(Image of a green electric chipper)
One of the first tools that was donated to the Tool Library, back in the spring of 2010, was a little green electric chipper. Even before the Tool Library was open, that chipper was “tested” by most every Tool Library volunteer, just to make sure it was working properly. I remember bringing it home twice to help clear up all the brush that had piled up in my yard from the winter storms and from winter tree pruning.
Even after the Tool Library opened, that little chipper was a hot item. Whoever wanted the chipper would find out who had recently checked it out and would ask that person to meet them at the Tool Library, so as soon as it was checked in it could be checked out again. Since we officially opened, Tool #21 has been checked out 21 times, and has been out of the Tool Library for 147 days. It’s the fifth most popular tool in the collection.
In the spring of 2011, we had a second chipper donated, #729. That chipper has been checked out 8 times, and been out of the library for a total of 65 days.
Both chippers are small, electric chippers, designed to mulch branches of up to one inch in diameter. They are great for cleaning up the small sticks that tend to accumulate in the winter, and handle pine needles and tree leaves without any extra effort. They’re not meant for larger branches or for handling huge loads.
If you are lucky enough to find one of these chippers in stock, be sure to grab a heavy duty extension cord, some safety goggles, and some ear protection. These chippers can be loud, and will launch material back at your face. Also be sure to wear long sleeves, long pants and heavy-duty shoes when operating these machines as the flying chips can leave painful welts on the body (and I speak from experience here). As well, keep children and pets away from the machines as the chips can fly quite a distance. Both machines have safety features built-in to keep fingers out of the machine, but only adults should operate these machines. Remember to only operate these machines on dry days, as neither machine is designed to handle rain.
As we slog through this windy, snowy winter, with falling branches and sticks, remember that the Tool Library has two great machines to help you clean up your yard when spring comes.
The West Seattle Tool Library has a collection of over 1,500 tools currently available, is free to use and run primarily on user donations. Our entire inventory is available online. For more information on becoming a member, please visit our website. If you are interested in volunteering at the Tool Library, please contact us at: library@sustainablewestseattle.org
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