What size branches can a cheap electric wood chipper actually handle?

Across verified-purchase reviewers and community threads, the real-world limit is well below the advertised 1.6 to 1.8 inches. Multiple r/composting and r/landscaping posters note these 15-amp machines work best on straight, dry sticks under about an inch, and that any bend, fork, or wet/green material causes jams. Treat the rated diameter as a best-case figure for a perfectly straight pole.