The Patriot CSV-2515 electric chipper-shredder will help you clean up your yard waste, including pruned branches up to 2.5 inches. The 1.5-hp wood chipper plugs into your electrical outlet and turns on with the flip of a switch.

Because it emits no fuel fumes, Patriot's most popular chipper-shredder, the CSV-2515, can even be used inside a garage or outbuilding as long as electricity is available. Patriot recommends using a heavy-duty extension cord within less than 100 feet of the electrical outlet. The CSV-2515 has one knife that chips branches and six hammers to shred twigs, leaves and other organic debris. It is a direct-drive unit, weighs 95 pounds, and comes with a 2.5-bushel collection bag and safety goggles. You will have to assemble the CSV-2515, but it should take less than a half hour.

We found the Patriot CSV-2515 to be a useful tool for cleaning up around the yard and garden. It chipped up small branches -- less than 2.5 inches diameter -- from our pruned trees and shredded leaves, twigs and other small debris from around the yard. We liked the ease of just plugging in and turning on rather than messing with fuel and pull starting. However, the limitation of the 100-foot extension cord did mean we had to move some debris closer to the machine. The unit reduced yard waste significantly, but not exactly at the stated 20:1 ratio. On the other hand, being able to use the unit under the shelter of a garage, greenhouse or other structure might just come in handy.

The CSV-2515 won't take up a lot of storage space. It measures just 24 inches wide by 35 inches long by 37 inches high. Options to the Patriot CSV-2515 include a tow bar, jumbo leaf bag and cover. No vacuum kit is available for this model.

The Patriot CSV-2515 proves to be a hard worker in a compact body. It chips and shreds well within its stated guidelines, making it a good choice if you need to chip and shred small stuff where you can plug the unit into an electrical outlet.


Pros: No oil and gas to mix, environmentally friendly
Cons: Limited to use within 100 feet of an electrical outlet

Warranty
90 days, commercial use; 2 years, residential use