Advice on Chipper/Shredder Purchase

[tillboy2001]

We're going to the John Deere dealer today after work to look at wood chippers and/or chipper/shredder combo units (if they have them there). I understand John Deere pushes the Frontier brand? Our budget is about $,3000. I'd like to get your opinion on this purchase. If you know of a better brand or something more useful please reply. We'd prefer something that chips AND has a shredding capability since we like to compost (garden waste mainly and leaves....corn stalks, tall ornamental grass, etc). If a shredded will chop up things like that well enough a chipper would be fine...but I worry about clogging it up with softer and smaller material like that mentioned above.

Looking for something that fits the following description...

- For use with PTO on John Deere 4120 tractor (43HP turbo diesel)
- Chipper
- Shredder (preferably)
- Durable/Heavy Duty
- Chips wood 4" in diameter (or larger if it fits in our budget of $3,000)
- Attaches to 3 point hitch on tractor for easy transport to work area

What are your thoughts? What brand/model would you buy if that was your budget?

Thanks

 

[AlanB]

I went the Jinma or Jinma imitation route, depending on who you ask.

For me, and my needs it was a good investment, but, it lacks the fit and finish of the others.

 

[Mark_G]

Merry Mac PTO Chipper/Shredder, Model# TPH-122M | Chipper/Shredders | Northern Tool + Equipment

Anyone have experience with the Merry Mac PTO Chipper/Shredder, Model# TPH-122M? (see link above)

I have an old wagon mounted one that I got used (and very abused) from a landscaping Co that had also bought it used. Works fine when I can start it.

It does shred and chip. The old one I have has one knife for chipping, and hammers to shred.

 

[denmansoft]

The Jinma isn't going to do your shredding of soft stuff very well.
It will handle 6" stuff nicely, and need a good 'Dealer/User Prep' before you get going.
It will easily fit in your budget ....

 

[Bluehill]

I've got a valby CH170 on my 4720. Heres a link to the manufacturer :Tractor Chipper

I got the hydraulic feed and its great. However I would suspect that you will not be satisfied feeding softer material in as it will likely lead to clogging issues. (the anvils are adjustable so if the machine is setup right it may be avoidable)

The construction of this unit is excellent.


This will handle a 6" log no problem if the blades are sharp.

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

Mark-
I have the Mackassic TPH122 chipper/shredder and it works great. It handles everything I put in it. It is so forecful that it will will rip brush out of your hands when you feed it into the shredder. What do you mean by when you can get it to start? Mine is PTO driven - do you have a model powered by a gas engine? I have no complaints about it - being PTO driven their is very little maintence on the unit. - Mike

 

[GreenWannabe]

You might also look at DR, BearCat, Wallenstein, Woods, and Salsco. If you search the forum for chipper shredder, you will be able to get a sense of what has worked well for others. Good luck with your search.

 

[Mark_G]

Yes I have an old gas powered model. Like I said the unit has had a rough life. When I got it it was missing many of the shrouds and safety items etc. The engine is a bit difficult to start, but once running it is strong. I would like to update to the PTO version, as it is not easy to move and is missing parts etc.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[tillboy2001]

We actually went with a Wallenstein BX42s BX42s/BX62s Wood Chippers - Wallenstein

That's what the dealer was selling. It appears to be VERY heavy duty/well made. Made in Canada. They had the 6" chipper on hand so we looked at that one but they had to order the 4" chipper for us. They didn't carry shredders but we decided we'd be just fine with the chipper since that would be it's main use - chomping branches and so on.

Cost is just over $3,000. Can't wait for it to arrive. I've got lots of downed trees and branches from Hurricane Ike waiting for it

Here's some of the wind we got (60-75 MPH gusts for several hours) from Ike, over 1000 miles from the Gulf. We were without power for 3 days....some others for a week. Videos

 

[RalphVa]

Good web site on the Wallenstein. Let us know how it is at shredding stuff. Looks like it'll do chipping of up to 4" stuff, but how does the shredding of small stuff work?

To answer Mark_G, I have a TPH-122 that I love. It's FAR easier to maintain than a previous engine-driven Troy Bilt Tomahawk. (Notice the all cap "FAR") In fact, maintenance is a "piece of cake" once you buy the proper socket-driven allen wrench for the chipper blade, learn to clean the hole well and to drive the wrench in for a firm, deep fit before removing. I've rotated the hammers once, again a REAL "piece of cake" compared to the horrendous job on the Troy Bilt. My TPH-122 is used on my 18.5 hp JD 4010. I've NEVER bogged it down and had to shut down to clean anything out of it. Of course, I learned from numerous bog-downs on the Troy Bilt and some on a non-chipping MacKissic mounted on a 12 hp Gravely.

Ralph

 

[tillboy2001]

What we bought it not officially a shredder, but of course it's still made for chipping small branches...it's just not meant to be used for leaves and really small stuff like that. I'll try to report back with how it works after we get it. I'll try to get a video of the action and post it too

 

[Runner]

pz,

I have a BX42 and am happy with it so far. I woudn't think it would do much for shredding because when I threw a piece of 1/4 inch plywood in it, other than being broken up, it pretty much came out the same thickness on the other end. Also, leaves come out whole on the output end as well.

I have an old 5 HP Craftsman chipper/shredder that I use for shredding duties when needed.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[fixin40]

Mackissic Inc. makes 2 different models for the 3pt on a tractor. The TPH122 and the TPH184. I own the smaller towable gas driven model from Mackissic(model12P) and for a 20+yr old 7hp unit it does great. A much better design than my other cheaper chipper shredder. If I had 3K budget I would go for the TPH184(next year for me I just spent 22K on the tractor), the fly wheel and rotor are nearly twice the weight of the TPH122 and that is what really makes these units work, the inertia of the spinning parts. The TPH184 also has

 

[fixin40]

Computers, I like them and don't like them I got cut off. Anyway, the TPH184 has double the number of shredding hammers. I would go with the larger TPH184. Northern tool and equipment sells both models. The links for nothern tool and Mackissic are Merry Mac PTO Chipper/Shredder, Model# TPH-183M | Chipper/Shredders | Northern Tool + Equipment and MacKissic Inc. respectively.
Happy Tractoring-
fixin40

 

[smfcpacfp]

I also purchased the BX42 a couple of months ago and do like it quite a bit. I mostly have pine to chip.

Your price seems pretty high unless you got the hydraulic unit. I paid $2,438 out the door.

 

[bontai_Joe]

You got a nice chipper, but I can't imagine wanting to chip anything bigger than 3" as it's too valuable as firewood in my neck of the woods. I can sell 4" logs for a lot more $$$ with a lot less work than chipping it down to mulch.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I second that, I cant believe anyone would be chipping anything larger than 3" branches unless it is pine . Anything larger in hardwood can be sold for firewood at a great price at least in my neck of the woods. Any pine that size can be sold as pulpwood, also at a good price.

 

[ultrarunner]

You got a nice chipper, but I can't imagine wanting to chip anything bigger than 3" as it's too valuable as firewood in my neck of the woods. I can sell 4" logs for a lot more $$$ with a lot less work than chipping it down to mulch.

Depends on where you live... Firewood such as Oak is free for the taking here in the SF Bay Area... I posted a notice at work... free cut and split oak firewood with free delivery to your driveway... no takers.

The media runs TV, Radio and Billboard ads giving a Hotline number to report chimney smoke.

 

[tillboy2001]

Depends on where you live... Firewood such as Oak is free for the taking here in the SF Bay Area... I posted a notice at work... free cut and split oak firewood with free delivery to your driveway... no takers.

The media runs TV, Radio and Billboard ads giving a Hotline number to report chimney smoke.

That's a shame.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Depends on where you live... Firewood such as Oak is free for the taking here in the SF Bay Area... I posted a notice at work... free cut and split oak firewood with free delivery to your driveway... no takers.

The media runs TV, Radio and Billboard ads giving a Hotline number to report chimney smoke.

And I thought the People's Republik of NJ was bad (my home state before I escaped across the Delaware river)