Earthwise Power Tools by ALM Earthwise GS70015 15-Amp Garden Corded Electric Chipper, Collection Bin

Earthwise GS70015 15-Amp Garden Corded Electric Chipper, Collection Bin

Features

  • Powerful 15-amp motor shreds branches and sticks up to 1. 75" inch thick
  • Chute and tamper tool to keep your hands free and safe from the corded electric chipper/shredder
  • Easy clean-up with the 1.2 Bushel collection bin
  • Electric corded chipper/shredder shreds sticks to a fine ratio, great for composting
  • Durable back wheels that offers easy portability on the electric corded chipper/shredder

Specifications

Color with Collection Bin
Size 15-Amp with Collection Bin
Unit Count 1
Edition GS70015

This corded electric chipper/shredder uses a 15-amp motor to shred branches and sticks up to 1.75 inches thick, producing fine material suitable for composting. It includes a feed chute and tamper tool to keep hands clear during operation, a 1.2-bushel collection bin for debris, and rear wheels for easier portability.

Model Number: GS70015

Earthwise Power Tools by ALM Earthwise GS70015 15-Amp Garden Corded Electric Chipper, Collection Bin Review

3.8 out of 5

A compact corded chipper that rewards good technique

I put the Earthwise chipper to work on a late-season pile of prunings—mixed softwood branches, some hardwood suckers, and the usual tangle of twigs. Over a few sessions, it turned that stack into a bin of fine, compost-ready chips with far less fuss than hauling everything to the dump. It’s not a gas tow-behind, and it doesn’t pretend to be. What it does offer is homeowner-friendly power in a compact, corded package that’s easy to move, simple to live with, and best used with a bit of patience and prep.

Setup and build quality

Assembly is manageable with basic tools. The frame, hopper, and collection bin go together in under an hour. The included pusher fits the feed throat well and does a good job of keeping hands out of harm’s way. The axle and wheel install can be a little fiddly if you rush it, and snapping the hopper ring in evenly takes a touch of patience. Once together, the unit feels lightweight but solid enough for yard duty. The rear wheels and front stand make it easy to tilt and roll—no wrestling required.

This is a 15-amp corded machine, so plan on a heavy-gauge extension cord (12 AWG) no longer than 25 feet for best performance. It will run on a standard 15A household circuit, but a dedicated outlet without other loads is wise. It includes overload protection, which I did trigger a couple of times during aggressive feeding; a quick reset and cleaner technique solved that.

Power and performance

The 15-amp motor is the right match for small-yard cleanup. On dry, straight branches in the 0.5 to 1.25-inch range, it chews steadily and produces a fine, uniform chip that’s ideal for mulch or compost. The advertised maximum capacity is 1.75 inches; in practice, I treated 1.5 inches as the upper bound, especially for hardwoods. Softwoods of similar diameter feed more willingly; denser hardwoods require a slower hand and shorter pieces.

Throughput is naturally tied to how you prep material. With branches trimmed of side shoots and fed butt-first, I worked through a sizable pile at a comfortable pace over an afternoon. It’s satisfying: the bin fills with consistent chips rather than splinters and shards, and the machine doesn’t skitter or bog if you don’t force it.

Feeding technique matters

This chipper rewards a “let it cut” approach rather than brute force. A few tips from my time with it:

  • Trim off sharp bends and big knots. Curvy pieces catch the feed throat and induce jams.
  • Feed butt-first, with the pusher ready to keep things straight and steady.
  • Alternate tougher pieces with easier, smaller branches to keep the cutter clear.
  • Keep pieces short enough to manage—three to four feet is comfortable and reduces whip.
  • Don’t ride the pusher hard. If the motor note sags, back off and let it recover.

I did encounter a few jams, mostly when I got greedy with diameter or tried to rush knottier hardwoods. Clearing is straightforward, but it’s faster to avoid them by prepping branches and staying within the machine’s comfort zone.

Handling leaves and green material

This is a chipper first, not a dedicated leaf shredder. Dry or lightly green twigs with sparse foliage pass fine, but bundles of leaves—especially broad, flexible ones—tend to wad up and choke the exit port. You can keep going by feeding fewer leaves at a time, alternating with woody pieces, or by letting clippings dry for a few days. Still, if your primary goal is shredding bags of leaves, a mower with a mulching blade or a purpose-built leaf shredder will be more efficient. For woody yard waste, this chipper is much happier and much quicker.

Green, sappy branches will run, but they’re more likely to “gum up” the cutter housing over time. I had the best results letting fresh trimmings sit until the leaves crisp and the wood firms up, then chipping.

Noise, safety, and ergonomics

Noise lands well below a small gas chipper, but I still wore ear protection alongside eye protection and gloves—branches can whip as they enter the throat. The pusher tool is effective and keeps hands clear. The collection bin’s interfit with the base helps contain chips nicely, and the machine stays planted during use. At roughly the weight of a small shop vac, it’s easy to wheel across lawn or patio.

One note on power: because the motor can draw close to the circuit limit under load, a too-long or too-light extension cord saps performance and can contribute to nuisance trips, particularly on GFCI outlets. Using a short, 12-gauge cord solved that for me.

Clearing jams and routine maintenance

Jams happen. When they do, you’ve got two options: try to reverse-extract the piece from the hopper with pliers (often works for partial jams), or open the cutter housing to clear it. Access requires loosening a long retaining knob; it’s not hard, just a few dozen turns. Once open, clearing the blockage takes a minute. Plan on doing a quick interior wipe-down if you’ve been feeding damp or leafy material; buildup around the outlet accelerates clogs.

Blade care is the same as any small chipper: sharp knives make chips; dull knives make dust and resistance. Periodically inspect the cutter edges and tighten fasteners per the manual. Keep the bin clean and the housing free of packed chips to preserve airflow through the outlet.

Collection and portability

The 1.2-bushel bin captures chips neatly and cuts down on cleanup. It also fills quickly if you’re in a groove. For longer sessions, I found it faster to ditch the bin and park the chipper over a low garden cart or a tarp. The outlet height makes this easy, and you can reduce stoppages to empty the bin. The wheeled base and light weight make repositioning painless, whether you’re following a hedge line or working a brush pile by the patio.

Where it fits (and where it doesn’t)

The Earthwise chipper excels at:

  • Turning dry, straight branches under about 1.5 inches into fine, consistent mulch.
  • Weekend yard maintenance: shrub pruning, orchard trimmings, storm clean-up of small limbs.
  • Quiet, low-fuss operation near the house, where an extension cord is viable.

It’s less suitable for:

  • Heavy volumes of fresh, leafy material or bags of leaves—the outlet clogs and productivity tanks.
  • Large-diameter or stringy hardwoods at the top of its rating—you’ll spend more time clearing jams.
  • Remote work far from power—cord length and gauge requirements limit range.

If your yard produces mostly small woody waste and you want compost-friendly chips without gas, this fits the brief. If you’re clearing a felled tree or managing acreage, you’ll outgrow it fast.

Practical tips for better results

  • Use a 12 AWG extension cord, 25 feet or shorter.
  • Wear eye and ear protection; use the pusher, not your hands.
  • Pre-trim branches, keep them straight, and feed butt-first.
  • Let green cuts dry a few days before chipping.
  • Alternate small, dry sticks with tougher pieces to keep the outlet clear.
  • Empty or bypass the bin for long sessions to reduce stoppages.
  • Stop and clear early if the motor note changes or chips thin out—both signal a developing clog.

Recommendation

I recommend the Earthwise chipper for homeowners who routinely manage small to medium volumes of woody yard waste and want a quiet, low-maintenance alternative to gas. It shines with dry branches under about 1.5 inches, produces fine chips that compost well, and is easy to move and store. You will need to respect its limits, use the right cord, and adopt good feeding habits. If your primary task is shredding leaves or processing thicker, green, or knotted branches in bulk—or you need to work far from an outlet—look elsewhere. Within its intended lane, though, it’s a capable, budget-friendly tool that turns brush piles into useful mulch without the hassle of gas.



Project Ideas

Business

Mobile Chipper & Mulch Service

Offer on-site chipping and mulching for homeowners, landscapers, and HOAs: pick up branches, chip them, and either leave a mulch layer or haul bags away. Charge by volume (per yard) or per hour; upsell hauling, landscape installation, or bagged premium mulch.


Packaged Firestarters and Kindling Sales

Produce and retail branded firestarter bundles made from shredded wood and wax. Sell at farmers markets, garden centers, online, and to campgrounds—bundle with instruction cards and seasonal packaging (holiday scents, camping packs) to increase margin.


Mushroom Grow Kits & Consulting

Use wood chips to create turnkey wine-cap mushroom kits or inoculated beds for gardeners. Sell kits with spawn, instructions, and tips for maintenance; offer installation services for community gardens or restaurants wanting local mushroom supplies.


Bagged Specialty Mulch & Soil Amendments

Process chips into screened, bagged mulch or compost-blended soil amendments and brand them for sale to nurseries, home improvement stores, and direct to consumers. Offer varieties (fine chip, coarse chip, colored or blended compost) and subscription delivery for recurring revenue.


Tool Rental + Service Bundle

Rent the chipper for DIY customers who prefer to handle their own cleanup but lack equipment; offer instruction, delivery, pickup, and an add-on service to dispose or convert chips into mulch. Price by day with optional insurance and drop-off/pickup fees to maximize convenience and profit.

Creative

Hugelkultur Raised Beds

Use shredded branches as the bulky, water-retaining core for raised garden beds. Layer chips with compost and topsoil to build nutrient-rich, slow-release beds ideal for vegetables and perennials—great for improving poor soil and extending moisture retention with minimal ongoing work.


Mushroom Garden Beds

Create outdoor mushroom beds (e.g., wine cap/stropharia) by layering fresh wood chips as substrate and inoculating with spawn. These beds produce edible mushrooms and help break down woody material into rich organic matter for the garden over seasons.


Epoxy & Wood-Chip Home Accents

Mix fine wood chips into clear epoxy to make rustic coasters, trays, small tabletops, or wall art. The chips add texture and a natural aesthetic—sand and seal edges for a smooth finish and experiment with dyes or metallic pigments for variety.


Natural Firestarters and Kindling Bundles

Compress shredded wood with wax (or use dryer lint and wax) into small molds to create eco-friendly firestarters. Package in bundles or reusable tins—great for backyard fire pits, camping, and emergency kits; consider adding essential oils for a scented option.


Textured Garden Paths and Play Areas

Spread shredded material to create soft, natural garden walkways or play-surface zones under swings and playsets. Combine with edging to hold chips in place, and create patterns or borders by varying chip sizes and colors for a designed landscape feature.