Chipper Knives and Chipper Blades

Buying guide

Keeping chipper knives sharp

Check knives daily during heavy use. A dull or chipped knife makes the chipper pull poorly, chew instead of cut and send more vibration through bearings. Many knives are double-edged, so you can flip them once before sharpening.

Confirm the knife size, bolt pattern and machine model before ordering, and torque the bolts to the manufacturer's spec. Always lock out the chipper and make sure the disc or drum has fully stopped before opening the housing. Have dull knives reground by someone who can hold the original angle.

Ordering the right knife

Chipper knives vary by length, width, thickness, bevel and bolt pattern, even between models from the same maker. Measure the old knife or find the part number for your chipper before ordering, and confirm whether your machine uses a matching anvil or bed knife that should be adjusted when blades are changed.

Change all knives on a disc or drum at the same time so the machine stays balanced, and use new bolts if the old ones are stretched or damaged. Keep a second set of sharp knives on hand so a swap can happen in the yard, not on a job. Never reach into a chipper housing until the machine is off, the key removed and everything has stopped.