Ryobi 2400w Quiet Shredder

Ryobi 2400w Quiet Shredder

The RYOBI RSH-2455E QUIET MULCHING SHREDDER 2400W, to give it its full name, gets few reviews over at Amazon.   This would normally mean we wouldn’t include a review here.  However, the few reviews it gets all give it a 5 star rating.

We do note that other internet review sites are not uniformly positive.  The most common complaint is that the machine simply doesn’t shred (or in this case, crush) straight out of the box.  Quite often some adjustment of the crusher/cutter is required. The key it seems is in ensuring that the striking plate which the crushing gears work against, are well adjusted before you start.

No more review – let me buy it now

So let’s take a look at the good and the bad – but first – the technical details.

Technical Information

• Crushing and cutting action which is ideal for composting.
• Auto reverse unblocking system.
• Automatic self-feeding operation.
• Live power indicator.
• Large hopper for easy feeding of branches.
• Very quiet operation.
• Powerful 2,400 watt induction motor.
• Shreds solid branches up to 40mm in diameter.
• Overload protection & Safety cut-off switch.
• A 12 metre (40 feet) cable is included as standard.
• Sound 94d(A)
• Weight 25kg

Ryobi also claim a mulching ratio of 10:1 too.  That means that this shredder should reduce the volume of you garden waste by 90%.  While this is great news for composters, bin and land fillers this sort of figure needs to be taken with a degree of caution.

The Good

Just about any woody waste, right up to the maximum 40mm diameter, are effortlessly chewed up and spat out.  The chippings are between 1 and 2 cm in size and are split and crushed which should be pretty good for composting.  There is just so much power it is able to chop through even the bigger, heavier branches.

Like most crusher type machines it will drag anything you feed into it through the mechanism.  Certainly there is less effort required to feed the beast than with impact type shredders.  Watch out if you feed brambles in.  We had one that must have been 20feet long or more.  Once the first bit had been fed into the shredder it was pulled in.  Unfortunately it was wrapped round my legs and I got some quite painful scratches before I could get out of the way.

The self feeding mechanism can cause crusher shredders to jam.  As branches are pulled through any leaves tend to get stripped off and don’t go into the shredder until all of the branch has passed through.  Consequently the mechanism is faced with a compressed wedge of green leafy waste which jams the feeder.  Most crusher shredders provide an option to reverse the gear which pushes out the jammed mess.  The Ryobi goes one step further and provides an auto-reverse mechanism which detects when the cutter is under extreme load.

Ear defenders really are optional – it is a lot quieter than impact shredders with rotary blades. Though at 98dB it is hardly quiet but you shouldn’t be bothering the neighbours too much when you are shredding.

Of all the shredders we have reviewed (most don’t make it on to the site) the Ryobi stands out as coming with a sensible cable length by default.  For most gardens you can move it to where you need it without worrying too much about extension leads.  It might only be a small benefit but not one to be underestimated.

The Bad

As we have already mentioned, several users report that the Ryobi simply doesn’t shred at all to start with.  For some reason the cutting settings as shipped are not right.  The trick seems to be to adjust the settings before use.  As one reviewer commented, “you have to ‘keep cranking up the cutter’ (to use  Ryobi technical support’s own terms) while shredding till you get the desired cut”. Unfortunately the instructions for adjusting the cutter are not that clear.

Perhaps a more serious concern is that a number of users have reporting that the aluminium casing cracks.

Should you buy it?

No more review – let me buy it now

When working well the reviews for the RYOBI RSH-2455E QUIET MULCHING SHREDDER 2400W tell us that it’s shredding performance and power are excellent.  The long cable is a bonus too.

So, it’s certainly a possible but it has very serious competition from the Bosch’s.

About Ryobi

Ryobi is pretty much an unknown quantity to me.  So here is some information from their web site:

As one of the world’s largest and most innovative power tool manufacturers, Ryobi Power Tools specializes in making pro-featured power tools truly affordable. That’s why Ryobi is the brand of choice for millions of homeowners, woodworkers, hobbyists, craftspeople, and value-conscious contractors.

We have built our reputation by manufacturing power tools that increase your purchasing power and expand your capabilities. Tools like our legendary AP10, the world’s first portable bench top planer. Or our breakthrough BT3000, the first affordable, precision woodcutting system. Or our 18.0v Super Combo Kit that shattered the price barrier for big-job cordless power.