How to arrange pruning brush for shredding
1. Place brush across the row, as if you are going to push it with a brush rake. The shredder can shred limbs about four inches (4") in diameter, do not place limbs bigger than four inches in diameter for shredding. Limbs bigger than 4" will jam the brush feed system and slow the shredder down.
2. Put the larger limbs that have branches down first. Then put smaller limbs, suckers and shoots on top of those larger limbs so the shredder can feed the smaller limbs. The shredder's brush feeding mechanisim floats about 3/4" to 1" above the ground, so the smaller limbs must rest on larger limbs in order to shred.
3. Keep the brush row about eight (8 ft) feet wide or less, cutting limbs longer than eight feet or placing them length wise. Make sure the brush row is straight, move the brush in so the row starts at the second tree and ends one tree before the last tree, to aid in manuvering/turning the shredder into and out of rows and greatly increase the shredding efficiency.
4. Arrange the pruning brush in every other row if the brush is light, or in every row if the pruing brush is heavy. The pruing brush should be arranged as evenly as possible, making sure there are no high stacks or piles and then nothing for many, many feet. Evenly placed, straight brush rows that are eight (8 ft) wide or less allow for maximum speed and best possible shredding results.
5. Ensure there are no tree rope, tree wire, metal pipes, bars, tree props, rocks or any other foreign objects. These things will jam the feeding mechanism, bearings and damage other components. This will slow and stop the shredder until it is cleared, cleaned, adjustments and/or repairs made, increasing your shredding costs.
Adapted from Almond Board of California (ABC) harvest & handling guidelines, July 2009 newsletter.
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JS Johal & Sons, Inc. www.jsjohalandsons.com Flory WS910 shredder