Talk to me about chippers

[Runner]

Let me begin buy saying I have never owned or used a chipper but I have considered getting one. I am considering a stand-alone chipper that can be towed behind my ATV and used wherever. My goal isn't as much to chip material to get rid of it but chip material just to get the chippings to be used around the property. So my question is, are these little chippers with 6-15HP engines any good? Are there some better than others? Mot all what I am seeing have around a 6.5HP engine on them but I have seen a couple older models on market place with 10-15hp engines. So educate me on these chippers, please.

I have a little 6 HP Craftsman chipper/shredder that is basically worthless. Just doesn't have the HP or capacity to handle anything bigger than about 1 inch and very slow to use.

I also have a Wallenstein BX42 that is run on the PTO of my JD2520 (21 PTO HP). I'm sure there are self-powered chippers in the 15 hp range that will work pretty well. But I can chip up to 4" dia. material with the BX42 and it will make a TON of mulch in a hurry.

I love the simplicity of the BX42 and it gets the job done for me. Wallenstein doesn't make this model anymore, but Titan attachments sells a clone.

 

[Racer4]

I’ve got one of these:

https://www.mackissic.com/product/mighty-mac-hammermill-shredder-chipper-tph123/

It works pretty good if you’re chipping straight limbs. I’ve used it enough to know what’s going to fit through it without jamming. I keep my smallest chainsaw nearby to cut curved sections off before running them through. It’s about all my gc2410 will handle.

 

[kozal01]

I recently purchased a woodland mills WC46 PTO chipper so I will share my experience. I had an 8 hp chipper/ shredder in the past that was basically useless on anything above 2" and feeding it was a pain so when I was shopping for PTO chippers I only considered self feeding models. Mine will chip up to 4" and I have tested that claim and it does it with ease. I chose this model based on my PTO HP of about 18 but I now think I could have gone up to the 6" model. Either way it works very well once I learned how it likes to be fed and Ive chipped pine, oak and maple in it so far and it never bogged my tractor down at all. The chips it makes are much better than the little gas powered one I used to have but still not perfect, small sticks can get through sometimes but I have been using my chips in my beds now instead of buying mulch and it looks ok to me.

 

[kozal01]

 

[JeepHead]

Thanks everyone! I have decided to not even consider a chipper. I have a huge mulch factory down the road and numerous tree service companies in the area. I think I have better alternatives. And I still need to buy a forestry winch.

 

[kozal01]

Thanks everyone! I have decided to not even consider a chipper. I have a huge mulch factory down the road and numerous tree service companies in the area. I think I have better alternatives. And I still need to buy a forestry winch.

You could buy a lot of wood chips for the cost of one of these things so Id say your plan is smart. I was just sick of burning piles of brush all year. lol

 

[319Quahog]

I was just sick of burning piles of brush all year. lol

That's why I bought a towable chipper.

Burning was getting really old.

I have this one 6-Inch 14 HP 429 cc Cyclonic Drum Chipper Shredder

Got a great deal on it and works fine for what I use it for. Despite statements above, it feeds fine.

Will also go where a PTO chipper can't which is about 50% of my trails right now. Freaking rain.

Any hardwood above 3" is saved for firewood anyways.

Softwood can get chipped up but the larger pieces are getting saved up for a berm on my planned range.

 

[Runner]

You could buy a lot of wood chips for the cost of one of these things so Id say your plan is smart. I was just sick of burning piles of brush all year. lol

You will save yourself a lot of work too....

 

[oosik]

Going with a mulch factory. A very good alternative. The main reason I chip - I can't burn from April thru November. Everything is bone dry and wildfires are a major concern.

 

[grsthegreat]

ive been using my chipper for the last 15 years. it used to run on a 28HP tractor and did a soso job chipping. It now runs on my 45KW tractor and can chip up to 6" logs very reasonably. i also use my chips on the trails. it amazing how little trail gets covered with a huge chip pile though. the chips help keep grass from growing on the trail.