Stump grinder

[s219]

I bought the Woodland Mills stump grinder last winter and it's been great. Two caveats: 1) you need space to work, since you have to move the tractor back and forth and maneuver while grinding. 2) because of #1, if the ground is soft you will probably make a real mess with ruts. Other than that, it works great and was a good buy for me. I used to spend $200-300 to rent a stump grinder and it was never a productive experience. So for the money, the WM unit pays for itself very quickly.

 

[cjoffutt]

I have the Baumalight 1P24. LOVE it. Used to hire a guy to come out. While he was cheap, I've probably spent close to a grand with him. the 1P24 has paid for itself several times over and actually made me some money in the 2 years I've had it.

At the time of purchase I was debating hard between the 1P and 3P (swinging boom one). The 3P was like 3k more and just couldn't really justify it. Looking back, I kinda wish I bought the 3P just due to it being faster overall due to not having to reposition the tractor as much. But also knowing I can put the 1P under the stairs in the barn for the loft and the 3P would have to be sitting out in the way makes it less appealing.

Over all, owning a stump grinder instead of renting/hiring it out is such a huge bonus. I've probably ground 300+ stumps (ash, maple, a few oak/walnut/hickory) in the 2 years. A couple of the teeth are almost at the point of replacing due to rocks but still cuts to well to replace. Not to mention, the stumps get ground based upon your schedule. You're not running hardcore when the weather is decent because you rented it and HAVE to get it done. When you own it and it rains, oh well, they'll get ground later in the week.

 

[RalphVa]

My wife is el cheapo. She says we can sharpen/replace chains on chain saw many times for price of a stump grinder. She's just digging around every stump and then cutting to ground level with the chain saw.

 

[oldballs]

I've done that (hand dug/axed/sawn stump) on a few occasions but have a WG24 Stump Grinder now. It does fine on my 19 HP PTO Kubota.....and is a lot easier...if you have very many.

 

[dadohead]

I've done that (hand dug/axed/sawn stump) on a few occasions but have a WG24 Stump Grinder now. It does fine on my 19 HP PTO Kubota.....and is a lot easier...if you have very many.

This is very helpful info... your B2620 is similar weight/power to my 2520. I see that many users seem to use their grinders without a quick hitch. I have one and would be reluctant to remove just to grind stumps. The increased overhang couldn't help things though.

Do you run your WG24 with a quick hitch? Thx again for the help!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I ground 32 stumps, up to about 30" in one day for a guy...

I made back half of the money I paid for my WG24, so along with grinding my own stumps, I see them as a pretty good buy.

SR

 

[RalphVa]

Wife ran out of flags. Bought a package of 100 and quickly used them up in flagging stumps.

 

[oldballs]

My WG24 is used on the B2620 with a Landpride QH15 (with bushings) and on the B2650 with the PAT"S easy hitch. Both have about 19 HP at the PTO. And both tractors perform well for me......just don't take too big a bite. So far I have ground over 30 stumps on my property and helped some neighbors too (for free). I use marking spray paint to highlight some stumps especially the lateral surface roots.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[kb27]

Here is a novice question, but when trimming the pto shaft, did the manual instructions work for you? I followed what the instructions said, however when I raise the grinder up the bottom of the grinder doesn't tilt all the way forward because the pto shaft bottoms out. I'm thinking I need to trim more off the shaft, but not sure how much?

 

[sixdogs]

Here is a novice question, but when trimming the pto shaft, did the manual instructions work for you? I followed what the instructions said, however when I raise the grinder up the bottom of the grinder doesn't tilt all the way forward because the pto shaft bottoms out. I'm thinking I need to trim more off the shaft, but not sure how much?

If you aren't fully experienced in cutting shafts correctly, find someone who is for guidance or to do the job for you. You have to make sure it's long enough to function and yet short enough to not bottom out. Both of those dimensions need to take account the machine's full range of movement. You can actually bend--think make not usable-- equipment as it bottoms out.

 

[swreeder]

I bought a Baumalight 1P24 last year from shopgreendealer.com (use discount code TTWT) It has been great. I have ground cedar stumps from 5-20" and live oak from 10-24 inches. It does a wonderful job on them. I have 100's of stumps to grind and I'm slowly working my way in taking them out. Its nice to have it here on the ranch so when I get time, I just go out and grind.

I live in very rocky country, there is less than 2" of topsoil anywhere on my property. Its just all caliche and limestone here. I was concerned about tooth wear/breaking, but the limestone is soft enough the grinder has no issues with it.

The only negative I have found with this setup is your neck will get sore from turning around to grind!!!

 

[BackRoad]

Another Q. for this stump grinder thread...

When you're chasing roots, as you get to the root end close to the dirt, do you manually dig out the dirt around the root before you grind...

...or do you just keep on grinding to take it down below ground level?

My ground is not terribly rocky, but there are a few...

 

[sixdogs]

Another Q. for this stump grinder thread...

When you're chasing roots, as you get to the root end close to the dirt, do you manually dig out the dirt around the root before you grind...

...or do you just keep on grinding to take it down below ground level?

My ground is not terribly rocky, but there are a few...

You'll get the best results cutting with saw as close to ground as possible and then grinding. No digging. Also better results if you let the stump rot for a year first.

I kill all my stumps with 43% glyphosate when I cut the tree and a year later it's a breeze to grind.

 

[BackRoad]

Thanks for that...it's been a year, but I didn't use the poison. At least I have one requirement checked...!

Waiting another week or two for the stumps to thaw...hoping by St. Patrick's to be grinding...

 

[swreeder]

Another Q. for this stump grinder thread...

When you're chasing roots, as you get to the root end close to the dirt, do you manually dig out the dirt around the root before you grind...

...or do you just keep on grinding to take it down below ground level?

My ground is not terribly rocky, but there are a few...

I just keep grinding. I typically end up with a trench 6" or more below ground level and I just have to rake all the debris back in to the hole afterwards. Some good videos on youtube showing these in action.

 

[sixdogs]

I just keep grinding. I typically end up with a trench 6" or more below ground level and I just have to rake all the debris back in to the hole afterwards. Some good videos on youtube showing these in action.

After grinding a stump, I rake up as many of the wood chips as I can and throw them on a burn pile. Do you just rake everything back in the hole and does in grow grass successfully afterwards? I always thought the concentrated wood chips would interfere with grass growth.

 

[swreeder]

After grinding a stump, I rake up as many of the wood chips as I can and throw them on a burn pile. Do you just rake everything back in the hole and does in grow grass successfully afterwards? I always thought the concentrated wood chips would interfere with grass growth.

I just rake them back in and I have had no problem with growth of grass coming back in so far. Here that is native grasses, little bluestem, big bluestem, switchgrass and Indiangrass.

 

[kyryder]

Here is a novice question, but when trimming the pto shaft, did the manual instructions work for you? I followed what the instructions said, however when I raise the grinder up the bottom of the grinder doesn't tilt all the way forward because the pto shaft bottoms out. I'm thinking I need to trim more off the shaft, but not sure how much?

You didn't state which grinder you're using. Sounds like Bauma. If using Bauma on cat 1 tractor an extension kit is required (moves grinder away from pto approximately 6 inches) otherwise shaft can't work properly. Too long when up too short when down. It mentions the kit on their website. I bought mine before the extension kit appeared on their site. I had to replace the 3 lobe shafts.☹☹

 

[Bill Guenthner]

After grinding a stump, I rake up as many of the wood chips as I can and throw them on a burn pile. Do you just rake everything back in the hole and does in grow grass successfully afterwards? I always thought the concentrated wood chips would interfere with grass growth.

I have ground at least 60 stumps over the last 10 years and always put the chips in the hole. It’s hard to impossible to tell where the stumps were. It’s not a golf course, use clover and a pasture grass mix and it will turn green. BTW: I used a rental for half and had the other half done by a pro at day rates. The pro is the better option unless your time has no value. With a tracked remote controlled grinder they can do an amazing amount in one day. BTW: load up the chips with nitrogen fertilizer the first year, then do the grass.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

If you can find a forestry mulching service they can wipe out an acre of small to medium stumps in a day