Picked up Wallenstein bx42 today

[jbarker855]

I picked up our new Wallenstein bx 42 chipper today. This thing works excellent! I was a touch nervous about getting the mid sized model, as my tractor (JD 855) only has 19 pto hp. But I made the decision based on info I found on this board and I'm happy to say I now know I made the right decision. This thing has plowed through everything I tossed in it.
I got the style with manual feed. Hydraulic feed was almost double the price (about $5000, compared to $2700 for the manual feed style I bought). This thing really feeds itself pretty well. Just sucks the branches right in. I'm glad I didn't shell out for the hydraulic feed. The wife wanted me to get this thing to clean up all the debris on our mostly wooded 18 acres. I told her that she doesn't have to work hard to convince me when it comes to attachments for the tractor. The fit and finish on this thing is excellent. I will have to see how durable this chipper proves to be, but as it stands now, I would definitely recommend this piece of equipment to someone in the market for a chipper.
-Jay

 

[Mousefield]

Alway nice to hear of someone getting a new toy and finding it is working well for them. Post some pics of it in action. This is something when money permits I would like to have. Also where are you located?

 

[Wesdor]

Glad you have found your purchase to be what you were looking for. I got the same model a couple of years ago. I too thought I needed the hydraulic feed, but the salesmen insisted I did not. In fact he offered to let me have it at a great deal if I thought I needed it after I used it for a while.

As you have observed, it just sucks branches in. I have chipped a lot of wood and so far it stands up really well.

TBN is all about people providing information so others can make wise decisions. You took the time to do the research and came out with a great product.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[roman]

Thanks for the info. I have been contemplating the bx42 as well and can buy a new one for $2550. Will run it off my ford 1720, 23.5 pto HP.
I have a considerable amount of dead, small (-4") fir trees and brush. Will the bx42 chip the dead stuff as well or will I need to have mutiple bonfires?

 

[HappyOne]

Is it necessary to run the tractor at PTO speed when chipping?

 

[Tororider]

Thanks for the info. I have been contemplating the bx42 as well and can buy a new one for $2550. Will run it off my ford 1720, 23.5 pto HP.
I have a considerable amount of dead, small (-4") fir trees and brush. Will the bx42 chip the dead stuff as well or will I need to have mutiple bonfires?

Unless it is really decayed you shouldn't have any problem feeding it. The only time I have had a problem was when the wood was already falling apart. The vibration of the chipper would almost just shatter it to pieces. If it is still relatively new there should be no problem.

 

[Tororider]

Is it necessary to run the tractor at PTO speed when chipping?

Yes. It feeds better and chips better when running at speed. Otherwise I would guess that you could get bogged down if trying to run at less than speed.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have had my BX -42 for a couple of years and have used it quite a bit on mostly soft wood. I agree with Tororider's statements.

You will still need a chainsaw occasionally to cut subbranches at sharp angle from the main branch, since it isn't a really big unit, but after learning what it can do, and can't, I have become better at preparing my wood for chipping. I am quite pleased with the unit. My tractor has 27 hp at the PTO.

 

[jbarker855]

Mosusefield-
I live in Collins, NY, about 30 miles south of Buffalo.
Roman-
It does a nice job on the dead stuff. Most of what I've chipped has been dead and very dry. I've chipped mostly Sumac, which is a fairly soft wood, and it has done well. I've chipped some apple as well. This is a pretty hard wood but it also chips it well. Your tractor has 4 more pto hp than mine, so I think you'll be fine. I haven't stalled mine yet. Haven't even heard the engine bog down. You just have to keep in mind that 4" is the MAX capacity. If your 4" fir trees have a little knot in them that increases their diameter to 4.5", you'll be struggling. The hopper opening to the chipper blades is 4 x 10", so you simply won't be able to fit a larger log through, even if your tractor could handle the power requirements.
Another great piece of info I gathered from this site was to watch out for the branches swinging around as they get sucked in. This thing could really whack you one if you get in the way.
-Jay

 

[jbarker855]

Here's a few pictures....