautious to not repeat my haste.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/05/15

I have had my electric shredder/chipper for 5 years. I use it every spring and fall for cleanup. It works great on branches. I use it on both Pine and Oak and never had a problem. I have had it clog when shredding leaves however.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 03/07/15

We get our money's worth! Don't have to bag yard waste, and now have years of excellent compost.

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.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/03/15

Does exactly what I was expecting. Can be hard to start, but not much more than your average mower. Chipper works great. I used it about 5 times this past fall on our backyard that gets covered in leaves. I would recommend over raking any day.

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.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/28/15

It gets a bit difficult to move about a grassy loan especially when it starts to get full. Otherwise, it performs very well, starts easily and makes tough work a bit better.

T4-CBV - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/27/15

ONE OF MY BETTER PIECES OF LAWN EQUIPMENT I'V HAD THIS ONE SINCE JULY 1997 STILL OPERATES GREAT!

CSV-3100 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/27/15

Great machine for the size , only complaint is the shredder slot to the beater bars is small, some leaves and fruit stop it up. also clearance on the chipper cowling is tight. some times plugs up with wet material. Other than that its really good. Realize that the tight clearances are needed for vacuum work. I don't use it for that.Would be interested in a somewhat larger machine in the future. Did have to replace main bearing to chipper shaft. back side could be protected better. Stringy type material, palm bamboo etc. can jam in there. We use this machine a lot it does a great job. Thank you

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/15

I purchased the CSV-2515 this past fall and used it several times before winter set in. I am still learning how best to use the machine. This is a fairly unique product so I have had to rely on the included instructions which, I feel, could be clearer at some points. I did experience jamming until I was more inclined to put most things through the chute and only leaves and some grass through the hopper and be careful not to add too much to the hopper at one time. When I did need to clear a jam the access door is difficult to remove and is small. I know that some users never need to open this door but I have had it open several times. The instant start, quieter operation, power, quality build, and the convenience of not having to maintain a gas powered motor lead me to the CSV-2515. I'm glad I made this purchase.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/15

Everything I wanted to know was available on your website to find out.

CSV-3100B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/15

Met all my expectations.

CSV-2540B - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/15

This machine is very good when we used dead wood to 2 inches in diameter. For more green material it will clog. For dry leaves it is excellent.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/15

The chipper worked fine from day one. Nine years on,the Honda engine continues to fire up on a single pull. As with most things that work the way we expect them to, we don't generally give them much thought. The more important issue is what happens when things don't perform as we expect them to. I generally stored my chipper in an enclosed shed, however at times of heavy use I would leave it near the compost pile under a tarp. When the time came to change the worn hammers, I found that the shaft had rusted, undoubtedly from moisture from the ground trapped by the tarp. I was at wits end trying to get it apart, but the service tech at Patriot was extremely helpful over several phone calls. I ultimately had to replace a bearing, as I recall. It's been years and no other problems since. The only improvement would be a weep hole in the bottom to allow any water to drain out.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/15

This unit does a good and efficient job of shredding all of my yard waste. I no longer need to use the municipal collection service and have the shredded material for mulch and bedding. The machine sometimes gets plugged but is easy enough to get unplugged and working again. This mostly happens due to my own enthusiasm to do this work before the material is sufficiently dry. I really like that the machine has two intake ports for chipping or chopping depending on the material I have and that both tasks can be done simultaneously. This is a high quality machine that I expect will last me for many more years.

CSV-3060 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/26/15

Once I get it started, the chipper does fine. However, I sometimes wear myself out just trying to start it. This may be my fault not having the carb/air adjustment right. I have learned the 'little-qwerks' that I need to do to start it, but again, once it's going it works great.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/24/15

A perfect chipper/shredder for home use, although not as powerful as gas powered ones it is much easier to start and to maintain. Works pretty well for small branches and dry leaves. It does not take long to figure out how much leaves to put into the hopper so that it won't clog. Y shaped branches won't go into the chipper's funnel shaped feed tube and have to be cut into more or less straight pieces first. I have had this machine for less than a year so I have not had to change any part yet. I have a pretty big yard with many oak, maple, and pine trees, the machine makes Fall cleanup much easier and produces nice mulch for the garden and material for the compost. Overall a well built machine for home use. I would recommend it.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/24/15

I just purchased my second Patriot. The first one lasted 18 years. My only wish is that it would be self propelled.

CSV-2540H - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/23/15

Arrived in a very secure packing, no issues, Easy to assemble - although a few parts of the instruction could be a little clearer - primarily around the main hopper. Honda engine started on second pull. I have used it with no issues but not five stars yet because I have not really stressed it.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/22/15

Reliable. Almost never jams

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/21/15

-that the screws on the blades seize up and you sometimes have to drill them out -when you feed a max diameter piece, hang on and yet be ready to let go so you don't get sucked in too...great power! -recommendation of some spare parts to have on hand. -that the chipper/shredder is so good that the neighbors want to use it -don't feed too many pine/spruce boughs at one time. -thought the chips would have been larger. -customer service after purchase was excellent.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/21/15

Overall I am very happy with the Chipper Shredder, prior to this I had multiple problems with a Troy Built system from Lowes. I am pleased to say that this unit starts and runs every time it seems to shred everything I throw at it, it does take a little training to learn how to feed each type of material, Branches, Leaves etc, but once mastered it completes what I need in short time.

10F-CSV - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/21/15

Knowing what I know now from using it since purchase date of 6/16/08...I wouldn't think twice about purchasing another if need be. I have, and would still highly recommend it to friends, family or whom ever. It is obviously very well designed and fabricated for heavy duty durability and longevity.Quality control is apparent. I have numerous Honda products...cars, motorcycles,lawn mowers, snow blowers, and generators...They are just exceptionally good quality products and extremely reliable...also. I see my Patriot shredder at least as an equal. I continue to be amazed at how easily all these industrial type products start..usually the first or second pull on the cord.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/21/15

I use my electric CVS2515 often. I live in a close community on Guam and my neighbors appreciate the low-level noise pollution that my non-gas motor generates. I have about 30 hours of total use. With a little experience I feel confident in how to properly operate my CVS 2515. The palm frons are the most difficult item I shred. My trees are so high that they fall down dry and very hard. I can shred the ends but not the base (attached to the tree). I have greased by motor once with only one squirt per cert. I wish there were a timer to keep track of the hours for me. The Home Depot sells gas chippers occasionally for about the same price but they are much larger and gas. I may have the only electric shredder on Guam. So far so good but it hasn't been long enough to determine if it was a wise purchase. I couldn't do my huge garden project without a chipper/shredder.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/21/15

This is a good little friend, processing leaves (slow and steady wins the race) and small branches (zoom!) that compost beautifully. The chip size works well for me. At first, I was a bit surprised by its size--it seemed so small compared to commercial mulch--but it's a dream to work with. I wish I could pull it out more often, but I don't have a safe place to store it; pulling it in and out is tricky for me and feels cumbersome when I have just a few branches to process. There are two things I would like to see available in future models. First, I would like the top hopper to be made out of metal--it can undergo a lot of stress and metal would make me feel more secure about its ability to last. Secondly, I would like a model with some sort of chute so that I wouldn't need the bag. I wonder if that's possible? I generally use the machine by myself and would love to just roll it along and use it wherever without having to stop and dump the bag out every so often. By Joyce, Houston, TX

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/20/15

I like the electric chipper because I've found gasoline engines unreliable in the past. I don't like storing gasoline in my garage either. I found the Patriot machine easy to use, easy to roll round, and store.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/20/15

Actually, it is everything I had hoped it would be and more. It just keeps running. Only occasionally do I have to unjam a branch and that is usually because I have let the cutter blade get a little dull. It is easy to re-sharpen. It is one of those rare pieces of equipment that I never have to wonder whether it is going to do the job or not. It always does.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Patriot Customer Review - Posted 02/20/15

Easy to use chipper for small branches and shredder for leaves and garden waste. I rake leaves in different areas of the yard and move the chipper-shredder to the leaves. I save some fall leaves for mulch around the garden plants. Used the chipper-shredder once or twice a year over 5 years. No problems.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/25/15

We purchased this Patriot electric chipper-shredder just over 6 years ago. It has worked very well and very reliably over the years. Our primary intended purpose was for shredding oak leaves in the fall. We make mulch for lawn and gardening projects. It handles 99% of the organic material that falls onto the lawn. 1% of the limbs that fall are too big. 99% of the branches, limbs, leaves, and acorns that fall from our New England trees get mulched and spread around various plantings resulting in a very satisfying circular recycling of nature's resources. There is a learning curve to it. Definitely works best when the material is dry or mostly dry. I find adding the leaves into the hopper requires some finesse - you have to add the leaves slowly or it will jam. This unit does require patience, but once proper hopper feeding was learned, I found I could work through an afternoon's raking in an hour or two. Funny thing is, the better I am at feeding it without clogging the hopper, the faster the bag fills which means I have to stop more often to dump the bag. This last fall, we used the extra large bag to reduce the frequency of bag dumping. Using this machine is efficient and effective. As a homeowner with a modest sized lawn that is heavily treed, it is the right size for our mulching and chipping needs. A bigger, more powerful machine may shred and chip bigger loads but would also take up more space in the garage and require more maintenance (and gas on hand). It is expensive, but it does the job and has proven itself to be very reliable.

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.

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.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/20/15

If your job needs more than a backpack leaf blower but not quite a lawn tractor with leaf bagging, this vac/blower/chipper is a good solution. The vacuum is robust and works as advertised, but simple conversion back and forth between blower and vacuum mode is where time is saved. The blower is strong enough to quickly move leaves to a density that warrants passes in vacuum mode. The impeller and blades mulch leaves (particular dry leaves) sufficiently to significantly increase functional bag capacity. I figure that compost time will also be decreased, but time will tell. The chipper is an added bonus, though the least used of the three functions by a good margin. I strongly considered other chipper vacs (troy built, craftsman, cub cadet) which have a tube vacuum attachment but lack the blower function. The tube is certainly missed from the Patriot and would be nice for more detailed vacuum work. As I mentioned above, though, the blower greatly increases my efficiency for the greater lawn, and I would regret not having that function. The Billy Goat products are top of the line, but their lawn vacs similarly lack a blower function. Also, there are no blades to assist the impellers with mulching. Also, Billy Goats will set you back a few more dollars. Pros: - Blower function - not an option on competitors - Easy to start - Quick transition between vacuum and blower modes - Powerful vacuum - Bag can be detached/reattached quickly (once you get the hang of it) - Saves significant time clearing lawns compared to standard backpack and handheld blowers - Speedy customer service (the company president answers emails!) Cons- - Bag mount must be aligned perfectly flush to depress the safety mechanism and allow it to start. This can lead to some head scratching during the first few uses until you learn to seat the bag appropriately. - The bag needs straps or handles for carrying. It has a large capacity and gets heavy when packing it full. - Smaller wheels compared to Billy Goat (which cost more, don't mulch as well, lack a blower)

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/20/15

Easy to use and a good quality chipper for leaves and small twigs and branches. If you are looking at chipping anything larger than smaller branches, I would recommend going with something larger, so you don't have to prune in order to use the chipper. However, this is a very sturdy and well built chipper, so I would most likely end up buying one of Patriot's larger chippers as well.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/18/15

I purchased the electric Patriot because of my age. I wanted something I could handle and it did a great job. I was very pleased how quite it was and how powerful. This coming spring I intend to really give it a work out.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/17/15

Great and easy to use. We use it to grind leaves to make compost for our garden and mulch for our flower beds. Since we have five huge oak trees, we have lots of leaves to grind in the Fall. Love that it does not require gas! My teenage kids and wife can operate it easily. The only thing we have had to learn to do is to have a long "stir stick" on hand to lift and "fluff" the leaves as they are put into the chute. If you don't keep "fluffing" up the leaves they can clog in the chute. Also, the leaves have to be dry. The shredder came with one bag and we really need a second one, so that one worker can keep grinding while another worker carries the shredded load to the compost bin. Also, we highly recommend wearing ear plugs, protective goggles, and a mask with a filter, so you don't breath in too much leaf dust. Overall it is a strong machine that gets the job done!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/17/15

I love my Patriot. It is very well-built, solidly constructed and comfortable to use. Although it has a heavy motor, as a small woman I can easily move it on its wheels around my garden. It is, of course, essential to read the manual/operating instructions and learn to feed the hopper properly. That done, this chipper/shredder will efficiently handle large amounts of leaves, garden cuttings and small branches, without jamming. As an avid gardener and composter, I am delighted to return all shredded organic material to my garden. No more paper bags, town pickups or waste! This year I'm treating myself to the vacuum attachment to make fall clean up even faster. I recommend this product without reservations.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/16/15

Does a great job on tree limbs and leaves. Even if you are not using the chipped limbs for mulch the reduction in volume is amazing. Well built and designed to be user maintainable. Has only clogged when I let the bag get full or tried to feed shrubbery that was still wet - user error.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/09/15

I have watied to write this reveiw until I used my chipper through the summer and fall months. I LOVE it!! It has worked very good for me. It has saved me tons of work as I don't have to bag all my branches, leaves, etc. This would take up so many bags...I have a huge backyard with too many trees to count. Between the branches from my trees and the leaves in the fall, I have made lots of compost that I put back into the ground. It seems to run smooth enough. We also had a tree that fell during a storm. We cut the tree up (large trunk for firewood) composted the small branches and leaves together and put back into the ground. My husand and I have really enjoyed using this machine. And, remember this one does not take large trunks...just small branches.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/08/15

So far I am very pleased with this unit. There was very little to assemble, mainly just attaching the plastic feed chutes. I plugged it in and flipped the power switch. Very quiet until you feed some material into it. then it gets louder as you might imagine. I feed it some very well seasoned mesquite and got the dime sized chunks the description describes. came with a catch bag as well. I must have missed that in the description. No gas to worry about No oil to worry about No pulling to start a cold engine. Handles everything I need to chip, anything bigger I save for the BBQ anyways. I will probably update this review later as I get more time with it, and see how long blades last. Seasoned wood is never recommended in a chipper, but that's what you get when you have piles that have sat here for years waiting for the drought to end so they can be burnt. Now, I got mulch fixins instead. so much better for the environment.

CBV-2455H - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/13/14

I just wrapped up my first fall clean up using the CBV on my half acre property with many mature oak and maple trees. Note, this product page is titled “CVB-2455H”, but Patriot’s website lists the item as “CBV-2455H.” Heads up: as a mechanical engineer, my review may be a little too detailed and/or nitpicky. I also like to make things work better, so my own brainstorming ideas are shared herein. Engine/impeller: Honda GX series engines are great, and I’m glad I went with this engine option. Plenty of power, seems fuel efficient. Starts on the first pull for me every time. However, I will note that the pull is heavy. This is a result of the mass of the impeller mounted directly to the drive shaft (a standard configuration in push vacs). Naturally, this will have a heavier pull than your lawn mower, because the impeller has much more material/mass than lawn mower blades. The impeller seems well constructed with heavy gauge steel and should last many years without issue. I haven’t worn through a set of flail blades yet, so I’ve yet to see how long they last. Operation: Set the throttle and go. If you want to use the blower, simply flip the lever near the deck. When vacuuming, the unit gets very heavy when the bag fills. No surprise there, but you definitely notice the weight since this unit is not self-propelled. As the unit takes on leaves/weight, I find it sometimes difficult to push through the grass. I wonder if taller wheels would be helpful for getting over uneven lawn areas (of which I have many). Sometimes it feels like I’m pushing the wheels through the grass rather than the wheels rolling over the grass. I’ve thought about trying wider pneumatic ones. Bag: I don’t love the zipper closure. It seals well, yes, but I find it gets jammed by leaves and material when I’m trying to close it back up. I have seen other manufactures use nautical fasteners on the bag, and I think this might be a better choice. I do not like the bag/deck connection means at all. I would prefer that the bag disconnect from the blower diverter valve rather than have the whole component come off with the bag (bag is zip tied to the valve). It’s too awkward to maneuver a full bag over a garbage can for emptying when you have an extra foot of heavy plastic attached to the end. Perhaps it was never intended for the bag to be removed for emptying. However, if you don’t remove the bag, you will find yourself digging into the compartment to get leaves out. I’m playing around with replacing the black zip tie with a cinch so I can easily disconnect it. This would also allow you to use the blower while the weight of the bag is off the machine. Performance: Suction power is good, including leaves that are not 100% dry. The path is 24” wide, and having used this on a large property, I think I may have underestimated my needs. There is too much ground to cover on my property to push the vac all over. Instead, I use a backpack blower to blow leaves into a smaller area on my lawn first (or onto my driveway) and then run the vac. The blower on this unit works well and moves a lot of air, but would also require pushing all over 1/2acre of grass. Keep in mind your needs and expectations. For a lawn my size, it probably would have been more effective to go with a high capacity lawn tractor mounted system. Nevertheless, I’m satisfied with the performance of the suction (will pull up gumballs from my driveway, but not consistently out of the grass). I think the claimed 12:1 shredding is a little too optimistic. I find that a large pile of leaves on my driveway is reduced to 1/4 the original volume once shredded. It’s certainly better bagging 1 bag instead of 4, but my experience has not been near 12:1. I have to believe this is very much dependent on the type of leaves, dryness, and how fast you move material through the machine. Chipper chute works great for breaking down tree limbs I’ve pruned and the occasional deadwood. Overall: Happy with the purchase. Great engine, good suction. Like I mentioned, I may have underestimated the needs of my property (12k sqft of grass). However, the unit has performed well and the quality appears very good. I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase another product from Patriot.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/08/14

Very important to have it on a high-capacity circuit, because it draws every bit as much as they say. But I've had two strenuous sessions with it, and it crunches everything as advertised. If the neighbors are close, use in moderation - it sounds like a Cessna taking off.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/01/14

I've made hundreds of bags of mulch with this machine over the past 5 years. It's electric, and portable, making it really convenient for my rental properties. You can chip and shred all day long if the blade is sharp, the branches are green, and you take your time. This makes great use of the weed trees that I now harvest every year for garden mulch. I'm actually thinking about growing something in my yard specifically to harvest for mulch. If you are using 2", or less, green branches and take your time, the Patriot does an amazing job and is very easy to use. This machine would work very well on a small farm for shredding straw and many other handy things. You'll want to have an extra blade on hand as the machine works best when the blade is sharp. I would not buy a cheaper electric chipper, the quality is extremely important with an electric tool like this one, and it pays back quickly when used for the right purpose.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/29/14

This is a beautifully made machine, quality start to finish, made in Wisconsin and it shows. I've used ICE shredders for years and got tired of wrestling with cold engines and ear shattering, spewing C02 and smog and breathing obnoxious fumes. I searched extensively for an electric and this is the only one that seemed up for the job of clearing leaves from a large lot. Couldn't be happier. The machine churns through leaves as long as it's fed properly. It's not like gas engines don't clog. I would have wished for a vacuum but electrics are not quite powerful enough for that, and this works fine feeding through the chute. I got it stuck on a large piece of wood accidentally dropped in the hopper and Keith the president of the company got right back to me with a simple fix that worked no problem. Just applied a wrench to the rotor shaft and toggled it free. The mulch is very fine, just beautiful. Nothing like the half chopped leaves of the club cadet and similar machines. The machine comes beautifully packed and is very heavy but easy to put together. All steel and just a fine piece of equipment the likes of which we don't see anymore with everything made in China. It's quieter than a gas engine which is a relief for me and the neighbors. And wow, flipping a switch to stop and start is a joy. I'm happy to pay more for this machine. It's going to last me a very long time. I love that it's made by U.S. workers, the quality is superb and who can beat personal attention from the owners? This is the first product review I've ever written, which says something.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/24/14

Had a gas powered model which was difficult to start at times. This machine works well. Had one clog and it was relatively easy to remedy with a little disassembly and a hose. Plenty of power for my needs.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/23/14

We bought the Patriot Electric Chipper/Shredder 3 years ago, and are very happy with it. Like other reviews point out, there is a skill to how fast you feed leaves or branches into it -- slower is definitely better. And if you're shredding leaves, be sure they are dry. Our first use of the machine was with leaves that had sat all winter, and it clogged repeatedly. Keep an eye on the bag, because if you let it get too full the machine can clog. The machine is relatively quiet and powerful; way better than a gas model in terms of the neighbors and the environment. We took Patriot's advice and bought the heavy-duty extension cord (100 ft.) for it, and have never tripped the circuit breaker: a good investment. It's very easy to use, and as long as we remember to carefully meter the materials into the hopper, and not cram it full, we can process a big pile of leaves (10' x 15' x 3') in a couple of hours. We do rely on a home-made stirring stick -- a branch with a knob on the end so it won't slip into the shedder. When processing leaves, it really helps to stir them as they feed thru the hopper. The "buddy" that Patriot sells would work just fine. Shredding leaves goes quickest when there are two people working: one to stir the hopper, and another to feed the leaves. Chipping can be efficient as a one-person job. We use the shredded leaves to make mulch for the garden, and we use the chipped branches for paths in the wooded areas of our lot. We grease the machine after each use, as the manual recommends, and it's been trouble-free shredding and chipping since we got the hang of it. We highly recommend this machine. The manual is one of the best we've read -- clear, and actually amusing, and obviously written by an American. You just need to follow the instructions carefully: that really makes a difference.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/16/14

This chipper/shredder is well made, heavy duty construction (made in USA is a plus). I have a large 1 acre lot with many trees and leaves falling during the fall season. After 20+ years and trying several different types of leaf vacs and small chipper/shredder the Patriot electric works the best for me. It handles leaves and small twigs/branches in the shredder hopper without jamming; just feed it slow and move them from right to left with a small stick if they back up in the hopper. The chipper cone handles the larger branches with vigor. This machine is also the quietest of any I have had and you don't have to worry about gas, oil, spark plugs, etc. Read the manual and follow the instructions and all should go well.

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.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/17/14

I purchased this in the Spring of 2011. We replaced most of our front lawn and garden with prairie grass, which needs cutting back once a year in March. I collect it then over a month or two gradually work through shredding it and recycling it as compost. On most of the grasses it works well, though it has particular troubles with deschampsia. As others have noted it clogs relatively easily, so feeding it efficiently is a skill at which one gradually improves. Gas was out of the question for us, and I didn't find any alternative electric units as powerful as this, so have accepted that this is a slow task, and that the limitations come from using home electricity rather than gas or industrial strength electricity. From my experience the machine is solidly built and sensibly engineered, but not touched by a product designer skilled in user experience or user interface design. It therefore looks and feels like an appliance from the 1930s. Also, their service network is not extensive. I think I should be taking it in for maintenance, and don't know how I'll do it. Don't think it will fit into my Mini Cooper and the service centers are quite far from Chicago: a big enough city that you'd think you wouldn't need to go to Indiana or most of the way to Rockford for service.

CBV-2465B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/13/14

This Patriot leaf vacuum is very light and easy to push or pull. The blower is very powerful moving leaves at lest 10 feet per pass making my wooded 1/3 acre a fast clean up . I have used this vacuum for two fall seasons and I'm satisfied. The leaf bag could be made to be easier to empty.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/29/14

This is a great chipper. It took a couple of chipping sessions to figure out how to use it so that it doesn't clog or stop. I like the electric one, as no need for gas or hand pulling. I find that if I chip things that are moist, like old leaves or branches are not bone dry, and between putting the leaves in you chip a few twigs, it will not clog at all. This is chipper is so amazing, it was making dirt. Seriously. I also used the chipper to chip my neighbors bamboo into mulch. I run the mulch. through the chipper twice. it is great stuff. I have had no need to buy any dirt for my garden a I can make my own. I recommend this chipper to anyone that ever thought about getting one. I never thought I'd say this, but I love my chipper and have recommended it whole heartedly to others.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/27/14

I admit i was a little nervous making this purchase sight unseen. My old (12 years old) chippervac died last year and I have been researching like crazy. Due to the many helpful reviews and answers from the Amazon community i pulled the trigger. The chippervac was delivered within the 3 hour window and the delivery person was very helpful. You will need to buy some 30 weight oil as this shipps dry. I repeat make sure you put oil in before you start it up. It even emplasizes this in the manual. This isn't a negative, just making people aware. I was very surprised how powerful this is. even at low throttle, it was sucking up twigs, acorn, and small twigs. The bag is very large and is also very easy to empty, even into those horrible paper lawn bags. All of the dust created by the chipper is diverted down and to the left side of the operator, great news for those like me that start sneezing at the drop of a hat. There are only three "negatives" I can possibly say about this chipervac. 1: hooking up the bag to the unit is a little tricky. 2: it doesn't come with a hose or hose attachment point. 3: you need to pull straight back towards the handle to start it. if you pull off to the side the whole unit flips over. (maybe i pull too hard?) All in all those are both so minor that I couldn't take a star away. It will be interesting to see if this lasts as long as my last one. I am very satisfied with the purchase and would buy another Patriot Products product. Oh, I have about .14 acres and two VERY large oak trees

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/25/14

It is now Sept. 2014, I purchased my Patriot CSV-3065B 6.5 HP Briggs on May 11, 2011. I use it about 6 times a year to chip branches in the fall and during spring pruning. It has performed wonderfully. There are a few times when chipping wood with a lot of moisture (fig tree branches) when it will clog up in the chipper housing where the chipping takes place, but I've learned to recognize when this is beginning to happen and I just run a steady stream of water using a garden hose (this is not mentioned in the Patriot manuals) and it will create a sort of slurry that gets blown out the discharge chute. Then it's back to work. . . . The cost of the chipper/shredder pays for itself when you consider what you would pay to rent one several times a year. An added bonus is the free mulch produced using the Patriot, plus I don't have to otherwise drag the branches to the street and tie them up in small bundles for the wimpy Alexandria, Virginia trash collectors to haul away.

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

This is a workhorse. Great craftmanship!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/20/14

I love the fine quality of mulch this machine produces, it makes the hassle of unclogging it and all the work of chipping worthwhile. I have an acre of redwoods that shed year-round, and I've owned this chipper for 3 1/2 years. It processes a lot of material, makes short work of the skinny but abundant redwood branches, and it's easy for me to operate and unclog by myself with one tool. I wish it didn't get clogged so easily, that's what makes it 4 stars rather than 5. And maybe shorter and lighter weight, as I'm not all that tall or burly myself. After a few months of using it, I got the hang of how much to put in at a time, and how to break it up, and sort of make the material rain into the hopper to avoid clumping. A little bit of finesse that way and emptying the bag frequently helps to prevent clogs. The fine quality of the resulting mulch is excellent for dressing beds, composting, pathways, etc, I use it everywhere. Much better than the splintery mess that comes from larger machines the tree guys use. In fact, the giant chips and shreds can be reprocessed in this machine to make them more useful in the garden. I'm a landscape designer and Master Gardener, so I've seen a lot of mulch. This chipper was a big purchase for me, but it has paid for itself many times over by turning mountains of redwood duff and branches into better mulch than I could purchase (not to mention removal/delivery fees.) And I don't have to stand next to a stinky gas machine!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/17/14

I've been very happy with this chipper. I have about 3/4 of an acre with lots of older overgrowth that I'm trimming and removing. I love that I own a chipper so I can do whatever I have time and energy for that day and not worry about renting and returning. I also love that I can just plug it in and go for it...no gas or oil maintenance (I already had a 20 amp circuit by my air conditioner in my backyard). If you follow the instructions and have your expectations set appropriately (this isn't for huge or heavy-duty applications) you should be very happy.

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.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/14/14

I have put more than 80 hours on this unit and, overall, I am very pleased. The way that it makes branches "go away" by turning them into chips is "magic". Here are my "Pros" and "Cons": PROS - The unit always starts with one pull. This is great for an older-timer like me. - Some have commented that the unit bogs down with larger branches. It does, but some decrease in RPM is expected as the feed speed increases or the branch diameter exceeds one inch. Although you can feed a three-inch branch through the unit, you really must be reasonable concerning performance expectations for a unit of this size. For its size, it works just fine. CONS - Blade hardness could be improved. It was not defined within the literature that I received; however, you really need to resharpen the blades after 4 hours of use. If you have to chip Manzanita, the blades dull more quickly, so plan to chip these at the end of the day so that the blades stay sharp and feed rates are maintained. If you have to push the branches into the unit, the blades need sharpening. I developed a fixture that I used to sharpen the blades using a one-inch vertical belt sander, and this maintains the correct cutting angle and lengthens blade life. - I experienced a failure with the Rotor Tri-Plate. The welds around the center shaft were poorly executed and eventually failed. I contact the manufacturer and was very displeased with his response and overall technical competency. Even after I sent him pictures revealing the poorly applied and incomplete weld, he still indicated that I must have been mistreating the unit and that the weld was not at fault. I ended up buying a new Tri-Plate for $335 and receiving two sets of replacement blades. As a side note, the new Tri-Plate exhibited complete and very robust welds, must more substantial than the unit I received. I expect that the manufacturer has either adjusted their welding techniques or increased their quality control. Regardless, the whole experience did not reflect the response I expected based on the overall quality of the chipper. - I have an engineering background and I like to tinker. When I installed the new Tri-Plate, I measured the runout near the edge of the Tri-Plate with a dial indicator. The variation was almost 1/8 of an inch. So, this plate, at high revolutions, was creating a lot of vibration due to the imbalance that this "wobble" produced. To improve this condition, I created a fixture where I could adjust the the surface positioning around the circumference of the Plate to reduce the runout. I was able to reduce the variation to about 0.015 of an inch. This adjustment reduced the overall vibration of the unit and actually improve feed rate and cutting performance because both blades were addressing the feed material from a similar position. I suggest that the manufacture develop a more accurate fixture for welding the center shaft, and then make final adjustments to the Tri-Plate surfaces after the welds have cooled. This will reduce the amount of runout, lengthen the Tri-Plate service life, and improve chipping performance levels.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/09/14

Have had mine for about 5months. Had the usual issues with overloading 15amp circuit, but got around that with extension cord to garage 20amp plug, then routed a new outdoor line; and with clogging, but none since I've started feeding stuff in more slowly rather than just piling it in. So-new outlet, slower feed, and it's perfect. I chose this over one of the lighter duty string shredders, and am glad I did. Leaves and pinestraw come out great for composting. It easily handles 2 inch limbs, and chips are great for mulching.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/08/14

Great chipper with green, fresh wood. Very powerful. Must be mindful to make sure chips are going into the bag to preclude clogging of the discharge chute. Great for cleaning up bushes and small tree branches.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/07/14

I purchased this chipper for my wife who recently took on serious gardening. She did the reviews of all the chippers online and settled on this product. She wanted a chipper which would handle small branches and mulch up our yard clippings. I preferred an electric chipper vs the more powerful gas chipper due to the fact that it would probably be used occasionally and that I did not want to deal with long term storage of gas based tools. I already had a power washer that got all gucked up with old fuel that turned into kerosene. She feels confident in using this chipper alone. Some advantages to this chipper: It was a powerful for an electric chipper. However, you need to make sure that you have a 20 amp or higher circuit you plug into, that the extension cords are rated at least 15 amps or higher. Otherwise you will be tripping the circuit breaker. You can gauge how much the chipper can handle by the sound of the blades. Best to wear eye and also ear protection because the chipper has a loud hum. Feeding the chipper too fast will cause the hum to lower in pitch. We learned to to avoid clogging the chipper by the sound of the hum. The videos online for the product were very informative. Bottom line: we love the chipper and use it at least once or twice a month. If you are into composting, you must have one of these.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/04/14

Perfect for home use. Feed slowly and quickly turn off if motor is overloaded to prevent triggering the circuit breaker.

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

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/03/14

I have a very large oak and has lots of fall leaves and I hated the idea that they were all going into the garbage/yard waste since I live in the city and no real room to get them composed or burned. I did some research on shredders for this and found the Patriot Chipper/Shredder. I choose the electric since I knew I would be using it a lot during the fall and did not want to bug the neighbors with gas power (fumes an noise pollution). It is great to take a large pile of leaves and convert them into a nice mulch. My first year (1/2014) I used almost all of my mulched leaves out on the lawn/garden and near as I can tell it lasted almost 3 months before being absorbed by the earth. It was quite cool to witness. Probably the best advice I can give is read the instructions, they are the best in getting this thing setup and dialed in. A 15amp circuit is just not enough to drive it, so get a 20Amp circuit installed and a nice thick extension cord. When doing leaves, make sure they are good and dry, that really helps. If not expect some clogging. Pouring it in nice and slow also wins the race. I have not used the chipper part, but I would say if you follow the directions, you should be good. If you do order one I would add the chipper buddy to your order. I thought I would get away with a dead branch from the oak (nice and dead something you can safely put through the hopper without nicking the hammers), but it didn’t quite work the way I thought and I caught myself with my hands down in the hopper part clearing stuff. Not that bright I know, so this year I am going to get that before the leaves start to fall.

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!

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/02/14

Ideal for small to moderate properties. Great for cleaning up my willow trees, but not so good with pine tree debris; sap tends to clog the blades.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/01/14

Works great at chipping small to medium sized limbs. It does get clogged or throws a breaker every once in a while, but usually due to operator error. Don't expect it to be a gas powered chipper, and you will love this. BY that I mean while it may not have the power of gasoline, it is frustration free and great for the once every few months user

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/30/14

After researching and reviewing all of the available electric and gas-powered chipper/ leaf shredders on the market, I purchased one of these Patriot electric chipper/leaf shredders approximately three years ago and it has worked great ever since. Yes, as other reviewers have noted, you have to use a heavier duty extension cord and a 110 volt circuit that can handle the heavier electrical load that the motor draws, but once you have it set up properly, this piece of equipment does exactly what it is advertised to do. Although I've used the chipper feature numerous times to chop up branches, I primarily use this chipper/shredder for shredding the large quantities of leaves that the trees in our yard produce every fall. The resulting leaf mulch is exactly the consistency that my wife, the master gardener, wants in her flower beds. She can never get enough mulch and this leaf shredder is up to the task. Although we previously had to haul countless bags of leaves out to the curb for pickup, I now save up the bags and shred those leaves in batches of 5-10 bags at a time. The large wheels make it easy to roll around and the relatively large chute makes the job of feeding the shredder easy. I'm proud to own this U.S.-made product that was designed and built so well.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/29/14

Purchased ours in May 2009. Use several times each year. We have a little less than an acre, with many, many older trees. Lots of small stuff falling all the time -- this makes it easy to keep the property tidier. Easy to operate. Instructions on assembly and use easy to understand. No issues even after all this time.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/29/14

I agree with others on this site that the unit is very good -- as long as you remember that it is electric. I chose an electric unit for the convenience of not having to maintain a gas motor and because it is quieter. The cons are, however, that it is less powerful and WILL clog if you try and go to quickly or if the material is too wet. I have become very adept at removing the funnel and always keep an adjustable wrench handy for this purpose. Overall, I am very happy with the unit, since I am in an urban environment and don't have huge amounts of materials to chip/shred. If you have large amounts to shred, or don't the option of a 20amp outlet nearby, then I would recommend going with a gas powered model instead.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/29/14

I bought this machine three years ago and it is one of the best purchases I have made on Amazon. This yard vacuum is the perfect solution for my Fall yard needs. It does an outstanding job vacuuming up leaves and shredding small branches. It came totally assembled and was ready to go. I have had zero mechanical issues with this product since I purchased it. This product has saved me many hours of work and I actually enjoy working on my Fall leaf chores with this machine. I enthusiastically endorse this product

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/26/14

I agree with the commentary in most of the reviews on both sides which should be helpful in setting your expectations. I am wavering between 3 and 4 stars but at the end of the day I do like it and believe the problems described are part of the price for going electric instead of gas. I will outline all of the issues as I see them: I can only run this on concrete due to my yard layout. The manual says to only run it on grass due to the vibrations. The workaround is a stack of cardboard or any absorbant padding. Really not an issue from there. You're supposed to keep the packing materials in case you need to return it, but it is extremely heavy and the wheels are set in a styrofoam mold. You need a couple of people and/or a "game plan" for getting it out to assemble it. READ THE MANUAL FIRST. After reading Amazon reviews I did this before the unit arrived. Patriot goes to great lengths to emphasize this. There is no small/quick job with this to justify not wearing goggles, ear protection, long sleeves and long pants. Do not have kids or pets anywhere in the yard when this is running. Stuff flies out. Cleaning is necessary and you need to know where the blade is before you attempt to clean it. You will probably pop a breaker and have to clear jams in the unit. Cleaning does take some doing. It is risky business when you remove the cone - be very aware of the blade and the direction in which it faces. I am really curious about the reviewer who used water with it running to clear it out rather than opening everything up, as well as the description of a special tool to open up the whole thing which would make cleaning go a lot faster. Any material that is naturally "wet" (say, melon rinds or squash vines) should be composted as is and not run through the shredder. Also, look carefully at the hopper and how it narrows into the shredding area. The hole inside is smaller than that. Most/all "Y" branches going into either hole will need to be cut and indeed there can be a lot of prep work to get shredding. When chipping thick, drying branches, stay clear of the cone as it will hurl the branch out when it gets down to a foot or so. This is not a complaint, but it is part of the nature of the machine. You can put those pieces back in next to a thinner branch and everything should be pulled in. Finally, when it does "pull" from either entrance this happens very fast (as with any chipper), so keep hands clear and use the pusher. At this price I'd prefer the equipment requires less time cleaning and more time chipping and takes on all yard waste. If there's another method to clean it more quickly I will be much happier. When it is properly chipping at the correct widths and you are gradually feeding one branch at a time, power is not an issue.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/26/14

I found this to be a very well constructed piece of equipment. I am totally satisfied with its operation. It is a real work saver if you have a lot of debris or leaves. The engine runs fine and it is easy to crank.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/25/14

I like the electric motor - no gas engine to deal with. Has enough power for my needs. The mulch size was just what I was looking for. The end of the feed tube is too narrow, though. The machine will take thick branches, but not thin branches with side "Y" branches. That turned it into a 2-man job to use efficiently - 1 person to trim the brush, and the other to feed the machine. The machine would have handled the branches, you just can't get them through the narrow neck. I was also hopeful the leaf mulch attachment would shred cardboard for mulch, but it doesn't. They didn't say it would, so no false advertising - just wishful thinking on my part.

CBV-2465B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/25/14

Very nice product and used for 2 seasons. We have many trees and lots of leaves in the fall. Works great picking up the leaves and reducing the volume by at least 50% . Cut our leaf cleanup time by more than 70%. Only problem we had was Through research on the internet, discovered there was a problem with the spark plugs on the B &S engine. Replaced it with a Champion RJ19LM and have not had a problem since. Would have paid extra for the self propelled option.

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.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/24/14

Superb Product! I usually don't write reviews, but I find them helpful and my wife won't buy anything without reading them first -so I will start The good- -Honda Engine -flawless- plenty of power - starts easily - runs smooth and cleanly - A+ -Suction -picks up leaves twigs bugs - just about anything not nailed down (unfortunately not sweet gum balls but have not found anything that does that) -Bag- plenty big with sturdy zipper - opens big enough to empty pretty easily if you don't fill too full) -Blower - again powerful and easy to use - -Chipper -handle small branches with ease Areas I would improve - -Front wheel adjustment -for $1k I think a lever type adjuster would be reasonable - -If I was to purchase again I would get the self propelled and pay the extra- gets hard to push in deep leaves and grass - But pays for itself in time and effort saved - (One year I scratched my cornea raking leaves -cost me more that this thing in lost work hours and doctor bills - always use goggles now-HINT!)

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/24/14

I have had the Honda version for almost 2 years. I have a small property (1/5 of an acre) with only two large maples of my own, but I end up with all my neighbors leaves so I got tired of the back breaking effort of raking every week in the fall and bagging them. I got the Honda over the Briggs because of reputation of the Honda small engine. * Came delivered on a small pallet and assembly was pretty easy. * I found starting was a little tricky, I found it best to put the throttle almost all the way forward. It didn't seem to start when all the way forward. * Good vacuum power, but too many leaves it may clog the snout. Handles wet leaves pretty well in moderation. Best bet is to tilt it back and lower the front slowly when dealing with large piles of leaves. * Blower is strong and works well on dry leaves, I have to tilt it back to get low for the wet packed down leaves. It would be nice if there was an adjustable flap to divert the air flow. I find it easier to blow the leaves onto a hard surface and then vacuum them up. * When the bag is full (sooner if a bunch of chipped branches or wet leaves) will cause the front end to lift. * Emptying the bag is a little awkward and messy because I have to put the leaves in bags or barrels., I also believe any bag would be the same. * I wish the size of the shredded leaves was smaller, but does a decent job. * The chipper is fantastic, I get a lot of small branches/twigs in my yard and when I trim the neighboring trees branches over my fence. Granted all the bending to get rid of a large amount of branches leaves my hamstrings sore, but the fact that it handles everything I put at it, it is a minor pain. In order to get my leaves into barrels I fill the vacuum bag, bring it over to the driveway, open the bag and use my handheld blower/vac with hose attachment connected to my barrels. This serves few purposes, it shreds the leaves even finer, puts the leaves in the barrel and keeps me from having to bend over and lift all the leaves. Last year I collected over 700 gallons of very finely shredded leaves. The pie in the sky wish list * It would be nice if there was a hose attachment for getting in between bushes and flower beds. * If you could choose to blow it out either side * There would be a platform and hose attachment you could put a paper leave bag / barrel on and suck the leaves right into the container. This would make it very easy for those smaller properties that have to use the paper leave bags or barrels. Bottom line once I figured out the few idiosyncrasies of the vacuum, I found it makes my life a lot easier and would buy it again.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/23/14

I looked a long time before finally deciding to buy this shredder chipper. Once I received it I was glad that I waited. This shredder chipper is perfect for my use. I especially like how quiet it is and also the fact that I do not have one more gasoline engine to take care of and maintain. Because the chipper is electric, it took me and my husband several tries to become good operators. If you hurry the process or try to shove too much in too quickly, the machine will jam. Once we became better at gauging how to work the device, we go virtually jam free for most of our sessions. If we make an operator error and put something in that causes a jam, freeing the device of the jam is a fairly easy and quick process. We've successfully shredded and chipped leaves, straw, limbs, corn stalks, gardening waste and sticks. My gardening friends and outdoor enthusiasts are quite impressed with this chipper as I am. It's been the best investment we've made for our home and garden in many years. Moving the machine around is quite easy too and we've noticed no power drain using a 12 gauge extension cord. This is so much better than other models our friends have tried or we have seen in the stores. We'd recommend this to anyone.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/23/14

Excellent machine. It works as expected. Saves me so much time and effort cleaning up my leaves, Reduces the number of bags filled by a lot. Chipper comes in handy also.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/21/14

I bought this to replace an ancient, noisy, gas-powered chipper-shredder that was more than I needed. I really like this Patriot electric unit. I jammed it a few times until I learned how to feed it properly, but now it's easy to use. I've shredded many bags of leaves into perfect mulch material. I'd buy it again.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/20/14

This is the second Patriot Lawn Vaccum that I have owned. I am pleased with the performance and I like the upgrades that have been made over the previous model. A motorized version would make leaf pick up faster.

CBV-2455H - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

This Patriot vacuum/shredder is excellent when it comes to getting rid of the leaves. I DO, however, have 2 issues with it. The first issue is probably due to the fact that I am 56 years old and female - but the machine gets incredibly difficult to push once the bag is about half full of leaves, so I either have to empty it more often, or just not use the bag at all. The second issue is the fact that for whatever reason, it is awfully hard to start. I end up pulling the cord sometimes 30 times or more before it will finally start. In conclusion, this machine is much quicker than raking - but it isn't exactly perfect for a 56-year old grandma.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

I use this machine at my cabin and my home. That adds up to a lot of leaves. The Patriot never misses a beat. This machine has made my fall chores much, much simpler. The Honda engine is extremely powerful and I highly suggest spending the extra money for the Honda power. This engine is true commercial grade and should last for many years. So far I have had no problems with the Patriot and I am proud to say it is Made in America.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

We've used it 5 years now and it still works well. We generally only need to use it one or two days a year but our son-in-law borrowed it once to chop up tree limbs and had no problems with it. The machine does a great job chipping and shredding yard waste to produce compost material and it's nice not to have to deal with gasoline, oil, and engine maintenance. It does tend to pop the house electric breaker occasionally but only if we run something else simultaneously on the same line - and that could be due to a weak breaker. If you want a quiet, efficient chipper/shredder then this one is a good buy.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

I bought my Patriot more than 5 years ago and love it. You can chip a 2" diameter X 10' green branch in a matter of about 15 seconds and it shreds 5 bags of leaves into one in a matter of a few minutes. I really don't have any complaints other than I wish they would make a way of holding accessories that it requires to operate it (both bags, allen wrenches, safety glasses, etc.) that would keep them with the chipper. With this and my new Makita cordless chainsaw, I can clean my yard up in a matter of a few hours. If you're hesitating on buying one, don't. If you're comparing this to the average one at your local hardware, this will win hands down.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

Perfect for my laurel and photinia pruning. If was doing bigger stuff I would have ordered the gas unit which has more power, but the electric unit is fine for my purpose. Since I use mine only a couple times a year, I don't have to worry about old gas in a machine that has been setting for a long period.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

No problems since 2009. I purchased this machine after being frustrated by smaller, nylon line leaf chippers. It sounded expensive at the time but given the trouble-free usage these past 5 years it is worth the investment. As with all chippers, the drier the material the easier it flows through the chipper. If you are working with wet or damp leaves it helps to have an assistant; one to load the hopper and the other to mix it around with a large stick to ensure that it flows easily through the grinder. Sharpening the blades seemed intimidating at first for someone who is known to put a blunt edge on a sharp knife but is actually quite easy. It is easy to clean. Nice to buy a quality product made in the USA.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

Arrived in good order and have been very pleased in using it. Not made for big pieces of wood but works very well for small branches and vines ---I have a lot of both. Much quieter than I expected. Seems very well built and designed to take tough jobs.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

The unit works great. I love it because its so light; excellent for one man to lift into a p/u truck. It also does the job as advertised. The Honda motor is of flawless engineering; it always starts in all weather. Kudos to theses japs, what a motor! The brigs and stratton motors of old suck, they never start; kudos to this Honda motor, The attachments that this company offers, to vacuum leaves, SUCK!. Don't buy it. I tried all leave species, whether maple, plum or oak, it does not do the job. I got ripped off from this company on this piece of s*** product. The chipper is excellent, buy it! the vacuum system for leaves sucks the big one.::do not buy.

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.

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.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/18/14

This machine definitely takes the chore out of gathering leaves when they fall. It is powerful and is amazingly faster than raking. The mulching feature turns would be piles of leaves into finely chopped mulch that is easy to dispose of in a variety of ways. The mulched leaf bag is large capacity and easy to empty.

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!

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/17/14

Bought this as a gift for my husband, went electric as we did not want to deal with the hassles associated with gas engines. Unit has worked great, reducing giant piles of lawn and tree debris into manageable and useable piles of mulch. As long as you don't overload it, it does not clog up. Great for somebody that occasionally needs to mulch, as you can just put it away and it does not require regular maintenance as a gas engine version would and is lightweight enough for older people to handle.

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.

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!

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/13/14

I purchased this unit in 2011 to make better use of the piles of shrub and tree trimmings I create each year from my property upkeep. The well written instructions allowed me to assemble the unit with no problems. Pros: The engine starts well. It does a nice job of chipping brush and small limbs. Cons: In shredding leaves I found it bogs down easily, necessitating a slow feeding process. For limbs, I spend a lot of time pre-trimming to ensure the pieces will fit. The unit is noisy - ear protection is a must. I would recommend getting the tow attachment as moving it on 'rough' ground is otherwise difficult. Pay particular attention to the instructions on how to be a happy chipper. Despite the longer "Con" list for me, I still give this product 4 stars as it is well constructed and performed as designed. For my application, I believe I really needed a bigger chipper.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/12/14

I have a small vineyard in my yard and I purchased the Patriot Electric Wood Chipper back in March of 2011. Assembly was easy although, the motor cover over the fan was dented which prevented the fan from operating freely. Patriot shipped me out a new cover immediately and customer service was very helpful and friendly. I did find that a couple of tac-welds broke free durring assembly but this was an easy fix on my part. The unit is very powerful and made quick work of my clippings. One caution I can share is that you should NOT turn off the chipper with wood in the unit as it is very hard to clear out if the unit becomes jammed. I had to unassemble the chipper to clear my jam. Overall I am very happy with my chipper and I would recommend this product to anyone.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/19/14

This is the third of three chippers that I've owned and has been by far the best performer. While its predecessors came from reputable firms, they were made overseas, were hard to work with, difficult to service, and hard to start. Failures on both included carbs and magnetos. In comparison, the Patriot chipper rated at 6.5 HP starts on the first pull, is easy to use, and has worked flawlessly. It has proven far more effective than the (claimed) 8 HP unit that it replaced. This is the only chipper I've had that came equipped with a gas shutoff valve and a drain valve for the carb, which minimizes carb fouling between uses. It is very east to maintain in terms of replacing or sharpening cutting heads using only a few tools, and the accompanying manual is complete and easy to follow. I would recommend this chipper fully to anyone, but particularly to those who prefer their investments in tools to last for a long time.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/11/14

I'm glad I bought this wood chipper. It was important to me to get one with an electric motor because I thought I'd use it infrequently and thought the electric motor would be easier to maintain. So far, the only maintenance I've done has been to sharpen the blade. I used my Dremel to do the sharpening. One nice touch from Patriot is that they provide the Allen wrench necessary to remove the blade. One improvement I suggest to Patriot is that they make it easier to clean out clogs. This is the only reason I'm rating at 4 stars instead of 5. It takes me over 15 minutes to unclog. I think all the clogs have been my fault. Most frequently clogs occurred because I didn't empty the collection bag early enough. Also, I've clogged the chipper if I put too many green leaves in the leaf hopper. I also clogged the chipper once by putting in cactus. Wood chips from the chipper are about the size of a dime. I like to use these on the paths of my garden. Dried leaves in the hopper come out pulverized and are great for compost. Very small sticks of about ¼ inch or less come out broken but don't pulverize like the leaves or chip. I was worried about having problems with my circuit breaker but am very happy with how things are going. If the wood chipper is clogged, the circuit breaker will pop. If I push in a large branch I can make the breaker pop. But if I put in a large branch I can hear the flywheel start to slow down and pull out the branch a bit, let it speed up and everything works great. I've been using an outlet on a 20 amp circuit breaker. The directions said to use a 12 gauge extension cord but I bought a beefier one. This wood chipper is small and you need to feed in items to be shredded slowly. For example, you would not be able to dump in a large bag of leaves. You would need to feed them in a handful or 2 at a time. I don't have the vacuum kit and don't know how that works. The manual says you can chip sticks of up to 2.5" in diameter and I guess you can but I think that is pushing the limits. Assembly was really easy and the packaging was very good. The User's Manual and documentation is also really good. Thanks Patriot.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/11/14

I've been using my Patriot chipper/shredder for about 3 years now and am very impressed with the quality. It's nice to see good old American Made products made with high-quality standards. This equipment is not intended to compete with the $150 stamped sheet metal Harbor Freight shredders. This is heavy cast steel body, thick plastic feeder and cone (of about the same thickness and durability as a 55 gallon plastic rain barrel), and a powerful electric motor protected by a high quality over-temperature shut-off switch. It's beefy. A petite woman may have some difficulty wheeling it up a hill, but generally, the large wheels make it easy to navigate despite its weight. I'm 150lb and can maneuver it without difficulty, even up moderately sloped hills. Let me address several of the concerns mentioned in other reviews: 1) WET LEAVES: The worst reviews are from people who tried to shred wet leaves. This will be a problem for just about any shredder, so if you need to shred wet leaves, do extensive research and you'll almost certainly have to eliminate any electric shredders. I live in Seattle (frequently have wet leaves in the fall), and I've learned how to wait until the leaves have had a couple days of "air time" to dry out before shredding. Don't rake them into a pile if you're not going to shred them immediately. Once the pile gets wet, your leaves will be very hard to shred since the middle of the pile stays wet and starts to get slimy as it decomposes. 2) GREEN STUFF: This shredder absolutely CAN shred certain green yard debris. Green branches are no problem. Green laurel leaves are no problem (I shredded trimmings from about 100' of 8-foot laurels). It could be that some green leaves turn "pulpy" and build up, which does occur on occasion. 3) CLOGGING: When buildup does occur, I have ALWAYS been able to clear the buildup with a bent wire (about the gauge of a coat hanger) without disassembling everything. First turn off the shredder and unplug it. Unscrew just the front cone (requires loosening one bolt and removing one other). Feed the wire into the output port where the bag attaches and pull out any clogs. Then, feed the wire into the front port where the cone attaches, along the bottom of the fly wheel and pull out any clogs built up along that bottom. Done. 4) FEEDING: I always have a 2 or 3 foot stick (1/2" to 3/4" thick) handy to help fluff the leaves in the top hopper and help them feed into the shredder. This is not a big hassle that some have described. Be careful not to push that stick too far down into the blades, though. 5) CHIPPING: This chipper AMAZED me when I got ambitious and chipped a 20' branch that I think was about 2.5" diameter at the thickest. Whatever diameter it was, it just barely fit through the bottom of the cone. It did require me to carefully control the feed rate and hold the branch tightly (with gloves). But after it got down below 1.5" thickness, I pretty much let gravity feed it and loosened my grip. It took me about 15-20 minutes to chip the entire branch, and I got a large bag of beautiful, fairly uniform wood-chip mulch for the flower beds from it. 6) SHUTOFF: There is a thermal shutoff that does a great job of protecting the motor. It has tripped a few times while I was feeding damp leaves and the motor bogged down. If you listen to the motor, you can adjust your feed rate to minimize the motor dragging. Overall, I highly recommend this chipper / shredder for fairly heavy home use.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/11/14

Would be nice if the manufacturer replaced the nuts, for the chipper chute, with wing nuts. Due to space limitations, I have to remove the chute with each use.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/11/14

I bought this chipper a few months ago to help clean up branches that I needed to get rid of so I can mow. I've used it several times and it has performed just great. The first time I tried to use it at my house and it tripped the breaker in my garage, so I've moved it out to the barn where it has a dedicated circuit and it goes through everything I have stuffed into it. I find that it works best when the branches are no more than 7 feet long, which is about as long as I can handle with gloves, and no more than 2 inches thick at the base. Once this chipper gets going, the branch practically chips itself. I am so glad not to have one more gasoline engine to take care of too. I would recommend this chipper to anyone who needs a solid, durable chipper and doesn't want the hassle and ongoing costs of filling up a gas engine.

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!

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.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/10/14

I bought this product 2.5 years ago and use it for shredding wheat straw and to a lesser extent chipping tree branches. There have been no mechanical problems and it starts easily. The shredder leaves some pieces of straw longer than 10 inches so it could do a bit better on that. The chipper turns everything into small chips. There is a bit of a learning curve in that I clogged the chipper a few times before I learned how to load it. It was fairly easy to unclog and now I don't clog it any more. All in all, I would say that this is a solid product and I'd buy it again knowing what I know now. Can't always say that about big purchases.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/06/14

Takes care of leaves and trimmings from two acres of woodlands. Outstanding job. Love the ease of use and the Briggs and Stratton engine runs flawlessly. Recommend the hitch for towing if area is fairly large and not flat.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/05/14

We have 2 1/4 acres, hundreds of trees that need trimming or that "self" trim. Before we got this trimmer, we would build a pile of debris big enough to warrant paying for haul away. No more. This machine is amazing. As long as you respect its size limitations and power needs, you will have no problem with it. We have easily saved the purchase price and would not be without it!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/05/14

I am very pleased with my Patriot Electric Chipper. Here in Arizona the mesquite and palo verde trees grow year round, making up for the desert conditions. They produce volumes of new shoots every season. The Patriot electric chipper works great on these. I use the chips for mulching my fruit trees, which is needed to hold in moisture in the desert here. The Patriot electric chipper does not work quite so well with dry stuff for shredding or dry sticks from the mesquite and palo verde trees, but it says that in the instructions, it works best on fresh green woody stuff. Also, it really helps to sharpen the blade from time to time. The first time it was a little touchy for me to open it up and remove the blade due to unfamiliarity, but now it is pretty easy. Just a little resharpening makes a big difference after having used it for a while. I think it would be good for me to order a second blade so I can always have a sharp one ready to reinstall, then sharpen the removed one at my leisure, but I have not done that yet. I am not saying that you have to resharpen the blade all of the time, as I haven't done it very much at all. But if the chipper starts to seem lethargic on chipping, sharpen the blade. My biggest complaint is that the Patriot Electric Chipper needs a 20 amp circuit. I have outdoor sockets all around my home but the only 20 amp circuits are in the kitchen. If I use the outdoor sockets for power, the breaker is thrown soon after starting the Patriot Chipper. So, I have to string a power cord out of my kitchen out to the yard for the chipper. Of course, this is a fault of my house, not the chipper. I believe the chipper instructions say you need to use a 20 amp circuit, and that is certainly my experience. I cannot do big limbs with the Patriot Electric Chipper (which the instructions say you cannot), but it works well on green ones up to about half an inch or slightly more. I do not recommend doing this to dried wood though, especially mesquite, which is very hard. Mesquites do not have much of a leaf to worry about shredding, and palo verdes have no leaves at all. So, I do not have much experience using the Patriot Electric Chipper to shred leaves or anything else. But these trees can grow new shoots a quarter inch or more in diameter and four to six feet long in a season. The Patriot Chipper turns them to mincemeat mulch material.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/04/14

I have owned this for 3 years. It works like a charm. Love the electric motor: no hassle start, no oil change, just plug it in and turn it on. I have recommended it to friends.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/03/14

I love my Electric Patriot Chipper/Leaf Shredder. It is quite powerful - there are no stinky gas fumes. I have used it a lot over about a year and I really don't have a complaint. It uses every bit of the 14 amps as it chips through limbs. I use up to about 2" limbs. It likes hard wood versus soft, spongy wood like live willow branches, but that is true for all chippers that I have used. I would definitely recommend this chipper as part of your gardening supplies.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/03/14

I have used this product every couple of months for over 2 years. The chipper works as advertised. Be sure to use an appropriately rated extension cord or you will be tripping your AC supply breaker. The assembly instructions could have been better but typical from my experience.

I am a 70 year old woman and I assembled the chipper with the help of my daughter and I operate the chipper myself. The assembly directions could be more detailed for someone who doesn't assemble machinery, but we got it done in about an hour. The hardest thing was getting it out of the box. It rolls easily up and down hills and uneven ground. I wish the chipper would take larger size limbs, but I wanted an electric machine and that is what it takes. I was concerned about removing the blade, but it's not a big deal. I ordered a second blade because I couldn't find a place to get the first one sharpened. It would be nice if two blades were included in the initial shipment because the blades do need to be changed and the postage for the individual blade seems too high. The only real problem I have had is when metal flap over the discharge tube wouldn't stay up under the weight of the bag which caused the machine to clog. The machine was not hard to unclog, but that is something you have to watch out for. All in all I'm glad I bought the chipper because I bought a house with a large lot that had been neglected, It has helped clear away most of the shrubs and small limbs. I have only a lawn mower with which to compare the operation of the chipper and I think in terms of difficulty of operation, weight, etc. I think it's about the same level--not very difficult.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/03/14

Engine starts right up no problems, chips and shreds everything I give it. Makes the best mulch available. Only problem I have is putting gas in the tank.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/02/14

I got this chipper for the convenience of electric chipper. It is the only electric chipper shredder powerful enough to to a decent job. THis chipper is fine for handling city lot gardens , but if you have a large lot I recommend a larger, powerful gasoline model, just to speed up the job. Handles branches from pruning fruit trees and bushes as fast as you can feed them in. Fresh cut garden waste and plants need more care to feed them slowly as moisture in plants sticks inside and prevents shredder from blowing them out quickly. I try to let any plant trimmings from the garden to dry out for a week or 2 before I start shredding them, this lets the shredder process them quicker. The shredder bag is handy for things like leaves that get ground fine and are dusty, but for most shredding I just lay down a trash barrel beside the outlet and shoot right into it, with a piece of hardware cloth to block most of the barrel opening. Clogs due to too much moist plant shredding can usually be cleared by unplugging and using a hose an lots of water to flush the material out of the guts without taking apart the shredder. I use it at least monthly the year round for all my yard cleanup and compost the results combined with kitchen vegetable waste, in several tumbles compose units

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/02/14

I purchased the Patriot CSV-2515 14 Amp chipper shredder in FEB 2014. It is now AUG 2014 and I have used it six times. I am not happy with the quality of the chipping - it creates as many long slivers (2-4 inches) as it does chips. Yes, you can run these back through it, but it still doesn't do a good job on them. The percentage of slivers keeps decreasing each pass through the chipper, but it is tedious and tiring. My evaluation of the chipping is VERY POOR. It also tends to overheat during mid-90deg temperatures. I am generally doing small limbs (1.50" maximum, mostly much smaller), but it definitely struggles with anything over 3/4". It also draws a lot of current at startup - blows a 20A fuse on utility pole every time, so I have to run it on my shop's 30A feed. I use it with a short 12/3 AWG extension cord.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/02/14

I bought this chipper for my husband for Christmas. He's an electrical engineer and very fussy about the quality of his tools, so I was slightly concerned about buying him something like this without his input. Thankfully, he was extremely pleased with its quality and performance and was like a giddy child when he got to use it after Christmas. It's provided all the mulch for our landscape, too, so there's something in it for everyone!

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/02/14

I was looking for a chipper worthy of my heavily wooded 2 acres. After much research, I settled on this unit and have had no regrets. It easily chomped down my 3" limbs which I can now use as mulch or for compost material. I have been using it steadily for 7 months now and have had no problems. The instructions for assembling it were straightforward. It cranks up easy enough every time and seems very solid. I have used the hopper to some extent and would rate its chopping ability as slightly above average for twigs and leaves. I would recommend purchase of the larger bag for those with really big yards since the standard supplied one fills up rather quickly. I also recommend that users keep a solid 3" round piece of wood handy for gently pushing in those small limbs that sometimes hang in the feeder tube and bounce around. Overall, this has been a high quality chipper and I am glad I made the purchase.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/01/14

A great chipper and shredder. I can't compare it to any gas engine models, but this chipper does the job for me. Solidly built, no pollution, lower decibels, nothing to complain about at all. Recommended highly! I also recommend purchasing hearing and eye protection and the push stick.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/01/14

We have had this electric chlipper for over a year now and my husband uses it almost every week. We have had several large trees fall and instead of burning brush he has made wonderful piles of mulch that we use around the plants that has been a god send since we are in a drought. He doesn't run it contstantly and said he wished it had a bit larger engine has gottne arouond this problem by althernating between cutting branches and getting them ready and then running a nice pile through. Occassionally it will overheat and shut down but this just gives him time to restock the brush and start again. We had a gas yardman before this one and opted for the electric and glad we did. It starts easy and runs like a charm. If we wear this one out I am sure we will be back for another.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/01/14

I got this last Summer, and used it a lot-maybe 60 or 70 full baqs. It will get more workout this Fall. Like some other reviewers, I find that the chipper tube works great if you are reasonable about the size of pieces you feed it. Fresh cut branches work better than old dead and dry stuff. The shredder requires fairly slow and careful feeding to avoid jams and clogs. You can't just dump a basket of leaves into the hopper. If you don't push it too hard it works fine. Both chipper and shredder chop things up very nicely into excellent size for mulch. The machine is solid and well made, and should last a long time.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/01/14

I had a 10 HP gas engine chipper/shredder before this, but got tired of the hassles of stale fuel, hard starting and temperamental operation. For an electric chipper/shredder, the Patriot is surprisingly powerful. I've owned other chippers over the years that did not come close to handling the size of branches they claimed to handle. The Patriot is the first one that is actually living up to it's claim, however, at least for me. Another thing I like about this particular machine is that it's built like a tank. After years of owning my share of flimsy junk in general either because I couldn't find anything decent to buy or I was trying to save money, it's a pleasure to use something that at least looks like it will last a long time. I'm old enough to remember when the majority of merchandise in the US used to be more like this product. Obviously it's not inexpensive, but you usually do get what you pay for. This machine looks like it will be worth the money. Good job.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/01/14

This chipper/shredder works like a charm, I chewed up branches with no problems

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/31/14

Have used the chipper for 2.5 years so far and have had no problems whatsoever. It produces a bag full of chips relatively quickly. While it is loud, it is much quieter than my neighbors' chippers. This machine is built to last.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/31/14

We've owned this chipper now for over a year, and on the whole it is a stellar product. Very durably built, easy to understand and use, pleasant to operate, effective at its task. What a relief to not have to choke on gas and exhaust fumes and still get the job done, not to mention all the time and money saved by not buying gas or hassling with an internal combustion engine! The only things that are keeping me from 5-starring this is that it can be a little finicky about what you put in it, such that I've had to take the chute off to unclog it (not an easy task) probably 8 times now. If I'm chipping anything over an inch in diameter, it takes a light and careful touch to keep it from bogging down, then clogging if I don't take the hint immediately. Also wet or leafy stuff clogs it pretty fast, and totally dried-out branches dull the blade. So it's really best for winter-cut branches chipped promptly. As far as output, I imagine it works about like your average smallish gas chipper: dime-sized chips mixed with some unchipped twigs (which I sift out for kindling). The chips, once sifted, make a very good path mulch.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/31/14

Patriot does the job intended for it. Only problems are due to operator failure, i.e. overloading. When the unit is jammed it can be freed up in time. Follow instructions and the unit does what they it will do. I'm a happy chipper.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/31/14

Great chipper for our needs. We are in Massachusetts, and end up with a fair amount of fall and spring clean. This chipper has been very helpful cleaning up our yard. We have used it for leaves, small twigs, and large branches. Being on wheels makes it very portable as well. We can have piles of yard waste, and wheel the chipper to the piles rather than raking everything over to one area.

CSV-2540H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/31/14

I researched before choosing this model. I didn't know much about chippers or shredders but I had so many branches down after Hurricane Sandy I had to do something. I love Honda motors, we got a Honda generator too. Very reliable. I am very happy with this choice. Now I want to go get everyone else's leaves this fall and shred them to use as mulch in my garden!

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.

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.

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

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/30/14

I didn't want a gas machine but wanted something powerful enough to deal with the smaller trees and shrubs I have on my 0.34 acre in So Cal and this seemed to fit the bill. I've had this unit now for two seasons and it while it has its foibles it makes life a lot easier when you have a lot of material to process. It reduces small branches, twig, and leaf volumes down by at least 7-fold which is great when you can't compost that much material and only have two greenery cans for weekly pick up. I see some complain about it not handling wet vegetation, or really dry wood, or clogging. If you don't want to read the manual or learn the limitations of the chipper, don't buy one and hire a landscaping crew to do it for you or get your material hauled it away. If you are willing to be patient and follow some rules it will do an outstanding job. 1. Judge whether it can handle material by feeding it slowly and listening to the chipper - too thick and the motor will slow, and if you don't pull back, it will eventually trip your circuit. 2. Don't put anything very fibrous in it (e.g. New Zealand flax) - it can't cut it cleanly and the fibers wrap around inside and are difficult to remove. Palm fronds can be chipped if fed in slowly but not via the leaf hopper. 3. Don't put succulents or very wet material in it - it will clog. 4. Don't put too much material in the leaf hopper at once - feed it slowly to give it chance to clear through. 5. Patience works a lot better than pushing it too hard. If you follow these basic things it rarely clogs. When it does clog, my trick, as others have mentioned, is to switch it off, unplug it, turn it upside down, making sure it is stable on the leaf hopper, plug it back in and turn it on. The clog usually breaks free and is ejected. Be very careful if you do this as I am sure it is not recommended by the manufacturer and could cause injury if not done carefully. Also be aware of the bag being too full and chipped material backing up into the chipper and clogging it. It is loud so you should wear ear plugs when using it. Dry wood/dead branches vibrate in your hand hard while feeding it into the chipper and also dull your blades faster. This chipper works best with freshly-cut non succulent tree branches and shrubs. I bought this unit when realizing I wanted something that was going to have some power and which would last. I read the reviews for the cheaper electric chippers and was unconvinced. I am very happy with my Patriot Electric Chipper. It helps me clean up my yard trimmings faster and allows me to spend that saved time doing other things.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/14

We bought this product for light clean-up for small bushes and shrubs. It works very well. Won't handle anything that is too much like a vine but all in all in grinds up what we need and then we use the chips to mulch the beds. Would certainly recommend this for light work.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/14

The blades must be kept very sharp with a grinder to chip wood well. The thermal cutoff protects you from damaging the motor. The wood chips it makes are small with a sharp blade and are ideal for mulching.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/14

Patriot Products CSV-2515 14 Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Leaf Shredder (Lawn & Patio) A great chipper and shredder. chips branches and leafs to smaa sizes, the unit is fine for my one acre yard, I can't compare it to any gas engine models, but this chipper does the job for me. very strong, easy to handle and relocate, no pollution, lower decibels, nothing to complain about at all. I recommended highly! I also recommend safety glasses. Only problem during overloading. When the unit is jammed it can be freed up in time, and the unit does what they it will do. I'm a happy chipper.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/14

Purchased in 2012. Replaced a 9 horse gas powered chipper/shredder. No trouble starting in cold weather.. No dealing with gas or fouled carburetor. . Works very well creating mulch to use around a residential yard with lots of mature trees and hedges.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/14

I've had my Patriot Chipper 2 seasons now and I love it. I compost my yard refuse and this chipper processes my yard waste into a perfect blend for my compost piles. It is very well built and has performed well beyond my expectations. I didn't want another gas engine to maintain but was worried the electric motor wouldn't be up to the task. The power is more than ample for my needs and this chipper has handled everything I have put through it. I highly recommend this chipper and am happy an American built product is so well designed and manufactured. Great product!

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/14

This is a workhorse of a machine. It takes humongous piles of old rosemary down to a bagful that easily fits in a garbage can. We have a lot of clean up and clean out to do here and we could not have done it or be doing it without this tough machine! It pulverizes huge palm fronds like butter too!

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.

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.

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/27/14

Great chipper! Was a gift for my wife who wanted a small yard chipper to manage our 'woods' and use the chips and shreds for mulch and composting. Very user friendly and maneuverable. And nice to have a simple and well-written manual. Maintenance steps are well-outlined, and simple enough that she can actually perform them herself. The jams that we have caused (by inattention) are easy to fix. Will probably be purchasing a larger gas version in the future.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/27/14

We bought this chipper for the scrub oak around our yard in Arizona. Opted for electric over the hassle of gas/oil, etc. The unit works as advertised on smaller branches and does a good job of reducing the many small limb trimmings to a pile of mulch. Having said that, you need to do quite bit of prep work on your trimmings before putting them in the chipper or you end up jamming it. When that happens, you're faced with unbolting the feed mechanism and unclogging the thing. This isn't a quick process and is the biggest negative with the weaker electric motor. If you're careful about what you put in the Patriot, don't rush it and empty the clippings bag before it gets full, you have a decent little chipper. It's not a replacement for a more powerful gas-powered unit, however.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/27/14

I find that it is so easy to use the electric chipper since I have used gas choppers before that were noisier and hard to start. I have a lake side wooded lot and have landscaping needs that are satisfied with this easy to use electric chipper. I am extremely satisfied at the ease of sharpening the chipper blade. With the death of our scotch pines I have a multitude of branches to grind up into mulch for landscaping the property. I have had years of use so far!

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/27/14

I'm real happy with this purchase. It starts easily, and does exactly what the well written manual says it can do. Be sure to follow the instructions in the manual with respect to running some water down the shredder when finished with a shredding job. This prevents material from drying inside the machine, preventing the need to remove dried out material the next time one uses the machine. I forgot to do this once, ran into a minor inconvenience the next time I used the machine dealing with dried up mulch in the discharge chute.

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.

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/26/14

The Patriot Electric Wood Chipper/Leaf Shredder is solidly built and easy to assemble. The instruction manual is a clear, thorough model of what an instruction manual should be. As other reviewers have noted, the machine tends to clog unless you are feeding it bone dry vegetation, and even then you have to feed it very gradually. It is no fun to unclog the machine--even with a water hose. Once we started to use only the driest vegetation and to feed this in gradually, we were very happy with the machine. It turns out very finely shredded vegetation suitable for speeding up the composting process. We did not try using the machine as a wood chipper. We have had the Patriot for two seasons and have had no problems with it other than the ones mentioned above.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/26/14

I have used the Patriot CSV-2515 Chipper / Leaf Shredder for over 18 months and it has proven to be a very useful tool in producing mulch for my garden. My goal is to recycle all the green waste on my property so that I never have to send it to the municipal dump. My property has a number of fruit and ornamental trees as well as many types of perennial shrubs all of which are pruned, trimmed and leaf collected at various times of the year. The Patriot reduces all these wastes to a useful size for garden mulch. One thing I have learned is to never put really green or wet waste into the hopper as it will not pass this material through very easily and will occasionally plug. I've learned to let things dry out a bit before processing and this works well. I also have learned that the instruction manual's recommendations to wear hearing protection and a dust mask are worth following as the unit can be noisy when chipping wood and can produce some dust when shredding lots of dry material. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the Patriot and expect it will provide me with many years of use.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/26/14

The Patriot Electric Chipper/Shredder is high quality. For an occasional user it is much better than one with gas motor as is starts with the flip of a switch. It is more than adequate for your routine yard cleanup.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/26/14

This chipper just keeps running. It does very well with fairly large branches and outputs a very fine quality chip. It send the product through the outlet with so much force that I seldom have to spread out the chips. I just point the outlet where I want them to land. I use a spare log to help push bushy materials down in the inlet chute, but they also sell a plunger for this purpose. Its easy to move. its weight makes it a bit challenging to pull up steep slopes. I remove gas and run it dry in the winter. Next Spring, it started up just fine. Highly recommended for homeowners with a need for a good quality chipper/shredder.

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.

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!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/20/14

This is an excellent chipper and I'm quite happy with my purchase. I wanted a chipper that could handle a variety of materials and really deliberated about gas or electric. Patriot's website is not clear about the model differences aside from the obviously larger engine of the gas products. The larger engine models have two blades and therefore can cut much faster. This electric model has only one. That said, it still performs swimmingly particularly with wet or newly cut material. With older, harder wood it will bog down and possibly even overheat the breaker. I have yet to trip the switch on the motor even when hot, but my dedicated 20A circuit will shut down if the motor slows under heavy load. I am considering moving to a 30A breaker to mitigate this. A sharp blade is also a critical component of the equation. It is fairly easy to remove the blade so there's no reason not to keep it sharp. Chipping old wood dulls it faster and makes this that much more important.

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

wow

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/05/14

The Patriot CSV-2515 has met and exceeded all my expectations. I recommend it highly for residential yard care use. I have a 1.2-acre property with wetlands at both ends. Alder, holly, and other tough vegetation springs up quickly and I needed a chipper to handle up to 2" branches. After my maintenance headaches with a gas mower and a gas chain saw, I strongly preferred an electric chipper. My researched revealed few entries in this market, and many were poorly reviewed. Many have praised this device so I tried it. It comes with the motor and chipper, heavy plastic feed hoppers, safety goggles, and an adequate bag to catch the chips. I do most of my chipping on the cone-shaped feed hopper on the front of the unit. Pros: * It works, everything up to 2.5 inches. Branches bigger than about 1.25 inches need to be fed slowly to keep the RPMs up. * It makes short work of blackberries and other vines. * It is electric. Maintenance consists of lubricating the bearings and sharpening/replacing the chipping blade assembly. * It is well-engineered. The design employs a heavy steel flywheel, well-balanced, that really crunches on branches. The housing appears to be cast iron. With a little craft, you can chip anything that fits. * It is well-built. In service, parts do NOT rattle or show others signs of poor assembly. * It is made in the U.S. and you can get parts. * It may be the only decent electric chipper available on earth. Cons * To move the unit, one grabs the embedded handle on the top of the plastic hopper, tips it back, and rolls it. Pulling the heavy steel motor/chipper with the plastic handle puts a lot of stress on the plastic parts, which may fatigue and break over time. * All chippers are dangerous tools, and this is no exception. In use, there is great temptation to stick one's fingers in the hoppers to clear jams. I purchased the Chipper Buddy tool but it did not help much. The heavy flywheel takes about 20 seconds to spin down before it is safe to reach in. Because of this, I dreaded stopping the motor to clear a jam. Overall, the Pros of this unit engulf and swallow the Cons. Move the unit carefully, keep your fingers and toes out, wear the goggles, and you will love it! No spark plug to foul, no fuel line to clog, no throttle linkage to adjust. Just turn it on and start chippin'!

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**"!!

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/03/14

I bought one of these with the Tecumseh 6.5 HP motor about 14 years ago (around 2000). It's been a real work horse, and I really couldn't do without it. It's chipped and shredded literally tons of english ivy from a tall fence at the back of my property, as well as various trees that I've planted and had to prune regularly or remove to make way for something else. The Tecumseh motor is usually quite hard to start when cold. I've found through trial and error that richening up the idle mixture screw for starting helps considerably. But obviously this doesn't apply to the current model with the B&S motor, which I hope starts easier than the Tecumseh. The Tecumseh motor is old enough that it actually has a user-adjustable idle mixture screw. I'm sure the more recent motors eliminate this feature, for better or worse. BTW, the machine used to backfire when shutting down before I realized the screw at the bottom of the carb bowl adjusted idle mix. After I adjusted that for max rpm, it no longer backfires. So it probably came from the factors leaned out too much to make the CARB folks happier. The chipping is great. As long as the branch can fit down the cone, the blades will make short work of it. The shredding is good too, but not as easy. After using the shredder for over a decade, I finally removed the rubber shield over the shredding area, and have found that this makes it much easier to add material to be shredded. Yes, there is some toss back of chips and shreds, but I always wear glasses and have never had a problem getting hit by any of it. Kids, don't try that at home. I've had to rotate the hammers to get fresh sharp edges, and I've also replaced them entirely. I've hand sharpened the chipper blades as well. Also, have had to replace the outboard bearing twice now. You can tell when it needs replacement: It gets noisy and loose. I found a generic bearing online that's less than half the price that Patriot wants. Just pull the old bearing, read the standard bearing number off it, and you're good to go. Most recently however the machine surprised by by suddenly breaking its wheel axle while it was just sitting there idling. The whole left side of the axle just broke in two. I was able to finish the pile of branches I was working on by resting the now wheel-less side of the unit on a cinder block. Not exactly looking forward to what will be involved with the repair. Notice that Patriot has a new assembly for about $100 including shipping. Alternatively I might try just drilling appropriate holes and mounting a new axle fabricated from 5/8" steel rod from the local HW store ($10). The advantage to this is that it won't require tearing the machine apart to separate the motor from the rotor. This is assuming I can grind off the other half of the axle assembly that's still welded to the base plate. Such fun! After taking a closer look at what would be involved with grinding off the old axle and trying to squeeze in nuts and bolts to fix a new axle from steel rod... decided to order up a new axle/motor mount plate from Patriot. I also noticed the tread on the stock wheels was separating from the rims, so got new wheels as well. Spoke with Keith, who I see is the owner of Patriot. He said the new wheels were a better, more durable design with a better real rubber tread instead of the plastic tread on the originals, so that sold me on them. And yes, fixing this will involve tearing the machine apart but nothing I shouldn't be able to handle. Also gonna be taking some measurements to see if I can retrofit a 10 hp Harbor Freight "Predator" motor to the machine. The Predator has the advantage over the Tecumseh of not only being more powerful but also having overhead valves (and presumably also being easier to start). But I have to say the Tecumseh just keeps on chugging along regardless.

CSV-3090H - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/31/14

I've used this for about 20 hours now. I've noticed that the blades seem duller after this amount of time, which I believe is well under the purported longevity of the blades. It just seems like branches are not sucked into the unit like they were before, they are repelled outward like spears. One actually shot out and jabbed me--was not happy about that, but at least it wasn't my face. The unit can handle up to 3", but anything over 2" it will just shoot back out at you unless you push it hard inward, and it seems the unit cannot really handle that either, so I would consider it a 'very small branch handling machine'. It can't handle roots or branches with twists whose angle exceeds 3", nor can it handle small trees. If you want to chip small branches, I've found it best to sent in top-first, by either bundling the small branches or bending the tree in half and leading that into the cone. Shredding is very uneven. I find I have to re-shred or shred-then chip to get what I want, which is ok. My main gripe with this unit is that it ended up getting halted by something it couldn't handle well, I think the leaves and grass clumps and branches were too moist and it clogged. I had to clear it by hand and remove the cone to pull out what was blocking, and then coax it to restart. This was very difficult. Then five minutes later, it did the same. So I wasted about an hour working on fixing the machine itself and about maybe 5-10 minutes actually doing real work. I was unhappy about all of this, and it made me think about selling the unit to some sucker (other sucker), while selling it as a top of the line thing. And then kicking myself for not spending twice as much for a used commercial unit that can chip nearly anything because that's what I really need

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.

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!

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!

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/07/14

The build quality seems to be very good but the electric motor just is not strong enough over heats too much and have to wait for it to cool down to reset. I think this chipper would work great with a stronger motor

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/11/14

I am going into the third year with this. It is rugged, easily starts, and handles the material handily. Be aware that it has limitations, which are clearly described. For example, 3" diameter is maximum. Branches should be fairly straight. Feed material slowly. Ignoring these rules, and it will clog. Best to chip fresh wood. Dry wood will certainly dull the knives. It starts and runs very easily...amazingly so. I brought it out of winter storage and WAM!...started right up. The maintenance (theoretically) is easy. Oil change is OK. Replacing the knives is OK, but I did have a problem. A knife on my original unit was NOT coming off. Turns out that the part that receives the thread was not welded on correctly. It was beyond anything I could do. So, Patriot shipped me a new chipper. The hammers? I tried to remove those, but it is beyond my capability. I dunno how it is gonna be done. Doesn't matter. I do not really need to replace those, anyway. Trust me. This is one darn good product! Don't let its relative small size fool you.

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.

Gator Grabber - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/05/14

no bending when picking up leaves or yard waste. Hands out of gunk helpful with leaves doesn't stay locked in position keeps shortening during use.

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.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/25/14

I've used this shredder-chipper for about a year as we clear an acre of invasive (holly, blackberry) species and lots of leaf and branch drop from alders and firs. It starts easily and dependably and runs well (although the directions for the motor weren't great). The main learning curve has to do with size and moisture. Don't expect to chip dry branches of any size or density. I now won't put anything through it that's more than an inch and even less if it's hard. But green wood works great--rapidly feeds branches up to a realistic 2 inches (forget 3--that's the size of the feeder opening). I can chip and shred a huge pile into a yard or two of mulch in about 45 minutes (you also learn how to stack brush with base toward the machine). Shreds leaves, cones, small branches really well but here the reverse applies: shredder works better on dry than green. Blade change is easy but, like all tools, it really pays to change more often than you think. Sharp cutters are a whole different machine. I love it and would buy it again.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/28/14

I gave this unit 4 stars because the instructions specifically said that the motor was shipped with oil already installed. The engine has two oil input ports, one of which was totally dry. The motor has a sensor that will not allow the engine to start with no/low oil level, which is a good feature. Oil fill points are recessed and hard to get to, so make sure you have a long funnel with a small tip. I filled the unit with Royal Purple, and it started easily. There is no OFF switch on the unit, you have to either pull the plug wire or shut off the fuel feed, neither of which I would consider nearly fast enough for something so potentially dangerous. The hopper on top feeds at an angle of sorts, which can lead to slow feeding/clogs but is OK for the most part. As far as the chipper unit, plan on taking every branch and hacking off knots and limbs before feeding. The feed chute is also long, and curved limbs will need to be cut down or they will bind against the chute. I am satisfied with the units quality, it does well on gas and starts fairly easily, however I have found that limb "prep time" makes me prefer to just burn them instead. I would recommend for mulching leaves and waste matter, but the units chipping speed is seriously hampered by its design. If you have huge amounts of limbs to do, you would be better off paying a tree service to bring a trailer mounted chipper instead.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/14/14

I occasionally chip / shred, and did not want the maintenance associated with a gas powered unit. This has worked out well. It does have the limitation of needing to have an electrical connection, but for the amount of chipping / shredding I do, I am content with wheeling a brush pile to this unit for chipping; this is not an issue for the average sized lot, as long extension cords can stretch to the property boundaries.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/06/14

Eats up every leaf and branch. This unit is very powerful and so far has handled anything I put in it. You need to follow the directions on how to put materials into it and, if you do, it should do the job for you. I have 32 trees in my backyard and 25 of them lose their leaves, so there is a lot of leaf shredding going on and some branch removal. I found the assembly instructions very clear and when I did have a problem, called Patriot's help line and they walked me through my issue. So far, a good investment. I got something stuck one time and tried to take it apart, but to no avail. Someone came over to my house and turned the unit over and everything that was clogging it fell out. So, sometimes, it takes a man with a lot of upper body strength. I would definitely recommend this machine and it is USA made. The one thing that I think is important to add is that I plug the unit into a dedicated circuit and use a really heavy duty electrical cord. This type of cord is very expensive, but it will serve your power supply very well and you will not trip your circuit breaker.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/19/13

This things does what they said it would. It is pretty impressive at chipping and shredding. the machine is not cheap or cheaply made. Great motor and solid construction. Don't load up to much green and or wet material thru the top shoot or it can get clogged up. But other than the ocasional clog, it works very well. It is also loud so wear your hearing protection. It has made tree trimming and pruning much easier and way more beneficial as I use the end product as mulch.

Gator Grabber - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/11/13

Have a lighter set of these made by another company and can't say these are as good just because they are so heavy made. Most people would love this and I'm sure it's a woman thing. For the man in the house this is a great product that will last doing those heavy jobs. It is a good product and very well made.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/09/13

Here is the key to great operation: I do have a 30 amp circuit and a heavy duty 30 amp extension cord, so the voltage at the motor is not compromised. failure to have enough voltage would mean slowing down and clogging risk would be higher indeed. Did I ever have fun grinding small branches, leaves (wet and dry) and garden debris. What a beautiful machine indeed. I guess you get what you pay for. This ground stuff has help speed composting I think. I did load the machine so the wind blew the dust from dry leaves away from me--good idea for sure. I did grind up a huge pile of wet leaves (we had over 1" of rain which brought down a lot of maple leaves and they were matted and heavy) and it seemed to work just fine without clogging. I am able to put small branches in the hog, but larger ones have to go into the knife end. I have been very successful at feeding long branches with leaves at the end into the cutter and they are pulled in without difficulty indeed. When feeding into the top chute for grinding, beaches with a lot of brushy-ness do not feed well; I strip off the side branches or break them so they are parallel to the main stem.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/31/13

We love this Patriot chipper. We wanted something just for leaves and small branches for my compost bin. It was easy to assemble and is very easy to operate. We feed the debris into the chipper at an even feed and have had no jamming. Also light enough to easily move from one location to another. The leaves shred to about one tenth their size which will work out great for mulch and compost. And it's made in the USA!!! We did purchase the 100 foot cord sold by the manufacturer, and we believe that was a very good investment as well.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/26/13

We have 2.5 acres of partly wooded land, and much landscaping with maybe 200 shrubs. We bought the Patriot 3090B (9HP B&S) about 3 years ago, and have been really impressed. It eats through straight weed trees up to 2.5 or 3 inches as advertised, pulling them through almost faster than I'd like. Bends and forks MUST be pre-cut, though the machine has never yet jammed in the branch feeder. I'll used this machine for days on end in our yard and it consistently reduces huge piles of brush, branches and shrub cuttings to mulch with reasonably little effort. Things to be careful about: Vines can be a problem, especially freshly cut (green) vines. They don't like to shred very well and have wrapped around the axle causing a tangle and overheated bearing (which was fine after disassembly and vine removal). One has to be conservative when feeding shrubs in the hopper top as too much at a time will jam the intake, and too much too fast can clog the outlet before all the material inside is chewed up and blown out. Same outlet jam occurs if you let the bag get too full. I use the smaller (supplied) bag, and just now bought another. The kind of chipping/shredding I do would weigh too much if I used the larger. A full day of chipping and shredding of shrubs yesterday resulted in zero jams, with the experience I've gained on this machine's use. All in all, this machine is one of the best investments I've made in tools for our property. We have only a small yard waste disposal area, and it is now continually being filled with mulch, which turns to soil in about a year, after which it goes into the garden as a rich compost. The Patriot reduces an amazing amount of material, including small trees, down to a manageable pile of compost.

Best Value Chipper Shredder Vacuum With Great Customer Service

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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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/13/13

I tried other small electric chippers. I wanted electric because the gas ones seem to beat themselves to death and I wanted less noise and smell and maintenance. I am very happy with this chipper. It is naturally not as powerful as a gas one, but that is to be expected with a 120 volt power supply. Once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy not to trip the breaker, especially if you're not trying to chip dry logs. I wonder if I could upgrade to a 240 volt motor.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/16/13

We just ran the chipper/shredder for the first time. It was our first time using a chipper/shredder. Branches, without too many minor bends, are eaten up like a champ. I now know that bucking them up will take a little more care. I was fun watching it eat young Alder trees, the bane of our area. It starts easily, and moves readily around. I wish the handle was a bit taller, a hunchback move. My only complaint it the literature. When two different books are needed to find how to assemble a very easily assembled tool, something is wrong. Then having to scour through a 3rd for starting instructions added to my frustration. There is no doubt they put a lot of thought into their design, an extra 15 minutes into their literature would have been well-spent time. This is the first tool I have purchased that requires oil that was not included. These minor chips on an otherwise well-built machine will be quickly forgotten in a pile shredded trees.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/26/13

This equipment is very well built and works flawlessly. The electric motor is industrial strength! Assembly is easy following the directions. All you really need to do is fasten the hopper and the feed funnel. All of the mechanical parts are completely assembled and ready to go. Eye protection is included. Consider getting the "Chipper Buddy" . Basically it is a ramrod designed so you cannot hit any of the cutting blades.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/09/13

At first, I was disappointed in this product because I tried to get it to shred dry leaves, and the machine jammed, but I think it had something to do with the plug-in I used. Two electricians came out to the house and thought I had adequate amps with my existing plug-ins. Not so. I had a "handyman" with an electrician's license put in a new 200 amp plug-in, and then we were in business. I have a lot of dogwood bushes about 20' high that need to be trimmed every year. This machine handled a pile of them in no time flat; plus it makes excellent mulch around the garden plants. The owner of the company couldn't be nicer, and it is clear he intends to stand behind his product.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/25/13

I have a very weak back due to a car wreck and cannot bend over for long periods of time. I love to work in my garden and flower beds so this grabber has made my outside working experience so much easier. It is so easy to pick up just about anything now. Product was made very well. I have ordered two of these now and will probably buy another to keep on my garage.

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.

Gator Grabber - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/20/13

This tool is best used to pick up heavy objects &/or to pick up piles. It is not good for picking up 1 item at a time, but it is great for picking up small to large piles. Both arms are adjustible up and down and it is made of durable material. A Great Tool To Have

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/18/13

It's been very wet on Long Island this summer so I haven't had too much time with good, dry conditions. The only time I used the Patriot, it worked very well and is very quiet! I recommend using the bag to catch the chips because the pieces come flying out and then require rake and shovel to collect. Assembly not too bad. Seems solid. The motor seems very capable for the job. Did not jam over a 2 hour work load and never tripped my circuit (I used a 12 gauge cord 100ft). I used gloves, safety googles and ear protection. One branch end flew out the feed tube, so protecting your hands, face, and eyes is a must.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/08/13

As others have indicated this is a much better unit than the cheaper models. I have owned a gasoline powered chipper/shredder in the past and although this is pretty good it does require some patience. It does an excellent job on dry leaves as long as you feed it in slowly. Any material that is green and potentially fibrous will cause problems. My recommendation is to let green material dry in the open air and then use this machine. Small greens like flowers are no problem but larger vegetable plants can cause some irritation. Over all the build quality is excellent and the unit is much quieter than a gasoline powered unit but not something you want to start up at 7:00 in the morning on a Sunday if you have neighbors. Read the instructions before using and don't think like I did that since I had used one before that I didn't need to adhere to their advice. Overall I like this unit very much.

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.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/27/13

This item does not work with fresh green clippings, leaves and plant matter from a normal home garden. We read the instructions carefully and followed all manufacturer directives to the letter on assembly, how to feed, what to feed and where to feed each kind of plant matter. However, green plant matter turns into a solid hard mass that clogs up the blade housing and stops the motor. Even when we increased the proportions of dried plant matter to green plant matter much more than 50/50 manual recommended mix, it still clogged. The Amazon item description should have noted this machine is not intended to be used for fresh green clippings, leaves and plant matter from the average garden. The product listing was misleading by omitting normal home gardener use expectations. Consequently, I am returning it for a full refund.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/18/13

I needed a small shredder for a long time. I new this brand was highly rated electric model from different sources. I did not want a gas version because they are very loud and stink from petrol. I was looking for a cleaner and quieter machine. This year I head to bit a bullet and purchased a brand new from Amazon. (there was non used available anywhere) Once I assembled the unit I tested it in the garage where the wiring is old. Sure enough at the start the fuse was blown. Connected it to an outlet where I had a 12GA wiring circuit. Machine revved up nicely. In about half a day I was able to shred all of my small branches. I usually burn the heavier stocks in my fire place, so I would say that I was shredding between 1" to 1.5" branches. It blew the fuse once because I stuffed in too many branches in the chute. So far I did not see any increase on my electric bill. (I try to be efficient anyway I can) Once you get the hang of it, the machine is working as it was advertised. I am pleased so far.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/13/13

Needed a chipper for the house to get rid of the shrub piles building up around the property. Price was steep but I wanted it to be quality. I did not want another gas engine to fight to get running every spring. Spent two days feeding it and was very impressed. Up to two inches with a tempered feed. Very Easy to get used to adjusting the feed rate from the sound of the motor. Girlfriend not afraid of it. She wheels it out and uses it without me there all the time. It is what it is, but it does what it said it would! Happy with the purchase. No negatives yet.

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

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/20/13

This chipper delivers on all its promises. Pros: * Quiet * Powerful * Clean (no messy oil or gas) * Plug and Play (some simple assembly initially required) * Substantial Cons: * Expensive * Doesn't include "Chipper Buddy" material pusher Due to the significant price gap between this chipper and a mostly plastic competitor that is also highly rated, I was hesitant to make this purchase. After an hour or so of using the machine I am certain that this chipper is worth the investment. I spoke to the company owner directly and he gave some great tips for using the machine: if you are processing anything that is rigid, put it down the chipper chute (not the shredder hopper). The main reason for this is that the chipper blades can be sharpened. The hammers in the shredder hopper are meant for shredding, not grinding, and they can't be sharpened once they are worn (only replaced for a much higher price than sharpening or replacing the blade). Note that, in addition to wood, the chipper chute easily accepts and processes Loblolly pine cones and sweet gum balls. Anyone that manages to clog the chipper chute or overload the machine or circuit has ignored common sense (and the guidelines outlined in the manual). Garbage in = garbage out. Follow the directions and use your common sense and you will be rewarded with outstanding results. The only time I've needed to stop the motor to clear the chute is when there is a branch union too wide to finish the self feeding action at the blade. This isn't the chipper's fault and, if anything, it is more of a feature than a failing. Additional words to the wise... * Wear your safety glasses. Some of the thicker hardened branches may burp the last 8 inches or so back out the chute. * Consider buying the (overpriced, imho) Chipper Buddy. I have been using various larger branches to coax material down the chute on occasion but I can already tell that having the Chipper Buddy would be a simpler and safer method. I feel that for the price of the unit, the Chipper Buddy (and a way to store/secure it to the machine) should be included. EDIT 9/3/2013 - After making my own version of the Chipper Buddy, I'm back to using a sturdy branch to push compacted material to the blade, as necessary. * Buy a highly rated 12/3 100 ft extension cord and consider the Quick Winder RAP-100 Electric Cord and Fiber Optic Cable Reel to store and transport the cord

4-HP Chipper Shredder Satisfied Customer

“The Patriot CSV-2540B is very user friendly and it makes some wonderful mulch.”

Electric Chipper Makes The Job Fun

"I have to tell you how impressed I am with my CSV-2515 electric chipper. It is so nice to have had such a positive experience and to own a well made, quality piece of equipment. It also makes the job fun!"

Best Wood Chipper With Great Customer Support

"Thank you for all the after sale support. Contacted Patriot about a problem removing the rotor from my chipper on a late Sunday afternoon via E-mail. A reply was waiting for me in my mail box Monday early A.M. Went on line to Patriot's web site, selected and ordered parts for repair of my chipper. 3 days later parts were delivered to my doorstep. Oh! And did I mention the chipper has performed beyond expectation. We are cleaning up from ice storm damage and giving unit a real work out. Thanks"

Lawn Vacuum With Large Bag Cuts Cleanup Time

"I just wanted to let you know how much I love my CBV. I absolutely dread the fall when it comes to raking leaves. I used my CBV this weekend and it easily cut my cleanup time by 75%. The large bag on the Patriot is by far one of the best features. Your product has actually made the fall enjoyable again for me."

Best Wood Chipper Product Review

"I used your chipper for about three hours today. All I can say is AWESOME. It is about twice as fast as my old TroyBilt."

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/15/13

ok i read the other reviews.... some folks are really unrealistic...twisted branches..yeah that happens, cut em to fit!! This thing eats everything that fits in it and if it doesn't fit trim it! It is a beast! and no I'm not affiliated with Patriot Products in any way. Fill it with gas and oil after simple assembly and your ready for business. I highly recommend!!!!!

Patriot 10F-CSV Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder is Excellent

“I used my Patriot 10F-CSV chipper on Oak, Cedar, Pine and Mesquite…It came through with flying colors.”

4 HP Gas Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder Review

“The Patriot CSV-2540B is of great quality. This chipper made yard cleanup so nice. It is not hard to operate and I would recommend it to others.”

10 HP Gas Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder Review

“With several acres of woods and extensive gardens, I needed a dependable, powerful machine. The 3100 really delivers and it’s easy to maneuver. The small-size chips will save me hundreds of dollars in mulch every year. The 3100 solves several problems and will pay for itself — SUPERB!”

Patriot CBV-2460 Performs Above Expectations

“Over all your product [CBV-2460] has performed above expectations.”

Chipper Shredder is EXCELLENT!

“One week of testing your [10F-CSV] and all I can say is EXCELLENT! It’s the best yard care machine I have ever had.”

Patriot CSV 3050 Chipper Shredder Review

“We purchased the Patriot CSV-3050 for our 6 acre property in the Caribbean. Your machine does a great job on the large thick almond tree leaves.”

9HP Gas Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder Review

“What sold me on the Patriot CSV-3090H was its rugged design and compact profile. Thanks!”

5.5 HP Gas Leaf Vacuum Blower Review

“You have a product [CBV-2455H] that is superior to any other I have tried. Your machine sells itself.”

Chipper Shredder Vacuum What A Machine

"I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the 6hp Patriot Chipper-Shredder-Vac [CSV-3060]. All I can say is what a machine!"

Electric Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder Works Great on Hay

"I wanted to extend a thank you for a great product [CSV-2515]. We shred two to three bails of hay a week for our miniature horses. Our animals are much healthier since we started shredding our hay with your unit."

Compact 4HP Gas Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder

“For its compact size it has good capability. I have used large machines and this Patriot [CSV-2540B] out performed that machine.”

10 HP Gas Wood Chipper Leaf Shredder Outperforms

"The CSV-3100 performed just like you see in the video. Assembly was easy. I put it to the test and it passed with flying colors."

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/14/13

It is electric so a gasoline would probably be more powerful. I had another electric for a long time till I snapped the drive shaft and the company no longer sells this chipper. The other electric chipper had to be babied. You had to be careful how much you put in to not overload it. I don't think it will be easy to overload the Patriot. You want to put almost everything through the chipper, since that has blades to cut everything up. I have not yet put anything through it larger than 1" to 1 1/4" since this was the max for my old chipper. I can tell that the Patriot will take bigger branches. You can overload it through the top with green or slightly green material. First let that kind of material dry out a bit before shredding. Second feed the material slowly in smaller bunches. I already shredded some garden waste that I would not even had tried through the old chipper. Some was more green than dry and the Patriot hiccuped only once. It never did clog. This is a powerful machine, you need both safety glasses. It is possible for a small chunk of branch to be ejected with force from the hopper. You also need ear protection. It is loud. My normal choice is noise cancelling headphones with music playing. I could always hear the Patriot running in the background over the music. The Patriot Chipper Buddy is a good idea. The chipper tends to pull in most everything. Sometimes the branch has smaller parts that cause the branch to stop feeding. You don't want to put your hand in the chipper hopper at least not very far. If you are just a bit of a wood worker making one is easy. You need to cut a 3 1/2" disc (approximately, add an appropriate length dowel, and a short fatter dowel for a handle. Add holes and glue it together. Took me much less than an hour, with most of my time spent looking in the shop for material. Just had it for a couple of hours so far, but it is looking very good.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/09/13

...Even some of the bowed ones and a few with forks. My last shredder required a lot of "force-feeding", so the Patriot is a welcome change. I also noticed during assembly that I can get the knives out with minimal disassembly when sharpening time comes. I like the lower profile hopper for leaves better than the last one I had... Not a bad lift out of a wheelbarrow. I spread my first batch of wood chips on the garden path and my shoes are a lot less muddy after the recent rain.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/19/13

This is a great, heavy duty grabber for the price. Having destroyed a regular grabber just trying to pick up a wet newspaper, figured I needed something more heavy duty & built to last for outdoors. This grabber is a beast. It will pick up anything. Rocks, you name it. There is no way it will break.

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.

CSV-3065B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/30/13

This chipper/shredder does all that I ask of it and seems well built. Occasionally the hopper will clog but that's easily rectified using a small branch to help things along. I particularly wanted something that wasn't made in China and to the best of my knowledge this is made in the USA.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/05/13

I got this leaf product 2012 fall and it been great so far. This product is better than my Sears Craftman leaf blower. This product pick up so great , did not had to work as hard

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.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/30/12

My neighbors have used this for bagging leaves and they all have purchased the gator grabber. Also used to pickup logs and other debris in yard. One neighbor said it was backordered and she hope to get one when it is back in stock.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/25/12

Every chipper shredder involves a trade-off between safety and efficiency - make the rotors highly accessible, and you may end up shredding human limbs, but make the rotors inaccessible and the machine doesn't work very well. I bought one of these about 10 years ago after using a different brand, and the Patriot was a great improvement. Well designed and very durable. The rotors are far enough down that there is no safety issue, but the chute is straight, so that getting the material to the rotors is usually not a problem (thought curved or gnarly branches will work better if they are snapped before shredding). The rotors create a vacuum which sucks the material being shredded into the rotors. I shred mostly plant stems - perennials that have been cut back and stalks from a vegetable garden. A cubic yard of material can be reduced to a few bags of mulch in about an hour. I don't really use it for leaves but I imagine it would work well. My old machine had a Tecumseh motor that was very poor. I got tired of servicing it so I bought a new unit with the Briggs & Stratton commercial motor - it starts consistently on the first pull. I highly recommend purchasing a larger bag (available directly from Patriot) if you are going to shred a lot of material.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/08/12

Really helpful, hand, back savings device. Have used it when cleaning the load of leaves in the yard. Had to lift yard sticks and leaves over a fence. Highly recommend it.

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.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/15/12

Product performs as described. No more sore back when raking leaves. Makes raking much quicker and efficient. Highly recommended and the price is right.

CBV-2465B - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/12/12

Bought this item thinking that it would make life easier and be quicker to clean up my half acre yard with 40+ trees. The Patriot website claimed that this machine would easily handle these chores on properties up to one acre. In heavy leaves you push the machine maybe 40 or 50 feet and the bag is only about half full, but so heavy that it will tip the unit backwards toward the operator. It is then really hard to push much farther. I have no place to dump the debris, so it has to be bagged in plastic lawn bags and hauled to the landfill. The cloth bag is very clumsy and a nightmare to empty into the plastic bags. Using my riding mower with collection system and going over the yard multiple times is much, much easier! The frosting on the cake is that after making this purchase, I found out that this is an Amazon non-returnable item. If purchased direct from the Patriot website (same price as Amazon) I found out that they offer a 90 day no questions asked return policy. Bottom line is, I now own a $900 paper weight. I'm super upset and disappointed!!!

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.

CBV-2455H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/05/12

I have wanted a yard vac ever since moving into my current home. I used to use my Stihl blower/vac for fall cleanup, but it was very cumbersome. As good as my Stihl is, it is no match for my fairly large yard with mature maple and cottonwood trees. I wanted a good yard vacuum but was less than impressed by the Troy Bilt's I was looking at. I did some research and found Patriot. There are two models; one with a Honda engine and one with a Brigg's engine. I'm a Honda small engine fan so it was a no brainer. I could have saved $300 if I would have bought the Brigg's powered model, but who cares. I was very satisfied with the way the machine worked in very tough damp/wet conditions with leaves that had been rained and snowed on. No vacuum is going to take the rake out of your hands if you want to get your yard really clean, but the Patriot is a great tool for fall cleanup. Highly recommended. The only thing I don't like is the Honda engine (which I thought was made in USA) was made in China. What is this world coming to?

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/27/12

Last weekend we ripped out a boxwood hedge that was 6 feet by 4 feed by 5 feet tall. My wife wanted me to rent a chipper shredder to get rid of it. We moved recently and with all of the deciduous trees on our new lot and all of the deadfall wood we get, I decided we needed to invest in a chipper shredder. I researched and decided to order the Patriot. I unboxed and assembled my Patriot chipper/shredder yesterday. It's very easy to do if your read all of the directions. I fired it up today and got rid of every bit of that boxwood in about an hour and a half (half the time it took us to rip that sucker out). Virtually all of it had to go through the cone, though. It is very easy to use for large and small branches. I have yet to use the leaf shredder. you have to be careful feeding branches of 1/2" diameter or more. The other reviewers are correct that you must feed branches through the cone at a slower speed than the chipper wants. It will try to pull them from your hands so wear good gloves and safety glasses. If you feed the machine at a controlled rate and everything is dry, the patriot should not clog or jam. I am a mechanical designer by trade, and the Patriot is built the way I would build one. The hopper and feed cone are heavy plastic but everything in the chip/shred area is made of thick steel and it runs on steel ball bearings rather than plastic bushings. This thing is well built and with a minimum of maintenance it will last a very long time. I've had it two days and I already know I will get my money's worth out of this purchase. Great product.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/21/12

I love this wood chipper/shredder. It's sturdy enough and powerful enough to handle everything I threw at it. As long as I fed materials in at a reasonably steady rate and didn't try to force the materials in, it did a great job and never clogged or shut down - even with green materials. And when I re-fed the chipped materials through the shredder, it reduced the time necessary to turn the materials into compost. Some of the reviews made me hesitate to buy this shredder, but now that I've used it I can't imagine why those reviewers had problems (except the guy who had problems feeding branches through the top hopper - they go in the side cone).

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/17/12

Our needs - We have woods on three sides of our house. Each fall we get buried in leaves, twigs and sticks. The volume has been overwhelming. We also have a number of raised garden areas and plenty of flower beds. Our answer - We purchased a Patriot electric shredder with a 100' 20A extension cord. Great used units are also out there. Just keep looking. Yesterday was the first time using the shredder. It did get clogged up a few times in the learning process but it took less than 5 minutes to figure out just how fast you can feed stuff into it to prevent that from happening. If you load too many leaves in at one time, they won't get sucked down through the hopper. When that happens just take a small stick and push down in the right corner of the hopper to get things flowing again. Feeding things in slowly takes a little time but working with my wife, we can keep the shredding going non-stop. Makes piles of leaves disappear in no time. The shredded materials are nice looking and perfect for flower beds and vegetable gardens. Best parts (short list) - It's a neighbor-friendly kind of quiet and just fun to use. It takes about 2 minutes to set up and 2 minutes to put away. No gas, no oil, no carburetor. What overwhelmed us in the past is now the fertilizer of the future. As a match for our needs, it's perfect!

Gator Grabber - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/22/12

So far the Gator Grabber is working out pretty well. I've had a bit of a problem in keeping the handles from turning once I have tightened them after setting the pole length. The poles simply use twisting motion that tightens the more you turn it to keep the pole adjusted for length. A positive lock or pin of some sort would have been better. I'm working on my turning and twisting technique and how I pivot my arms and body when using them to avoid always unscrewing one pole or the other. It takes some practice and I can get used to it. I was looking for a solution so I would not have to use a rake and shovel or a rake and broom combo and wrestle with both when trying to pick up bush trimmings or when collecting leaves and sticks/debris in the yard. The scissor action with the poles joined at a center point, as opposed to two independent poles, is sometimes a help and sometimes not. I use one of the grabbers like a rake when trying to tidy up the pile so I have to hold the other grabber out of the way. It comes down to technique I guess. 🙂 At first I thought the plastic grabber parts were too small to be useful. But if you get some heavy, dense, or wet material inside the grabber, the load can be a bit heavy. When the poles are extended and you are swinging them around with your arms (like to build a pile of leaves) it can give you a workout! If you are trying to pick up rocks or chunks of debris, the grabbers seems sturdy enough and are able to do a decent job. The grabber is not a replacement for a shovel on a smooth surface, but if collecting loose items to lift and place in a trash container or a bag they work fine. Keeping your load to a modest size and close to you makes it easier, of course. Maybe if the company offered two different styles of grabber heads that would be really helpful - maybe one for leaves and sticks, grass (lite and bulky but not heavy), and the other for dirt, wood chips, stones (more dense or heavy), etc. The materials of the product itself are durable and seem like they will last (metal poles, rubber/poly grips, sturdy plastic grabbers). I've only had mine for a few weeks so far but am pleased with them especially since the fall is approaching and all those projects in the yard are waiting. I would recommend them if you hate all the bending and stooping over to pick things up for your outdoor yard/garden projects.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/20/12

The top hopper pinches down to a very small opening before the leaves and any TINY branches can enter the mechanism. Just look at the picture of the top black chute. Feeding down through the top quickly causes a jamb. The directions state that branches 1/2 inch diameter and less can be feed in the top chute. Don't try it, leaves alone cause a jamb and it quickly becomes useless. These are 1/2 inch or less diameter stickes with small leaves. I could not shred a cut up hedge! The chipper part only has one blade, so it is a slow and bumpy process. Poorly designed and vibrated from day one.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/17/12

Have only used it twice but am soon to really put it to good use as I have piles of limbs and more to come at this time of year with three fruitless Mulberry trees growing like mad. Have an electric, much cheaper model (nothing but problems), and this new gas baby is certainly up to the job I need it for. _____________________________________________________________________________ Now since I have had or taken the time to use the chipper on the really hard work, I found it amazing for the job it was intended. In the past, It has always been a pain to set up and prepare branches for chipping (other chippers) but this machine is a joy to work with and performs fluently from the start-up to the shut-down. Very easy care and maintenance.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/14/12

I was very pleased to locate what looked like a high quality shredder that was electric, and purchased this unit with high hopes. It immediately became clear that, despite it's powerful appearance, this shredder is just awful. It clogged upon each use and I spent 30 minutes of each use just dismantling it so that I could attempt to unclog it. Finally I called the owner of the company, who admitted that this unit must be fed very slowly, with just a little bit of yard debris at a time. When I indicated that I thought a shredder at this price should be more functional, he became aggressively insulting, even going so far as making a comment that I took as an ethnic slur (I could be wrong on my interpretation of his comment, but with a company name like Patriot Products, I am a bit suspicious--- I have an ethnic sounding name, and he made a point of drawing a contrast between me and people in the "heartland" of America -- by the way, I really liked the fact that this unit was made in the States, but you would not know it from its performance.)

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/23/12

My magnolia tree sheds leaves 365 days a year except for leap year when it sheds for 366 days. I had no idea that this was a constant shedder when I bought and planted the tree. Unfortunately, I planted the tree in my front yard so I try to keep the leaves picked up although admitedly I skip a day now and then. This has been a major nuisance bending over and scooping up the leaves until the Gator Grabber came along. Now I can more easily grab the leaves and dump them into my cart. Still a nuisance but not as major as pre-Gator Grabber. Very handy tool and well worth the price.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/23/12

We looked and looked at chipper/shredders for some time and finally decided on this one. It has made our brush and tree clearing into a time saving project. Also, recycling the chips into our yard for weed control was an important factor. We have lots of trees on our property and they aren't small ones. So far, this chipper has done everything it was advertised to do. I would recommend it to any home owner that wants a quality tool that is made here in our country!

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/24/12

Bought this for my husband and my dad for father's day. My husband could not wait to get out and start picking up leaves. Works great. Took him half the usual time and saved on his back. He can not wait till the fall. Down side was shipping took forever and did not receive this till after fathers day even though I had ordered it 2 weeks prior. I am still glad we got it but allow PLENTY of extra time if you take the free shipping option. Is a great tool and well made. I am still glad I purchased this for the 2 great men in my life.

CSV-3090H - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/10/12

I purchased this Patriot wood chipper product WITH the higher priced Honda motor so i could be assurred of no problems. I bought it for chipping branches, limbs, clean up around the property. It literally bogs down on every branch, and quits running. It will not chip 3" diameter branches as it claims. If you have a branch that is NO larger than 1" in diameter and is PERFECTLY straight with no bends or curves whatsoever (have you ever seen a branch like this?) then it might work for you. If you strictly want to shred leafs there are a lot cheaper ways you can go. I wanted this to work because Patriot is an American company and its important to me to buy American. So im very disappointed to give their product a poor review.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/07/12

On first usage, the shredder clogged and stopped working. My fault for trying to shred wet leaves. Not sure how to un-clog without disassembly.

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.

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!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/15/12

Don't believe all the reviews that say it only takes 20 minutes to get it up and running. Getting it out of the boxes, setting out the parts, and reading the instructions can take longer than that. You'll need a bolt cutter or other means to cut the metal strapping that secures it to the bottom. Be careful because it will snap back at you when it's cut. The instruction sheet says to have two people remove it from the styrofoam and box but I'm a 72 yr old 5'2" woman and was able to do it myself. You'll need to supply your own philips screw driver, 7/16" and 1/2" wrench. Having small hands made installing bolts from inside the hopper easier I'm sure than a guy trying to work inside a small opening. You are working blind trying to thread screws with the hex wrench. I tied some twine on it and looped it on my wrist just in case it slipped out of my hand when trying to turn it - if you drop a screw or the wrench you'll have to dismantle the shredder and turn the machine upside down to recover it. The lower chute is an easy attach. The wheels make moving it to where you'll be chipping a breeze even tho it is a heavy piece of equipment. It started with a flip of the switch and had no stall outs when chipping. I had cut down about 75 feet of hedges that were 6 or 7 feet tall and some sappling trees and have chipped about half of the pile so far with no problems. For the next 100 feet tho I'll chip them as I cut them down - the constant bending to pick them up is a killer. I found a bottle cap that measures 2 1/4" diameter and leave it on the ground by the chipper to make a handy quick measure on the larger branches and saplings (2.5" is max). Another product sold here on Amazon makes a perfect partner for the chipper: Black & Decker NLP1800 Alligator Lopper 18-Volt Cordless Chain Saw - another great 'woman's' tool. Be sure to wear the safety glasses they supply and stand to the side of the chipper chute when feeding it as it does send some pieces flying back out - expecially when the wood is dry. I also recommend wearing leather work gloves - the chipper can grab and pull a branch right through your grip. I haven't tried the top hopper yet for the leaves and hopefully it will work as good as the chipper. I highly recommend this product (so far anyway).

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.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/09/12

This tool is a lifesaver for picking up leaves, and is very compact for easy storage between uses. Highly recommended for anything you don't want to bend over to pick up, or touch directly.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/24/12

We compost for our organic garden. After shredding our old compost pile the end result looked like rich black dirt. Starts easy. Easy to move around the yard. Love it!!

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/24/11

Have used mulcher for leaves so far and it works very well. Cleaned up my yard in a few hours. Have not tried chipper for wood yet, but hope it works as well. Really like not having to start a gasoline engine.

CSV-3090H - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/14/11

The chipper came in two boxes promptly after ordering. All of the parts were there with some extra nuts and bolts. The assembly instructions were excellent. The honda engine started on the first pull, and i chipped up a bale of wheat straw just to see if it worked. nice mulch was produced. i did learn from a quick experience that the bag had to be attached if i wanted to actually collect the shredded material. filler funnels are required to fill both the oil reservior and the gas tank. and a flash light will be required to verify the proper oil level. the oil dip stick is not that helpful.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/28/11

Great construction. Adjustable handles make for great added bonus feature. A great help to any avid gardener to prevent unnecessary stooping during fall clean ups. I gave it as a gift and the recipient loved it! Lightweight and durable construction. I was very pleased with this purchase!!

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.

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!

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

CBV-2465B - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/07/11

The Good Points: This is the only leaf vac that has ever been able to handle our heavy oak leaves. It vacuumes them up with ease in one pass, even pulling them up from long grass. The engine starts easily, even when cold. Small branches mixed with the leaves don't phase it. Things that could be better. Its heavy and and a bit hard to push, but still a lot better than hours of raking. The bag is somewhat akward to empty and heavy when full. The chipper chute has to be removed to clean or replace the air filter. Quality Control Problems. Ours arrived with both a broken kill switch and a broken on/off switch, rendering the engine inoperable. However, a call to the service center was answered by a very helpful service rep. He walked us through the trouble shooting process. We were able to get the engine started by disconnecting the bad switches. Replacement switches are said to have been shipped. All things considered, its a good piece of equipment. We've been using it almost daily on our heavily wooded lot with good results and no problems. I would purchase it again.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/09/11

Why did I get it: I have always had a guy come and do the fall yard cleanup. This year with the hurricane, and tropical storms, there was a lot more debris than usual. My yard guy was very busy, and so could not come for while to our house. There were a lot of branches, and battered shrubs, plus all the leaves that had been blown around. I decided I might as well get a shredder / chipper. Unfortunately, because of the size of some of the stuff I had, it could not be one of the smaller electric ones. I was loathe to get a gas powered one, because of the maintenance, need to buy and store gas, etc. It was not like I was going to use it every day. I finally stumbled upon the Patriot Electric shredder. The specifications were very close to their gas powered one, and I thought I might as well give it a try. Patriot was having a free delivery promotion, so I ordered one. Un-boxing and assembly: It came very well packed, with a double cardboard box, a plywood base, and Styrofoam blocks to protect all the important stuff. It was a bit difficult to get it out of the box, but can be done by one person, but I would recommend two people. The actual machine is also lashed to the plywood base with steel flat cables. These would have been difficult to cut if I did not have tin snips, but could be done with cutting pliers, I suppose. The assembly instructions are not in the user's manual, but are on a separate set of stapled sheets of paper. They are very clear and concise, but the pictures are a bit dark, and so it is difficult to figure out quite how some of the things line up. Not a big problem, because there really are not that many things to assemble. The hopper assembly is the hardest because you have to get your hand down into the narrow part of the hopper and put some bolts in. If you follow their instructions, it is not hard. It was a bit hard to understand the deflector shield assembly, but even there, if you follow the instructions it is not difficult. Altogether, about 15 to 20 minutes of assembly. Use: I bought the recommended 12 gauge 100 foot power cable but also bought a 50 foot one from my local store. Plugged it in and after doing a safety check, turned on the switch. I initially thought it wasn't working, because it was so quite when it started up! After it reached operating speed, you could hear the motor, but not much else. There were no vibrations. Best part was the absence of the starting ritual with gas powered ones. No gas, no oil, no pulling and tugging, and adjusting the choke, etc. Flick of a switch! Tried a few small branches in the chipper. Initially did not "suck them in" as I was hopping. Used another stick to push it in and then it went to work. Quite noisy when it is actually chipping / shredding, but once it is done, becomes relatively quite. There is no drone of the gas engine constantly in the background. Was a bit finicky with shrubs which had brush and branches on them, since I had to use a stick to constantly feed them in. Did not get any clogging. Did not use the shredder much, but seemed to work as well as the chipper. Caution, it does spit out pieces of wood and stuff both out the top of the hopper and the chipper "funnel". Don't ever stand where you can get hit. Don't look down the chute unless the machine is off and has stopped. Always wear eye protection. The bag full of chips and shredded material was quite uniform, and of a good granular quality. Overall: Very good chipper, and handled what I needed done. The absence of the gasoline engine is a great advantage, and offsets any minor deficits of the electric machine. I would definitely recommend buying one with out hesitation. Made in USA too! PS: Order an extra bag or two when you get the machine so you don't have to stop to dump the bag to get back to shredding.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/05/11

Heavy duty tool for leaves, stones, logs, you name it picker upper. Back saving tool for picking up leaves during fall cleanups.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/26/11

Can't believe manufacturer not making this anymore. Excellent for picking up lots of brush without bending.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/24/11

Purchased a refurbished unit from the manufacturer nearly 5 years ago and didn't need it until recently due to revised clearance foliage guidelines around the summer house in California foothills. One point of contention is that you really need to have ear and eye protection (gloves as well) because this is a serious piece of machinery. The unit comes with a 2 year standard warranty and a 90 commercial warranty and it's easy to see why once you get started with a large pile. What I would do is feed the branches (up to 2") large end first into the chipper and once it got down to the leaves and smaller branches (1/2" or less) would run them through the top mount shredder. You really have to have a dedicated power circuit and always use a 12ga powercord because it needs the room to turn over and will drag if it encounters a feed load. Note: Because of the large task ahead (including 15' oak trees)I purchased another knife for the chipper. It was somewhat expensive due to shipping cost; however, it made a night and day difference following an easy replacement and it's possibly the only unit of its kind in which the blades can not only be replaced but resharpened several times. Secondly, did have one caveat when the circuit breaker shut down and did not automatically reset as one would assume. My coworker configured a makeshift circuit breaker using a screw-in fuse (30 amp) which worked fine. However, a call to the manufacturer revealed that the breaker had to be reset according to their procedure and protocol. They were right and we will reinstall the circuit. By the way, we've put about 100 hours on the unit and it has only stalled once...

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/04/11

I just spent the last four hours cleaning up after hurricane Irene, and this chipper performed better than expected. I wasn't sure how it would perform with only 1.5hp behind it. It munched away everything I could fit into it although it did slow down on branches near the maximum size, so I had to back off and let it catch up. I was chipping mostly pecan branches. As far as storage space, it's about the same as a 30 gallon trash can with an extra foot or so sticking out the side if you don't take off the chipper chute. The only modification I think I'll make is adding a hanger for the chipper buddy push stick (not included) on the side of the top chute, so I don't have to keep picking it up off the ground.

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/21/11

After using this shredder off an on for year now. I am not impressed with this shredder.It does have enough power and the motor is shot already.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 08/03/11

Bought this when my little Mantis stopped working. And I am a happy camper. Chipping is great! Shredding leaves is also great! I did overload it about an hour into my first job with it but was able to clean it out and get started again..... Tip, don't put a bunch of leaves into the chipper part. I was probably overdoing it a bit. Bag is kinda a pain. If the bag is not laid out, it will stop the debris from coming out and it will get jammed inside the machine. But if you make sure the bag isn't bent or folded, it should be fine. .... am actually thinking of letting the bag off and letting it pile on the ground the next time. A good solid machine.

CBV-2465B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/24/11

It worked as I had hoped it would. We cut a large ficus tree in half and it turn the branches and leaves into mulch; a beautiful job, and the Patriot vacuum/chipper/blower worked unceasingly all day.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/30/11

Such a simple gardening tool, but so handy to use when tidying up your yard. After ambitiously deadheading multiple rhodies and lilacs, I simply raked together a loose pile, scooped them with the Gator Grabber, and easily released them into the garden cart. No bending down, no trying to work a rake under the pile, no clumsy attempts to try to make two rakes act as a scoop and clamp. A wonderful back saver that will make Autumn leaves much simpler to deal with. Wish I had invented this thing!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/25/11

Got this for my Dad. He doesn't like to maintain small gas engines. I didn't think that this chipper would have much power, but I was wrong, it does. I felt like I was looking at something built back in the 1960s! All of the components are very sturdy. The motor was very smooth. It was a bit loud due to the air flow, but I'm sure that it was quieter than a gasoline model. Even the plastic is thick and only used where it should be (the shroud, the cone and the wheels). The main cardboard box that it came in was double walled and there was no damage even though the main box weighed 120 lbs. There was some extra dense foam around the base. I think that this unit needs to be kept out of the rain. There is so much steel that I think it would rust if left out for a long time. The gray paint seemed to be powder coated and baked on, so a little water won't hurt, but still I think it should be garaged. I'm sure that the electric motor would like that too. It's somehow warmly reassuring that there are still products made in America that are built to last. You probably never see this chipper in Home Depot or Lowes - the quality is too high. I would buy this chipper again if I had the same set of purchase criteria.

Gator Grabber - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 06/09/11

This grabber is great, couldn't do without it now. Big help in yard work. Very heavy duty. Length is just right. You can even pick up heavy rocks, ect. with this. I would reccomend this to anyone.

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.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 03/16/11

I purchased this product about a month ago directly from the company. when I called he company after working hours I received a call back right away the next morning and had all my questions answered to my fullest satisfactory. I have been chipping/shredding for several hours a day a few times a week and had no problems at all. It started with the first pull and I (woman) have no problem whatsoever operating this. I am very happy to have purchased this and don't expect any problems with it. Should there be any in the future I am confident that the patriot company will be great in finding a solution. Well done Patriot! This is a great product. **** Update: as of June 2013 the shredder is still working as it should. we are very happy with our purchase

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.

CSV-3065B - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/04/11

This chipper works very well. It does what it was made for with ease. Performs great and I highly recommend this product. By Beenie

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 01/15/11

An excellent electric chipper! The best I've ever seen. It has the same construction as gas models, cast iron and steel chipping parts. The motor is very high quality (mine was Baldor) and the carriage is sturdy enough to hold it all (the whole unit is heavy). All this said buyer be warned that it may not handle the same size limbs that you are used to with gas models and it requires an extra heavy extension cord on a dedicated circuit. Mine trips some circuit breakers in my house if there are any other loads on. I love it though. No gas to buy or store, no oil to change, no plugs or filters to clean. I don't have to winterize it and I can flip the switch whenever I need it. In addition to this there is no exhaust to choke my lungs or contribute to climate change. And since I power my house with a SunPower solar system, I guess I can say that it is solar powered!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/31/10

I had ordered this before but the first shredder arrived damaged. Amazon arranged return as advertised at no cost. The replacement arrived yesterday and only took 20 minutes to put together (the second time). Smooth quiet power this time - made quick mulch of a large pile of leaves I had been letting lay there for the last month. The unit is solid, heavy (about 80#) and appears to be very well built. Much heavier steel than the gas units at the local big box store. Solid wheels and heavy plastic input bin. With a 10 gauge 50ft extension cord on a dedicated circuit, no flipped breakers. Is much more quiet than I expected, and no fumes. For one with 0.4 ac lot or less this will be more than adequate. And being American made gave me a little bit more pleasure using it.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 11/25/10

Two years ago, I decided that bagging and disposing of leaves was pretty silly - you pay for the bags and then the city hauls them, and come spring you buy the very mulch at the garden center that you disposed of the previous fall. So, I started on my mulching journey with an inexpensive model, the Flowtron LE-800 Leaf-Eater Electric Leaf Shredder. After two seasons of marginal performance that unit imploded so I had a choice between a small step up to a unit like the McCulloch MCS2001 14 amp Electric Chipper/Shredder or to go all out, and get the Patriot Products CSV2515. Even though the Patriot unit is at a much higher price point, you realize from the moment you un-box it, why it is... The motor on the Patriot unit weighs probably twice the weight of a Flowtron 800, fully assembled. It's huge. The chipping/shredding assembly is solid metal with welded reinforcements as necessary. The wheels are solid rubber, will never go flat. The only plastics on the unit are part of the feeding cone for the chipper and the funnel for the leaves/twigs... Assembly was fairly straightforward and faster than the Flowtron too. And unlike the Flowtron (my only comparison at this point), Patriot uses real locknuts that are less likely to go loose. Performance-wise, the Patriot was a huge step up as well - it eats it's way through a shredpile much more quickly than the Flowtron could. If you can loosely drop the leaf matter into the hopper from above, the suction generated by the shredder will suck it in and spit it out as mulch. The bag that patriot products encloses will hold about two 33-gallon garbage cans of loosely packed leaves/twigs before you have to empty it (Patriot Products also offers a bigger bag on their web site). The mulch produced by the Patriot unit is quite fine - it's about 1/4 the volume of the incoming packed leaves. You can also elect to skip the bag if you have a spot where you can simply blow out the mulch. Leaf matter usually gets reduced to 1/4" by 1/4" squares or less. I had a couple of clogs in the shredder chute, usually caused by odd clumps of leaf matter being just large enough not to fit through the hole. I found the Patriot Products tool I bought for clearing these clogs to be pretty useless, however. A 2' by 1/4" thick bamboo stick is more effective - simply swish the leaf matter a little and then the suction does the rest. Since I kept an eye on the bag, I never managed to clog the actual shredding chamber itself. I also never managed to have any issues with the chipper - but the branches that fall here are typically rotten already and hence an easy meal. The 100' power-cord worked like a charm - I never had the circuit breaker trip. Patriot Products encloses a pair of form-fitting safety glasses, a nice touch. Even though I was dinged more rarely by the CSV2515 than my Flowtron, I still recommend the use of gloves and the eye protection. I also recommend hearing protection even though the CSV2515 is quieter than a Flowtron when running empty. But once you start shredding wood chips and over debris in the shredder, the noise levels mount, though still not as high as the Flowtron. I credit the steel construction, almost closed chamber for that performance. Another neat feature of this unit is its use of mass/momentum - because household electrical circuits in the USA are so limited in their power delivery, it makes sense to store up energy in the flywheel that makes up the rotating cutters/shredders. Every time a heavy clump came through the shredder chute, the unit would slow but then work itself back up to full speed again. The motor on this unit is fantastic. And, unlike the Flowtron, it is totally enclosed. Another nice touch are the massive bearings this unit uses. Anytime you shred materials, heavy loads are imposed on the shaft that is driving the cutters/shredders. If the shaft does not feature multiple bearings close to the point of where the bending moment is applied to take that load, either the shaft or motor will break with time. From time to time a small stone did sneak into the leaf pile... it would cause sparks and then get spat out. I'm sure the blades/hammers will reflect that at the end f the season. If there is one construction aspect I would change on the CSV2515, it would be the location of the back wheels. They are not far enough back to protect the motor when one is going up or down stairs. Thus, to avoid scratching the motor one has to lift the unit up/down stairs (a 2-person job, unless you're Hulk Hogan). But on most grounds, the simple tripod stand that makes up the CSV2515 is more than adequate to maintain a solid stance. Additionally, it would be nice if the mulch was a bit finer to allow it to 'soak' more quickly into the ground. All in all, a fantastic product. It's way more effective at shredding leaves, twigs, etc. than my Flowtron ever was. I may have to sharpen the blades once a season but the much higher productivity of the unit makes it all worthwhile. You will go through multiples of what other electric shredders offer and if you value your time, this is reason enough to switch to the Patriot CSV2515.

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.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/20/10

The Patriot CSV-2515 1.5 HP Electric Wood Chipper is one of the best-designed, best-built pieces of equipment that I have used. I have owned two of these (the 1st left with my ex-wife on a 1 acre property; the 2nd I presently use). The shredder is received in two boxes and needs to be assembled, which is relatively straight forward. Preferably the machine should be used with a heavy duty extension cord (12 amp rated) and plugged into a circuit protected by a 20 amp breaker. Although it's not as powerful as a gas model and there are limits to what it can handle, with reasonable care, it can be a solid performer. When attaching the bag catching the chips (before turning on the unit), straighten it out so as to not create a kink in the bag thus clogging the outlet and possibly causing the circuit breaker to trip off. To use the chipper effectively, one must learn what the machine can handle. Continuous amounts of green debris in the open top shredder can indeed clog up the machine and cause shut down. The shredder part is the easiest to clog and is limited to small dry twigs and dry leaves fed slowly. However, one can feed most of the green material into the cone shaped chipper opening. If you are patient and feed at the correct rate you should not have any problems with clogs. Cleaning clogs is not easy and it can be very difficult to remove all of the debris collected around the blade. Some users have used water hoses and blower or even turning the heavy machine upside down. After learning to go at the correct rate & using the chipper opening, I have never had a subsequent clog. I would recommend either purchasing the tool that allows you to push material in the chipper toward the blades (do not attempt to do this with one's hand) or as I did, purchase a 2 ft length of 1 ¾" PVC pipe and a "T" connector as a handle. If one accidently pushes too far, the blades will chip the PVC pipe and not your hand. Finally, I agree that buying a cheaper chipper/shredder would be a mistake.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/19/10

This is about as good as an 110 volt electric unit can get, really chips branches to ground cover size without stalling, just make sure you feed it at a reasonable rate. One tip, it can build up a potential clog when feeding really green/wet stuff, like trimmings or leaves, so I let that stuff dry a couple of days and then it has no problem.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 10/11/10

I bought the Patriot chipper having had several cheap and under-powered "toy" electric chippers that would jam and require constant clearing. Not so the Patriot CSV-2515. First, it's great to have something made in the USA and, second, it's great to have a machine that really does the job. It's solidly made and, as long as you use a heavy duty extension cord (12 amp rated) and plug it into a circuit protected by a twenty amp breaker, it will handle everything you can reasonably throw at it. (Technical note: even though the normal load current is probably less than 12 Amps, the heavy chipper rotor takes a few seconds to accelerate. During the acceleration time and whenever the chipper "goes into combat" with a heavy branch the motor current is high enough to cause nusiance tripping of a 15 Amp breaker.) There are limits of course. It's not as powerful as a gas model but, recognizing the convenience of an electric chipper and using some sense of what it can reasonably handle, I've found it to be a solid performer with a "voracious appetite".

CSV-3090H - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/14/10

I was really excited about the performance of this chipper for the first 6 hours. After some minor clogging the unit seized up. I cleared the chips from the chipper housing and the unit is still not functional. The owner of Patriot Products did return my call but was in my opinion not helpful--his knee jerk reaction was that it was probably a problem with the Honda engine (the same engine their company likes to brag about in their literature)and said you need to contact Honda without giving any contact information or help in that area. This was way too light of duty to have this chipper fail so easily. I wish I had rented--this unit was pricey!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 09/12/10

The shredder needs to be assembled, which is relatively easy. Only one spot can be tricky because of limited space, big hand may not fit between the parts to insert the screws. All else is simple. When running the unit be careful not to create a kink in the bag catching the chips, this will create a back log, clogging the outlet and the fuse will fly out. If it happens, the in-fill chute must be removed and the sawdust and chips removed using a piece of wire.

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.

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.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/18/10

I order this item to my forwarder service in Miami, from there it was sent to me in Guatemala. Only one of two boxes arrived, so the apparatus was useless. After calling Amazon and explaining the situation a complete set of two boxes were sent and arrived, I am using the equipment and satisfied with it and the excellent response of Amazon!! Thank you,

CSV-2515 - 1 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/17/10

I wanted to try an electric motor since they're so much easier to maintain than a gas motor, and I was fully aware the electric motor would produce far less torque. But even going into this purchase with that understanding, I've been terribly disappointed. It cannot handle any amount of green debris, clogs up, and shuts down within a few minutes. It doesn't seem to matter how slowly I feed it, or even if I alternate green with brown yard debris. It cannot handle more than a couple cubic feet (loosely packed) of green debris before it clogs up. Cleaning out the clog is not easy either. At first I couldn't get the cover off, contacted the manufacturer, and they sent me a tool to remove the cover. Apparently the newer models are different from the directions and this tool is needed, yet they don't supply it with the sale. The manufacturer suggested they would send this tool to me for a fee, and I let them know how ridiculous it is that I pay EVEN MORE when this tool should have been included. The tool arrived and now I'm able to remove the cover and clean out the unit, but this doesn't solve the problem of how easily it clogs. I can't imagine what good a shredder is to anyone who can only do small branches. If you can't run green yard debris through it at all, no matter how careful you are, what good is it to anyone? Now I have to decide how to get rid of it. I can't in good conscience sell it on Craigslist. I'm stuck.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/17/10

I was looking for a shredder to mulch my small limbs and leaves in my backyard. This shredder is powerful and works very well.

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.

CSV-2515 - 3 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/26/10

The Patriot CSV-2515 1.5 HP Electric Wood Chipper functioned reasonably well, but it doesn't take much to blow a 20 amp circuit breaker. I did so using both of the input options. I also had the machine clog up on me and found it very difficult to remove all of the debris that had collected around the blade. I was almost ready to tear the entire machine apart but decided to attempt to wash the debris out of the machine with the hose. Surprisingly this worked, so I did not need to dismantle the entire chipper. I will try in the future to chip some green with some brown in an attempt to prevent the buildup of material around the blades. I would also recommend purchasing the tool that allows you to push material in the hopper toward the blades because one should really not attempt to do this with one's hands.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/13/10

Last Sunday, my wife turned on our old shredder (McCulloch MCS2001) and got to work on our 4' x 4' x 4' stack of leaves from last fall while I put together our new Electric Chipper/Shredder from Patriot. A surprisingly short time later (it took less time than I thought it would, and I was deliberately going slowly), I wheeled it out to set it up next to my wife. I plugged it in and turned it on. Now, my wife and I were sure it would take us many weeks to get through this stack of (mostly wet) leaves. A short time later, I was done. With the whole thing. And it didn't jam once. I was shredding them faster than my wife could pitch them to me. This gave us time to clear the needed space where the leaves were to plant the roses. That made my wife very happy. When my wife is happy, I am happy. Thank you, Patriot, for providing such an excellent product that I now cannot wait to get out there and use some more. Kudos to your crew!

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 02/08/10

This is one of the best-designed, best-built and solid pieces of equipment I own. I was not sure I wanted to pay the $900 for it. Now that I see the quality of this machine, I am certain that buying a cheaper one would have been a big big mistake. Every part of the machine is very solidly built from the best material for the job, and the sturdiness and thickness of the parts surprised me. There is no thin gauge metal or cheap plastic here. Also, someone must have spent a long time researching and designing the packaging--there is not much chance this could get damaged on the way to you. It is worth saving the box, it is made so well. Also, I did not realize this thing has an onboard vacuum for leaves and such--very handy. The instruction manuals (both assembly and operation) are short and tell you everything very clearly. IMO, they are a work of art as instruction manuals go. I am surprised they were able to make them so concise and also get so much useful info in there. The simplicity, layout and clarity of the instructions saved me a lot of time. It was a joy to open the box and put the thing together. This is a piece of equipment that is designed to last a lifetime and pass on to the kids--as long as you keep it clean, sharpen the blades, exert minimal effort to maintain it. And I like the fact that this is an American company that I will be able to get replacement parts from, although I am unlikely to need them. I am very happy with my purchase. Now I will be able to make my own mulch instead of wasting trips to Home Depot, and will be able to use the prunings from my lot instead of wasting them and needing to take them to the dump. Because I garden a lot, I am convinced this tool will actually save me money, and save a lot of time in the long run--while improving the quality of my garden and orchard. Update after a week of use: The chipper is amazing. I have only stalled it once when I put in a bunch of dry hardwood (firewood) twigs that were too small to feed properly. It is actually easier to feed large branches than small ones. when clogged, it was not necessary to turn it upside down or wash with hose. Instead I just turned it off and used my leaf blower in the feed cone--that blew the clog out the chip exit. Once, I accidentally put a rock in the shredder (Granite, about 1". It was in a bag of leaves from a neighbor). It made a lot of noise but otherwise did not seem to hurt the machine. Obviously, trying to shred rocks is a bad idea, but no harm this time. Good buy...this one. Update - 4 years later June 2014: Still happy with the purchase. It's still working great and in great shape but I think the blades might need sharpened. My neighbor (who also uses it) reports that it was clogging for him. I got out the instructions and will sharpen. I think the problem, though, may have been that old dead wood was fed in. I have had it clog on very hard thick old wood. Green wood shreds great. Electric shredders are not powerful enough for thick old dead wood that is very hard. I find that electric shredders also do not work great on stuff like straw--where many stalks are fed in at once--these can clog it. I think this is the best electric shredder, but I think that shredders generally are prone to clogging and it requires some experience and careful feeding during operation to avoid this. Electric shredders do not have as much power as larger gas ones--being limited by amperage available at the outlet. So these are not strong enough to deal with too much or too thick old dry wood fed in at once. I have used this a lot and have not yet sharpened the blades--that, I am sure, is also part of the reason it jammed for my neighbor.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 12/16/09

First off, it is not a gasoline engine so it is not going to have the same power due to the limits of amperage typical households can supply. However, even with these power limits I was very impressed with the power this electric chipper has. I was able to chip wood up to 2 inches in diameter with no problem except that the chipper pulls the wood into the machine faster than the machine can handle. So when chipping thick branches it is important to grasp them firmly and pull back when the chipper starts to pull them in too quickly. Be prepared, it pulls hard! If you are patient and feed at the correct rate you should not have any problems with clogs. If the unit does clog the engine pulls too much power and your breaker will trip, which did happen to me a few times before I learned what the machine could handle. This chipper needs its own 20 amp dedicated circuit or it will trip the breaker when it starts. I live in an older house with older wiring that is mostly 15 amp, which could not handle the current. Luckily, the circuit my refrige is on is a 20 amp circuit that is close enough to a door so the extension cord can reach, but now I have to unplug the refrige when I want to run the chipper. (i'll fix this inconvenience by running a new 20 amp circuit to an exterior plug) So you should plan to put in a dedicated 20 amp circuit if you don't have one before you purchase this. This chipper is very solidly built. If it does clog the plastic leaf bin is sturdy enough so that the entire unit can be upended to clear the chips, but it is heavy so be careful flipping it. The chipper cone isn't too hard to take off either in case wood gets stuck there. Since it is electric you just flip a switch to turn on and off, which is much more convenient than a gas engine. It is also much quieter than a gasoline engine, but you still should wear hearing protection when using it (no complaints from the neighbors so far). The wood chips it produces are very fine, but the shredder doesn't work that well on green stuff. In fact, the shredder part is the easiest to clog. I tried a palm frond in the shredder opening and it clogged the machine. So now I just have to pull the fronds apart and put them through the chipper. It seems the shredder isn't much good for anything but dry twigs and leaves. But that is no biggie as it is not hard to feed most stuff into the chipper. I bought this unit when I read the poor reviews for the cheaper electric chippers (free shipping if you order direct from their site). You get what you pay for. Patriot sells a quality machine that you can buy replacement parts for and that can be serviced. The other cheapo chippers don't even sell replacement blades! What do you do when your blade wears out? Don't buy a foreign-made piece of crap that you'll just end up throwing out. No regrets with my purchase.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 05/25/09

If you have a huge job and little time, stick with an 8 hp gas machine or better. After two trips to ACE with my old gas one and it still wouldn't start I bought this one. Took 20 minutes to assemble, If I had to do it again 7. (easy). To use it, plug it in, turn it on. With the top safety shield in place you can't get stuff down very fast.. remove guard but use provided goggles. It turns dry leaves to powder mulch, use a stick to poke stuff down. If stuff is wet or green it will plug up and not turn. Unplug it (duh), turn it on its side and hose it out.... a few minutes and your good. You can't get better mulch... but slow. I will keep my old one and then run the stuff through it (if it starts) and then through the electric one for top dressed mulch... better than commercial mulch.

CSV-3090H - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 04/22/09

The Patriot CSV-3090H Chipper and Leaf shredder exceeded every expectation I had. Right out of the box, a single pull on the rope started the Honda engine. Since then I've never had to pull twice to get it going. Once the chipper is warmed up, it eats everything I want to throw at it. Old branches, new branches, old leaves, pine cones and multiple brands of twigs all generate a mulch my wife loves. The best news and first thing I tell friends is the Chipper is made in the USA. (No, it isn't sold by Walmart). We need more companies like this who still take pride in quality workmanship. Then maybe American-Made can compete again.

CSV-2515 - 4 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/26/06

Our garden generates a lot of limbs, twigs and green growth every week. This unit is good for tidy up but the feed rate on green leaves must be slow or it clogs. The only solution is a time-consuming disassembly and reassembly. Mixing the green leaves with dry leaves or twigs helps 60:40 ratio. It has handled iron-wood (Australian Pine) without a problem (including the needles on the twigs). As long as you don't rush it, this machine is quite efficient and makes good mulch for the compost bin or direct spreading. We had to get an electrician to put in a stronger breaker to run the machine, otherwise it kept stopping.

CSV-2515 - 5 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/29/04

Product Far Exceeded my expectations. It handles the jobs I need without the worry of gas and oil. I've been using it for years and it takes care of leaves, twigs and the sort with ease. Patriot is a great company and they will bend over backwards to help you out.

CSV-2515 - 2 out of 5 stars - Amazon Customer Review - Posted 07/03/04

Don't count on this machine to save you any work, it is way underpowered, the feed chute is too small and is prone to clog. I tried it twice after reading the manual cover to cover and tried to follow the instructions to the letter. I literally spent more time clearing jams and disassembling the unit then I did shredding. I learned that to shred pine needles, plan on about 30 minutes to shred one garbage can of needles, the feed rate is so slow I gave up. This unit is fine for the organic homeowner who may shred some orange peels and leaves for the compost pile, but not for any serious work. I expected so much more for $729.00.