The Complete Handbook of Chippers
For professionals, businesses, and serious hobbyists who need to evaluate, buy, install, and maintain wood chippers effectively.
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Cut through chipper confusion: what they actually do, which type you need, how to use them safely, and where the business is.
About this book
Chippers are essential equipment across landscaping, arboriculture, grounds maintenance, and waste management—but buying, using, and maintaining one is more complex than most people realize. This handbook cuts through product marketing and oversimplification to explain what chippers actually are, how different types work, and which machine suits which job.
Whether you're a landscape contractor evaluating a $5,000 towable chipper versus a $50,000 truck-mounted rig, a grounds manager troubleshooting vibration and jamming, or an equipment rental operator building your fleet, you'll find concrete specifications, decision frameworks, maintenance schedules, real failure modes, and business strategies grounded in how chippers actually perform on job sites. Each chapter moves from concept to application—no filler, no hype, no generic advice that doesn't apply to your situation.
Reader Reviews
Lisa Allen
★★★★★Finally, something that treats chippers like actual equipment, not a cute lawn gadget. The Chapter 1 explanation of how a drum chipper actually works versus a disc model helped me understand why our old machine keeps clogging on fresh green branches—we should have bought a different type from the start. Still wish there was more on electric models, since we're trying to go that direction, but this is solid foundational stuff for anyone running a crew.
Jennifer Lewis
★★★★★As a rental operator, I found the types and specifications chapter invaluable for sizing our fleet, and the maintenance section saved us money on unnecessary service calls by teaching us what's normal wear versus what's a real problem. The troubleshooting is specific enough to use on the spot. Only minor gripe: a few of the brand comparisons feel outdated even though the book is new, but the decision frameworks still hold up.
Michelle Wright
★★★★★Exactly what I needed before investing in commercial equipment. The author clearly writes from real experience—every chapter has concrete examples, failure modes, and cost trade-offs that make sense when you're actually standing in front of equipment. Not a sales pitch, not oversimplified, and the glossary is genuinely useful on a job site. Highly recommend if you treat chippers as working machinery, not a one-time purchase.