Bosch Garden Shredder AXT Rapid 2200 (2200 W, 230 Volt System, Cutting Capacity 40 mm, in Carton Packaging)

Product Information

The flat plunger helps you push down waste into the funnel and can be hung on a simple hook on the handle when it's not in use, a nifty feature which should prevent the plunger getting misplaced. It has a large funnel and comes with a wide, sturdy plunger that was our favourite on test and which helps to push material into the shredder easily. Knowing how to sharpen garden shredder blades at home will enable you to keep those blades consistently sharp, which will save you quite a bit of money in the long run! We’ve fed it a mixed diet of laurel, leylandii, apple, bramble, elm, plum, beech, rose, holly and pyracantha. The round plunger is useful for pushing material into the funnel and this has a safety flap to protect fingers and a reset button in case of jams.

There are a minority of users that claim it is only fit for light duties and the blade will still go blunt far too quickly. it’s light, and large wheels and a handle make it easy to move around the garden and in and out of the shed. Not many people have a belt sander at home, but if you know someone who does, it could be worth paying them a visit. Fuelled by her quest for self-sufficiency, she’s now putting that information to good use on her own rural farm. If you’re planning on shredding away from the house at the end of the garden, check the length of the electric cable or factor in the need for an extension cord.

You need to take care to avoid any abrasive material getting into the shredder (soil or small stones etc) as these will blunt the blades very quickly. The plastic collection box has a large capacity of 55L and a safety mechanism so that the shredder will only work when this is engaged - if the box breaks, it will need to be replaced or the shredder won't work.

A high-speed 2,200 W Bosch Powerdrive motor delivers the highest torque in its class for effortless shredding. It will happily run for a couple of hours pretty much continuously and the only time we had blockages was when we fed it heavy, dry branches. For me the fact that this shredder has been on sale since 2007 is also a testament to its popularity and reliability. While you always have the option of taking dull garden shredder blades to be professionally sharpened, doing this yourself is surprisingly easy if you have the right tools. About the only thing regularly criticised about this machine is some people complain about short blade life.We’ve tested essentials like the best garden spades and best hoes as well as more specific kit like the best hedge trimmers, the best splitting axes, the best pressure washers and the best strimmers.