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My wife and I are starting to think about a PTO chipper again. I have read over threads in the past, and looked at the Wallenstiens and BearCat's. There was even a Bearcat on Craigslist yesterday(appeared to be CH5540) but it was gone fast...
My question though, is what about pto chipper/shredders? It would really be nice to be able to shred garden stuff too, mulch etc.
What is a good make/model for a chipper/shredder?
We have a NH TC40D, with 35+HP on the PTO, so power is not a problem.
The Woods 5000 which is made by Bearcat would be good for your use. The manual says it can even be used to shred plastics. If your going to be running heavy organics through it I'd not get the blower.
Matt
I would probably look toward the Wallenstein, Goosen, or Bearcat. I have an old MacKissick, and though it does what it's supposed to...... I'm not sure I'd recommend it over some of the others.
Besides garden debris, what else is to be chipped? How often will it be used?
Chippers are not great for green garden waste. Even the ones with the top feed that bypasses the chipper blades have trouble with tomato vines, corn stalks, squash/zucchini stems, and the like. Green waste comes out like a frog went through a blender.
You have done your research here on TBN and these guys won't steer you wrong. I'd trust their recommendations.
I'm a Woods 5000 chipper/shredder owner. Good machine and would be a good fit for your TC40.
If your needs consist of both limbs, branches, smaller trunks and smaller twigs, brush and such; a chipper/shredder is a good choice...better then a dedicated chipper.
I use my chipper/shredder 3-4 times a year for property clean up (my lot is 50-60 percent wooded).
We have 5 acres of various tree trimmings from pine, oak, and a then a few small fruit trees. And then, all the garden things like you mention below. And, a couple acres to take care of at my parents 20 miles away.
We have had to rent the big chippers too many times. Although we can burn yard debri, my with is an organic Master Gardener, and using everything that we chip/shred/mulch/compost.
How often would vary, but shredding would be more often I think, since she keeps gardens year round.
Part of the consideration of this, is our little 5hp Bearcat just aint big enough. Great little unit, but waaaay to small...
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwdixon
Well, sounds to me you've got justification to buy a chipper/shredder!Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertN
It took me a few years before I could justify (to myself) buying one. I was lucky enough to see a low hour machine on the local Craigslist.
If you want to consider used machines, use Searchtempest to expand your Craigslist search.
BTW, as you probably know, the Woods 5000 (and Crary Bearcat equivalent) drop the material directly below the chipper/shredder...unless you buy the blower kit. Although this sounds like a PITA, it really isn't.
We also use the shredder as much or more then the chipper. It's really handy.
One thing I will advise you about the Woods (or Bearcat): they are not Quick Hitch compatable without modifying the upper link attach point. When I bought the chipper/shredder, I had the Pat's Easy Change on my 790. No problem using that, but you may need a PTO Adapter (extender, actually...but Agri-Supply calls it an adapter).
I have the BearCat version of the one Roy uses. It is well made and very capable. Be careful feeding into the shredder on that thing. Once brush makes contact with the shredder blades it will rip the brush right out of your hand so you need to be careful to NOT have a firm grip on the material.
I know the other brands are good too but the feature that sold me on the BearCat was the flywheel. It is significantly heavier than on the other similar sized chipper/shredders so it won't bog down quite as much when the chipper is temporarily overloaded. Only thing I don't like about the design is that it discharges directly underneath the chipper so you have to move it periodically as the pile grows or keep a tarp under the chipper that you pull out and dump as needed. If you get the blower attachment that is not an issue.
As an addendum to IT's post...if you read the specs, the Bearcat is rated for a higher PTO HP input then the Woods. No idea why, since they're identical units.Quote:
Originally Posted by IslandTractor
And I'll emphatically agree...the shredder really pulls material in fast! That means no gauntlet type gloves...use gloves with elastic around the wrist.
Also, eye protection...and, there's a lot of dust from chipping/shredding, so a dust mask would be advisable.
I've used the Bear Cat SC5540 5" CHIPPER/SHREDDER on my JD 3520, and it works great. PTO HP is 30 on the 3520.
This chipper works really well on branches 4" and less in diameter. The chipper does pull the branches in with a lot of force.
The chipper blades are relatively easy to remove for sharpening.
I use the shredder function much less than the chipper, and I find it a bit more difficult to feed small diameter items into the shredder hopper because they tend to bend before they reach the shredder blades. Once they do reach the blades, items are sucked in immediately with a poof of dust.
The chipped/shredded material is blown out of the side of the unit near the ground, and the material tends to pile up quickly, so it must be raked away to continue.
Overall, this is a very solid unit.
- Spindifferent