Just ran across this thread on the tree/stump saws.. I bought the TurboSaw from Dougherty a few years ago and worried a lot that the investment was high for not knowing how well it would work for me. But have been quite impressed with this purchase.
Reason wanting the saw was similar to others.. the need to remove unwanted trees and leave no stump sticking up to interfere with mowing. Does that VERY well.
Concern was the effect of rocks on the carbide teeth, as I am located on the terminal moraine of the last glacier that moved partway across Wisconsin leaving small to large rocks at the surface. My experience after grinding stumps is that there has been very little effect of rocks and dirt on the carbide teeth.
Concern the power at the PTO of my JD 4300 would not be adequate.. but with hydrostatic tranny and also the hyd. top arm, there is adequate power to cut off the stumps.
Concern over size, but as already mentioned.. large stumps (have been up to 20" hickory stumps) just require some attack from different positions around the stump to make notches about 3" in height for the grinder skids to slide through. Have yet to be defeated by the size of the stump.
Dragging the blade back and forth a couple times will skim off height of the stump in increments to get level with the ground.
The cost was justified based on the fact that I needed to remove several hundred 35' spruce trees from my 5 acres of oak/spruce plantation to release the red oak because the spruce were crowding them out. Digging them out left an ugly hole plus roots and chainsawing left a stump and was a lot of work for this old guy.
Here is a video of taking down a spruce tree and dragging it away to be piled. Have since improved the technique of using this saw, and wouldn't want to be without it.
TurboSaw thinning 9" Spruce tree - YouTube
bt
