Looking for pto chipper--hard decisions

[MadDog]

You might also want to consider the Vandermollen WoodPro 30QP3 chipper/shredder. WoodPro

I bought one this past spring and completely reduced a brush pile that was about 50'x20'x10'high in about two weekends and I have been very satisfied with it. It is well designed and constructed.

Pricewise, it compares with favorably with Valby and Bearcat, particularly because it both chips and shreds. No power feed but the feed hopper is inclined and I found that it pretty much self feeds.

I am running it on a Kubota B7800 (22pto hp) and that is amply sufficient power. The Vandermollen machine has a very heavy wheel and four blades and does an excellent job on branches up to about 5" (obviously hardwoods chip tougher than coniferous woods).

Hope this helps

 

[bher]

Thanks for the link. I had acually seen that unit on the net. I did not really consider it because I thought the price was too close to a powerfeed chipper.

 

[yugo]

Brant,
I'm new to the forum, and a retired farmer. I have the same scenario here - cleaning woodland area and cutting firewood. Here's my two cents worth.
At the present time I cut trees, then go in with a crawler and drag them out to a clearing. The brush piles were adding up and looking ugly. Too many trees for burning to be an option. So here's what I know about wood chippers after half a season.
It's a great tool. Remember that an oversized tractor and chipper and undersized wood is the way to go. I am also using a 25 hp tractor (undersized). The chipper has a PTO of about 50 to 75 hp rating. In order to save the tractor's PTO drive mechanism, I use an over running clutch for the backlash, even though the tractor has live PTO. Also, the chipper had a 5 belt pulley. I took 2 of the five belts off and softened the tension of the other three, rather than replace gears or clutch in the tractor's PTO.
You didn't mention whether you would be cutting hard or soft wood. The chipper knives play a big role in the cutting power. If it takes a half or quarter inch at a time is a concern. More horsepower for the half inch! The automatic feed is a must. Try to not run the tractor at full PTO speed. Running at half to 2-thirds power will save the tractor engine.
This works for me because any wood bigger than 2 inches in diameter is burned in our wood furnace.
Thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents worth. Kansas farmer - yogo

 

[cadblaster]

I have a 10 hp Craftsman/Troy Bilt manual feed chipper shredder.
A good friend of mine has a Vermeer 625 with speed sensing power feed.

Guess which one sits in the garage.

There is absolutely no comparison between manual feed and power feed. Hours vs. days, literally.

 

[bher]

Thanks for the feedback. What chipper do you have?

 

[yugo]

good morning bher
yes i know left the name out ! chinese ,in the crate $ 1500.
at the dealer, so far looks good,tell more in a year or two.
yugo

 

[GrayBeard]

I've got a BX 40 Wallenstein with about 30 hrs. on it so far.
Good price, well built and no problems so far. (other than some shear bolts)
Good luck on your choice.
GrayBeard

 

[botaman2]

I recently bought the same chipper (Wallenstein BX40). For those interested,the unit weighs 400#. It has a 20"rotor with 3 seven inch knives. The bed knife is also 7". There are no belts or pulleys,it is direct drive with a shear bolt on the PTO shaft. Maintainence is easy, buy removing one bolt the upper rotor housing flips out of the way,for access to the rotor and knives. Knife edges can be touched up with a stone right on the rotor. It has a 4" capacity.If it fits in opening of the cutters,it is gone! I have chipped various types of hardwood without it even slowing down. The chute opening is 18"x18".No self feed drives,means that you have to give some branches a push.For the average Joe around the property,it is a nice unit. www.embmfg.com

 

[Clyde]

Help!!!! I'm really confused with all of the chipper/shredders out on the market. I'm sorry to beat the topic to death but has anyone out there any experience with the Wood's 9100 with hydraulic powerfeed? I have forty acres of my own and 460 acres that I manage for my brother. All of the acreage has been selectively harvested recently and needs cleanup now. None of the properties are within 60 miles of my residence so firewood in the end costs me as much a natural gas to heat the house. My intent is not to have the woods look aesthetically beautiful but the red oak remnants take a long to time to decay and in the meantime the seedlings are still starved for sunlight. At my age, the brawn and brains are fighting for survival and I don't care to wrestle limbs into any contraption more than I have to. From prior post, the power feed seems to be the logical way to go. I need something that can handle up to 8" diameter logs but short in length. I don't have my mind set on a Wood's product but I don't want to chase across the country to pick one up either. Any suggestions or thought would be greatly appreciated. What sort of cost am I looking at? Thanks guys!

 

[bher]

You will need serious horsepower to chip an 8" oak log. Power feed is the way to go. The Woods chipper is the same as the Bearcat. A guy is selling new hyd. powerfeed Bearcat chippers (like the Woods 9100) on ebay for around $7500. That is probably as cheap as it gets. Also, chippers in this class are very heavy. Really, I think you need a utility tractor, and not a compact tractor, for this kind of work.