Chipper PTO chipper/shredder

   / PTO chipper/shredder #1  

Fiziksgeek

Platinum Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
607
Location
Oxford, CT
Tractor
Massey Ferguson GC1720
As the past weekend was coming to an end, and the wife and I were picking up the prunings from the days work, my wife turned to me and said "We need a chipper".

That seems to be a clear message to me, buy a new toy!

We produce a cargo van sized pile of small, ~1.5" or less prunings every year. Anything bigger than ~3" goes into the fireplace.

I have a Massey Ferguson GC2400 with 18.7 PTO hp.
I want a chipper/shredder, not just a chipper.
Budget ~$3000

There are 3 models that come to mind immediately.

Mackissic TPH-184

Wallenstein BXM32

Bear Cat SC5540

MacKissic is american made, good quality, been arond forever, always gets great reviews. They also have the smaller unit, TPH-123 which might do what I need, but I would prefer the slightly bigger unit for power/longevity. They are also sold under the Merry Mac name.

I like the high discharge chute on the Wallenstein. On the other two, the chips just fall out the lower side of the unit and pile up. Maybe that is not a big deal since I am not doing big commercial jobs, but the high chute would allow me to point it into the trailer or a truck if I were moving the chips around. It's the only unit without a discharge screen, so the chips may be not as even as the other two units, however, it won't clog either.

I might be a little underpowered for the Bear Cat, but I've seen people post good reqults with less hp than me. I wouldn't get full chipping capacity, but I am unlikely to need it. The chipper disk is 112lbs vs ~70 on the other two. I would think this would make it easier on the tractor. More mass, less power to keep up momentum on larger or harder wood. It also has 4 chipping blades, vs, 2 on the others.

What other brands/models are out there for consideration?
I know DR has one, but it looks darn similar to the Mackissic, and is $500 more expensive MSRP. I also kow Woods sells the Bear-cat unit under their own name (Woods 5000 chipper/shredder).

Opinions/comments/ramblings welcome!
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder #2  
I'm well satisfied with the Mckissic. The chipper does what it does without protest. I use the 1000 rpm pto setting at reduced engine speed with no trubles powering. I can't imagine the need for additional flywheel mass. The tractor hardly knows there is anything attached uless I let a 3 inch diameter limb "self feed" into the chute. (aggressive action to say the least ;-)

The shredder gets more hours of use than the chipper, as I often reshred what has just been chipped to speed up the compost process . While shredding, a scoop shovel filled with damp mixed material high in long fibrous stems etc, will slow the machine. Worst case, that same wet debris can temporarily clog the output screen. An example of this "problem material is the fall trimmings of flower and garden stems that get piled under some tree for the winter to be shredded in spring. That;s WRONG! Shredd while the material is straight and mostly dry. Chipping woody material cleans things out again if there is stoppage (a coarse fiber diet lends it's self to "regularity" ;-) Sharp swinging hammers are the answer to this problem, much like sharp knives are the answer to chipping and horse power requirements.

Piles underneath? The tool is mounted on a wheel tractor, PULL FORWARD a couple of feet from time to time.. !

Wear protection! Loud, dirty, and projectile flying about...

Can't say anything about the others, though the DR is just more money for "what looks to be" the same piece.
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder #3  
I had Bush Hog branded unit that looked much like the Bear Cat model you mention. It worked well, but I found the lack of a blower to be a serious issue. Pulling ahead as CalG suggests didn't work for me because I wanted the chips in a single pile. I moved to a Bear Cat chipper with a blower which has served me well.

Terry R
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Thanks for the responses guys.

Based on what I have read, all three units I mentioned are good quality. I am leaning toward the Wallenstein simply because of the high discharge chute. I think the others, having discharge screens would give a finer, more consisten mulch, but I am not sure that matters much to me. I had a tree company in a couple years ago to take down some trees and take care of a huge pile of brush left over from the previous owner. I didn't like the size and number of small branches that got through their 15" Woodsman chipper.....but that is a whole differenet beast! I gotta believe that any of these three would do better at the small stuff.

I can see myself using this in two places. First, next to my brush pile, second would be around the yard cleaning up the tree line. I don't know if I'll just want to pile the chips up to rot in my compost heap, or shoot them into my trailer (holds just over a yard) for use as mulch elsewhere.

Other that tree/bush prunings, the only other things I would tend to put through it would be the ornamental grasses. I have found that if I cut them down and throw them into the compost pile, they never decompose, or atleast take a lot longer than everythign else! I have about a dozen or so that get ~6ft tall.
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder #5  
If I had to replace my discontinued Patu (which I really like), I'd get the Wallenstein. The rotatable chute gives you a lot of flexibility with where you can position the tractor relative to where the limbs are - which can mean less dragging. We use the chips in our landscaping, so being able to blow them directly into a trailer eliminates a lot of material handling time.
Other things to look for that the Wally has:
>> A chute opening that is as wide as possible - this allows you to stuff crooked or very "branchy" limb in without pre-trimming.
>> A chute that's low and has a bottom that's as near parallel to the ground as possible - means you don't have to lift the limb to feed it into the chute.
>> A well designed unit will do both of the above and self-feed (without hydraulics).
>> Easy to access knives. This won't be important until you need to sharpen or replace the blades or anvil, then you will be glad you got a machine that makes this easy to do.
Good luck and let us know what you end up with!
-Jim
 
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   / PTO chipper/shredder #6  
I have the Woods 5000 which is a rebadged Bearcat SC5540. Per the manual, PTO recommendation is between 15 and 40 HP, so you should be good to go with the Bearcat. If you need the chute, that's optional for about $700.00.
Mine doesn't have a chute and I can't say I miss it much. When the pile gets too high, I just throttle back, raise the 3PH and rake the chips out.
One thing to consider is the ratio between chipping and shredding. I've found I use the shredder considerably more then the chipper. The Woods 5000 (and Bear Cat) are absolute beasts when using the shredder.
BTW, whichever one you buy...do wear a logger's helmet with face shield when chipping and shredding.
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder
  • Thread Starter
#7  
What I find strange is that the Bear Cat site says that 25-45 PTO hp is recommended for their SC5540, but Woods recommends 15-30 for the same machine just in a different color...hmmmm...that's some special paint...I'd be using it at the lower end of the capacity anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter much....

With the JD4400..you're putting out what, 30 PTO hp? Thas a decent amount more than me...

I have the Woods 5000 which is a rebadged Bearcat SC5540. Per the manual, PTO recommendation is between 15 and 40 HP, so you should be good to go with the Bearcat. If you need the chute, that's optional for about $700.00.
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder #8  
I can see myself using this in two places. First, next to my brush pile, second would be around the yard cleaning up the tree line. I don't know if I'll just want to pile the chips up to rot in my compost heap, or shoot them into my trailer (holds just over a yard) for use as mulch elsewhere.

One of the reasons I find the blower useful is when doing minor cleanup around the property. Having accumulated a good supply of chips on their way to becoming compost, I find it very handy to drive to fallen limbs and chip them in place, blowing the chips into the woods for instant cleanup!

Terry
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder #9  
I added a drawbar to the back of my Patu so I can hitch a trailer to the back of the chipper and drive around, stop, and chip limbs directly into the trailer, then drive to the next limbs and repeat.

P3180014.JPG
 
   / PTO chipper/shredder #10  
I have been reading a great deal on this as well. I have a machine about the same size as yours, so sounds like we are in the same boat.

I found another place, Woodchipperscanada.com I can't find out too much about them but they look like they have a good machine. I just stumbled across them in my searches.

Like I said I don't have one but am doing as much research as I can.
 
 
 
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