Wood Chipper Checklist Every Operator Needs
We've built, sold and serviced Forst, Arbmax and FSI wood chippers out of our Cumbernauld workshop since 2007. Here is what to check before you buy or hire a chipper, and what to run through before every start.
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What to look for before you buy or hire a wood chipper
Feed size and power
Get the specification wrong and you’ll spend the next few years either underpowered or paying for capacity you never use.
Feed size is the first call, whether you’re running a one-man tree surgery outfit or bidding for council site clearance contracts.
A 6-inch towable suits most one and two-man operations. An 8-inch chipper or an Arbmax drum chipper earns its keep on heavy-duty applications where branch diameter and volume climb fast.
Petrol machines are lighter and cheaper to buy. Diesel typically runs longer between refuels and suits contractors doing back-to-back jobs.
At ILH Groundcare, we always take the time to understand your operation and frequency of machine use. This allows us to recommend solutions that suit your operation and workload.
Access and support
If your sites have tight gateways or soft ground, a tracked chipper gets in where a towable one won’t.
A 3-year warranty on a new Forst chipper tells you the manufacturer trusts the build.
It only matters, though, if your dealer picks up the phone if something goes wrong six months later and knows how to repair it.
We hire, sell, service, and repair woodchippers throughout Scotland.
For a reputable team that knows our groundcare machinery inside and out, you can rely on ILH Groundcare.
The pre-start checklist for every use
Fuel, oil and hydraulics
Before you run the engine, check the fuel level in the tank and confirm the shut-off valve is open.
Check engine oil and top up if it’s low, and look for signs of a leak underneath the machine.
Hydraulic fluid gets overlooked more than anything else on a chipper. A low level is one of the fastest ways to strip a pump.
Inspect every hose for cracking or wear while you’re down there. A split hose under pressure can spray hot hydraulic fluid at speed and cause a serious injury.
Blades, belts and the feed path
Inspect the chipper blades for chips, cracks or excessive wear, and check the tension on the drive belt while the guard is off.
A loose belt slips under load and a worn one snaps at the worst possible moment.
Clear the hopper and infeed of any obstruction left from the last job, and confirm the discharge chute flap moves freely.
Test the emergency stop and other safety systems before you feed a single piece of wood.
Wood chipper safety: PPE and operating position
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is non-negotiable around a wood chipper.
Always wear eye protection, hearing protection, and safety boots with a solid toe cap.
Loose clothing is a genuine risk near the infeed. A feed roller can pull in a sleeve or a drawstring before you can react, so wear close-fitting clothing with nothing hanging free.
Stand to the side of the infeed, never directly in line with it.
Feed branches butt-end first, so the machine pulls the material rather than you pushing it.
Some contractors and insurers ask whether the operator holds formal training or a certificate for operating the machine.
It isn’t a legal requirement for every job in the UK, but a competent, trained technician runs a safer site. Most tree surgeons pick it up as standard anyway.
What you can and can’t feed a wood chipper
What’s safe to feed
Wood chips are the whole point of the machine, but not every piece of vegetation should go through it the same way.
Dead branches are fine as long as they’re within the machine’s rated capacity. A 6-inch chipper struggling with a 7-inch limb is how belts snap and bearings overheat.
Wet or green wood chips are fine on most machines. It just produces wetter mulch and clogs the discharge chute faster, so check it more often on those jobs.
What to check before it goes in
Pieces of wood with embedded metal, stone, or old fencing wire are the real danger. They damage blades instantly and can eject at speed.
Site clearance professionals and tree care contractors on unfamiliar land should check material visually before it goes near the hopper.
Old fencing wire and embedded stone are the two hazards that turn up most often.
Brash, brush and small vegetation feed easily. Anything you’re unsure of goes to one side and gets checked by hand first.
Keeping blades and bearings in working order
A dull blade makes the engine work harder for every load. That extra strain shortens the machine’s lifespan and costs more in fuel than a proper sharpening schedule would.
Chipper blades need sharpening or replacing based on hours run and the material being chipped, not a fixed date on a calendar.
Hardwood and dirty brash dull an edge far faster than clean softwood.
Sharpened blades, proper lubrication on bearings and moving joints, and a check of the drive belt tension all belong in the same regular maintenance routine.
Booking blade sharpening and lubrication around a normal service interval is easier than fitting it in between jobs.
That’s exactly what our servicing workshop handles. We service Forst, Timberwolf, GreenMech, FSI and most other major brands.
Winter maintenance and storage
Damp Scottish winters rust any exposed, unprotected metal on a chipper fast. A waterproof cover and dry shelter matter more between October and March than at any other time of year.
Switch to a winter-grade engine oil where the manufacturer’s guidance recommends it.
Check the battery holds its charge before the first cold snap, so the machine still starts.
Keep moisture out of fuel lines over winter storage, and grease bearings and pivot points to stop corrosion setting in while the machine sits idle.
A chipper stored properly under cover needs nothing more than a quick check before it goes back to work in spring.
If the chipper jams or overheats
Shut the machine down at the emergency stop before you go anywhere near a jam, every time, no exceptions.
Most jams come from feeding material too fast or feeding a piece beyond the machine’s rated size. Reversing the feed rollers clears the majority without needing tools.
Watch engine temperature on long runs. Overheating usually traces back to a blunt blade working too hard, low hydraulic fluid, or a clogged discharge chute that restricts airflow.
If a machine keeps jamming or running hot after you’ve checked the obvious, it needs the workshop rather than more troubleshooting on site.
Our spare parts shop stocks genuine Forst and FSI components so repairs don’t sit waiting on a part from somewhere else.
Wood chipper checklist FAQs
Do you need a certificate or training to use a wood chipper?
There’s no single UK-wide legal certificate required for every operator, though many employers and insurers require formal training as a condition of the job. Councils and larger tree care contractors almost always insist on it. Even where it isn’t mandatory, proper training is worth having.
Can you put dead branches in a wood chipper?
Yes, provided the branch diameter is within the machine’s rated capacity. Forcing an oversized branch through is the fastest way to damage feed rollers and blades.
Can I chip wet or green wood?
Most machines handle it fine, though it produces wetter chips and clogs the discharge chute more often than dry material. Check the chute more frequently on wet jobs.
How often should chipper blades be sharpened or replaced?
It depends on hours run and the material being chipped rather than a fixed calendar date. Heavy hardwood use might need attention every few weeks. Light seasonal work needs it far less often.
What should I do if a wood chipper jams?
Hit the emergency stop first. Reversing the feed rollers clears most jams safely. Never reach into the hopper or discharge chute while the engine is running.
Talk to ILH Groundcare today
If you’re clearing whole sites rather than just chipping brash, a stump grinder is often the next machine worth talking to us about. We can guide you through both together.
Whether you’re speccing your first chipper or keeping a fleet running for a full contract, we’re here to help.
We take the time to match the machine to your workload. We’d rather give you a straight answer than a sales pitch. It’s exactly the reason why our business has been growing strong for coming up to two decades.
Get in touch with our team, or browse our full range of wood chippers and current hire options across Scotland.