Chipper Farmi vs. Wallenstein Chipper

[ColoradoLandOwner]

We live in the mountains with a significant amount of pine beetle kill on our lodgepole pines we need to remove and are researching PTO chippers for our John Deere tractor. We believe we have narrowed it down to either a Farmi CH160HF (6" capacity, hydrolic feed) or a Wallenstein BX92r (10" capacity, hydrolic feed). They are both about the same price, the Farmi seems to be a little higher quality but the Wallenstein has a larger capacity and appears to be good quality as well.

Does anyone have any recommendations/personal experience with either of these chippers? Thoughts on other PTO chippers are welcome as well.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

 

[HardlyWarcane]

I've just been looking into the china chipper and at the start thought no way not for me ... but I but out a question on Craig's List and way loaded with replies.
3 - said buy made in CND / U.S.A. - where do you think there parts are made ???
13- reply's - all kinda shy about the fact they bought china made chippers - every single one was very happy with they're chipper and not a one had any interest in selling ( I thought I might get a good deal - no way)
Priced from $1500.00 to $2000.00 (in B.C. , Canada)
one guy bought 3 china chippers out of the states - they cost him $1500.00 ea. that was to he's front door in Maple Ridge , B.C. ,Canada - he sold tone to his brother and the other to his neibor , This guy invited me out to see it work - it did everything it was supossed to exsepped the chute doesn't swing side to side - you have to undo 4 bolts and it goes on either right side or left.
Wallenstein quoted me $4200.00 to chip to 6" , the china ones say good to 8" and I saw a pcs of 4x4 post -and no it was not rotten - go thru with out a thought.
I haven't bought one just yet - but will before fall.
Parts are just pillow block bearings that can be had at Princessauto.com cheap to.
That's my two bits worth!

 

[texas42]

I have a smaller Wallenstein (BX42)
It's a very well made, quality machine that I'm very happy with.
Simple design, easy to maintain, no belts or secondary driveshaft to adjust or worry about.
Just keep knifes reasonably sharp and grease every 8 hours.
Can't comment on bigger Wallenstein but they appear to be the same machine just bigger.

 

[FxdGrMind]

I don't have a big enough tractor to run something that big. But I'll comment here as i just went through the same evaluation you are going through.

I wanted:
1) simplicity in design. No extra moving parts to wear out or break.
2) simplicity in operation, with as many "Features" as possible. I wanted the rotating shute, and not a bottom exit.
3) good weight of rotor and as large as possible.
4) good value for my money.

What I ruled out:
1) Chinese made unit, as I don't have any local support only "importers".
2) any unit with bottom discharge.
3) any unit with difficult shute rotation or limitation.
4) any belt drive unit. this increases RPM of cutter head, but i found that the cutter head is smaller diameter and lighter ... subsequently RPM's must compensate.
5) one or 2 knife heads,


Here are the specks I could find on your queries: with links to sources.

Wallenstien:
Wallenstein BX92R Wood Chipper w/Hyd Rollers,CHIPS 10"! - eBay (item 330398092559 end time Feb-01-10 14:35:44 PST)
The BX92R Chips up to 10" diameter Timber or 15" wide Dimensional Lumber!
Four Hardened Tool Steel Knives.
Double Sided Rotor Knives double the time required between sharpenings.
Shear Bolt Protected, Direct PTO Drive provides Maximum Torque Transfer to the Rotor.
Chipper is suitable for 540 or 1000rpm Operation!
Recommended Tractor HP:
For Maximum Capacity 85 to 110HP.
Applicable range is 65 to 150HP.
Quick Hitch Compatible Cat 2, 3-Point Hitche.
Quick Hitches purchased from our eBay Store and Shipped with the Chipper Save the Cost of Shipping the Quick Hitch!
Overall Dimensions with Hopper Folded Down 66"L x 68"W x 90"H.
Feed Hopper Opening is 25" X 25".
Rotor Dimensions are 30" Diameter X 1-1/4" Thick & Weighs 280lb's.
Discharge Chute Rotates 360 degrees continuously.
The Continuously Rotating Discharge Chute is complimented with an adjustible Deflector Tip.
Height of the Discharge Chute is 90" accommodating sidewall clearance for Pickups, Wagons, Dump Trucks etc.
Weight is 1375lb's.


Ch160:
Farmi Forest - Normet corporation, ISO 9001 standard
CH160

TYPE - single disc chipper
OUTPUT m3/h - 5-15
THICKNESS OF CHIP mm - 13
MAX TIMBER - 160
POWER DEMAND kW - 10-20
SPEED OF ROTATION rpm - (540)/1000
NUMBER OF KNIVES - 2
ROTOR ROTATING - direct
POWER SOURCE - tractor/hyd motor
ANCHORAGE - 3-point/urban tractor linkage
CHIPPER WEIGHT kg - 260-300 feedhopper
340-380 feedhopper
ROTOR DIAMETER mm - 670
ROTOR WEIGHT kg - 100

So to analyse, you are looking at vastly different chippers here.

Wallenstine is 9"+ where the 160 is only 6.2" (convert 160MM into inches)

Weight alone the Wallenstien is 2x as heavy a unit 1300+ vs 660 lbs total weight.
Rotor weight on the Wallenstien is 280 vs 220 that's 25% more rotational mass. Wallenstien is 30" vs 27" Dia rotor.

Wallenstien has 4 knives vs only 2.

HP requirments:
Wallenstine requires 65 to 150 hp.
160 much smaller requirement 13.4 to 26.8 Hp

In my estimation, these are far different chippers. If you are looking at cleaning up from Pine Beetle infestation the Wallenstien beats hands down.

Realize that sub 4" Pines are not attacked by the pine beetle as they have a life cycle that requires larger trees to support that from egg to larva to beetle and then move on. So you will be chipping tree's that are 4"+ in size.

You may have to compare to something else. maybe a Vermeer chipper? Or something commercial rated.

 

[raniets]

To ColoradoLandOwner-
We have also researched chippers and agree with your assessment and finally bought the Wallenstein (BX92r) because of ability and better price and we have been very satisfied with it. However we have just decided to move off our large acreage property to less acreage, so if you're interested we are selling the 2009 Wallenstein (BX92r) Chipper with 15 hours for $6,600 (in Maine 207-763-3663).
Let us know if you're interested.
Al the best-
raniets