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Hansa C4 Chipper
Very pleased with the C4
I have owned an electric Shredder (AL-KO TCS2500) for about 20 years and while it is quite powerful (for an electric model); I wanted something that would not clog so easily, had a larger capacity, and with a bit more oomph. I did a lot of research and finally settled on Hansa as my chosen manufacturer. Unfortunately my garden size does not justify a C7 (and it would have hurt my bank balance too much) so I opted for the C4, and boy am I glad that I did.
It has plenty of power for the amount of chipping that I need. I recently spent a few...
Read more hours processing a large pile of conifer branches. The C4 was pulling them in and spitting them out faster than I could load them. Yes, the loading chute is quite narrow which means that knarly / bushy branches need a little fettling before loading. I only had clogging issues at the beginning when I was trying to load too many / too wide branches. I soon found out what works best and with minimal trimming, I was in the zone and having loads of fun. It is so good that my teenage son was itching to have a go and he and I were racing each other to get the "best branches" to load in. Top tip: I used a cordless circular saw for fettling the knarly / bushy branches and it worked a treat. In summary, the C4 is very well made / sturdy, has plenty of power and is easy to use. Also, the Honda engine is easy to start and just runs without any problems. If you are in the market for a chipper, don't waste your money on cheap knockoffs / Chinese substandard crap. Spend the extra money, get a Hansa, you will not regret it.Purchased in May 2020.
1 comment
AndysFarmHobart, TAS
- 29 reviews
- 11 likes
Very well built but some reservations on performance
Firstly this is a chipper, not a mulcher or shredder so consider really what you need as the methodology between these are different and also consider what material you are going to process and how much. The C4 is aimed at the smaller property owner for home and occasional use and any gardening contractor or those who would use it more than once a month would be advised to consider a bigger machine. Personally I would have preferred the larger C7 but for the amount of use this additional cost could not be justified.
Built quality. This is exce...
Read morellent. The C4 is very strongly built and will last a very long time. The commercial Honda GX 160 is in my view the best small engine available for quality and reliability and will always start first pull. I think the later models of the Hansa C4 are using the cheaper domestic version Honda 160, however for the homeowner who the C4 is aimed at this will also provide solid reliability and ease of use. Although quite heavy, the C4 is well balanced and can be easily moved around on level ground with its solid tryes. The chipper is belt driven which is a good point as this reduces any shock from jamming the chipper to the engine. The belt is easy to access and judging from the instructions easy to replace. I have not yet had to remove and sharpen the chipper blade and whilst instructions are provided cannot comment on the ease of this. The C4 being a chipper is naturally quite noisy in operation and may not be suitable in some residential areas. Obviously ear, eye and face protection are essential as it does sometimes spit small length twigs back up the hopper. Also a suitable wooden stick is essential for prodding material in the hopper and keeping hands away. Performance. This is what matters and I do have mixed views on this. Firstly the maximum size of about 40mm is really for green waste and for dry wood best reduce this to 25mm as it does struggle above this. Now the hopper is gravity feed and this is where how you use it does make a difference. In general I find that most waste will not feed without prodding and pushing with a wooden stick and not to overload the hopper. Some material requires a fair bit of prodding and can become quite tiresome. I have managed to put through Hydrangea prunings and heads (a lot of prodding); fruit tree prunings (some prodding for less than straight lengths); Green Agapanthas stalks (fed through easily but will clog up unless some dry waste fed in as well); Petosterum prunings, (fait bit of prodding especially when hopper overloaded); Leaves and small stuff (small amounts at a time go through easy and will reduce in volume by about a half); Bottle brush prunings (a lot of prodding especially for twisted bits); dry bark and twigs (most will go through without any prodding).Purchased at Roberts Don Mac Hobart.
2 comments
John L.Hansa Chippers
Hi Andy's Farm - Tas,
Thank you for your review....
Read more We are happy to hear you are overall pleased with your purchase. From the concerns described in your above review regarding your machine's performance, we would highly recommend having your knife sharpened as this is the most vital element in your chipper's performance. Some key elements to look out for to determine when your knife requires resharpening are as follows: The chipper loose its ability to self-feed; Material/s not readily being processed when fed and requiring assistance by push through the machine; and Output resultant material presenting in long strips, rather then that of chip. Kind regards, Hansa AustraliaThanks for your comment. Yes knife was blunt and have had it professionaly sharpened. Performance is much better. I have updated this review.
STOMPDarling Downs, QLD
- 4 reviews
- 2 likes
A waste of money
As a gardener I purchased this chipper to save me from driving 30 minutes to the dump, I had spent many hours researching and reading reviews it all seemed good but the truth is it does very little for the price, ($1850). It works great on slim straight branches like peach trees but a waste of time on all other general gardening debris under 35mm as it doesn’t have the weight to get pulled through. I have contacted Hansa and their reply was to post the debris down with a stick which is time consuming or buy a bigger one, the worst part is I ca...
Read moren’t sell it as I would feel guilty for such a disappointing product. Check out my video on YouTube (1greenthumbgardening) August 11th 2019 Update: Not what people rave about As a gardener I wanted something to chip hedge trimmings with, I have found it very useless, it does straight branches great but anything with a bend or branches then forget it. Only using up to 20mm thick, it is quicker to load the trailer and drive an hour then fight with this machine, I have shown Hansa videos of the problems and just said buy a bigger one. So I am very confused on what the chipper is for, especially for $1900. I only paid $1100, but I expected it to mulch small stuff.Purchased in July 2019.
Find out how Hansa C4 Chipper compares to other Garden Shredders
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darren40
- 10 reviews
- 1 like
Quality Product
Spent alot of time looking deciding which wood chipper to buy, live on 1 acre and always have green waste
Has honda motor so you know will start easy and be reliable and doesnt disappoint. Mulched large trailer load over the weekend without a problem , very easy to feed with shute height and angle. Palms and long stringy plants not a problem just dont try to maney at once. Branches chipped well but dont try and go to big. If I had a larger budget would have gone to the c7 but still very happy with money spent
Purchased in March 2019 at Second Hand for $600.00.
1 comment
John L.Hansa Chippers
Thank you for your review Darren. We are pleased to hear you are satisfied with your purchase.
ColGippsland, VIC
- 10 reviews
- 9 likes
Very Happy
Being on a rural property with a large garden means we almost always have items that need chipping. When we lived in the Brisbane suburbs i had one those electric chippers that basically chews very slowly through everything. Armed with that experience and knowing that a small machine like that simply wouldn't handle what we now needed to do I trundled off on a tour of the mower type shops in the area... Long story short found the Hansa. This machine is built solidly, and has a quality Honda engine perched on the top. Starts every time. The only...
Read more thing that stops it from getting 5 stars is the fact that leaves (from gums) or longish type grasses will sometimes make their way through the mulcher with barely a scratch, although it has done a few hours now and could probably do with a blade sharpening/alignment. A quality machine all round but by god they're loud. Don't forget the earplugs. ****TOP TIP**** When trying to mulch things like really dry old/dead palm fronds, soak them with water or better still wait until after rain.... They go through so much easier.ammo52Auckland, NZ
Big performer
Having wasted time and money on slow performing electric I moved onto the gruntier petrol machines. I have a need for regular shredding of bush and hedges around the property and the C4 does get rid of cabbage tree leaves when they are mixed up with other branches - previously led to a jam and then untangling the mess.
Would give the machine 5 stars, but is early days - used 4 times and grunty as - gets the chopped material out fast and glad I purchased the bag as well as the ejected stuff is spread! I want to dump it in places I cannot ge...
Read moret the C4 into, so it is great to have it contained. June 6th 2017 Update: A year later - going like it just came out of the box! Still chopping up green and dried material and cabbage tree leaves not an issue any more!! Well a year later and the C4 is working like it did on day one and I have churned through a wide range of green materials - chops and shreds without any effort at all. Only thing to watch is the gate the materials go through to the blade = just a little narrow and hedge material with a lot of angled branches needs a prune before it goes down. Gets rid of flax, bamboo, cabbage tree leaves as well as good size branches. Said I would reserve my stars verdict till time with the machine - would give it ***** 5 stars no problem.JCDNZPiha, New Zealand
- 2 reviews
- 7 likes
Absolutely Stunning Piece of Machinery
I needed a chipper/mulcher to aid me in clearing a very over run coastal section. In particular I had A LOT of flax to chew through. My uneducated budget was $1000. After extensive research on available chippers and mulchers I discovered that very few boasted the capability of shredding tough fibrous material like flax. The Hansa C4 was one of the few that could but was precisely twice my budget. Not wanting to do multiple 2hour round trips to the tip I bit the bullet and I'm so glad I did. I've since chewed about 100 cubic meters of foliage an...
Read mored flax and my section looks amazing. Though sometimes hard to start the Hansa C4 has otherwise never missed a beat and chewed through anything in its path. So thanks team at Hansa and go Kiwi. Versatility by way of shredding both fibrous flax, foliage and chopping wood and branches. Also great so support locally made products that are built to last. Sometimes hard to start. Neither my partner or another lady helping out on the section could start it.Questions & Answers
Dolphinasked
Where are these sold?
2 answers
At Shtl Northshore Auckland
John L.Hansa Chippers
Hi Dolphin, visit hansachippers.com.au and use the Store Locator to find your nearest Hansa dealership.
Kelvin Steeleasked
Hi, I need to mulch paper for composter without jamming up, will it do that?
Cheers! Kelvin
3 answers
Can't tell you at this stage Kelvin - aiming to have the blue chopper out this weekend so will do some experimenting for you! All in the name of science
Thanks let me know cheers Kelvin
Hi Kevin
Sorry for the delay but did experiment for you and not great results if you compare with an office shredder. Did not clog up at all but mainly chopped it into chunks, rather than shreds - did the same with cardboard I checked with. OK if the paper is not confidential but an A4 was in about 4 or 5 bits, a little crunched up, but very readable
Grant
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John L.Hansa Chippers
Hi Steve, thanks for the great review.