In the field of wood processing, whether it is a large wood processing plant or a homeowner disposing of branches from their own yard, they are faced with a key choice: when it comes time to process wood into wood chips, should they choose a disk chipper or a drum chipper? This decision is not only related to work efficiency, but also has an important impact on cost control and the quality of the final product.
Next, we will analyze these two types of chippers from multiple dimensions to help you make a wise choice.
What Is a Disk Wood Chipper?
A disc chipper, also known as a disc wood chipper, is a piece of equipment designed to process wood into wood chips. It gets its name from the fact that the cutting knives are mounted on a disk. It is suitable for processing debarked logs, small diameter logs and branches with a diameter of less than 200 millimeters into high-quality industrial wood chips that are uniform in length, cut and thickness.
Disc chippers are used for the preparation of high-quality wood chips in paper mills, particleboard mills, fiberboard mills and woodchip production sites. With its excellent processing ability, it can provide these industries with raw materials that meet the production requirements and help produce high-quality paper, board and other products.
What Is a Drum Wood Chipper?
A drum chipper, also known as a drum wood chipper, is a machine used to process small-diameter wood, wood residues (such as thin branches and twigs), etc., into wood chips (3 – 5 centimeters in length and up to 5 millimeters in thickness). It is so named because its cutting tool is mounted on a cylindrical drum.
The base of the drum wood chipper is made of high-cavity steel plate welded together, which is the supporting foundation of the whole machine. The knife roller is fitted with two flying knives, which are fixed to the knife roller by means of special flying knife bolts and pressure blocks. Depending on the thickness of the raw material to be cut, the upper feed roller assembly can float up and down within a certain range with the help of a hydraulic system. Passable wood chips fall through the bottom screen holes, while larger chips are cut again inside the machine.
The final wood chips produced can be used to manufacture man-made boards such as particle board, fiberboard, compressed board, etc. It is widely used in pulp processing, biomass power plants, wood chip plants and other industries and manufacturers in the paper industry, providing an important raw material for the production of these industries.
Difference Between Disc Chipper and Drum Chipper
Machine Structure and Blade Installation Mode
The flying knives of the drum chipper are installed along the radial direction of the drum. As the position of the fly cutter changes, the direction of the cutting force also changes, so does the component force generated by the cutting force in the feeding direction. Its feed chute is usually rectangular, with a small height but a large width, so that the raw material buildup is lower and the cut wood chips are more uniform.
The fly cutter of the disk chipper is mounted on the end face of the cutter disk and tilted forward at a certain angle. The moving cutting plane of the fly cutter is fixed, so the length of wood chips cut is relatively uniform. The feed opening is usually square, which allows for higher stacks of raw material, higher cutting productivity, and often eliminates the need for a forced feed device.
Mode of Operation
Drum chippers cut intermittently, the drum is long in the axial direction and is usually provided with a forced feed device. The power consumed when cutting in different positions varies due to variations in cutting and feeding forces.
Ordinary disk chippers also cut intermittently, but by designing them as multi-blade chippers, continuous cutting is possible. The axial direction of its drum is shorter, and in some specific working scenarios, this structural design can improve the working efficiency.
Chipping Results
Drum chippers are suitable for cutting smaller diameters (up to 45 cm) and produce more uniform chips, but are not as good as disk chippers at controlling chip size.
The length of wood chips of disk chipper can be adjusted within a certain range, the slicing effect is more flexible and diversified, which can meet the diversified needs of different users for the size of wood chips.
Price
Drum chippers usually cost a few thousand dollars, with prices varying by manufacturer and machine specifications. The relatively high price is due to factors such as design and capacity.
Disc chippers are relatively inexpensive and can usually be purchased for less than a thousand dollars. The lower price makes it more attractive to some small businesses or individual users with limited budgets.
Disc or Drum Chipper: Which one is better for you?
Disc chippers have a disc mounted at a 45-degree angle to the feed wheel, a design that allows them to cut larger diameter materials more efficiently and with less horsepower and fuel. There is a “dead zone” between the disc and the feed wheel, a construction feature that also serves a unique purpose in practice. The cup thrower mounted on the back of the disc captures and throws wood chips at higher speeds, allowing for more efficient discharge or loading of material onto larger trucks. If you are primarily processing larger diameter logs, or need to efficiently load wood chips into larger haulers, a disc chipper may be a better choice.
Drum chippers have a drum mounted at a 90-degree angle to the feed wheel and the drum is positioned closer to the feed wheel, with a larger feed opening and an oversized drum with four knives rotating at a lower RPM. Because of these construction features, drum chippers are often the preferred solution for processing brush and twig material, including palm fronds. If your work primarily involves the processing of small diameter wood, branches and other materials, a drum chipper will better meet your needs.
Advantages of Drum Chippers
High Production Capacity
The drum chipper is capable of processing large quantities of wood quickly and efficiently. It can handle logs of all sizes and shapes, which makes it ideal for commercial and industrial operations. In large wood processing companies, the drum chipper is able to meet the demands of large-scale production, increasing productivity and bringing higher economic benefits to the organization.
Consistent Chip Size
The drum chipper produces uniform chip size, which is very beneficial for the subsequent pulverizing process. Uniform wood chip size can improve the crushing efficiency, reduce the wear and tear of wood chipper blades and hammers, reduce the maintenance cost of the equipment, and extend the service life of the equipment.
Versatility
The Drum Chipper can be used to process a wide range of materials, including wood, branches and other organic materials. Whether it’s processing discarded wood or processing branches and other materials into usable wood chips, the Drum Chipper is capable of doing it all and is highly adaptable.
Low Maintenance Costs
The drum chipper has a relatively simple structure and low maintenance requirements. Its rugged design and ability to operate stably for long periods of time makes it a cost-effective option for many businesses. Reducing the number of maintenance visits and maintenance costs improves the efficiency of the equipment and reduces the operating costs of the business.
Safety
Drum chipper is designed with full consideration of safety factors, equipped with safety features such as guards and emergency stop buttons, which can effectively prevent accidents and injuries and protect the personal safety of operators.
Advantages of Disc Chipper
Compact design
Disc chippers are smaller in size, which makes them easier to transport and store for small businesses and homeowners compared to drum chippers. The compact size is even more advantageous when dealing with larger but lighter materials such as tree branches, making it easy to move from site to site.
Consistent Chip Sizes
Disc chippers also produce more uniform chip sizes, making them ideal for producing chips for garden mulching or landscaping. Uniform chip size enhances the quality of the product and meets the market demand for a high quality wood chip product.
Energy Efficiency
Due to their design features, disk chippers typically consume less fuel or electricity, saving users money over time. In today’s world of rising energy costs, this energy-efficient feature is very attractive to both business and individual users.
Gentler Feeding
Compared to drum chippers, disk chippers have a more controlled feeding system that makes users feel safer and easier to maneuver when working with lighter branches or materials. This gentle feed reduces the labor intensity of the operator and improves work safety.
Conclusion
To summarize, disc chippers and drum chippers differ in structure, working method, slicing effect, price, and advantages. Drum chippers excel at handling small diameter wood and large quantities of material, with high production capacity and low maintenance costs, while disk chippers are better suited to handling larger diameters of wood, with clear advantages in energy efficiency and compact design.
When choosing a chipper, you need to consider your specific needs. For example, the type of wood you want to process, the size of your production, your budget and your requirements for safety and ease of operation. Only by taking all these factors into consideration can you choose the best chipper for your needs, thus increasing efficiency and reducing production costs.