Rent or buy a chipper-- I need to decide soon

[plowhog]

Thanks! Woodland Mills WC88.

Will have some pix in a few weeks-- takes a while to get to CA from NY. Got plenty of material lined up for ... photography!!

 

[papachaz]

Nice! we not only want pics, we want videos 'in action'

 

[oosik]

That looks to be a nice chipper. I think you are wise to get a unit with hydraulic in-feed. Particularly since you will be feeding old dry hard material. The one and only time I've ever had problems with my Wallenstein BX62S - feeding old, dry apple trees. Man, compared to fresh cut pine trees - - a complete different world. My manual feed would grab the apple - feed too fast - sometimes choke and blow a shear bolt. I had several complete apple trees to chip - took two entire days - I blew three shear bolts.

With hydraulic in-feed you can slow down the rate of feed and let the unit work at a pace where it doesn't feed too rapidly and choke.

My unit with manual in-feed - a fresh cut 5" x 32' pine - you better start it down the chute and STAND BACK. It feeds so hard and fast - if you remain standing close - you will most likely get whipped severely by the top of the tree. Definitely a - chuck and duck situation.

 

[plowhog]

With hydraulic in-feed you can slow down the rate of feed and let the unit work at a pace where it doesn't feed too rapidly and choke.

I watched the entire 28 minute YouTube video produced by Woodland Mills regarding this chipper. It included a demonstration of exactly what you write about-- using a control to speed/slow the feed rate to match the material. I have such a range of size and age of wood that I believe I will use that-- thanks!

btw, I am a harsh critic of YouTube videos-- many of which I stop viewing within maybe 10 seconds since they are so poorly done. The Woodland Mills video was the best I've seen. Hoping the product is up to the quality level of the video ...

 

[ericm979]

My Woodmaxx 8H's hydraulic feed control was too large for the GPM of the chipper's system. So as you move the lever from 10 to 0 the feed speed stays the same (max) until you get to 4. All the adjustment is between 3.5 and 4, making it hard to set it to anything between max and slow.

Woodmaxx didnt think that was a problem and I ran it like that for most of a year before I fixed it by replacing the 16gpm valve with a 4 gpm valve. Their system flow is 3 so that's perfect according to the textbooks. The new valve adusts over a much wider range making it much easier to get the feed speed I want. It was a direct bolt on replacement.

I don't know if the WM models have the same problem but if it does a similar fix would probably take care of it.

 

[plowhog]

Yes I did read that. Woodmaxx has a good reputation and lots of great reviews.

 

[Geotech]

Interested to see how it works for you. I rented a self powered 6 inch Vermeer chipper to handle some post oak branches a few months ago. It was very inefficient. I have pretty much concluded that it will take about the same amount of time to chip my brush as it would to wait for rain and burn. I have a lot of brush - post oaks with not a single straight branch. So frustrating. Much less work waiting for rain than using a chipper. Cheaper too. Still it would be fun to have one.

 

[swnoel]

I've owned two chippers in the 36 years out here. Wallenstein BX42S and now Wallenstein BX62S. I can only speak on Wally's - maintenance has been almost zero. You have two zerks to grease and I grease the four cutting blades before putting it up for the winter. Oh, and grease the PTO shaft once a year also.

Both my Wallys were/are manual feed. Every year I thin my pine stands and chip approximately 900 or more small pines( 1" to 6" on the butt). There is nothing quite as easy to chip as a fresh cut pine - soft wood - full of juicy sap - no limbs to trim - just cut - drag - pile - grunt/lift into the chipper.

I would imagine your oak limbs will be twisted and gnarly. You would be best served to get a chipper with hydraulic in-feed. Controls the feed speed and can back out those limbs that will tend to get stuck in the chute.

But again and at least for my manual feed chippers - - maintenance is just one tick above what is required for a hand shovel.

My thinning project is every spring - takes about six weeks - worse part is dragging all the cut pine out and piling them. The chipping part is the fun part.

For me the choice of buy or rent was never a problem. In the middle of millions of acres of cattle ranching - I am 80 acres of tree farming. My choice was - which brand. Beyond Wallenstein I looked at Woodmax and Vermeer. I wanted a PTO driven chipper - the local Kubota dealer gave me good prices on Wallenstein - - this choice was simple also.

I also have a BX62 and it's been one of the best things I've bought! No more brush piles to deal with!

 

[Gregster613]

I'm in agreement with you there Plowhog. In fact I ordered the wm68 and it's being delivered to me next Thursday. I'm really excited to get it and see just how closely to the video it actually works! Although I'm sure it'll be just fine! I plan on taking lots of pictures, just have to figure out/remember how to post them on here.
By the way, do you happen to know how to tell on a can of Hydraulic fluid if it's actually ISO-32?
My old empty cans that I've used in my tractor (in which the fluid works just fine) don't say anywhere on the can ISO-32? I'm not overly concerned but am quite curious as to how one can tell for sure via the can. I've got Supertech from TSC and it's been fine in my Tractor. Should also be okay for the chipper?
Thanks, Greg

 

[Ericredslslingshot]

I own the Woodland Mills chipper you mention. It is an awesome machine, well made, best value on the market, and great performance. I would rate maintenance on it as very low. All you have to do is grease a few fittings before use. Access to blades is really easy to. I would buy the same unit again for sure. WM offers great phone support which seems to be rare these days. Shipping is fast and painless also.

I was looking at the Woodland Mills but it's Canadian steel which is not as good as us Steel. I've been looking at a woodmaxx t86 h. Any comments?