Wallenstein Chipper

[glennm]

Hi

I have a bx 23 and I really want to get a chipper. I also have a Ford NAA. I live close to the mfg of Wallenstein chippers, they suggest either a BX32 or BX 42 for my tractor.

I have a couple of questions --

• will the chipper fit my 3 pt hitch on the kubota?
• is the power of this tractor enough or would the NAA be a better choice
• is there much difference between the two? I wouldn't want to find out that I saved a little bit of money but was sorry for not getting the larger one

I will only be shredding small stuff - I have two wood stoves and don't usually waste anything over 2"

Thanks in advance

 

[spike23]

Yep, I have the BX23/BX42 combo. It works fine, plenty of power. It tends to just spit the small twigs straight through, so if I could go back and do it again, I would have gone with the chipper/shredder combo.

 

[glennm]

I just called the local dealer and the BXM 32 (with shredder) will cost me about $400 more than the BX 32 -- that is about the same price as the BX 42 without the shredder. I think the BXM 42 (with shredder) may be too big for my tractor so I guess my best options are BX 32 - or BX 32M -- and if I want to forget the shredder the BX 42 Any thoughts? Also, do you guys know if the PTO shaft needs to be cut for a bx 23?

Thanks

 

[Stradbash]

I have a BX-25 and a BXM-32 and they work well together. I'm pretty sure that the 3PH is different on the BX-25 from your tractor. The shredder handles the small stuff easily without spitting anything back at you. If anything over 2" is firewood, I'd stick with the smaller chipper, with or without the shredder.

 

[taos]

I think the bx 32 is the proper size for your tractor or the bxm 32 chipper shredder, since you said your not using it for any big branches (3" or less)there is a big difference between the bx32 and the bx 42, 2 chipping blades versus 4 chipping blades on bx 42 also the bx 32 has a smaller lighter flywheel (45lbs ) versus bx 42 (75lbs) the flywheel once turning tries to keep the speed more constent under load (slows down and speeds up slower and keeps the speed more constent)

 

[glennm]

I am wondering about the shredder. I don't know how much it will be used. Some guys say they appreciate the larger opening on the 42 and others seem to like the shredder. I'm confused?

 

[gyro433]

I am wondering about the shredder. I don't know how much it will be used. Some guys say they appreciate the larger opening on the 42 and others seem to like the shredder. I'm confused?

Glennm,

I went through the same dilemma a few months ago. I finally went for a BX 42 because of the bigger chipper chute opening. I have a B2320 but the PTO power is about the same as yours. I have to agree with Spike23, the smaller twigs don't get cut very well and the shredder would do a much better job. The tractor has no power issues with the BX42 unless you go to the max 4 inches then the rpm will slow down a bit depending on the type of wood. Ideally, the BXM42 would have been my first choice but my tractor is just not powerful enough for this model. The capacity of the bxm32 was enough for me since 3 inch or more is good for firewood but the small opening for the chipper is what made my decision. Even with the bx42, I find I have to trim my branches a certain way to get them in. On the other hand if most of your tasks will be with twigs and smaller branches, then the bxm32 could be a better option.

Good luck with your choice

Gyro

 

[Jaylegger]

I will only be shredding small stuff - I have two wood stoves and don't usually waste anything over 2"

Thanks in advance

Based on that I'd definitely go with the BXM32 chipper/shredder and would go with it even if larger 3-3.5" stuff was in your future. I have one and the shredder gets close to 50% of the use due to 1 inch and less branches not being the most efficient size for proper chipping. The shredder is considerably quicker than the chipper for that size material, the shredder is absolutely viscous pulling in stuff and the resulting mulch is really beautiful stuff and it's great for leaves too. So even if you have to stretch a little for the chipper/shredder now you'll be thanking yourself the first time you use it, if you don't you'll wish you had.

 

[glennm]

How fine is the mulch from the shredder? I would like to put some on trails in the bush

 

[Stradbash]

Another thing to think about while making this decision..., the extra weight of a larger chipper will make the front end of your tractor that much lighter. I know that I have to be careful on hills with my BXM-32 on the back of the BX. But then one should be careful all the time! I have put weights on the front of the tractor while using it. It does hang out there a ways...

 

[Stradbash]

How fine is the mulch from the shredder? I would like to put some on trails in the bush

It is fairly fine. I don't know where you live but around here (SE Michigan) I would only be putting chips from my Wallenstein on trails and not stuff that I had shredded with it. Shredded stuff would break down faster and be extra squishy in the spring. I use trails in the park system around here pretty regularly and they use coarse chips on those and it seems to work OK. The wet areas get new chips every year.

 

[glennm]

It wouldn't be much different than the backhoe would it?

 

[Stradbash]

It wouldn't be much different than the backhoe would it?

Good point! I do often want to use the chipper without the loader on.

 

[Kayakin2]

My BX25 works great with my BX42 but I did learn I needed to adjust the blade gap to make my chips smaller. I went with the BX42 as some of my branches were tough. I do have a separate mulcher for leaves. Chips are great for paths and to throw into the compost! Enjoy! :thumbsup:

 

[Kayakin2]

Here is a pic so you can see it in action!

 

[TMR]

A bit off topic but how do the chippers handle pine needles? What about serious pine "pitch/sap"? Does it get all junked up? How much would you have to do to maintain if you were cutting pine trees with lots of 1-2 inch branches?

Thanks...looks pretty inviting...hate getting rid of branches.

Do chip piles begin to be an issue?

Thanks...TMR

 

[MNBobcat]

I did learn I needed to adjust the blade gap to make my chips smaller.

Can I ask what you set your blade gaps at?

 

[Kayakin2]

What do you gaps your blades at? Its supposed to be between 1/16 & 1/32 isn't it? Are you saying if I have a tractor with a lot of power I can go bigger (more than 1/32) on the gap?

Actually, my BX42 arrived with a larger gap and I needed to reduce it to make the chips smaller and cut up more twigs. If you run at a high RPM, as suggested, the BX25 works fine! :thumbsup:

 

[Kayakin2]

Can I ask what you set your blade gaps at?

I measured my gap at about 1/8" and adjusted it to about 1/20" (0.050") to try to cut up smaller branches.

 

[Stradbash]

A bit off topic but how do the chippers handle pine needles? What about serious pine "pitch/sap"? Does it get all junked up? How much would you have to do to maintain if you were cutting pine trees with lots of 1-2 inch branches?

Do chip piles begin to be an issue?

I have chipped up the branches from a few pine trees and had no problem with pitch build up affecting performance of the machine. It goes through 1-2 inch pine/spruce branches with NO problem. If I'm raking pine needles and put too much at a time in the shredder, the needles can slow things down a bit, but it is easy to adjust my "feed rate" for that.
One thing I've mentioned before is that the shredder opening is fairly high off the ground. I'm 6'4". I could see feeding the shredder being a bit of a chore for less tall folks.