advice on PTO chipper

[brusew86]

There was a semi recent thread on PTO chippers. I read through that. My main question is on power feed vs gravity feed. I have only ever used power feed. My uncle has one for his 30hp ford and I have used it quite a bit. I don't recall who made it. He has had it for along time, probably 25 years. Anyway, I have a NH TC-45 and looking for a chipper just for stuff around the homestead, I probably wont even use it that much really. I do like to clean up If I scavange or take down a tree in my woods, but I would take everything 4" and over for firewood. IT seems you can get basic non power feed ones for around $1500. What are they like to feed? Do they vibratron the crap out of you as you feed it? Is it a lot of work to feed or does stuff kinda naturally self feed? Another grand gets a power feed woodmax, which everyone seems to be reasonably happy with. Just trying to decide if I should cheap out and save that grand.

Ethan

 

[Aquamoose]

You haven’t mentioned what you plan to chip but at 4”, you could easily do well with the Woodmax. I’m sure you’ve seen the reviews about them so that should say something about these machines, especially for occasional use.

Mine’s a non-hydraulic feed but it did well for my pine & fir but if you’ve got hardwood, it may be worth investing in one with a hydraulic feed version as it allows you to vary the feed rate. Once it grabs a branch, I let it go and move on to grab another branch to feed. Pretty much all chippers will vibrate when chipping. It’s just the nature of these machines anyway.

 

[RalphVa]

You can chip up to 3 1/2" in a MacKissic TPH-122. Have had one since about 2005. Just recently put new hammers on it and need to order a new chipper blade next time I change out to the spare because the one on it won't take another sharpening. So, I've used it a lot. So easy to work on. Feeds good when hammers and chipper blade are both fresh (can rotate the hammers 3 times to use all 4 sides; hammer rotation is about a 20 minute job vs. about a 1/2 day job on a Troybilt Tomahawk. Have had to replace the one (out of 4 total) shaft bearings that does not have a zerk. Again, that was an easy job. I've heater hose cut down the length and cemented around the top of the hoppers to protect my hands and arms. Still get some bruises (taking a blood thinner) when using it. More fun when working naked. Only way I use it but use full face shield and long gloves after having a hand pruner in a batch of leaves being kicked back at me.

It's a Cat 0 for tph but comes with bushings to use on Cat 1 or can get them at TSC.

Ralph

 

[RoyJackson]

For that occasional small chipping job, you might want to look at the Woods 5000 chipper/shredder.
I've had one of these for....well, probably 10 years.

 

[TerryR]

My main question is on power feed vs gravity feed. I have only ever used power feed. My uncle has one for his 30hp ford and I have used it quite a bit. I don't recall who made it. He has had it for along time, probably 25 years. Anyway, I have a NH TC-45 and looking for a chipper just for stuff around the homestead, I probably wont even use it that much really. I do like to clean up If I scavange or take down a tree in my woods, but I would take everything 4" and over for firewood.

I've used a manual feed chipper for occasional cleanup on our 12-acre property in the mountains of NC ever since we bought it 20 years ago. I'm now on my second one. I'm a big fan of manual feed for homeowners with occasional needs. They are cheaper than power feed and trouble-free.

What are they like to feed? Do they vibratron the crap out of you as you feed it? Is it a lot of work to feed or does stuff kinda naturally self feed?

They pretty well feed themselves if you keep the blades really sharp and trim of branches that are big enough to stop the feed. You will have to help feed if there are branches that resist letting the piece get into the blades. For that reason a larger opening is good, even if you don't intend to chip pieces that big (and you will from time to time want to chip something bigger when you find something too rotten to use for firewood, or something like pine you don't want to burn).

I find an few pieces that want to vibrate my hands but generally that's not an issue. I once in a while have to jerk out a solid piece that's on the upper end of chipping size because it lugs down my tractor engine, but not often.

Yes, after a few hours of chipping you know you've done something, but I'm now 76 and never have thought I was over-worked by it.

 

[747driver]

I have the WoodMax 8H. Great machine. The power feed was worth the extra cost as I use it 5/6 times a year living in the forest. It also saves my shoulder and back from having to yank on jammed limbs !! I paid $3200 2 yrs ago.

 

[mark02tj]

I sold my self feed Bearcat and bought a hydraulic feed Woodmaxx.

Two issues I had with the self feed. First, if there was a "Y" branch, you typically had to either trim those branches or force them through the opening. With the brush I have around here, I had a LOT of "Y"s so I spent a lot of time just getting the material ready to chip.

The second issue was with chipping larger stuff. I don't burn wood here, so I probably chip larger stuff than you might. As mentioned by someone else, the self feed will usually pull stuff right into the blades. But, if you have larger material, it will pull that stuff in quickly and stall the chipper. So, I had to either try and hold on to the material and feed it a little at a time or I had to cut the larger stuff into smaller lengths and feed them one at a time. With the hydraulic feed I can easily adjust the feed rate to match the material. So feeding a 20' long, 4" tree in one shot isn't unheard of. Plus, there's a lot less trimming since it will pull in all of the "Y" branches as it feeds.

If you're just using it a time or two a year and feeding smaller stuff, save the $1000. If you have a lot of "branchy" stuff, spend the extra money and get the hydraulic feed. And, if you're chipping bigger stuff too, really spend the extra money and get the WoodMaxx 9900!!

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have a BearCat manual feed 5" chipper shredder. I agree 100% with what TerryR says. And keeping the blades sharp can't be emphasized to much.



gg

 

[mikester]

If you can afford it go hydraulic power feed and get one with a swivel chute turner. Avoid the Chinese aux. belt drive mechanical feeder units unless you plan on retrofitting it or like stopping every 15 minutes to fix it.

I find with the manual feed ones need you to cut up the brush into smaller pieces. i.e. you have to remove branches from the logs

Is anyone interested in a blog on cheap Chinese chipper mods?

I retrofitted an 8inch mechanical power feed PTO chipper to hydraulic feed, added a swivel chute turner, guarding mods,...

 

[Code54]

Having owned both a top quality manual feed and a Woodmaxx Hydro, I can truly say the hydro is worth every dollar!
The manual machine just grabs stuff and sucks it in, twigs and little junk can be hard to get through the machine. I also found that wet wood with leaves was tough as it would clog as it sucks it in faster than it can discharge it.
The hydro takes it in at a controlled rate, if you are feeding big stuff (like 5" hardwood) you can easily stop it if you have a smaller machine and it is bogging the tractor. Also if you get a weird twisted piece that does not fit down the feed shoot and sort of jambs at the blades, pull the level for the hydro feed and it reverses and kicks the jam back out. This is a HUGE help and time saver. Around here we have a lot of limbs that twist and branch off in all directions and with the hydro feed it is MUCH easier and quicker as well as requiring a lot less trimming.
The other thing is get the biggest chipper you can as a 4" chipper won't chip much unless everything is shaped like a broom handle!