We sometimes have customers ask, “Are electric shredders any good?”. The answer is that it depends on the make and model, and it depends on what you’re after. Garden shredders aren’t cheap, even ones designed for extremely minimal, domestic shredding. And people are rightly dubious of electric shredders. The lower-end models are built for very minimal work (and some brands don’t seem to be built for any work at all).
Are Lower-End Electric Garden Shredders Any Good?
Lower-end models are suitable for domestic use where someone has a small garden with primarily hedging where the branches are thin and not very ‘woody’, or few small trees with slender branches. They aren’t good with heavy work. They will break down fast or the blades will wear down if used for extended periods, taking large loads. These lower-end brands and models will break down with one or two heavy uses. Typically, these lower-end models state their “max branch thickness” for intake. But this isn’t necessarily the optimal branch thickness. Many lower-end brands and models can only manage half the stated max branch thickness before grinding to a halt — or wearing the blades down with one or two uses. For this reason, if you have a larger garden or anything beyond minimal growth, you’re almost always better off going for a higher-end model.
The Stihl GHE 355 Electric Shredder
The GHE 355 is Stihl’s higher-end model electric shredder. The GHE 355 is going to be plenty for m
ost domestic use cases. It works well on small to medium-sized gardens, though it’s not suitable for professional use. It’s more suitable for larger quantities of hard tree branches, woody brush and bushes. One of its most significant advantages over a petrol-driven shredder is its cost and its weight, at almost half the price of the lower-end petrol shredder. Weight wise the GHE 355 comes in at 30kgs whereas the 370S weighs 45kg thanks to its petrol engine. Both models are loud. They are over the safe usage limit of 80db, so we recommend you wear ear protection while operating any shredder.
If you’re still unsure what’s best for your situation, feel free to give us a call today on 021-4965132