Stump Grinder (Vermeer SC130)

[legbuh]

Hey all!

I have been clearing my lot of overgrown trees and shrubs for a few years and would like to tackle some stumps.

I found a Vermeer SC130 walk behind on CL for about 2k. It's about 3 years old and in "great" shape.

From all the reading I've been doing on them, they seem to work ok for smaller stuff, but give you a workout when using. I'm not opposed to that, but I also don't want to get done with 5 stumps and tire out.

Anyone have any practical experience with this machine? There are a couple others for about the same price.. a bluebird and a dosko. Similar setup with a 13hp motor. But I can't find anything on those lines.

I have found this vermeer is really just a rebranded praxis model, though. But I've never had problems with honda motors (which it has).

I'd say I have in total about 50-80 stumps right now to grind. Mostly in the 8-10" range. I have a couple larger ones too. They're all about 2-3 years old and only a couple inches above ground.

Thanks for any insight.

PS, I don't want to rent... I'd rather buy since I can then do it at my lesiure and I will have more come fall when I start felling more trees/overgrown shrubs.

 

[Sackett2]

I THINK, because i haven't directly used this grinder that it will do well. Now 8-10 inches are easy stumps IMO, when I have rented grinders, it has been for 2' stumps. I think that it MAY wear you out anyway, wrestling them things around isn't easy; but it the best option. I would LOVE to have that unit. Like having a small chainsaw, not something you want for the bigstuff, but will do fine on the little stuff.

 

[OKnewguy]

I have rented stump grinders numerous times. the first time i rented a walk behind similar to that vemeer. It is okay, but it totally kicks your rear. I would pick it up late Fri, and have it all weekend. I would grind about 20 to 30 stumps and it would take ALL weekend, and it would completely wear me out. The last few times I have rented the full hydraulic units. These things are great. I can do the same amount of work in 4 to 6 hours. I think you could rent a full hydraulic unit and completely finish your job in a weekend and only cost $250 or so.
Food for thought, and good luck, Dave

 

[Chilly807]

I've used the Bluebird one before. All I can say is, be sure the carbide cutters are sharp, and that you have a source of spares.

We ground 3 smaller stumps 8-10 inch maple, and one big bast***, 5 stumps from one central one. It took us all day, nearly killed us AND the grinder, and produced 7 wheelbarrow loads of chips. The cutters were dull, some had the carbide missing. According to Home Dumpot, this is normal condition. Yeah.. right.

I'd seek professional help.. :laughing:

Sean

 

[schmism]

they dont seem very complicated....

ive seen a used one popup on CL over the past few years.... price is usually 2-3K

Worksaver 3-Pt Mounted Stump Grinder, 26" Cut'g Wheel!! - eBay (item 330349655290 end time Sep-27-10 10:11:54 PDT)

 

[foggy1111]

You dont say where your from....or if these are hardwood or softwood stumps....or if you have a tractor to mount a grinder to.

In the past two years I have rented two self propelled grinders to eliminate about 600 stumps....all pine and all from 8 to 14" diameter or so.

I am tired of renting too (bad teeth, a few break-down issues, and the need to do things at MY leisure....as you point out).

I just purchased a Woods TSG50 to fit on my 3 point. It cost me $3500. plus tax.....NEW from the dealer. I am still waiting for delivery...but from what I have read this Woods or the Worksaver pic above would get my vote.

The Woods (at $3500 has the Sandvick cutter teeth and wheel....and a FIVE year warranty on the gear box and such....so these are a GREAT deal IMO. (All you hear about the Sandvick wheel and teeth are GLOWING reports. Same goes for the Woods brand....they don't make bad stuff.)

The self-propelled route or the tractor mounted grinders wont kick your butt like the walkies.....IMHO. And....judging from what I have seen.....you would not have any problems selling em again when you are thru.

BTW....fill out your profile!! It would be LOTS easier to give advice to you if your location and tractor or equipment used were known.

 

[Richard]

What if instead, you rented a backhoe? Might be far more fun than wrestling a grinder, you can make sure to get the entire stump out.

You might even be able to 'pop' a stump out without much digging (depending on the stump and tree type)

In case that is confusing.... I can sometimes go to a stump and put the hoe bucket to it. Upon "pulling" the bucket towards me above ground, the stumps will sometimes simply rock out of their position and pop up.

I'm not suggesting they all do this. I've also had a stump where I spent three hours on it digging away (was my first ever stump and I had no idea of how to do it).

Now, I could probably take a 30" oak tree stump out in maybe 30 minutes as long as I don't have other trees or sidewalk nearby that I need to be aware of.

You might catch the backhoe bug and decide it's more fun than you can stand!!

:thumbsup:

Edit: I'm referring to an industrial backhoe not a Terramite or something small

 

[schmism]

What if instead, you rented a backhoe?

My woods 7500 backhoe (3pt) cost me 3K off of CL. So the same money as 3pt mounted stump grinder and certainly comes with many more uses.

 

[foggy1111]

Have you guys ever dug out 600 stumps? (Or, how about 100??) And where is your stump pile? Oh...and how much did PB cost you?

I rest my case.

A self propelled 25 hp grinder (vermeer or rayco) can easily do 100 8" to 14" stumps a day....IF they are pine. I'd love to watch you dig 'em out and pile-em-up like that in a head-to-head competition....lol. You'd have one heckava pile....plus you'd have a mine-field to repair. Not so with the grinder! After running the loader bucket over em and a disc.....POOF!! GONE!!

I couldn't resist adding this. I rest my case.....page II.

 

[AlanB]

Have you guys ever dug out 600 stumps? (Or, how about 100??) And where is your stump pile? Oh...and how much did PB cost you?

I rest my case.

A self propelled 25 hp grinder (vermeer or rayco) can easily do 100 8" to 14" stumps a day....IF they are pine. I'd love to watch you dig 'em out and pile-em-up like that in a head-to-head competition....lol. You'd have one heckava pile....plus you'd have a mine-field to repair. Not so with the grinder! After running the loader bucket over em and a disc.....POOF!! GONE!!

I couldn't resist adding this. I rest my case.....page II.

I think your tag line sums it up foggy.

Anyway, to the OP, you may consider a backhoe or similar as then the stump is truly "out", yes, you then have to deal with the hole, but there are issues when you grind as well.

With a large track hoe, we have walked through burying the stumps, basically dig a hole beside, and roll the large stumps in and then smear the dirt back over everything.

With my stuff here I tend to pull the stumps, pile them up in a line and then cover them as I usually want a berm or what I call golf course mounds around anyway to pile them up.

If you do want your own stump grinder, I have been eying the DR, I think they are right at 2K on sale at the moment, I would need to look for the flyer and they have some length of trial run on them (I think 6 months) that may be another consideration.

I have run the tow behind units as well as the self propelled large driven units and you can certainly move through some stumps, but I have not run one of the small lawn mower sized ones, It is something no-one in our group has and we have spoke about getting one, but right now one of the guys has a tow behind (about a 60 horse Vemeer) so he just does that work for us. One of the little ones would be handy at times though

Good luck clearing, I have been playing on my new land, but the 135 or so hp Cat 953c trackavator makes 8" and under trees just jump out of the ground It is good to have friends with big toys:thumbsup:

Dang it is fun doing that.

 

[Richard]

Have you guys ever dug out 600 stumps? (Or, how about 100??)

I'm probably around 50

And where is your stump pile? Oh...and how much did PB cost you?

Perhaps I'm lucky, I have burned all of mine. Those that do not burn the first time are almost sure to be gone during the next burn session. Today, my burn pile location has the remains of a single tree there, waiting my next burn.

I've got no idea what PB is so I can't respond to that.

I rest my case.

A self propelled 25 hp grinder (vermeer or rayco) can easily do 100 8" to 14" stumps a day....IF they are pine. I'd love to watch you dig 'em out and pile-em-up like that in a head-to-head competition....lol. You'd have one heckava pile....plus you'd have a mine-field to repair. Not so with the grinder! After running the loader bucket over em and a disc.....POOF!! GONE!!

Perhaps they are gone however... having taken some stumps down to the ground, I now have some depressions or holes or in one location, a haven for hornets to nest in the ground (or were they yellow jackets?) Regardless... won't you invite 100 depressions/holes when you do not take the entire stump out? I know that is what I have had here (we did have a bunch taken down once with a 'professional grinder service'. My experience has been by merely 'hiding' the stump a couple inches below the ground only invites booby traps later on as the stump decomposes. They did this years ago out in the field and now when I cut the field I have to watch out for the depressions. I'm now going so far as to bring in some dirt to fill them back up.


I couldn't resist adding this. I rest my case.....page II.

Perhaps there is no clear cut right/wrong answer. I know that in my circumstances, I'd much rather dig them out, burn them and be rid of the situation once and for all. In that light I also "rest my case"

It might be more work but it's more work once and then done forever. :thumbsup: Besides.... I can guarantee you that I get a LOT more fun out of working on my hoe then I would doing the same job with a grinder!

 

[foggy1111]

Perhaps there is no clear cut right/wrong answer. I know that in my circumstances, I'd much rather dig them out, burn them and be rid of the situation once and for all. In that light I also "rest my case"

It might be more work but it's more work once and then done forever. :thumbsup: Besides.... I can guarantee you that I get a LOT more fun out of working on my hoe then I would doing the same job with a grinder!

Don't get me wrong....I would love to own a backhoe too. BUT....after I dug about two trenches I think I would be looking for things to do with my hoe...just like you boys. :laughing:

Grinding stumps with a good attachment is not a "bad day" as you describe. I grind mine to about 8" below the surface and can run my disc or tiller over the area to grow stuff the next day. Its not messy, dirty or hard on the tractor. It's kinda fun and truly the quicker way to get things done with pine stumps....permanently....IMO. (not sure about hardwoods....I don't have any to grind)

When I need to dig something with a hoe....I'm gonna rent a mini excavator for a 1/2 day....and accomplish something. :licking:

So.....Touche!! (and enjoy your hoe). It's all good.

 

[legbuh]

Wow, didn't see this thread has been going so long.

I'm in southern MN. I actually tried to get the Vermeer, but it sold the day I emailed. Found another Praxis but it was too far away. Then I found a bluebird that was bought new, and never used. We settled on 2.2k (the same price as the DR that I looked at, but 2x the HP). Going to pick it up wednesday if the roads are open (major flooding here).

The stumps are a mix of pine/cedar and some random other medium to soft wood. My biggest job is a row of some kind of russian something or other bush that was way overgrown (close to 20 feet high, and 15 feet wide) on a fence line (both sides of a chain link fence). Took me 2 years to clear out, and now I want to grind the stumps and remove the fence. So I would assume they are soft after a couple years of sitting there dead (yes, I put tordon RTU on the stumps after cutting.)

Once that's done, and the fence is out, I'm gonna box blade the entire area, the till it up, then reseed grass.

Once that is done, I have about 30 other stumps to start tackling that are again older and softer woods. Next time I do a job like that I won't cut so low to the ground and maybe after a couple years I can push them out with the bucket on my BX1860 (no backhoe.. sorry!)

I don't mind wrestling with it. After cutting those shrubs out and hauling the crap to the burn pile, anything is easy. lol. And I'm not afraid of a little work.

Once I have the grinder I plan on ordering extra teeth as well.

 

[legbuh]

Got the grinder today. In great shape. Teeth were a little corroded but unused. STarts and runs first pull. Greased and lubed everything, checked oil, added sea foam to a fresh tank of gas, and hopefully I'll be grinding one day soon.

 

[foggy1111]

Good to hear! Be sure to give us a report on how it works for you. :thumbsup:

 

[legbuh]

Well, the grinder works amazingly well!

I quickly found all the stumps I had to grind were hard as a rock. I was getting mainly sawdust and small pieces of wood when grinding with the Bluebird. But it ground them out very quick.

I started small one day and did about 5 or 6 stumps. The next time I started at 1pm and by 5:30 had a whole row of about 30 stumps done ranging from 6" to 12". These were the russian olive overgrown bush things. The stumps were hard as steel it seemed.. lol.

Once I got a rhythm going, there was no stopping me. I even had one neighbor drive by when I Started, and they came back when I Was finishing and were very suprised how much I got done.

Yes, wrestling the machine around is a little work but not bad... and I get to skip my workouts after doing that all day... lol

I have about 18 stumps left to do then I can box blade, till, and be ready for grass seed before the first snow. I may even start taking down a few more trees (thankfully they're pine) and do a little more cleaning up of the yard...

So, in the end, I'm glad I actually ended up with the bluebird instead of the vermeer since it has actual replacable teeth. And it was brand new (although sat for 2 years). The first time I ran it to stump grind, all that "new oil" and paint was burning off. lol...