Chipper Wire fence through big chipper?

Dadnatron · Sep 6, 2016

Recently purchased a farm in KY. Lots of work to get it up on par.

I have recently begun removing combination barbed wire (single top) and old woven wire. The fence rows have been overgrown with various shrubs and small trees. I've pulled them along with old fence posts with my FANTASTIC DANUSER INTIMIDATOR. It is a fantastic tool for the job. I have several piles of the mess around my property and was initially going to haul it to the dump. But, I realize that the 'volume' is massive given the actual substance, secondary to the brush and wire holding everything apart. It would take me 100 loads to haul it all 'as is' but it could be hauled in only a few loads if it was 'chipped'. I can't separate 'MOST' of the wire from the brush, but I can do it approximately 50%. But the remaining would still have to run through the chipper.

My question is... and I recognize this is a likely 'NO'.

Is there a big chipper capable of taking this mess of wire, honey suckle, 2" elm, woven and barbed wire, and chipping it all up.

I know there are industrial recycling ones etc. But what I am looking for, is a rental which would be capable and appropriate, to run this mess through. The wire isn't very strong... but it is wire. The barbed wire is almost completely rusted through.

As unlikely as it might be, I'd like to find an alternative to the MANY MANY dump trailer trips this will take otherwise.

JimRB · Sep 6, 2016

If you wait until rainy and burn season you can reduce piles by a factor of 50. When I did fenceline cleanup I pulled the wire off first cutting around trees. But I only cleaned up 3/4 of a mile of overgrown and rusty fenceline. Only old wooden fenceposts went to the dump.

smstonypoint · Sep 6, 2016

How about burning the piles and then collecting (and hauling away) the wire after the burn?

Steve

compact · Sep 6, 2016

Possibly dig a pit and bury it with an excavator?

Gunny · Sep 6, 2016

Wait and burn it, then all you'll have to worry about is the wire. Mash the wire down and you can probably put it all in one dumpster

kthompson · Sep 6, 2016

If you have the ability to dig a good burn pit would do that, burn it and then cover the wire and any other items that would not burn. Dig it deeper than you think it needs to be by a good bit. There will be the wire and also the ashes to cover. Get it two or feet deep and in most places will never be an issue.

vsteel · Sep 6, 2016

The industrial recycle one you mentioned is the only kind of machine that can handle this. Even if the wire is easy to break, the standard chipper with knives on a flywheel will have the blades ruined in short order as metal hits metal.

buickanddeere · Sep 6, 2016

Wire wrapped around the shaft and the seals torn out of the bearings will discourage any further wire grinding.

Thall303 · Sep 6, 2016

Wire is easily disposed of after a burn pile fire.

Just picked up some yesterday that was still warm to the touch.

Dadnatron · Sep 6, 2016

Thanks,

That makes sense, and as I stated, I didn't expect that it could be 'shredded'. But I wanted to ask before I simply assumed.

I think I will make a burn pile. If I piled this all up, you'd see it from your porch, no matter where you lived. I'll have to move it to the main burn pile area, then meter it into a fire over several days, I suspect.

Concerning burning, I have a good location for one and have a lot of 'fuel' already in it. When I move the 'fence row' piles, to the area, I suspect it would cover approximately 40x40 yds about 10-12ft high. That wouldn't even be all, just what I have already pulled. What 'size' fire would you make and whey would you burn? I am in the Lexington KY area and while I have lived 3 hours North since '98, I am not certain when the best time to burn would be in the Lex area.

So...

When would you burn?

How big would you make the initial pile?

How would you meter the rest of the mess into the pile? I'd hate to get a flaming bunch of crap stuck to my grapple, because wire was caught and I couldn't get it off. Would you simply make several small piles and burn them singly? At the same time, but separately? etc.

roadhunter · Sep 6, 2016

Burn the piles. Then do the best you can to mash the wire into bundles. Then either haul or look for a scrapper in the area to pick it up.

smstonypoint · Sep 6, 2016

Dadnatron said:
What 'size' fire would you make and whey would you burn? I am in the Lexington KY area and while I have lived 3 hours North since '98, I am not certain when the best time to burn would be in the Lex area.

So...

When would you burn?

How big would you make the initial pile?

How would you meter the rest of the mess into the pile? I'd hate to get a flaming bunch of crap stuck to my grapple, because wire was caught and I couldn't get it off. Would you simply make several small piles and burn them singly? At the same time, but separately? etc.

I am sure that opinions will differ, but here's my take.

1. First things first, you need to check with your local fire marshal, county forest ranger, or other relevant authorities for burning regulations and any required permits. For example, here are the the general regulations for NC (individual counties may have additional regulations):

Open burning for land clearing or right-of-way maintenance is permissible provided that: (1) prevailing winds are away from built up areas; (2) the location of the burn is at least 500 feet from any occupied structure; (3) the location of the burn is at least 250 feet from the edge of a roadway if the prevailing wind is toward the roadway; (4) only kerosene distillate, or diesel fuel is used to start the fire; (5) burning shall commence between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.and no additional material is added other than during those hours.

2. The best time to burn to help avoid a wildfire is when there is snow on the ground or after a rain. I recall reading on TBN that some areas limit burning to when there is snow on the ground.

3. Because most of my property is wooded, I prefer to have small burn plies so that my fires are less likely to get out of control and become forest fires.

Good luck.

Steve

hslogger · Sep 6, 2016

burn baby burn. White man make too much big piles. Make your pile or piles manageable and add to em.
discretion is the better part of valor

Thall303 · Sep 6, 2016

Smaller piles

Start early

Mow surrounding area short

I keep a small water tank on my mule to control any spreading.

bspeedy · Sep 6, 2016

Our local fire department (VFD) monitored our large burn of one big pile overnight after a small (ahem) donation was offered. I think it was around 150 bucks. It was hot enough that is was unbearable to stand 150 feet away from the edge of the fire.

Snobdds · Sep 6, 2016

What a mess it would make in the chipper. The flywheel would be a mangled mess of wire.

Fire is your friend here.

2458n · Sep 6, 2016

Rent a mini bobcat hoe for a day. Run it like you stole it and dig some deep pits in the area where the brush is. Scrap prices do not pay for the hauling, or recovery of the rusty fence. Stuff the pits with the brush and burn off at night when it is rainy. May take until the snow flies to get it all cleaned up. In Ohio my county commissioner told me there was a state law against open burning. I guess this was just conversation as my fire pit was about 20 yards away- and burning.

JRobyn · Sep 6, 2016

Tub grinders are suitable for SOME non-wood (like pallets), but I don't know if even the larger ones would be suitable for a steady diet of metal like that - Tub Grinders - Morbark, LLC

I've seen some of the large ones in operation - awe-inspiring machines! I don't recall ever seeing a rental one in any size.

wolf515 · Sep 6, 2016

2458n said:
Rent a mini bobcat hoe for a day. Run it like you stole it and dig some deep pits in the area where the brush is. Scrap prices do not pay for the hauling, or recovery of the rusty fence. Stuff the pits with the brush and burn off at night when it is rainy. May take until the snow flies to get it all cleaned up. In Ohio my county commissioner told me there was a state law against open burning. I guess this was just conversation as my fire pit was about 20 yards away- and burning.

When I lived in South East Ohio they had extensive open burn regulations / requirements. However I was told by the Township Fire Chief that you could have a "cooking fire of any size you want". I never needed to have a huge burn pile but always had my hotdog on a stick ready to cook!