Chipper 3 point chipper.

Agvg · Sep 24, 2017

Why is it going to waste? Heating with woodchips is very common

Heizomat Heating systems | Woodchip boiler | Biomass boiler | Discharge Systems

TomSeller · Sep 24, 2017

Agvg said:
Why is it going to waste? Heating with woodchips is very common

Heizomat Heating systems | Woodchip boiler | Biomass boiler | Discharge Systems

In the US it is more likely that load of chips was going to be composted along with residential yard waste. Which is fine but I wish wood chip systems were more popular here. I thought about making one for my mother's house when she was alive.

Shady oak · Sep 25, 2017

newbury said:
Get a winch or a wench.

You will have less trouble with the winch!

Agvg · Sep 25, 2017

TomSeller said:
In the US it is more likely that load of chips was going to be composted along with residential yard waste. Which is fine but I wish wood chip systems were more popular here. I thought about making one for my mother's house when she was alive.

Suppose you have the same problem, bioenergy is bit to expensive to compete.

Industrial Toys · Sep 25, 2017

Even biomass returned to the forest is certainly not wasted. The question may be whether or not the Diesel used to chip it down quicker (than decomposing) is worth it.

oosik · Sep 25, 2017

The biggest chore in my month to month and a half long chipping program, every spring, is the piling of the fallen trees. By far, I spend more time, sweat and effort getting all the trees out from amongst those left standing and into a collective pile awaiting chipping.

When I get done cutting/thinning a stand of young pines - it looks like a hurricane damage zone. 4" to 6" by 30' young pines are laying/piled/strewn everywhere.

If the cutting within the stand is compact enough I can just pull and chip from the fallen pile/mess. Otherwise, I pull all the cut trees out of the stand and re-pile neatly. Then I hook up the chipper(Wally BX62S) and back up to the stacked piles.

I will usually be thinning from 10 to 12 to 15 stands and cut, drag, pile & chip from 750 to 900 young pines every spring.

General rule of thumb - any pine that has survived and is 6" or bigger on the butt - will not be thinned and has, at least, an even chance of eventually becoming a large tree.

LD48750 · Sep 25, 2017

ericm979 said:
Sounds cool. How well does it work and is it a problem that the trees arrive facing the chipper the wrong way? Got pics?

Both work quite well for what they are.
The stuff I put in the chipper is small enough to load by hand so no, it doesn't present a problem.
(Usually less then 6" & 20ft long.)
No, no pictures........yet.

oosik · Sep 25, 2017

Winch or wench. I better stay away from the latter. Honestly, using a winch would probably, under certain circumstances, be a bit better. It would probably make my back feel better - but, OH, my God - the extra work and time required to use a winch. Dragging that winch line out and connecting to the trees and then coming back and operating it.

At least for now, its easier to just take my time, be VERY careful and drag out by hand. Biggest danger - pulling as hard as you can to get a fallen tree out and trip over one thats under foot. Done that so many times - getting very skilled at falling and ending up with only scrapes and bruises.

vsteel · Sep 30, 2017

Agvg said:
Suppose you have the same problem, bioenergy is bit to expensive to compete.

I didn't know that there were wood chip heaters. That would be really cool. I know where I live I would love to have something like that. I am awash in wood chips.

Seems like it could work like a modified pellet stove, it just needs to handle the uneven size. How do you handle the moisture content? Depending on where you live it seems like it could be hard to get them dry. Guessing a person wouldn't want to dry them in a means that takes power as it seems like it would defeat the purpose and increase cost.