Chipper New member looking for advice on purchasing a wood chipper

[TerryR]

Used my Bear Cat yesterday, and it was an example of why you "need" a blower.

We have a quarter-mile gravel driveway, in the woods the whole length. I had a winter's worth of small downed limbs along the sides, three-quarters of an inch to 2 1/2 inches in diameter at the base. Many were long or brushy and a pain to gather up and haul to a central spot for chipping. So I just set up at the top of the driveway, gathering the stuff nearby and blowing the chips into the woods. When I had all that was within convenient reach I moved the rig farther down the driveway. No pain, no strain.

I've found this to be a very effective way to deal with scattered amounts of downed limbs that are not enough to be worth collecting for mulch. But in most cases if the chips just fell on the ground I'd have to do something with them.

Terry

 

[Gordon Gould]

Used my Bear Cat yesterday, and it was an example of why you "need" a blower.

Terry

I did pretty much the same thing. I would say "extremely nice to have" though rather than "need". A chipper w/o a blower is better than no chipper at all.

Yesterdays post in Todays Seat Time

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/118658-todays-seat-time-251.html#post3269261

The good old BearCat Chipper


gg

 

[treetrimmer01]

Budweiser John
I have a wallenstein BX-62, Have had this chipper for 5 or 6 yrs Never had a problem yet. I am pulling it with a 33hp JD Diesel
I wish I had the auto feed as the limbs can give you a good slap when the knives hit some of them.
You have enough HP for sure
My BEST advice is to purchase a 6" chipper so you don't have to trim so many side limbs, and if you can swing it get the auto feed also.
Price the knives on any chippers you are looking at.
The only problem I had with my BX 62 was the top pin in the 3pt hookup would not let me hitch with my Quick Hitch on my tractor, easy fix and it works fine now.
I'll bet the new ones will work with a Quick Hitch.
Good luck
Treetrimmer

 

[lew61]

I spent today using a BXM-32 Wallenstein with my L4240 and I'm more than pleased with it. I used the shredder more than the chipper and was able to aim the discharge chute downwind which made for a much more pleasant day! When the Wallenstein arrived, there were a few issues which I noted in an email. I received a return email the following day, a phone call to make certain the issues had been resolved, and a package with replacement parts quickly after. I would score their customer service as first rate.

 

[RWTschoeke]

Another thumbs up for the Wallenstein BX-62 which I run off my NH Boomer 3045 with 37 hp @ PTO. Glad I opted for 62 vs 42 due to larger feed opening and ability to handle larger branches without bogging down. Large powerful rotary chute allows you to throw the chips wherever you desire. My favorite implement by far that takes care of brush piles rapidly. Also excellent ballast properties when moving larger logs with the grapple.

 

[jinman]

I don't think you have to worry about a PTO clutch on a chipper. Most of them have internal belts and pulleys. If something sticks, the belt(s) will slip. If you have a clutch, I'd almost bet the belts will slip before the clutch does unless you have it set very loose.

I have a PTO chipper with blower, and wish I had a stand-alone. If I had a stand-alone, I could haul limbs to the chipper with my tractor and trailer and then haul away chips without hooking/unhooking. Also, I'd be putting wear on a $1500 engine instead of a $20k tractor.

 

[TerryR]

I have a PTO chipper with blower, and wish I had a stand-alone. If I had a stand-alone, I could haul limbs to the chipper with my tractor and trailer and then haul away chips without hooking/unhooking. Also, I'd be putting wear on a $1500 engine instead of a $20k tractor.

Very interesting. Different strokes... I suppose.

I'd not consider getting a stand-alone, for starters because that's one more engine to maintain. I know many members here think that's no big deal, or even fun. But for others of us it's another engine that won't get maintained, leave us feeling guilty for failing to do it, and probably eventually cause problems.

But on an operational level too I'd not want to do it. Much of our property is fairly steep, and I'd not want to park a stand-alone unit many places I want to chip. I'm much more comfortable with it attached to the tractor. And, having accumulated a large stockpile of chips for mulch I'm not much interested in gathering up small amounts of chips. So I find taking the chipper to the work and sending the chips into the woods is much easier than taking the work to the chipper.

Terry

 

[RoyJackson]

Very interesting. Different strokes... I suppose.

I'd not consider getting a stand-alone, for starters because that's one more engine to maintain.

Terry

For me, it's not so much as another engine...it's the cost of that engine. Buying a standalone chipper that can handle 5"-6" logs is going to require 20-40 HP...that would easily add $3000 to the price.

 

[Brenttnhmby]

I have a Woodmaxx with hyd. feed. Use it on my JD 1070. It works great. I have used it on material up to 6" without a problem.

 

[Rayrla]

I was interested in buying a chipper. Researched all of the three point hitch chippers and even some stand alone used units such are the Vermeer 6 inch chippers with the Kohler engines. After renting a chipper I decided that renting was the best solution for me. For the past three years I have rented a stand alone Vermeer capable of handling 9 inch branches powered by a diesel engine. In two hours or less I am able to chip all of the stuff that I have accumulated over the year at a cost of approximately $80 plus fuel. Boy does that machine eat branches. I work straight for two hours and cannot feed it fast enough. I have no additional engine to maintain, no blades to sharpen, no additional equipment to store, and no large investment. I was surprised that I could rent for so little. The only drawback is that I have to pile up stuff in a central pile for the annual chipping, but I can chip directly into my trailer and truck to bring to an area of need.