Chipper Wood chipper: free standing or tractor implement?

[IslandTractor]

Well from the general consensus, it sounds like the even the 10HP standalone models are no good.

I'd guesstimate that you'd need at least (probably more) a 20hp gas model to handle 3 to 4 inch stuff regularly. I used a 3pt Bearcat on my 21 hp diesel (CK20) last year and had to run the engine at close to PTO speed to keep it running efficiently. No way a smaller gas engine would keep up with 3 inch material.

 

[fixitlane]

With regard to the little "chippers" and I use the term chipper very loosely. I have used both an 8 and a 10hp. While they claim 4" stuff and they will chip it, it has to be very straight stuff. The chutes are made in such a way that a normal 2" limb with any bow to it will not go down the chute. If it won't go down the chute it won't grind it. Several years ago I used a 12hp that was built just like a big chipper and found that it worked surprisingly well. They just don't seem to be around much anymore.

 

[Happyman]

My Vote: Wallenstein BX 42 or 62. 3pt hitch. Feeds itself so don't bother with the hydraulic feeder.
62 will do up to 6" and the 42 up to 4".
Check it out here: BX42s/BX62s Wood Chippers - Wallenstein

 

[choffman41]

I've got 8 acres of left over logging debris and have been using a WC4 that cost $1350. It works well, has about 10 hours so far. My 2301 uses less than 1 gal per hour of fuel at 2100 RPM. I have chipped 4" trees (big end) 15 feet long with no problem.

 

[Rara Avis]

My Vote: Wallenstein BX 42 or 62. 3pt hitch. Feeds itself so don't bother with the hydraulic feeder.
62 will do up to 6" and the 42 up to 4".
Check it out here: BX42s/BX62s Wood Chippers - Wallenstein

Another vote for Wallenstein...
Wallenstein BX42 Wood Chipper

 

[Charlesaf3]

I have a wallenstein bx62 which I have been feeding oak tops through and am pleased with. My 30hp kubota is noticeably small for it though - I think for that size or so a bx42 would be better unless a tractor upgrade is in your future - the 62 won't chip any more than the 42 on a small tractor

I've used a professional vermeer a lot, and a hydraulic wallenstein does not feel like a big step down. One of the small chippers with a lawn mower engine I'd probably throw in the fire with the brush by the end of the day...

 

[FortClatsop]

I bought a chipper last winter after our hurricane of Axemen fame.

I love my BX 42. Even more than I like to burn. Last night I had a few minutes to kill and spent an hour in the lower woods chipping away. Loved every minute of it. Would have spent a day dragging and burning.

A friend of mine got a great deal on a 10 horse Troybilt. He was dissatisfied and sold it to my neighbor at completely ridiculous price. It makes nice mulch, but takes a lot of time and effort.

Nowadays I do my neighbors chipping...all the time it seems. We both enjoy it that way. I know that he would be kicking himself if he had paid more for the Troybuilt.

Spend the big bucks and have some fun! You'll like it. The engine on my 2305 doesn't even know anything is back there...so your tractor will like it to!

 

[wkpoor]

I second the motion for 3pt over stand alone. As already stated unless you get a commercial unit those home brew units are toys compared to a 3pt chipper. Only thing I would like to add is most 3pt units are the disc type and are self feeding. Mine is French Canadian built clone to the Wallenstein BX60. My only complaint is without power feed many times branches get hung up and need to be cut down straighter to get started in. If the cutter wheel grabs the branch its gone in a mili sec but if it can't get a hold on it then you fight it. Power feed would be a nice option but it adds alot of moola. I don't use mine much and elected not to add it but if you chip very much at all it would really cut down the time element.

 

[amigauser]

I think it depends on what you want to spend and how much you plan on using it. As has been said, the "homeowner" models are basically worthless. I always see a bunch for sale on Craigslist as people buy them, find they don't work well and then try and dump them. The only one I have seen decent reviews on our the Mackissic chipper/shreaders. People who like to create mulch piles seem to like them to process the material prior to placing it on the mulch pile. I would not recommend one for any serious chipping.
http://mackissic.com/consumer/csconsumer/chipper_shredder_consumer1.htmMacCis

I picked up a used free standing manual feed Bearcat model 73420 for $1800. It had a 20 HP Honda engine on it and it was rated for 4 inches. Even with the 20 HP a 4 inch log of any great length would stall the chipper. I had to section them into 3 foot sections to run them through. Smaller branches of any length it would just suck in and chip. I ended up selling it and I now rent a large commercial hydraulic feed unit when I need one.

If your budget is around $2000 as stated than a PTO driven gravity feeding unit is the way to go. If you want hydraulic feed, I would go with a used commercial unit as they can be had for the $4,000 - $5,000 range which is similar $$$ to what a PTO driven chipper would sell for with the hydraulic feed option.

One benefit of the free standing chipper is you can bring material to it with the tractor grapple etc. You can also have two people working, one using the free standing chipper and one using the tractor to bring brush or logs to it. If you have a PTO driven chipper you are going to need to create the pile you are working from first and than park the tractor and use the chipper. If you have difficult areas to get a machine into a PTO tractor mounted chipper wins there to.

Just my 2 cents worth.