Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder

   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #1  

Maibox

Silver Member
Joined
May 17, 2012
Messages
125
Location
Winona, MN
Tractor
Kubota L3940; 1942 Farmall H (for sale)
I've searched and read a lot of the threads on this topic. I'm still not sure the best course of action. I have a Kubota L3940 (~30HP PTO). We have 43 acres of mostly wooded property. We have lots of "brush" piles left around the edge of the cleared areas by the prior owner. The size ranges anywhere from 8" down to twigs. We also have a lot of downed trees and trees that need to come down (poplars, box elders, some ash, couple of oak with wilt). My wife actually suggested while we were cleaning up some trees I downed that we could use a chipper, so I took that as a sign to move fast before she realized what she'd said and began researching.

I've settled on Wallenstein (nearly everyone happy with them, local dealer is good), but I just can't decide on chipper or chipper/shredder. Assume price no object for non-hydraulic feed, should I go BXM42, BX42 or BX62? We will have smaller branches and leaves. I just can't get a handle on how much trouble I'll have with the chipper only. At my old, more suburban place, we rented a commercial chipper to clear out some young poplars (under 6"). We just fed the whole tree in. It never clogged but the smaller stuff didn't completely chip--quite a few smaller twigs made it through.

Part of me thinks the real choice is BXM42 vs. BX62s. Even though I really don't have the power for full 6", I like the idea of the larger feed hopper and it would be nice to feed some of the larger punky stuff through. On the other hand, we do have lots of smaller branches and then there is the leaves.

Looking for some real world advice. Anyone that went with the shredder and regrets it? Anyone that didn't and wish they did? What about BX42 vs. BX62?

Thanks in advance. This is not an insubstantial investment and I want to be sure I've thought it through and don't regret the decision.
 
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   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #2  
I went with the BXM-42 for the chute size and being able to feed brush. I am very happy with my choice. Good luck with your decision.
 
   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #3  
I follow this thread with eager anticipation...
 
   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #4  
Even though I really don't have the power for full 6", I like the idea of the larger feed hopper and it would be nice to feed some of the larger punky stuff through. On the other hand, we do have lots of smaller branches and then there is the leaves.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. Go with the 6" capacity chipper. I know the hydro feed is a lot more money but there is good reason for that :). If at all possible I would get the hydro feed. I'm not positive if Wallensein feed has adjustable feed rates but if so, you should be able to chip larger diameter for the same hp than non hydro feed.

However, cost is always a factor. I don't have any experience with the shredder but I can say with properly sharpened blades I've never felt that I needed smaller or more uniform chips. If that's what you need though then perhaps the shredder is a better fit.
 
   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #5  
If you desire garden mulch, choose the shredder combination. If reducing bulk isd the only need, a chipper is the most efficient.

do you burn wood for heat? 8 inch stuff demands a good piece of equipment.
 
   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #6  
I have Wallentstein BX42s, manual feed, chipper only, powered by 25 PTO HP Kubota B3300SU.

If I had your more powerful, heavier L3940, plus the extra $1000, and wanted a chipper-only I would purchase the BX62s Your heavier flywheel and engine inertia plus 30 PTO HP is ample, AMPLE, to power a BX62s.

I would repeat my purchase of my BX42s but now I sort wood debris three ways: firewood billets, chip for mulch and burn pile.

Had I bought the BXM42 chipper/shredder I would have eliminated segregation of small stuff for the burn pile which in BXM42 scenario would be shredded where where collected.

With 43 acres as the "tie breaker" go with the BX62s chipper-only over the BXM42 chipper-shredder.

Wallenstein is really quality equipment. The rectangular shape of the feed opening at the rotor makes a BIG difference.

Consider a battery powered reciprocating saw for trimming tree branches. Faster than a chain saw for up to 1",equally fast for up to 1-1/2", blades much cheaper than replacement chains and MUCH SAFER.

Your wife will love operating a battery powered Sawzall.
 

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   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #7  
Jeff,
That is the second mention I've heard regarding using the battery powered sawzall. I'm going to try that out next time I use my chipper. Thanks for the tip :thumbsup:
 
   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Thanks for the advice so far. Does anyone have pictures of the output for the chippers vs the shredder? My wife would like chips/mulch for planting beds.
 
   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #9  
Burn piles are getting harder to do. Encroaching urban development, and frequent fire bans. I find the BXM32 on my subcompact faster and easier than burning ever was. The largest I've been able to chip with a 3" cap. was a 3"x5" landscaping timber. Your best friend when shredding is a forestry helmet. A pruning attachment on a gas trimmer power head makes a great tool for limbing fallen trees. You can never get close to the chain, and have lots of reach to avoid getting tangled in the foliage.
 
   / Wallenstein Chipper or Chipper/Shredder #10  
Burn piles are getting harder to do. Encroaching urban development, and frequent fire bans. I find the BXM32 on my subcompact faster and easier than burning ever was. The largest I've been able to chip with a 3" cap. was a 3"x5" landscaping timber. Your best friend when shredding is a forestry helmet. A pruning attachment on a gas trimmer power head makes a great tool for limbing fallen trees. You can never get close to the chain, and have lots of reach to avoid getting tangled in the foliage.

What timing I too am just about to pull the trigger on a BXM32 for my BX2360. I called Woodwardcrossing yesterday and got the best price out of all the close by dealers. At the closest dealer I would have to pick it up 50 miles away and they were $278.00 more then getting it shipped to my lumber yard by Woodwardcrossing. We heat mainly with wood so anything over 3" would not be chipped .

We built our new home on 22 acres of wooded land and have started to clear the under brush and cut down the standing dead oaks that we must have 200+ of. Just wondering if this unit will mulch up the small oak branches as they are very dry and hard.

All so if you can stand another built my house in the wood post we have pictures from start to finish that if you begged I could post over the next few weeks. :)
 
 
 
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