Wallenstein vs WoodMaxx Chippers

bhh · May 1, 2015

Yea yea, I know, another chipper question.

I've got a Kubota L3800 HST that puts out around 32-34HP? at the PTO. For years now, I've been wanting a Wallenstein chipper but have ended up renting a big 12" Vermeer unit once or twice a year at $300 per day. We've done some clearing for food plots and such and the way the 12" Vermeer can eat an 10" diameter, 50' pine tree in a couple of minutes is just too cool. As the "bigger" projects wind down though and I start to shift more into maintenance mode, I've started to get the bug again and the WoodMaxx units seem to have come on strong since I last spent much time researching. If the rental place was 10 minutes away, it would be a different story and I might just keep renting but it is about an hour away and my vehicle can't tow it so I have to borrow a larger truck or pay to have it picked up and delivered.

Originally, I was always torn between the Wally BX42s, which is sized properly for my machine, or the BX62s which would require less trimming and maybe a little more capacity for softwoods or rotted punky stuff. Now that they have the BX52s, that would probably be the sweet spot and Woodward Crossing has that for $3100. The Woodmax WM-8H has 8" capacity so even less trimming AND hydraulic feed for only $2800. Both units seem highly regarded but I wanted to ask around and see if there was still any good reason to go with the Wally when the Woodmaxx seems like the obvious answer. Also, I'm still struggling a bit with the value proposition of just continuing to rent - way more capacity, less wear and tear on my tractor, no maintenance or upkeep vs convenience and a bit more mobility.

I appreciate any thoughts or opinions.

DennisFolsom · May 1, 2015

I've only had my Woodmaxx WM-8H a week now. I've used it 3 times so far, and am quite pleased with it. The hydraulic feed works very well. I'm definitely glad I got it.

From my reading on TBN, I believe the Woodmaxx is superior to most Chinese chippers. From what I've found with mine so far, I believe the quality is fine.

I've nothing against the US, Canadian and European brands, but to get one of them with hydraulic feed is much more expensive than the Woodmaxx.

Today's afternoon session illustrates why it's so nice to have your own chipper. I cut a few trees, piled the brush up beside the driveway, then immediately chipped the pile. No brush piles sitting around while I wait to get enough to be worth renting a chipper for. No burning permits to get. No waiting for proper burning conditions.

Hopefully, other Woodmaxx and Wallenstein owners will weigh in with their assessments.

s219 · May 1, 2015

I liked the Wallenstein the best when I was shopping in 2012, compared to several other brands -- was clearly the Cadillac of chippers from what I could see. BTW, I have a gently used BX-42s I have been thinking about selling, in Kubota Orange color. It sounds like you want to go a little bigger, but if you have interest in a used BX-42s, PM me.

hslogger · May 2, 2015

I have had a Woodmaxx since November last year and don't have ten hours on it yet. The only drawback if you will call it that IMHO is that while it will take up to eight inch diameter, it has to be pretty clean. The entry table is not huge like a big rental unit and the machine doesn't do super well with narley limbs that are large or dog legged.They entry chute limits the size of limbs and side branches you cans suck in there. I have run professional tree service machines extensively, and a couple rental machines too. I am impressed with this three point chipper and I don't yet regret it. What ever you get, if you don't get a hydraulic feed unit, and intend on keeping it, you'll wish you had sprung for a hydraulic feed machine.

The Fred · May 2, 2015

hslogger said:
I have had a Woodmaxx since November last year and don't have ten hours on it yet. The only drawback if you will call it that IMHO is that while it will take up to eight inch diameter, it has to be pretty clean. The entry table is not huge like a big rental unit and the machine doesn't do super well with narley limbs that are large or dog legged.They entry chute limits the size of limbs and side branches you cans suck in there. I have run professional tree service machines extensively, and a couple rental machines too. I am impressed with this three point chipper and I don't yet regret it. What ever you get, if you don't get a hydraulic feed unit, and intend on keeping it, you'll wish you had sprung for a hydraulic feed machine.

Agree totally. I've had the Woodmaxx for 2 years it is a decent piece and a good value. You won't however have the same efficiency that the rental unit has as hslogger says because those gnarly branches are a pita to get entered into the feed table.

We burn 12 cords or so a year so anything over 3 inches is saved for heat. Those 8" diameter branches must be dead straight to chip.

After 3 hours of chipping your back will be wrecked. I let my wonderful wife load "our" chipper for me. Notice I said our?

Fred, Everything that's mine is hers and everything that's hers is hers too

just kidding!

bhh · May 2, 2015

Thanks for the input everyone. S219, If I decide to go Wally, I'll reach out to you for sure. As far as the 8" limit, my PTO HP is really not enough to process 8" anyway and probably 5" is the limit as far as that goes The reason I like the bigger hopper though is simply to allow for less trimming. Any hardwood over 3-4" gets burned although I do and will chip a lot of pine as that only gets used for campfires and fire pits around here.

s219 · May 2, 2015

bhh said:
Thanks for the input everyone. S219, If I decide to go Wally, I'll reach out to you for sure. As far as the 8" limit, my PTO HP is really not enough to process 8" anyway and probably 5" is the limit as far as that goes The reason I like the bigger hopper though is simply to allow for less trimming. Any hardwood over 3-4" gets burned although I do and will chip a lot of pine as that only gets used for campfires and fire pits around here.

One nice thing about the Wallensteins is that the throat is rectangular, which helps feeding quite a bit. On my BX42s, it's 4"x10", the BX52s is 5"x10", etc. So you're not dealing with a puny 4"x4" or 5"x5" throat, which would be harder to work with. I passed on MacKissic, DR, Salsco, and Echo/Bearcat units because their throats were square (or close to square).

DennisFolsom · May 5, 2015

WoodMaxx has a new top-of-the-line model that just showed up on their website. It's the MX-9900. The price is just under $5,000. They say it's manufactured in Upstate NY. I like the folding infeed chute and the way that the housing opens up for service.

While I have no doubt that it has several advantages over the WM-8H that I bought, I think the price point still puts it beyond what I would wan to pay. They claim it's rugged enough for commercial duty. It may be worth the extra to some folks. Here's the website to check it out:

9" PTO Wood Chipper Shredder | Made in the USA | 3pt. Wood Chipper Attachment -WoodMaxx

pinetree10 · Jan 31, 2017

I realize I'm replying to a nearly three-year old thread but I've had a Wallenstein chipper for a few years now and the thing is great. Like the previous poster said, it's great to be able to cut a tree down, take all the limbs off, and chip everything in the same day rather than build the pile until it justifies renting a chipper for a few hours. The BX42 is sized just right for my tractor and it'll eat big and small stuff. I assume their chipper / shredder is pretty nice for everything from brush to large branches but I wanted a compact machine with simple maintenance and that's just what I got. It's even easier to grease now that I got a locking grease gun fitting. The main bearing used to be tough to lube because the grease gun never really set onto the fitting properly.

Let us know how you made out.

oosik · Jan 31, 2017

I realize its an old thread also BUT - I'm just wondering how in the world bhh man handles a 10" pine up into that rented chipper. I have a Wally BX62s and it all this old fart can do to drag out and get a 6" pine into the chute. Next time any of you guys feel real healthy - cut a 6" pine thats 30+ feet long - drag it 50' to 75' and then lift it up to your chipper in-chute. Every spring I thin my pine stands - which means I fall and chip 750 to 900 small(less than 6" diameter) pines. As far as I'm concerned any pine that makes it to 10" - has it made.