Fastest PTO Stump Grinder on the market?

Maplechuck · Mar 28, 2021

I mentioned this in an earlier thread that I recently bought 224 acres that I’m trying to do some land clearing on, and taking a previous red pine plantation (7-10 acres) and converting to pasture/something mowable (at least for now) because if I dont get to it soon it’ll become an usable mess of thick beech saplings and brambles.

I looked at a PTO forestry mulcher have decided against it. Can’t justify the $20k price tag and it still isn’t quite the right tool for the job. Instead I’m hiring it out (right now five days of work) to a guy who offers a very reasonable $1,430/day and one-time $200 setup fee and should obviously do a much better job than I ever could.

However, I still want something that can take care of stumps and will make full use is of my tractor‘s 64 PTO horsepower. I’m looking at the Baumalight 3P34 (3 Point Hitch PTO Stump Grinders|3P34 - Baumalight). This is the biggest one I can find, with a 100hp gearbox. It requires 2 remotes, but works with one and I could jerry-rig a solution (I’m getting a tractor with only one set of remotes, but if I wanted to wait another week or two they can install a second for about another $1k). Does anyone have experience with this unit?

Anyone with experience tackling a lot of stumps; how fast can you chew through a 12-16” pine stump? under the right conditions, can you get it down to only a couple minutes where you can just go down the line, one after another?

At about $7,300 it’s kinda pricey, but I’m willing to pay if it means performance, efficiency and time savings.

Captain Dirty · Mar 28, 2021

In addition to Baumalight, Shaver, Quick-Attach, and probably others make (or sell) PTO stump grinders with wheels in the 36" range that would match your PTO power. QA for sure and probably others have an add-on that gives 2 remotes for swing and height downstream of a single rear remote. There may be a premium for the set-up. OTOH having more remotes on the tractor and paying only once may make more sense. I believe you said "What's another $1K on a $50K tractor?"

Piston, a TBN contributor from NH, has made positive comments on whatever 30-36" grinder he has. Search "Tractor by Net Stump Grinders" using Google for the threads.

I do note some boulders poking up in one of your photos. It may be worthwhile to go around a couple of stumps with a pickaxe to see if you would have to semi-excavate the stumps before grinding. Everybody seems to agree that grinders don't like rocks. How is your mulching contractor doing on rocks? (I suspect he is unlikely to go below grade.)

Steppenwolfe · Mar 28, 2021

I just bought this Land Pride stump grinder. Smaller at 24 inches and paid 5K; after that it looks pretty much the same kind of set up. I'm like you, I figured I'd have half that amount into someone else, so... why not pay myself and keep it. I run it on my MX 5400. Works very well once you are past the learning curve. BTW, it goes 10 inches below soil level.

Industrial Toys · Mar 28, 2021

If you demand performance. Why not buy a used high performance (dedicated) machine? Dedicated machines are ALWAYS the most efficient.

I once bought this Municipal machine (cheap) that could do a six foot stump without repositioning the entire machine. Chewed a ton of stumps and sold it at a nice profit. Maybe twenty years later.

It was also just a really cool machine to operate!

My biggest obstacle to speed here was stones, and why I bought this machine with a corded remote control, so you can see EXACTLY what your cutter is doing.

Hay Dude · Mar 28, 2021

Just a side note-I’d get a second set of remotes. You will thank me later.
Your land clearing expert should have no problem grinding the smaller stumps out. Anything he cuts down with a mulcher can also get an acceptable stump grinding. The mulcher has teeth designed to grind down into the dirt. At least the one I use does, and does a great job. I did some 10” stumps with ease.
*IF* you are ok with the stump being 1-3” below the dirt. Some customers want them ground even deeper.
Ask

Maplechuck · Mar 28, 2021

Steppenwolfe said:
I just bought this Land Pride stump grinder. Smaller at 24 inches and paid 5K; after that it looks pretty much the same kind of set up. I'm like you, I figured I'd have half that amount into someone else, so... why not pay myself and keep it. I run it on my MX 5400. Works very well once you are past the learning curve. BTW, it goes 10 inches below soil level.

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This is very interesting. Much like the baumalight I was looking at, albeit a slightly smaller rotor. I saw this in the land pride brochure but I think I’ll purchase the stump grinder as a later add-on addition.

About how fast are you able to grind a 12-16” stump, or how many stumps could you grind in about 4 hours or so of working? The stumps I’m looking were all cut by a feller buncher, so theyre fairly low to the ground (some as low as 4-6”).

Much of this large clearing I’ll be hiring out. I’m looking for something that will allow me to slowly whack away at other (smaller) areas over the next 3-5 years--small enough that it doesn’t make financial sense to hire out. I know there will be a lot of this. not just for land clearing either, but removing stumps for trails and such throughout the property. I’m also trying to figure out how successful a good PTO stump grinder could be (under ideal conditions), and as such is it worth paying $5-7k for the larger model compared to the entry-level $2k models that’s basically just a rotor off the 3pt hitch.

Steppenwolfe · Mar 28, 2021

Just the other day I knocked out two Butternut stumps that were right at 16" at ground level. About 30 minutes for the two. The more you do the faster you get. It is hard on the neck though...

LouieJunior · Mar 29, 2021

I have a shaver model PTO Stump Grinder. You'll want two remotes and a swivel seat. Each of your pine stumps should take less than 5 minutes.

Maplechuck · May 11, 2021

Just wanted to bump up and update this thread, as I went ahead and bought Baumalight 3P34 from my local Kubota dealer with my new tractor (M7060 HD12). It was delivered this past Saturday and I finally got it hooked up and running this afternoon.

It’s an absolute brute. With very limited experience and time spent with my new tractor so far--and literally zero time spent stump grinding until today--i was still able to knock out decent sized red pine stumps in about 3 minutes each. Once I get more used to working the remotes and a better awareness of where I need to initially position the grinder/tractor to be most effective I imagine I’ll see some real efficiencies. I couldnt be more pleased with how its working out so far (and by that I mean about 10 stumps and less than 40 minutes in the seat).

The only frustrating part was getting the PTO shaft hooked up. Its a much beefier shaft than my rotary cutter, and the structure of the grinder makes the PTO very difficult to access. I had to have my dad help me, but with two people it was relatively easy.