5 min readThe K32 wood chipper chews through branches up to 3 inches thickIt’s more affordable than the K33 and nearly as powerfulThis tool breaks leaves, sticks, and twigs down into fine chips for mulching
When I tested the Earthquake K33 wood chipper last year, I was impressed by its sheer power, which is why it became the one I recommend for yard cleanup that involves breaking down large branches best wood chippers buying guide. That beast flat out chewed through limbs up to 4 inches thick and, dare I say, violently. Earthquake, though, has since discontinued the K33 model, leaving the K32 as the brand’s sole wood chipper.
Given how well the K33 performed, I was surprised that it was axed. I wondered if maybe the K32 had consumed its bigger brother with its comparable performance at a price that’s about $200 cheaper. After testing, I can confirm the K32 is a worthy successor as the best wood chipper for big branches given its shredding power, easy start-up, and sturdy build.
How I Tested
I evaluated this wood chipper by stuffing as much wood down its metal gullet as possible. Given that my home backs up to hundreds of acres of woods, I have an abundance of tree limbs of various sizes at my disposal. The K32, like the K33, has a chute for wood chipping and a chopper on the top of the engine for shredding leaves and twigs. So I tested the K32’s ability to break down both leaves and branches.
Expect Assembly to Take an Hour (Average for Gas-Powered Chippers)
Most wood chippers arrive with some assembly required, and the Earthquake K32 is no exception. Putting it together involves attaching the wheels, hopper, and chute to the main body. It’s a job that can be completed with a socket set, a few combination wrenches, and a Phillips-head screwdriver in about an hour if you’re mechanically inclined.
I did encounter a few challenges. There is one step in the assembly instructions that involves securing the hopper to the chipper body that I found particularly confusing. It involved sandwiching a piece of sheet metal between two other pieces of metal while tightening down screws. After some trial and error, I was able to figure it out, but an extra set of hands would have been helpful.
I also had a hard time fitting a washer over one wheel axle, and that required using a hammer to tap the washer into place. This is likely a flaw with the model I received and probably not a widespread issue. I checked online customer reviews and couldn’t find anyone who dealt with the same issue. My thought is the end of the axle suffered an impact during shipping that caused the rod end to flatten a bit, making it difficult to get the washer over it. The other end of the axle for the opposite wheel was fine.
Adding the required amount of motor oil to the K32 was also a bit of a challenge. The oil fill cap is tucked under the chute, which makes it difficult to unscrew. Those issues aside, the Earthquake parts fit nicely together.
A Beast, But Beware
I’m typically prepared for a battle when it comes to getting a pull-start gas engine running, but the K32 revs up easily. It required just two pulls using moderate force to get it going. Once it was running, I began with the top hopper, loading various small debris, such as leaves and twigs. Not surprisingly, the K32 had very few problems turning this mass into shredded material ideal for mulching and composting. The hopper does funnel down into a relatively small opening to the blades, and I found this led to the material sometimes clumping up in that bottleneck. I ended up using a scrap piece of lumber to push the leaves and sticks into the blades.
The K32 is rated to handle branches up to 3 inches in diameter, which is the max the metal chute that extends from the chipper’s side will take. That’s about standard and comparable to other gas-powered wood chippers I’ve tested, including the K33, Champion 3-inch portable chipper, and Patriot Products electric wood chipper.
I started with small stuff, 1/2- to 1-inch limbs, which the K32 chewed through faster than I could load branches into its maw. While I may have had some doubt about its power, the K32 silenced my reservations quickly.
Tony Carrick
The K32 did an admirable job of slicing, chopping and cutting, and then pulverizing branches that I loaded into it. The result: 3/4-inch pieces for ideal mulch.
After grinding up a few bags worth of thin branches, I upped the ante by cramming fallen 2- and 3-inch-thick branches from under a stand of red oak trees into its chute. The K32 chewed through these hardwood branches with little hesitation, aggressively grinding them down into chips.
A quick note here regarding safety: Eye protection is an absolute must when using the K32. It was prone to firing the occasional wood chip back through the chute toward me.
Wood chippers break down fallen branches and leaves for easier disposal but these machines can also turn large piles of yard debris into small bits that you can use as mulch in your garden. The K32 did an admirable job of slicing, chopping, and cutting, and then pulverizing the branches I loaded into it. This left me with 3/4-inch pieces I used to mulch around a raised garden bed in my backyard.
In all, the chipping performance was impressive and likely explains why the K33, with its larger, more expensive engine, was left without a place in Earthquake’s line.
Solid Build, Moves Well
The K32’s construction quality is decent where it counts most. The hopper consists of durable sheet metal, while the engine and grinding mechanism have a heavy cast iron case. Earthquake also fits the K32 with large 11-inch wheels, which made maneuvering this 120-pound behemoth from my driveway, around the house, over uneven terrain, and into the backyard surprisingly manageable.
I did have one build quality concern with the K32—the way the bag connects to the chipper. The opening of the collection bag has a plastic cuff that locks onto a metal flange. A quick survey of online reviews revealed that the cuff is prone to cracking, after which it won’t attach securely to the chipper body. While this is certainly not a deal breaker, it’s worth being extra careful when detaching and attaching the K32’s collection bag.
The Verdict
Like the discontinued K33, the K32 is impressive when it comes to breaking down wood. It’s a powerful, well-built machine that can grind branches up to 3 inches in diameter into tiny mulch pieces in seconds. It works quickly and efficiently enough that I would say it’s an option for even larger yard clean-up efforts than mine. The complaints I have with the K32 are few and are related to some minor build quality issues.
The K32 costs $800. While I’ve tested wood chippers that are more affordable, they lack the sheer shredding and chipping power of the K32, making this tool worth the extra cost if you live on a wooded property and have a lot of branches and leaves to break down.
Buy the Earthquake K32 Wood Chipper
Other Wood Chippers We Recommend
Best Overall
Champion Power Equipment 3-Inch Portable Chipper-ShredderCredit: Thomas Hengge
Champion’s chipper shredder had no problem grinding through wet leaves and twigs during our testing, plus it can handle branches up to 3 inches thick.
Best Value
SuperHandy Mini Wood Chipper
Now 9% Off
SuperHandy’s wood chipper is priced reasonably yet still packs a punch with a 7-horsepower motor that can handle 3-inch branches.
Best Electric
Patriot Products CSV-2515 1.5-HP Corded Electric Wood ChipperCredit: Tony Carrick
Easy to start, this machine operates minus the noise or exhaust fumes that come with a gas engine, yet it is powerful enough to shred branches up to 3 inches with lightning speed during our testing.
Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.
Jamie, Senior Reviews Editor, joined the Hearst Enthusiast Group in 2021. She has covered technology and consumer lifestyle gadgets since 1995—and shared her expertise in print, digital, and in broadcast originating the role of The Gizmo Girl for ESPN’s Cold Pizza. She has written about, tested, and reviewed everything from turkey fryers to high-definition TVs. Her byline has appeared in TWICE, Sound & Vision, Consumer Reports, and many others. In her free time, Jamie is in a yoga class, searching for the perfect matcha latte, or walking the boards.
Comments are closed.