ponytug
Super Member
I agree with @oosik. For about eight years, I have had a Woodmaxx TM 86H, driven by 22-25HP PTO (15gpm @3000psi input power to a hydraulic motor turning the PTO shaft.) Soft wood never clogs it, and almost never stalls it, but you do have to throttle down the feed rate for a 6" log. Dry hardwood, e.g. oak, is, at least in my hands, a "feed carefully" at the 3-4" range. Long twigs (e.g. bay suckers) can occasionally clog it, if I am feeding heavily, but not often.
I watched someone use the same chipper hooked up to a tractor with 70HP at the PTO, and nothing stopped it, even at high feed rates. As @oosik says power makes a difference.
I get 15-20X reduction volume for branches, much less for solid limbs, but overall it is a huge win for me for reducing fire risk, and providing needed mulch.
Aligning and sharpening the blades is straightforward to me. The anvil is adjustable, but I haven't needed to do it.
I used to rent ($4-600/day) self powered chippers, which at 100-200HP, are much faster and more capable than my TM-86H. I figure that the chipper paid for itself in about six or eight uses, even discounting for taking longer to process wood. But the price a heavily used chipper of that capability around here was easily 4-6 times what I paid for the Woodmax.
YMMV.
All the best,
Peter
I watched someone use the same chipper hooked up to a tractor with 70HP at the PTO, and nothing stopped it, even at high feed rates. As @oosik says power makes a difference.
I get 15-20X reduction volume for branches, much less for solid limbs, but overall it is a huge win for me for reducing fire risk, and providing needed mulch.
Aligning and sharpening the blades is straightforward to me. The anvil is adjustable, but I haven't needed to do it.
I used to rent ($4-600/day) self powered chippers, which at 100-200HP, are much faster and more capable than my TM-86H. I figure that the chipper paid for itself in about six or eight uses, even discounting for taking longer to process wood. But the price a heavily used chipper of that capability around here was easily 4-6 times what I paid for the Woodmax.
YMMV.
All the best,
Peter