Chipper Chippers

[SDPaul]

I have been looking at chippers and can't decide on a pure chipper or a chipper/shredder. We have 100 acres, recently purchased, where we will be building and will be doing a lot of "care taking" - thinning young stands of trees, cleaning up brush etc. My tractor is a JD 4600 with 38 pto hp and I'm thinking 3ph model. I am looking at chippers in the $2000-$3500 range which have manual feed, have the ability to discharge into a trailer and can handle 4 inch, or sometimes larger, stuff. I don't think we will be doing much composting but wonder what people's experience has been with small branches and brush. Does the chipper work well for that stuff? Is it hard to feed without a larger intake of the shredder? Does the stuff smaller than 1 inch go through the chipper OK? Is a shredder primarily for leaves and rakings? The pure chippers seem to have larger fly wheels and blades that may be more substantial. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ltw]

You have 38 hp and it takes 7hp per inch dia to chip, that gives you 5 to six inch capacity. I would say a six inch would work fine with your machine. I would recomend a self feeding machine. Once you get the butt under the feed roller there is no stopping it on a good machine,(unless you hit stop or reverse) it will fold and break the branches and drag then in too. On a six inch chipper you will have around a 12" wide 6" tall opening at the roller, believe me with a good chipper there isn't much limbinging to do. A tree top of six inch diameter should go right through limbs and all in a few seconds,manual feed is another story. Look for a chipper with the chipper blades and bed knives are close to the feed roller to get less clogging with finer material. The Salsco is a nice machine http://salsco.com/products/826.htm

 

[Chipperman]

SDPaul
As mentioned in the previous post. The Salsco 826 is a great unit. It is however in the $7000 range. With a 100 acres though you may want to consider it. If you can swing the extra money you will not regret it. You can find chippers for less but if you want the best and want to make your job the easiest the Salsco is the way to go. If you have any questions I would be glad to help. Among other things I am the Salsco rep for NY, VT, NH, ME and now PA and NJ. Good luck with what ever you buy.
Happy Tractoring
Chipperman /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
PS: Itw were did you get yours?

 

[ltw]

Chances are from you, good service on the side of a mountian in Lucerne Maine.

 

[ltw]

Bought mine at Union Farm Equipment, it was an 824 Salsco. I had a problem with the detent bar and the bering for the same, someone was here the next day from Salsco, it was in Lucerne Maine on the side of a mountian in the middle of no where.

 

[SDPaul]

Thanks for your experience. Sounds like self feed may be the way to go. Of course, I had hoped to avoid the extra expense, but it may be worth it for the amount I will be doing.

 

[SDPaul]

Had not looked at the Salsco until your posting. Looks like a nice machine. I will add it to my list for consideration. Thanks

 

[DIYGuy]

If it takes 7hp/inch to chip, how does my 22hp (less at PTO) power a 6" chipper?

I have fed 6" dried red oak logs into the thing and it works just fine.

42 hp to chip a 6" log?

 

[Chipperman]

DIYGuy
All of the "hp to inch" comparisons are for gravity or self feeding chippers. Power feed chippers are different. How long was the 6" oak log. 2' 6' 12' 20'?
Happy Tractoring
Chipperman /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
PS: If you have a chipper with feed sensing it can even do more.

 

[Chipperman]

ltw
And you were building a new house on the side of that mountain. Gues who the was who was there? How is the house comming? Hope all is well.
Happy Tractoring
Chipperman /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif