Does anyone know someone who has bought the Nortrac unit from Northern Tools? $1900 and looks pretty lightweight.
I have been studying the Wallenstein and
Woodmaxx units too. Have fourteen acres of woods ,and need to clear a road back to a pond in the middle of the woods.
I burn enough already; let's face it when we burn, we pollute the air. The products of combustion are poisonous. I've spent enough time with a fire helmet and airpac on to know. This isn't being PC, it's not blowing smoke on your neighbors, in my case, who are not close, but close enough to smell it. Now burning leaves and wood has a nice smell, at times. I've been tending burn piles for almost 60 years. But what if my neighbor has emphysema? He/she walks to their car and gets a dose of my smoke which would be about as appealing as me getting a lungful of cigarette smoke from smokers right outside the door of the restaurant. So unless one is really remote, and for sure some of our TBN members are, I think avoiding smoke will become more of an issue as the years roll by. If they are putting catalytic converters on wood stoves in some areas, I don't think controlled burns are long for this world in some places also.
manual or hydraulic; have gone back and forth a lot. My woods are mostly pine; does that make a difference in which feature to prioritize? I try to avoid cutting down hardwoods; plenty of falldowns for firewood as it is. New place to me, really haven't got started cleaning up the areas I want to. I have some physical restrictions with severe arthritis and a weak right arm, so I'm thinking that hydraulic feed might be just what I need. I maintain my equipment well, and have sharpened my lawn mower blades all my life; so sharpening
chipper blades isn't a big issue though I would always have spares to swap out, then sharpen when convenient. 20 hours until sharpening. Hmmmm. Just like in a kitchen, you really need a sharp knife both for performance and also for safety.
I can't justify more than three grand for a pto
chipper; I have 50hp. Not sure that gets me into a Wallenstein, probably only a Woodmax.
The other financial issue has already been covered. If these things hold their value so well, why not spend a little more because when time goes to sell, if that is your reality, you will get a substantial percentage of your original investment back. A good ROI.
There's the final issue of being sensible, versus just wanting the nicest tool you can afford, because you love machinery. And if you buy the "nice one" you will for sure take very good care of it. Not a show off thing, just a joy of ownership. I think many of us feel this way, we just don't have unlimited funds for our unlimited imagination...
This is a very expensive implement compared to others we collect in the barn. Possibility of being pennywise and pound foolish might apply here. I see models in the two to four thousand price range that all seem to offer decent value,
for their price. Now I find changing belts a PITA, but I also like the shock absorbing features of belts, and this thing sure can get shocked with big logs. Except I would be making firewood out of any big hardwood; the only larger stuff going into a new
chipper would be pine.
