Stump grinders?

[kuby]

I know nothing about these things I usualy get a cat or hoe to remove stumps. So how deep will they go? Would one be able to cut around a big old popler tree and then push it over??? I have been digging the sides of a tree with my 25 hp kubota and then pushing it over but that takes a long time and is hard on the tractor.

 

[KiotiJohn]

The stump grinder is really only for grinding down what's left after you've cut the tree down. From what I've seen, you can get well below surface with the good ones with carbide teeth.
Are "digging the sides of a tree" with a backhoe on the Kubota, or a front end loader?
With a backhoe you would dig around the side to fall really well, making sure to break the surface roots and then break the roots on the other sides then push the whole thing over if it's a tree with more surface roots than tap roots. Like you said, it's hard on the tractor for most trees of any size, but it helps to get the stump out with the tree instead of doing it after cutting. John