Wood chippers are like any other piece of machinery. Parts like belts and blades need to be replaced and maintained. Proper usage of this type of equipment is important to avoid safety hazards. Chipper blades are most effective if they are sharp and can be hazardous if they are dull or over-used.
Wood chippers vary in size, type and capacity and the blades which process the wood are just as diverse. Rectangular in shape they are usually about 4 inches to 1.5 inches across and about 12 inches long. The thickness also ranges between 1.5 to 2 inches and blades are made from high grade steel. Often times they will contain a minimum of 8% chromium for added hardness.
Keeping the blades sharp is simple in theory and in practice. Sharper blades mean higher quality chips. In order to have a wood chipper that functions at the highest possible level, it's important to re-sharpen blades.
Counter-grinding a knife is the best way to conserve knife steel and improve the quality of chips your machine produces. A counter-ground edge is also more effective for chipping.
The re-sharpening process usually takes about 30 seconds per blade but depends on the length of the knife.
It is a two step process:
1. Place sharpener on knife
2. Adjust abrasive to knife
Using a sharpener will improve maintenance while at the same time decrease the costs involved with chipping. Sharpeners can significantly increase production and increase the life of the blades by up to 80%. Grinding costs are increased if your blades are dull because the machine will have to work harder in order to do the job. Wear and tear on other parts will increase as will the costs of powering the machine.
Sharpening blades also reduces the need to replace the knives by 75% and can reduce safety hazards associated with the use of wood chippers. These are the main reasons why you need to keep your wood chipper blades sharpened on a regular basis. You will save money, and you will keep yourself or others from getting hurt.
Sharpeners cost around thousand dollars and professionals will usually charge around $20 per blade. Replacement chipper blades can be found at wesspur.com and for hard to find parts or to have something custom made zenithcutter.com is the place to get that done.
Always take these precautions when working with wood chippers:
1. Follow all operational instructions and be sure to wear protective gear.
2. Clear the working area around the machine when it is in use
3. Make sure you only deposit the proper materials into the machine.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4104318
Wood chippers vary in size, type and capacity and the blades which process the wood are just as diverse. Rectangular in shape they are usually about 4 inches to 1.5 inches across and about 12 inches long. The thickness also ranges between 1.5 to 2 inches and blades are made from high grade steel. Often times they will contain a minimum of 8% chromium for added hardness.
Keeping the blades sharp is simple in theory and in practice. Sharper blades mean higher quality chips. In order to have a wood chipper that functions at the highest possible level, it's important to re-sharpen blades.
Counter-grinding a knife is the best way to conserve knife steel and improve the quality of chips your machine produces. A counter-ground edge is also more effective for chipping.
The re-sharpening process usually takes about 30 seconds per blade but depends on the length of the knife.
It is a two step process:
1. Place sharpener on knife
2. Adjust abrasive to knife
Using a sharpener will improve maintenance while at the same time decrease the costs involved with chipping. Sharpeners can significantly increase production and increase the life of the blades by up to 80%. Grinding costs are increased if your blades are dull because the machine will have to work harder in order to do the job. Wear and tear on other parts will increase as will the costs of powering the machine.
Sharpening blades also reduces the need to replace the knives by 75% and can reduce safety hazards associated with the use of wood chippers. These are the main reasons why you need to keep your wood chipper blades sharpened on a regular basis. You will save money, and you will keep yourself or others from getting hurt.
Sharpeners cost around thousand dollars and professionals will usually charge around $20 per blade. Replacement chipper blades can be found at wesspur.com and for hard to find parts or to have something custom made zenithcutter.com is the place to get that done.
Always take these precautions when working with wood chippers:
1. Follow all operational instructions and be sure to wear protective gear.
2. Clear the working area around the machine when it is in use
3. Make sure you only deposit the proper materials into the machine.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4104318
