Chipper Chipper / Shredder

[dullpain]

Anybody know of manufacturer of a PTO driven 3 PH mounted chipper/shredder.

thanks

[Bird]

McCallum, did you try the search feature on this forum. I know the topic has been discussed a good bit in the past, but the only brand name (and there were several) that I remember right now is the Bearcat that my dealer sells.

Bird

[Rowski]

McCallum,

I have a Valby CH160 chipper. It is made in Norway. My dealer only carried this brand. He told me that after the bad ice strom in northern NY and VT (a couple of years ago) he sold about a dozen and has not had one come back yet. I have only used it to chip up 4 apple trees so far and it works great. A little on the pricey side but beats dragging and burning brush.

Derek

[Harv]

McCallum -

The Gearmore catalog shows a nice Danuser unit, available in 4" or 6" models.

[Chris in IN]

I have a Befco 6" Chipper / shredder It has power feed & works very well. www.befco.com

[TomG]

There were a couple of used Apatche 3" units around here. No power feed. I think they're manufactured by 'G & something- or-another' Grinder Company. I don't know if it's the same company that makes Apatche sprayers.

The hammer mills in the shredder unit have static, as opposed to flail something-or-anothers. I don't know if this is good or bad. They also are triple belted. Guess that's good. You can tell I really know what I'm talking about. Maybe somebody will fill us in. I have been thinking about getting one of the used Apatche units.

[Anonymous Poster]

Have you looked at www.easternfarmmachinery.com

[hayden]

First, you need to decide if you really wnat a chipper/shredder, or just a chipper.

As you might expect, you can spend as much money as you could possibly want.

Here are some suggestions:

Chipper/shredder: If you really want a combo, look at the woods or Bear Cat. They are exactly the same.

Chipper: This really kick but for chipping.

Smaller with manual feed: I highly recommend the Patu DC 40 or DC 60. They are 4" and 6" respectively. I have a DC 40. Will cost $2500-$3000

Smaller with hydraulic feed: I've never priced one, but after chipping a ton of stuff, the hydraulic feed sounds pretty nice to me, but I'm afraid to price it.

Some of the other mentioned units have received top praise too.

You really need to decide if shredding matters, and then if hydraulic feed matters or is worth the extra $$ to you.

DO NOT GET the thing in Northern Hydraulics catalogue. I almost got one and talked to the manufacturer (Mackissic). Ended up speaking with the owner/designer and told me NOT to buy it for use with a 540 PTO because it's designed for faster operation. He groussed about Nothern advertising it for use with 540 PTO.

[Anonymous Poster]

I posted this a while ago, but here it is again.

Andy

PTO Woodchipper Report

Last week I purchased a PTO woodchipper for use with my B2400. I had been looking at different brands for a couple of years. I decided on the Danuser model 18P. This is a 4 inch chipper with power feed. Even though it is rated to take 4 inch diameter wood, the actual infeed opening is 6 inches square. This aids in fitting branches through the opening without getting jammed. The power feed is gear driven off the chipper power shaft and feeds at 55 feet per minute. Many other brands have hydraulic power feed. The gear drive does not allow the feed to be reversed in the event of a jam, however it does not require a hydraulic connection to the tractor.
The chipper is built of heavy gage steel with hefty bearings and shafts. The 106 pound flywheel turns at 1280 RPM with 540 RPM PTO speed and there are 2 cutting knives. Most of the other brands have the flywheel turn at 540 RPM. A slower flywheel stores much less energy than a faster turning one. The higher speed also results in more cuts per minute even though some of the other brands have 3 or 4 blades. The speed increase is accomplished with belt drive. These pulleys have 8 belts side by side to handle the torque load. The belts act as a mechanical fuse if things get jammed, preventing damage to either the chipper or the tractor.
The chipper is rated for 18 to 45 HP. My B2400 is on the bottom end of this rating producing 18 PTO HP. I did succeed in stalling the tractor on a piece of 3 ½ inch dry maple. The tractor stalled after about 7 feet and yes the belts did squeal when this happened. I guess I should have disengaged the power feed. Interesting enough the tractor RPM never even never dropped on anything else I chipped all weekend including some 4 inch oak.
The chipper has a built in fan on the back of the flywheel that lifts the chips up and discharges them out a chute. I built a plywood extension and top for my trailer and shoot the chips into it.
I am satisfied with the quality of construction and ease of operation. The power feed is great. I decided on the power feed because it will pull small branches and vines as well as the large stuff right into the chipper. It eliminates kickbacks which can happen with the last foot or so of the branch without power feed. It is also rated as quieter than many other chippers.
I paid $3475 for the 18P, the model without power feed (18G) was $1000 less but is being discontinued. The first dealer raised the price $600. since I priced it with him last fall. I contacted the manufacturer and was told the list price had increased $100 during that time. I found another dealer that sold it to me for $75 more than I was quoted last fall.
The company web site is at: http://www.danuser.com/chippers.htm#specifications

Other chipper web sites are:

Roberge http://www.comsearch-can.com/cpe5.htm
Bear Cat http://www.crary.com/bearcat/index.html
Vermeer http://www.vermeer.com/eq_brush_chip...l#Anchor-BC625
Chippit http://www.entectradingltd.co.uk/chi...hippit_pto.htm
Gravely http://www.gravely.com/index.phtml?pg=Xherochipper
KwikChip http://www.fletcherstewart.co.uk/ptochip.htm
Ram http://www.rampower.com/products.htm
Befco http://www.sledmaine.com/dealers/whi...co/buschip.htm
Woods http://www.woodsonline.com/

[ejb]

Woods makes a few of them...I have the Woods 8100, PTO driven, hydraulic feed and its great. Will take an 8inch log, with branches no problem. Very heavy however, so you'll need a beefy tractor to move it around safely. Even with my JD5410 it sometimes feels a little top-heavy when I move from one place to another...good luck.