Chipper

[OldMcDonald]

I want to build a 3point hitched pto driven chipper. I have searched TBN to see if there was a thread about somebody else's build, but the result was a very long list of just about everything except chippers.

I only want to chip prunings below about 1" diameter. Anything bigger goes for firewood. The prunings are mainly from 500 olive trees so have a large quantity of leaves attached when pruned. There will be other prunings too, without leaves, and another 6-700 trees coming on within a couple of years. I have an electric Bosch garden chipper and that works well, but it obviously cannot cope with the quantity I have. I need a big feed in chute. I want pto so that I can dump the prunings where they will be chipped and take the chipper to the heaps. The chipped prunings will then be cultivated into the ground.

Anybody know of a self-build similar chipper? Even if not I would appreciate input from those who have experience of machines for bigger diameter chippers. Hammers, chains or knives to do the chipping?

 

[Stimw]

I had this one for a while. It had 8" capacity/chute with an 18 hp engine.
It had a 200 lb flywheel and used knives on it that went past an anvil with a .025 in. gap.
When running it would throw chips for over 25'.
It did a great job but loading anything but straight branches took some stuffing.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Thanks stimw. The Bosch uses knives and it does a great job on slightly bigger than the size of the prunings. Nice to know they work on big stuff too. As you say, the feed in of anything except straight branches seems to be a problem on all commercial machines. The sheer bulk of prunings from a few hundred olive trees means just about everybody in the world burns them. A great waste of organic matter and plant nutrients - most of which cost money in the form of fertiliser and irrigation.

 

[Mysfyt]

Were you considering to build it from scratch or adapting something to PTO driven. Reason I'm asking is if you are going to build it from scratch, you're going to need some fab equipment and access to a lathe. It would be a challenging project no doubt, probably why there is not much for info out there. Lots of pictures if you take it on!

 

[OldMcDonald]

Mysfyt, First an apology to TBN members. I have used the wrong terminology. Having done some more research, including finding an old TBN thread, I now realise that what I want is called a SHREDDER in USA, and not a chipper - possibly other places too.

I will be building from scratch. Although the Bosch I have makes a good enough job of the olive prunings (using knives) I am now inclined towards hammers.

 

[TractorGuy]

Not a home built but he goes into enough detail you can get some ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBieqy4SVmg

 

[CalG]

I want to build a 3point hitched pto driven chipper. I have searched TBN to see if there was a thread about somebody else's build, but the result was a very long list of just about everything except chippers.

I only want to chip prunings below about 1" diameter. Anything bigger goes for firewood. The prunings are mainly from 500 olive trees so have a large quantity of leaves attached when pruned. There will be other prunings too, without leaves, and another 6-700 trees coming on within a couple of years. I have an electric Bosch garden chipper and that works well, but it obviously cannot cope with the quantity I have. I need a big feed in chute. I want pto so that I can dump the prunings where they will be chipped and take the chipper to the heaps. The chipped prunings will then be cultivated into the ground.

Anybody know of a self-build similar chipper? Even if not I would appreciate input from those who have experience of machines for bigger diameter chippers. Hammers, chains or knives to do the chipping?

For 1 inch and less woody material you DO want a swinging hammer type SHREDDER, just as you have indicated in your follow up post.

For that MUCH material, I would build something with power feed rollers so you are not required to constantly urge the cross branches through the hopper.

Copy the MacKissick unit if you prefer light duty equipment. I run mine with 25kw pto drive which might be just OVER the design horsepower. The multi V drive belt failed recently.
Certainly any part can be strengthened. Dry material such as tree prunings exit the 25mm X 50 mm screen in useful format for bio amendments after a few months composting.

A blade type chipper might be useful, but I find I use the shredder 10:1 over the chipper fro "thumb sized" material.

MacKissic Inc.

 

[Mysfyt]

Mysfyt, First an apology to TBN members. I have used the wrong terminology. Having done some more research, including finding an old TBN thread, I now realise that what I want is called a SHREDDER in USA, and not a chipper - possibly other places too.

I will be building from scratch. Although the Bosch I have makes a good enough job of the olive prunings (using knives) I am now inclined towards hammers.

No problem! Still hope you post progress of your build with lots of pictures!

 

[chip_laugal]

Here is a site that shows how to build a gas powered chipper.

Steve Bedair's Wood Chipper

Hope that helps.

Chip

 

[City Farmer]

I just sold a chipper/shredder last Wednesday that would eat those branches without a problem. Anything under 1-1/4"dia. went in the shredder. 2 guys could feed that shredder as fast as they could move and it kept up with no problem. Toss 7' branch into the hopper from 2' away and it's gone instantly.