Thinking about going bigger..

yellowdogsvc · Mar 10, 2012

I'm thinking about going bigger. Been operating a 20" capacity tree chipper with loader and a skid steer brush mulcher for almost 10 years. I'm thinking about getting a larger, dedicated mulcher (200 hp and up) or a small to medium horizontal grinder up to 275 hp similar to the Bandit 1680 or 2680.

I've been concentrating on 1-10 acre tracts but wanting to do larger ranches and rights of ways.

I would mostly be mulching juniper (cedar) in S. central Texas up to 20-22" and some mesquite. Cedar is relatively soft and brushy. I would also be tackling brush and limbs from oak trimmings (not too big) and breaking down brush piles. I thought about the horizontal grinder because I can load it with my skid steer or mini ex I'm interested in the secondary market of landscape quality mulch to sell and compost. Not worried about coloring it right now.

I already know what a large brush mulcher can do but not all the jobs I do need that and the there is a lot of them already working this area. So For some of you that have a big machine (200 hp and up) and a horizontal grinder, which would you say is a better choice to grow with? I would be hiring someone to transport either at least for the first couple of years.

Thank you for the ideas.

Yellow Dog

tonyoz · Mar 13, 2012

When I look at jobs that has mainly big timber on it I pass it on to a mate who has a CBI horizontal grinder because the client has a time factor that I can't compete with and also they want the mulch stockpiled to use latter or transported off site.
If this is the type of work you are wanting to get into then a grinder is the way to go IMHO:2cents:

05rammer · Mar 23, 2012

I would also like some more info on this topic

palmettobrush · Apr 6, 2012

Just went bigger gt25 is in route to South Carolina Should be here in the am

DIRTROAD · Apr 7, 2012

palmettobrush said:
Just went bigger gt25 is in route to South Carolina Should be here in the am

That's Awesome Brannon!!! Post a couple of pics.

cat 297c · Apr 7, 2012

Congratulations

yellowdogsvc · Apr 23, 2012

still sitting on the fence over whether to get a small horizontal grinder or bigger forestry mower. I mulch and chip a lot of big brush piles. I do not bid many standing tree clearing jobs but rather I look for the ugly brush piles, dozed piles, etc. It can be very slow with a skid steer mulcher and tough to get the bottom of the piles. My chipper will self-load 20" limbs, trunks, and whole trees but if the pile wasn't set up for chipping or is dozed or dried out, I often need my Bobcat or small excavator to pull the pile apart. I'm also getting to where I don't like standing at the chipper's operating station for 10 hours in the Texas heat and thought that loading a horizontal grinder with a big bobcat or mini ex would be a lot more enjoyable.

Anyone running both a forestry mulcher and a horizontal grinder? Any thoughts?

cat 297c · Apr 23, 2012

Sounds like u need a big ol Bron 475

fishfactor · Apr 23, 2012

Are you selling the chips as mulch or bio-mass? You may want to look at a big gyro trac and a bio baler if selling as bio-mass. I ran one of them a few years ago at the plant. Instead of discharging the mulch like normal, it goes up a conveyor, through a cleaner, then through a chipper, then out the back in a bale similar to a round hay bale.

http://www.gyrotrac.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/BioEnergy-Baler.png

yellowdogsvc · Apr 23, 2012

not selling for biomass. Have a small market for wood chips from chipper and bigger market for shreds from grinder. Rocky here. Don't think chipper blades on mulcher would last.