I've recommended that people go rent one before they choose to buy, Tee. The reason being is that most folks see all the ads and tv commercials showing a chipper/shredder in action and there is always a huge pile of finished product and much glory. When I bought my first one, a larger-than-normal unit I was shocked how slow-going they are. It literally takes hours of work to get any sizable amount of wood chips that you can use. Plus, depending on the type of wood and the size of the branches it takes quite a while just to chip one good-sized branch. Many people think they are like the huge commercial ones that you just toss a branch in and it comes out chipped or shredded within seconds. No so.
I ended up giving mine away a few years later. Even friends who borrowed it brought it back saying they had no idea how long it took just to get a wheelbarrows worth of chipped wood.
If you rent one you can easily decide if you want to keep something like that around, using it once or twice a year and having to deal with maintenance (sharpening the blades is a chore), storage, etc. Sometimes you come out to the better renting one and not being responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, storage, and initial outlay of cost. After all, it is definitely one of those pieces of equipment you'll use sparingly.
Shoe
