Woods Stump Grinder

[daBear]

Why is it that, I don't even know this equipment exists, let alone think I need it, and then I go to TBN and start glancing through threads, and find a new piece of equipment that I just have to have, and all of a sudden I can't do the job without??? :laughing::laughing::laughing:

We are here to help. Remember a tractor is just a motor, transmission, and a hydraulic pump with some big tires on it. Attachments are what make it great.

 

[Piston]

For you guys that have used your stump grinders for a while now, would you do anything different knowing what you know now?

I'm about to clear about 5-8 acres of smaller sized trees from my land, and I'm curious if you guys would recommend cutting the trees, and grinding the stumps. Or knocking down the trees roots and all with a machine, or renting a mulched to clear? Any thoughts?

 

[foggy1111]

For you guys that have used your stump grinders for a while now, would you do anything different knowing what you know now?

I'm about to clear about 5-8 acres of smaller sized trees from my land, and I'm curious if you guys would recommend cutting the trees, and grinding the stumps. Or knocking down the trees roots and all with a machine, or renting a mulched to clear? Any thoughts?

I think allot of your questions are going to need some clarification to get a good answer.

1. Do you have rocks? Stump grinders dont like rocks
2. Hardwood or Softwood Stumps? Softwoods go three times faster "+"
3. What diameter trees?
4. How many trees are you talking about? 100's 1000's 10,000's ???
5. Are you able to deal with the wood and /or the dozed stumps? Burn?
6. Are you planning to till the ground after tree removal?
7. Is your timber marketable?

At one time I had a muching operator take a look at my land. He would have cost me way more than I wanted to pay, and I still would have had stumps below ground. In my case the trees were harvested leaving me with lots of softwood stumps (red pine 12" - 14"). I'm not sure I would want to tackle 5 acres of timber cutting. Grinding stumps gets rid of stump disposal problems for me. I see you have a grapple....that solves lots of the issues.

You dont say how big the trees are. If they are 4" diameter you may be able to get a GOOD brush hog and grind 'em up. (?)

 

[Piston]

1. Do you have rocks? Stump grinders dont like rocks

Yes, I definitely do, quite a few rocks ranging from small fieldstone to large boulders.

Hardwood or Softwood Stumps? Softwoods go three times faster "+"

Both, mostly softwood, but everything is pretty small, mostly less than 12" dbh

How many trees are you talking about? 100's 1000's 10,000's ???

Hmmm, excellent question I really don't know. Certainly not 10,000, but probably more than a couple hundred.

Are you able to deal with the wood and /or the dozed stumps? Burn?

yes, not very conveniently, but yes, I look at the stump burning/decomposition as a long term thing. I know it's hard to get rid of them.

Are you planning to till the ground after tree removal?

No, I am planning to smooth it out for grass eventually, but probably leave whatever it is that grows for a while, and just keep it mowed once every couple months for a few years.

Is your timber marketable?

I don't THINK so. I don't believe there is enough there for it to be worth anything. Also, for any sawlogs that I do have, I will probably keep for myself for my own sawmill.
I have had the county forester out there to take a look a couple years ago, and he gave me some advice. I'm going to have him come out again as it is free, and see if he thinks it's worth me getting a consulting forester in there. :thumbsup:

 

[Reg]

For you guys that have used your stump grinders for a while now, would you do anything different knowing what you know now?

I'm about to clear about 5-8 acres of smaller sized trees from my land, and I'm curious if you guys would recommend cutting the trees, and grinding the stumps. Or knocking down the trees roots and all with a machine, or renting a mulched to clear? Any thoughts?

Basically "what foggy1111 said"
Perhaps before those questions;
What is your intended future use for the area ?
Are you more time & effort limited than ca$h limited ?

The option to "bury" stumps is something I would try to avoid - at ALMOST any cost, sink holes, subsidence, etc.
Large animals or tractors falling into holes, or even tipping suddenly 10 years later does NOT appeal to me.
Shallow depressions from SLOW decomposition of remaining roots is different, probably acceptable, unless you plan to build a barn or put in a road bed.

 

[Piston]

Intended future use is to eventually make it a combination of fields, lawn (about 2 acres around the homesite), and very thinned out woods transitioning to the forest behind it.
I'll probably have more time than money.

 

[Reg]

Intended future use is to eventually make it a combination of fields, lawn (about 2 acres around the homesite), and very thinned out woods transitioning to the forest behind it.
I'll probably have more time than money.

In that case hiring it out to someone with BIG equipment may not be optimal, for YOU (or me).
Yup, I'd grind 'em down, rake the chips around until they're lost, forget about it real soon.
Then in my dotage wonder why it looks all gently rolling, not at all flat the way it was 40 years earlier (-:
or if I hang onto my marbles, maybe fill the shallow depressions from time to time.

 

[foggy1111]

I was just showing a pic of a 1/2 acre area I cleared this summer. It was a nasty tangle of down timber and trees. Took out 30 trees and about 50 stumps (some from logging a few years back). Spread the top soil from my shed and now have a lawn area and a garden area. And....the dead / dying, good-for-nothing, jackpine wont fall on my shed!

Heres a pic.....still some hand-work to do.....but it was a mess in the past. Why dont you rent a grinder for a 1/2 day and see how it goes. I used a rented 25 HP grinder to take out 500 plus stumps before buying my 3 point grinder. Still....if I had rocks.....I dunno.....

 

[Reg]

Small rocks, say up to around baseball size, have just been loosened and spat out.
"Boulders" I haven't tried (yet) ... it MIGHT grind them, heck carbide teeth can do serious damage to rock, stone, concrete, etc., though it would be slow at best.
I suppose at some point if there are enough boulders that are big enough I would hire in a decent sized Ex.
Then I would be faced with the question of what to do about the stumps given that the Ex would be coming anyway.
That would depend on my disposal options, having them hauled out would co$t, burning them would take a while, it would have to be more space than I have here to do something like a root ball "fence" described in other threads.

 

[foggy1111]

Small rocks, say up to around baseball size, have just been loosened and spat out.
"Boulders" I haven't tried (yet) ... it MIGHT grind them, heck carbide teeth can do serious damage to rock, stone, concrete, etc., though it would be slow at best.
I suppose at some point if there are enough boulders that are big enough I would hire in a decent sized Ex.
Then I would be faced with the question of what to do about the stumps given that the Ex would be coming anyway.
That would depend on my disposal options, having them hauled out would co$t, burning them would take a while, it would have to be more space than I have here to do something like a root ball "fence" described in other threads.

I've got a few stump piles from the prior owners. I suppose these may be 10 to 20 years old....and still going strong. I do NOT see any advantages to digging out stumps for my land. I MUCH prefer grinding.....poof! It's GONE!

I dont think you would wear the carbide on rock so much....but chipping and breaking the teeth are likely with rock IMO. Still....I have not had tooth problems....except on rented grinders.