CHIPPERS

[Bird]

Looks like you did a lot of research. I haven't, since I can't afford one right now, but the last time I was in my Kubota dealer's place, I noticed a Bear Cat chipper in the showroom; it looked good to me, but I really don't know much about them.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Northern Tool has a couple in your power range, you can see one of them at http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=39793&prmenbr=6970

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Unless I am mistaken that chipper sold by Northern is the same as the Mackissic Inc chipper. I think they make it for Northern. I looked at an almost new Mackissic chipper mounted on an 8N. It is really a light duty machine and is designed to run much faster than 540 RPM (1000 would be better). It was very slow chipping at 540 RPM. If I remember correctly (2+ years ago) it only had 1 cutting edge mounted on a very light duty flywheel. The spindly little legs were bending where they attached to the chipper. The 3 PT mounts were so light duty they bent back and forth every time the 3 PT raised or lowered the chipper. They were all bent out of shape from this on the one I was looking at. The guy wanted $1000 and I would not have given him $100 for it and it was pretty new.

Andy

 

[MChalkley]

Andy - Good info. I'd forgotten about it, so thanks for reposting it. I'd recommend anything Danuser makes to anybody pretty much without seeing it, much less using it. Their stuff is very good. I even met Mr. Danuser himself at the Louisville Farm Show this year - very nice fellow. But I'd forgotten they make chippers. Sounds like they're pretty reasonably priced for the quality, which is very high, if Danuser builds it.

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I went through this a few years ago too and here's what I found.

The Bear Cat and Woods are identical chippers. I don't know who makes it for whom, but they are the same. It's a chipper/shreader so it's a good pick if you want the shreader. I didn't.

I looked at some of the higher-end chippers and they were beyond my price range (>$3000) or required a larger tractor (I have a B2400).

I settled on a Patu DC40. It's rated for 4" and has a manual feed. I've been VERY happy with it, even the manual feed. It really does a reasonable job of self-feeding, especially with the big wood. I've fed it all types of wood up the the biggest size I can get into it (which is more like 5") and it just chomps right through it. Truely amazing. It costs about $2600 new. I got mine used for $2200 if memory serves me.

There is also a DC 60 which is a 6" model.

Here's a link with info. Looks like there is a hydraulic feed model available too.

http://www.kesla.fi/eng/dc40mf.html