Stump Grinding

foggy1111 · Jan 10, 2009

How many hours will I spend to grind about 200 stumps to about 4 to 6 inches below the ground??

As soon as the ground thaws out here (April I hope) I plan to rent a VERMEER STUMP GRINDER from the local rental yard. The model they have is self propelled and sweeps hydraulically ...but I am unsure of the model number (SC252 ??).

The trees are all red pine and have been sheared off by the timer company before I bought the property...about three years ago. Most are about 4" above the ground and vary in diameter from about 8" to 14". The ones I want to grind are mostly along my trails....so they are fairly easy to access and mostly lined up...from one to another (plantation).

I am also concerned with issues about the teeth. Do teeth break or become dull if operated in too much soil? (my ground is all sandy loam) Is replacement a big factor? I am told the carbide teeth are pretty spendy.

I have never run a stump grinder.....so.....Is it reasonable to plan for about 100 per day? ....for a two day ordeal? ....If I work real hard and have a little help?

Thanks for any experienced replies.

yellowdogsvc · Jan 10, 2009

I think you will find that grinding the larger stumps will take more time especially if you are contacting the ground. the smaller ones should go quickly unless the wood is rock hard.
The resistance from the earth can be a real drag on the wheel. I wouldn't worry about the teeth breaking in sandy loam. You may polish them a bit. Hopefully the rental will have sharp teeth.

Set up and moving from stump to stump will take quite a bit of time if they are spaced out. I'd give myself 3 days on the outside chance you don't get the hang of it right away.
I've only been grinding with a wheel grinder for about a year. Before that, I did it with a brush mulcher down to grade so I understand the concept but I'm not a 100% expert on dedicated stump grinders.

daBear · Jan 10, 2009

I do not really know how many you will get in a day, but the pine is soft and should go quickly. I rented a Vermeer 252 about a year ago but the teeth were not sharp at all. The rental yard says you are not supposed to sharpen them. Bull. I had some 24 inch oak that I ground on for over an hour and they were still not completely done. I got about 30 stumps done in 18 hours on the machine. Yours should go significantly faster with small pines. Anyway, plan on two days and see where you go from there.

C.G.S. · Jan 10, 2009

I have a High flow unit that I use on ether NH LX985 or the RC 100 A 4 " pine or cedar is about a 30 seconds to a 12" below grade 8" 90seconds or so. A 40" White oak with 24" above grade ground to 18" below grade along with most of the root structure maybe 40min to an 1 hour. SHARP TEETH ARE A MUST for production.I change and resharpen ever couple of days A Stump mill on an Excavator or a Rayco 275 will take maybe 5 minutes for that same white oak stump. Yard Type stump grinder are slow to postion and like flat terrain.

SEMI-RETIRED · Jan 10, 2009

Hi
3 yrs old they should go quick esp that small, you will
spend more time moving the machine than grinding the stumps LOL...

I have done 100 a day with my pto grinder on old stumps like that,
but it is quicker to move and setup...figure 3 days..

Bob..

8934 · Jan 11, 2009

I think you will be doing really well do get it done in two days. As mentioned, it depends on how far apart stumps are, size, hardness, and if you have any problems.

foggy1111 · Jan 11, 2009

Thanks for the replies. I get a little concerned with rental stuff...because you never know about the condition of the equipment...like the carbide teeth. How would a person sharpen the teeth on these grinders?....or can it be done?

Erik_in_Hoyt · Jan 11, 2009

I'd figure 20 minutes per stump on average - setup and all included. This also includes learning curve. Your first couple may take an hour to set up and grind. Your last couple only 5 min each due to practice and terrain... (also depends on condition of the unit you rent)

daBear · Jan 11, 2009

foggy1111 said:
Thanks for the replies. I get a little concerned with rental stuff...because you never know about the condition of the equipment...like the carbide teeth. How would a person sharpen the teeth on these grinders?....or can it be done?

Yes, most definately teeth can be sharpened, but not by the dude that rented the grinder. Takes special jigs and wheels to do the carbide teeth right.