Chipper DR Chipper first impressions

wejones · Jun 5, 2004

Pete, I also have a DR Chipper and have used it just like you have. I have put 4" stuff through it, but have not had any problems. The larger dryer wood does rattle the hands a bit, but so far my unit has kept on chugging. I have only choked my unit up once when I failed to move a pile of chips out of the way. Like you I also discharge into a large tub which works well. I also found that if I set the unit on 6" x 6" blocks it would have better clearance and fill my tub fuller. Do you have a spare blade? So far I have only had to switch blades once. Mine seem to stay sharp for the full 10 hours of use. My only wish is that the unit had a top discharge then I could fill my dump trailer with it. we jones

Boondox · Jun 6, 2004

WEJones -- I was so surprised by the belt snapping on such a small piece that I sent both the belt and the end of the branch to DR's quality folks. The fact that it snapped right at the splice suggests a bad belt, and nothing wrong with the chipper itself.

They didn't have any spare blades in stock when I picked up the chipper, but I ordered one and it should arrive this week. Figured I could swap the knife out every ten hours and sharpen the other one at night in the shop. Can't be any different than sharpening my jointer knives.

I agree, a top discharge for the PTO model would be a bonus!

Pete

DPic105 · Jun 6, 2004

Could you tell how much you paid for the unit?

MikePA · Jun 6, 2004

Could you tell how much you paid for the unit? 
I went to the Country Home Products web site. Here's a link to the chipper model and price list. Cost for the 3ph version, on sale at the web site, $1,799.10.

John_Mc · Jun 6, 2004

( Cost for the 3ph version, on sale at the web site, $1,7999.10. )

Did you by any chance get one too many "9"s in that price?

John Mc

MikePA · Jun 6, 2004

Yep. Corrected.

Boondox · Jun 6, 2004

( Could you tell how much you paid for the unit? )

The total came to $1771 with tax. The chipper itself was $1670, they knocked off some for shipping since I drove over to pick it up personally.

Pete

nomad · Jun 7, 2004

Liked that small chipper. But it's price is high comparing with large chipper such as that Chinese chipper which is same or even for lower price. Any superiority of that small chipper?

Boondox · Jun 9, 2004

Well, the part is still not here. I was told last Saturday it was in stock and would be mailed out that afternoon, or I could shop around at area tractor supply stores and be reimbursed for my expenses. I opted to wait for delivery since I'm only 45 miles away and figured it would arrive in a couple of days. It's now Wednesday and no replacement belt.

So I called customer support to get a tracking number. Was told they were on backorder and the part had never shipped. They thought some belts might come in by the week after next. Asked how I could be reimbursed if I bought one locally. Was told they don't do that, that the tech support person shouldn't have made promises like that.

This reminded me of my first uncomfortable feeling with Country Home Products. When I first called to ask about the DR Chipper I was told they had every model ready to ship. Got me thru the entire sales process before telling me not only were they not in stock, but they had no idea when more would become available as the past several orders had run late or been incomplete.

I really don't like it when folks aren't up front with me! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I finally called my local tractor dealers to see if they had the belt in stock. On the very first call I was told they were quite common and that I ought to be able to find one at NAPA. So I called NAPA and will have a replacement belt tomorrow morning for less than $13! Why couldn't Country Home Products have told me that...and if I can get one tomorrow, why is their supply chain so slow and cumbersome?

I like the unit, small though it might be, but after spending $1776 on it I'd appreciate a little better customer support.

Or am I just expecting too much..?

Pete

Bird · Jun 10, 2004

I would not be happy with someone telling me something is in stock and will be shipped today and then finding that they didn't even ship it. Like you, I expect folks to just be up front with me to start with. Did they tell you the brand and part number of the belt? I once had to have a new belt for my DR trimmer/mower and called Country Home Products to order one and the person I was talking to told me what it cost, but also told me it was a Gates belt and gave me the part number if I preferred buying one locally, which I did.