Wood chippers

[MidwestMike]

I just bought the WM8H with the $300 off shipping during Thanksgiving week.
Initially had doubts with the 19.5 HP of the B2650, but found a neighbor with the same setup that liked it.
I set the intake speed slower and it has handled everything I threw in there, some stuff I probably shouldn't have. With the big opening and hydraulic feed you do not need to trim the stuff. Went with WoodMaxx for the bigger opening over the Woodland Mills.

I've just been burning for a few years, but as I get out further I was spending more time traveling to the burn pit than cleaning. Did this instead of renting so I could work at my own pace on the days I have time. The feed is great because I can be gathering more as this is chewing on the big stuff.
I've seen people use these for a few years to clear, then sell to by a tiller.

 

[Old Shas]

Don't make a decision before checking out the chippers offered by WoodMaxx dot com.
There are lots of youtube videos showing these 3-point tools in action.
I bought a backhoe attachment from WoodMaxx a year ago
and have used it hard to repair damage from last year's floods
as well as opening up new orchard space on this old avalanche site.
When the hoe arrived with a crushed hydraulic hose (shipping damage) the company supplied a replacement without blinking,
and they provided practical advice when I needed it.
I am so impressed that I ordered a WM-8H wood chipper yesterday!
Inquiries are usually answered by Tony, who is friendly and professional.
Good luck with your new chipper, whatever one you choose!

 

[Old Shas]

"No fuel costs. No hours on the tractor. No wear and tear on my body."

No costs to you, perhaps,
but the smoke and CO2 don't do your neighbours and the earth any favours.
The two main reasons I decided to buy a chipper are that I can no longer justify contributing to climate change
and that producing a valuable product (wood chips) seems better than producing heat and pollution.

 

[CobyRupert]

No costs to you, perhaps,
but the smoke and CO2 don't do your neighbours and the earth any favours.
The two main reasons I decided to buy a chipper are that I can no longer justify contributing to climate change
and that producing a valuable product (wood chips) seems better than producing heat and pollution.

I too thought about a Chipper vs. The Match on this basis.
I stayed with the The Match.
The Match and burning adds zero additional carbon to the environment that wasn’t already here.
The chipper adds the diesel fuel hydrocarbons that were drilled and brought up from below as additional CO2 into the environment in addition to the NO2 and NOx emissions that makes people cough.
Also, chips tend to degrade in anaerobic conditions which produces methane, which is a much worse greenhouse gas than CO2.
Well, that was my basis anyways.
It really is a complex question. It’s something we all should think about and I respect that you do.

 

[Old Shas]

"burning adds zero additional carbon to the environment that wasn’t already"
Not exactly.
It releases into the atmosphere
carbon which was sequestered in the wood.
It's true that running the tractor releases hydrocarbons.
I honestly don't know the numbers
to say which method releases more.
It will certainly be a less complicated equation
when we have electric powered tractors!

"chips tend to degrade in anaerobic conditions"
Another equation to consider.
Methane is definitely the worse greenhouse gas,
yet the wood mulch promotes soil micro life
(and today's soil needs all the help it can get!)
while adding to the soil's ability to retain water,
another increasingly important task
in these days of droughts and heavy rains.

I appreciate your thoughtful comments.

 

[Old Shas]

"chips tend to degrade in anaerobic conditions"

Ps -
woodchip mulch can suppress weeds
while promoting lots of photosynthesis,
which in turn sequesters more carbon
and supports biodiversity.

 

[CobyRupert]

"burning adds zero additional carbon to the environment that wasn’t already"
Not exactly.
It releases into the atmosphere
carbon which was sequestered in the wood.
It's true that running the tractor releases hydrocarbons.
I honestly don't know the numbers
to say which method releases more.
It will certainly be a less complicated equation
when we have electric powered tractors!

"chips tend to degrade in anaerobic conditions"
Another equation to consider.
Methane is definitely the worse greenhouse gas,
yet the wood mulch promotes soil micro life
(and today's soil needs all the help it can get!)
while adding to the soil's ability to retain water,
another increasingly important task
in these days of droughts and heavy rains.

I appreciate your thoughtful comments.

“carbon which was sequestered in the wood.” - yes, which eventually breaks down and cycled through the soil, atmosphere, and tree in a cycle as old as the trees are. Burning wood and brush adds no new carbon to that cycle, that sum. Chippers do.

“Methane is definitely the worse greenhouse gas,
yet the wood mulch promotes soil micro life
(and today's soil needs all the help it can get!)” - I guess I don’t rely on wood chip mulch for soil health. I use animal manure, but one could say they’re big methane producers too, ahh..the moral dilemmas.

Good point about how chips suppress plant growth, photosynthesis and diversity.

Comments appreciated.

 

[nisaacs]

When you are shopping for a chipper, I recommend a clam shell flywheel housing. The solid housings are kind of a pain changing knives with the little inspection covers. Also, if you ever plug up the chip chute/housing port (some are small) you got problems. Ponderosa pine with a heavy crop of needles can be problematic here. Look for one with a large tapered transition from the flywheel housing to the chip chute.

I am also a fan of the direct drive v/s the jackshaft/drive belt design. The draw back is, for maximum performance, a 1000 rpm pto is better. I don't chip over 3-4" so 540 works for me. If you don't have a rear remote, the self contained hydro systems are nice.

 

[sea2summit]

Kind of shocking how many posters with less than 10 posts seem to flock to chipper threads.

There are benefits to wood ash and benefits to chips...a good soil test will point to which is most beneficial to your soil. Now actually composting with other material woodchips hands down (if you have enough N in the other materials to break it down).

 

[Jimmyob]

All good input, thanks! Merry Christmas!

 

[Jimmyob]

Thank you all, merry Christmas!

 

[hosspuller]

For twenty two years, I burned the trimmings and downed wood. Anything 3 inches and over was firewood. Three years ago, I purchased a Woodland Mills wc-88 to run on a 40 pto tractor. I found using the chipper was much less effort than burning. Even with a tractor loader to transport trimmings to the burn area, the chipper was much less effort and time. The large infeed opening reduced cutting of hard crotches. while the hydraulic infeed eliminated cutting to length for transport. Like a lot of life decisions, I wish I'd have gotten a chipper earlier.

 

[skikir]

I just bought a Betstco FH-BX42 to run on my LS MT125 which has 24.7 HP and 17.5 hp at the PTO. They specify 15 HP for MINIMUM HP. It's their version of the WCBX42S. I haven't run it a lot but what testing I did it seems to handle up to 4" fine. I just got it a couple months ago and everything I would have chipped was already in the burn pile. But I'm ready for next year. 4" Self Feeding Wood Chipper, FH-BX42 | Betstco Sales, Parts, and Service:

 

[groundcover]

Got a Chinese PTO chipper years ago, but it was as tough as a sneaker. Spent more time working on it than chipping. Sent it away on Craig's list, best day ever. Talked a friend out of his Brush Bandit 250XP. 12" 8 horse Briggs and Stratton
Oh wait , 140 horsepower Cat ! Best day ever again !

 

[SJJIM]

Don't make a decision before checking out the chippers offered by WoodMaxx dot com.
There are lots of youtube videos showing these 3-point tools in action.
I bought a backhoe attachment from WoodMaxx a year ago
and have used it hard to repair damage from last year's floods
as well as opening up new orchard space on this old avalanche site.
When the hoe arrived with a crushed hydraulic hose (shipping damage) the company supplied a replacement without blinking,
and they provided practical advice when I needed it.
I am so impressed that I ordered a WM-8H wood chipper yesterday!
Inquiries are usually answered by Tony, who is friendly and professional.
Good luck with your new chipper, whatever one you choose!

100% agree on Woodmaxx. Great company. When I went to order the 9900 (made in the US) they said it would be months because they had a backlog of orders. When I happened to mention I had bought a flail mower from them not long before they bumped to the top of the line and I received the chipper in a couple of weeks. I use it with my LS XR4150 which is rated 40 hp at the pto so I am getting almost max capacity. The chipper works awesome, have no problem doing 6-7 inches logs, and the self feed is a must have. I can’t burn where I live so have to chip. I used to make several large piles of trimmings over the course of a year or so and call in someone to chip. Now I can do it myself and don’t have unsightly and dangerous piles laying around. Have about 20 hours on it now and estimate have paid off about 75% of the cost if I had brought in someone to do it.

 

[Sid Post]

I have used my friends Wallenstein chipper and that thing is a beast for a ~45HP gearbox. Chipped for three days straight once and it pulled pretty hard on a 4~5" branches but, everything shipped up well.

 

[RalphVa]

Hi guys, looking for a little help from this great well of knowledge. I'm looking to buy a wood chipper, I like the idea of 3 point attachment chipper. Titan has one for $2,300 that goes to 4". It's the WCBX42S.The manual says 35 PTO hp for maximum capacity and capability. My lx3310 is around 27 PTO hp. So I'm wondering if I'll lose efficiency. I'd have thought 540 is 540. My 5' brush hog runs around 2100 or so rpm at 540.
Also, does anyone think this is a good piece of equipment?
I also have the option of their tow behind, 5" chipper for $1,900 which looks like a good deal but it's one more motor to mess with.
Grateful for any input or recommendations, thank you all!

Had a McKissic TPH-122 chipper/shredder for 16 years. Replaced it with a WM WC46 about 6 years ago and have run it on a 1025R, 2025R and now B2601. These tractors all just loafed along at "5" setting on the hydraulic feed. Went to the WM unit because we no longer had a source of leaves to grind/shred and wanted a more horizontal input feed chute.

Had yet to rotate the 4 chipper blades. They're still sharp.

Think hp is proportional to the square root of wood diameter. I ran up to 3.5 inch with an 18.5 hp JD 4010 on the Mac. So, proportioning this up to 8 inches, you 27 hp will do 8 inches.

 

[Jimmyob]

Thanks! I'm 99% settled on the Woodmaxx WM8H. I'll yet y'all know how it performs for me. I really appreciate all the input and advice, love this site! Happy New Year!

 

[yubh8tn]

Wife and I ordered a Woodmaxx MX-8800 over the holiday and they shipped it out immediately and we have already used it and couldn't be happier with it.

 

[wyatt097]

Hi guys, looking for a little help from this great well of knowledge. I'm looking to buy a wood chipper, I like the idea of 3 point attachment chipper. Titan has one for $2,300 that goes to 4". It's the WCBX42S.The manual says 35 PTO hp for maximum capacity and capability. My lx3310 is around 27 PTO hp. So I'm wondering if I'll lose efficiency. I'd have thought 540 is 540. My 5' brush hog runs around 2100 or so rpm at 540.
Also, does anyone think this is a good piece of equipment?
I also have the option of their tow behind, 5" chipper for $1,900 which looks like a good deal but it's one more motor to mess with.
Grateful for any input or recommendations, thank you all!

what did you choose in the end? I m looking for a small pto wood chipper, I started another post here.