Chipper Recommended Chipper Suggestions

[m2kopp]

We have a Deere 4400 compact tractor, 35 HP, 28.5 hp at the PTO. We are in the market for a well built, durable, PTO chipper. Our use is residential as we live on 20 acres and will use the chipper for frequent chipping of pruned planted laurel hedges, birch trees, rhodies, etc, as well as numerous young alders, hemlock, cedar and fir limbs/branches. And of course the occasional huge task of cleaning up after the really big windstorm. Our desire is to be able to chip without having to prune or use a chainsaw to hack into smaller pieces in order to feed. We definitely will be going with hydraulic feed.

We have been evaluating the Bearcat CH9540, 9x9 feed opening, the Salsco 627XT, or 826, or the Valby 160 or 170. Valby does not have a local dealer in the Seattle area but is having a 40% off msrp sale. Salsco and Bearcat have a local dealer but are offering only a modest discount off msrp. From reading previous posts all manufacturers produce a good product...we just need some assistance in getting it 'right' to our needs.

As these are not try before you buy products we welcome any feedback or suggestions. Thanks!!

 

[rdbrumfield]

I have a 9inch hyd feed bearcat. I can tell you that you are going to be using a chainsaw for delimbing even with hyd feed. I run mine with a 50hp jd and it is barely enough for anything over 4inches unless you control the feed speed. I did cut my chute back a bit. With cedar limbs it would plug at times. Taking about 8inches off really helped.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have a densely wooded 13 acre parcel (about 7,000 trees). I did a fair amount of research on this before buying a chipper. The 9" Bearcat seems a little stout for pruning.

I bought a Wallenstein BX-42, they also make a BX-62 (4 and 6" respectively) with, or without hydraulic feed. I saw one without the hydraulic feed in action and decided I didn't need that option. After 20 or hours of use I am quite satisfied. It certainly is well built. I have had zero problems so far. I also use wood heat, so anything bigger than 3" is going to be burned. Bearcat and Salco makes equally good machines. I don't know anything about Valby.

I try to minimize using my chainsaw, but you sometimes have those stout branches at 90 Degrees to the branch that you are cutting, that require a chainsaw.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Since you are in the Seattle area check out Issaquah Honda Kubota. Let them Demo what they have there. I am a big fan of my commercial Vermeer tow behind 6" chipper. It has the hydraulic feed which governs the motor to stop feeding for a moment if the RPM's drop.
As mentioned in other post even with a 6" or 9" opening branches that stick out at angles may still need to be sawed off.

 

[CharlieR]

I own a Salsco 8416, self contained chipper/trailer with the hydraulic auto feed system and am really happy with it.
I happen to live about one hour away from the factory but have only gone back for blade sharpening.
They are nice people to deal with and build very good products.

 

[GE222]

I looked at buying a used Vermeer 6". I was all set to buy one when a 6" Morbark unit became available. The Vermeer is a nice machine, but the Morbark 2060 cyclone has a feed opening that is about twice as wide with the same 6" capacity. I got the Morbark unit from a rental shop that used both brands. He said that both machines chewed up about the same, but people often got tree limbs stuck in the Vermeer, while the Morbark machine never had that issue. The Morbark has seems to be a stronger built unit as well.

With regard to the original post, my unit has a 25 hp Kohler twin. With auto hydraulic feed, it works pretty well up to around 4" limbs. It is rated for 6". I rarely put anything larger than 2" or so as larger wood goes for firewood.

I have several close friends who will cut up and remove wood for free to be used for firewood, which means that all I have to deal with is the heavy brush.

The Morbark unit is around 2200lbs so it can easily be moved with a pickup.

I originally wanted a larger unit, but I have to say that I am really happy with mine.

 

[ayelvington]

I have the Wallenstein BX-42 too, and I'm very happy with it. I have mine on a smaller tractor than yours, and it has chewed through 4" stock very well. It's from eastern Canada, so that may add some shipping charges.

One thing that I liked about the Wallenstein is that the steerable deflector chute is standard with their chippers; others consider a moveable deflector an option.

I don't think you would be disappointed.

 

[daveinnh]

We have a Salsco 627 XT - 6" capacity w/ hyd. feed mounted on our Kubota L4310HST. I wouldn't mount on a much smaller tractor though - 1,000 lbs. hanging 5ft. off the back of 3PTH is pretty heavy. Try one of the chippers on yours and drive thru the woods before purchasing.

The chipper works fine and the feed tray lifts easily. When shopping, I recall that the Wallenstein tray was verrry heavy (for transport mode) and the some-what higher tray angle (need to lift brush higher).

A neighor has a Valby that is well made, but he doesn't have hyd. feed and after blades get a liitle dull, he has to push brush in.

Regarding your woodlot, any chipper will clog when feed 100% dead logs and branches. You have to blend in any dead with green so the chipper can thru it out. Have your vendor demonstrate how to clean out. The Salsco is OK, Valby somewhat easier, but haven't tried others.


Above all, don't chip when after you become tired and wear safety glasses!!

 

[Dead Horse]

I have a valby dual stage that I run on the back of my Kubota 3710. It is an ANIMAL!

Set the feed art the4 rigt speed and it will pull anything in......beech tree limbs 4" plus... straight stock up to 8". turns it all into mulch......

great machine and easy to maintain. bsed on yout description og use you will get several lifetimes of use out of it.

Mine works like a rented mule.. is in my avatar picture...... here are som e more.

 

[Oldchuck]

Mine works like a rented mule.. is in my avatar picture.

Huh? Didn't know mules chewed up brush.

I have a Salsco with the hydro feed and run it off my L4400. Have not had it hesitate once it gets a bite. However it does not like crooked branches which tend to jam either in the hydro rollers or at the knives. Plugs up occasionally but not too badly. Probably about the same deal as any quality chipper. Don't really need the variable speed much but it can be useful.

My biggest issue is that the tractor waddles like a duck with that thing on the back. It carries the load okay but unbalances the tractor. Can't really use the tractor for anything else when it's on. That thing is heavy. Once you set the chipper on the ground it is fine.

 

[RoyJackson]

...
My biggest issue is that the tractor waddles like a duck with that thing on the back. It carries the load okay but unbalances the tractor. Can't really use the tractor for anything else when it's on. That thing is heavy. Once you set the chipper on the ground it is fine.

You need more front ballast. If you have a loader, make sure it's on the tractor. If the loader is installed, put some weight in the bucket.

I have a Woods 5000 I bought used. This one is a chipper/shredder. Although rated for 6", that only applies if the branch is darn near arrow straight, so 4" is more realistic.
The shredder is really handy for brush and twigs.
I like the Woods and got it for the right price. For my twice or 3 times annual usage, it's great. But it doesn't have a blower (chips fall under the unit) so I keep a fire rake handy to clear them out.
But if I had the OP's acreage and the funds, I'd go for that Valby 170 unit. They are really nice! Hydraulic feed adds a lot of weight and dollars though.

 

[nickmech]

I am also checking out a chipper for my B3030. It is definately an exspensive implemant to buy. Is it worth the investment for the job I now do for free, which is burning?
Burning is not an issue where I live except during dry summer season. But burning is a pain in the neck and takes a lot of time. The neighbor doesn't like the smoke and being the earth muffin I am probably is not good for the enviroment. Is it faster to chip than burning? I have a lot of trees and brush to clear and would get good usage from a chipper. Is a shredder needed if chipping a lot of fir branches with needles?

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Chippers will save a lot of time over burning or moving branches from point A to point B. They are an expensive item to buy as you mentioned. But the amount of time I save on a tree job makes up for it. Unless you get a pretty large chipper they can clog up on green stuff if it is too thick. After a bit of a learning curve you just learn how to feed the branches in slower or to have a stick to jam them in. (NOT YOUR HANDS!)

 

[ayelvington]

I have a Wallenstein BX-42 on my Kubota BX-24 and it's a match made in heaven! I pruned some wild apple trees in a field today and chipped the cuttings underneath them to feed them for the new year. The chipper really rocks, and it's like throws the chip like a firehose. Highly recommended!

 

[RoyJackson]

I have a Wallenstein BX-42 on my Kubota BX-24 and it's a match made in heaven! I pruned some wild apple trees in a field today and chipped the cuttings underneath them to feed them for the new year. The chipper really rocks, and it's like throws the chip like a firehose. Highly recommended!

Nice chipper...love that Deere green paint!

 

[joecdeere]

They are very handy tools, however everyone in the area will now be your friend!
I bought this Vermeer about 8 years ago, after my tractor it is the best toy I've ever bought. I like the PTO drive ones, but its nice to have the tractor free to pull more brush in while someone else chips.

 

[texas42]

I have a Wallenstein BX42 chipper on a JD 2320.
Very well made chipper, works great and not that heavy.

 

[Erik Graham]

I've had a BX 42 for about 3 years and have been running it on my Ford NAA. The chipper is well built and well designed. With an opening (at the cutter) of 4" x 10" I find it's pretty good at sucking in the smaller stuff, which cuts down on the amount of trimming needed. I also like the fact that the hopper is hinged and by removing 2 nuts you can swing it vertically and lock it into place in the upright position. Doesn't sound like a big deal but if you are a bit tight for storage space it shaves a couple of feet off the overall length. I regularly am chipping cedars and do have to watch the feed rate if there are a lot leafy branches going in. Never had any problem with maple, apple,poplar and punky fence rails.

I had rented a hydraulic feed chipper before I bought this one and the main advantage that I could see is that you can set the feed in rate to be slower than a self feeding machine. That does cut down on the clogging that can happen with chipping of trees like cedar.

 

[galen1115]

I also have a Wallenstein B42. Great machine. I love using it. Just pull up to the tree that fell and start chipping. I have it on a New Holland TC33D which is 33 horse and 29 at the PTO. I have never bogged it down. You really don't need to waste your money on a feed option. I thought I wanted it to, but everyone I talked to (salesmen) they said don't get it! I waited until the farm equipment show came to town. Made a deal right at the show because the dealer didn't want to haul it home. They are more money than some chippers but they are well built and well designed. This is one of the best attachments I have and enjoy using. After your done, you you feel like you have done something. You know, you cleaned up a mess. I now have to apply for a burn permit and it takes two weeks to get. A real pita! I'd save up a big brush pile and was very unsightly. Then if conditions finally got right, I'd burn but you also have to tend, babysit the darn fire. Sometimes hours. Within 30 minutes, I've got the limbs cleaned up and the chipper back in the barn.

 

[nuffer460]

Like joecdeere said, You'll have neighbors come and talk to you and want to be your friend. The chippers are exspensive. The best secret is keeping a couple of extra set of blades ready to go. Sharpen them after your done. They beat burning hands down.