Shreds everything (Bosch AXT 1600 HP)

Member Name: Windsoar

Product:	Bosch AXT 1600 HP
Date:	06/01/04 (993 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cuts just about anything, quiet operation, Bosch reliability

Disadvantages: soft materials can clog it

After the neighbour had complained every time we had a bonfire (even on November 5th) we decided to look for an altrnative way of handling the green waste from our large garden. My parents have used a shredder before but found it made a lot of noise and blunted quickly. Our Bosch is a different beast altogether. Advertised as a quiet product it does exactly what it says on the box.
We've been using it for two years now and whilst the heavy usage has taken away the initial sharpness it stills has no problem in tackling sticks and green shoots thicker than its advertised maximum.
It's not quite so clever with very mushy green shoots and can clog up, even below the grinders. Strategic assistance with a wooden stick can clear this and we find it best to chop the softer stuff first keeping back the woody material for later or using it to clear any blockages on the way.
The ground material has kept our compost heap warm and it rots away surprisingly quickly. See if you can get some conifer hedge trimmings to shred last and you'll even create an aromatic compost heap!
Ideally you'll buy three buckets for use with the shredder so that you can be carrying two bucketfuls to the compost heap whilst the shredder chews its way through a long item - alternatively get an extension lead so that the shredder can work near the compost heap.
Shop around for prices - we found ours £80 cheaper in Safeway than other stores were selling it for at the time (and were even honest enough to check with the store that it was correctly priced).

Summary: