What would you do..?
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thcri
Elite Member
Terry,
Three Grand is a lot of money? I guess if you get the chipper then you will need place to put the chips. Which you may have. How long of a project is this. If you stretch it out over a few years I guess you could get free chips for a few years. My opinion would be to get your grapple hook, some diesel fuel and a match. That is just my opinion. Oh yes I guess I shouldn't tell you to use diesel fuel to get it going. Get yourself some paper to get it started. I would take the extra money after you get the grapple set up and use it for other attachments.
You would also have to through in your decision is when you have everything cleaned up on your property what would you do with the chipper??
Grapple hook you would find other things to use it for? At least I would
murph
Three Grand is a lot of money? I guess if you get the chipper then you will need place to put the chips. Which you may have. How long of a project is this. If you stretch it out over a few years I guess you could get free chips for a few years. My opinion would be to get your grapple hook, some diesel fuel and a match. That is just my opinion. Oh yes I guess I shouldn't tell you to use diesel fuel to get it going. Get yourself some paper to get it started. I would take the extra money after you get the grapple set up and use it for other attachments.
You would also have to through in your decision is when you have everything cleaned up on your property what would you do with the chipper??
Grapple hook you would find other things to use it for? At least I would
murph
froggy
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I agree with Mike.
Chipperman
Platinum Member
RobertN
Super Member
I would yank the brush, and then rent a chipper. I can rent a 25hp hydrualic feed for about $100/day. I do not think it is worth buying one. I have a smaller chipper that I use, for small stuff, and for lite cleanup.
One note though... If you chip stuff, do not put it into one big unorganized pile. It will be a pain to drag the stuff off the pile to get it into the chipper. A big loose pile, or several loose piles is better(been there, done that...)
One note though... If you chip stuff, do not put it into one big unorganized pile. It will be a pain to drag the stuff off the pile to get it into the chipper. A big loose pile, or several loose piles is better(been there, done that...)
Anonymous Poster
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I'm curious about this situation. Where or better yet, "what" are you going to do with the chips once you've finished? Why not just burn it? Personally, I'd rent an excavator for probably a day (unless you have a lot of stuff to clear, 5 acres is a godo size to keep you occupied for a while) and then get the clearing done and then put in in one pile and burn it. You can you use your own machine for whatever tasks you wand to help out. If you have a place to put the chips or if you can haul them away, then scratch my idea. I don't know. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Blake
WA
Blake
WA
GregJ
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Terry,
Judging by most of the responses, I guess I'm a little different. I did buy a 3pt. chipper and I have really enjoyed it. Actually it was my wifes idea. We have a large area to landscape and I am composting close to 30 yards of mulch that I chipped right now. Every year we used to pay close to $500 on compost, mulch and fine bark. Now we can make our own and use it as we need it. I have also enjoyed learning a little about composting. It is kinda interesting if you're wierd that way. I just took down several trees and chipped all the limbs. We have a lot of yard waste and debris that needs to be dealt with all the time. We have neighbors quite close and we used to burn all the time. They were polite about it, but I know it bothered them, since they don't burn themselves. I am attaching a picture of my setup and one of my piles. I only paid a little over $2000 for my Bearcat. So far I've been very pleased with it. I think the justification for a chipper/shredder is having a good use for the mulch, and a consistent supply of debris. In my case, I can use every bit of mine and the supply is endless.
Greg
Judging by most of the responses, I guess I'm a little different. I did buy a 3pt. chipper and I have really enjoyed it. Actually it was my wifes idea. We have a large area to landscape and I am composting close to 30 yards of mulch that I chipped right now. Every year we used to pay close to $500 on compost, mulch and fine bark. Now we can make our own and use it as we need it. I have also enjoyed learning a little about composting. It is kinda interesting if you're wierd that way. I just took down several trees and chipped all the limbs. We have a lot of yard waste and debris that needs to be dealt with all the time. We have neighbors quite close and we used to burn all the time. They were polite about it, but I know it bothered them, since they don't burn themselves. I am attaching a picture of my setup and one of my piles. I only paid a little over $2000 for my Bearcat. So far I've been very pleased with it. I think the justification for a chipper/shredder is having a good use for the mulch, and a consistent supply of debris. In my case, I can use every bit of mine and the supply is endless.
Greg
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FamilyFarm
Platinum Member
I would check with Bailey's. www.baileys-online.com
I know I have seen a 3 pt hydraulic grapple there (although may cost as much as chipper and may not fit your tractor) and I know they sell skidding or lifting tongs for a whole lot less money than a chipper! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Terry
I know I have seen a 3 pt hydraulic grapple there (although may cost as much as chipper and may not fit your tractor) and I know they sell skidding or lifting tongs for a whole lot less money than a chipper! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Terry
frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
would u have any use for either implement when u are done clearing? if not, u might want to rent, or hiore the job out. but if u want to pick at it i would go with the grappel.
nice area u are from, used to do a lot of hunting up that way. ST.REGIS FALLS area. u familar with it?
nice area u are from, used to do a lot of hunting up that way. ST.REGIS FALLS area. u familar with it?
riptides
Super Star Member
One thing about a burn pile is it will not try and suck a part of your body into it.
Unless you use a lot of gasoline..... ahhh newspapers that is.
-Mike Z.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Unless you use a lot of gasoline..... ahhh newspapers that is.
-Mike Z.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
19th_VA
Gold Member
This will probably make me look like a dope, but what the heck, you can see my picture anyway! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Burning is not too good for the environment, which is the most precious gift the good lord gave next to our life.
Hi GregJ question what size does the chipper take and did you buy it new i was thinking about renting one i own a small craftsman from sears only takes 3 inch limbs and takes for ever to do small sized pile thanks
EDT /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
EDT /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
GregJ
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I had a craftsman 3" before and I never used it because it worked me more than the limbs. This Bearcat will take up to 5" limbs. It is very easy to use. I have heard people have problems with this model that have the blower. It clogs. I don't have any problems with clogging, and the chips are very small, so they compost easily. I did that pile in one weekend. The hardest, most time comsuming part was just getting the stuff to the chipper.
Greg
Greg
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I'm clearing the trash (pepper trees and wild grape vines) from 5 acres in Florida; leaving all the native growth. Still, that is a lot of brush. I considered (1) hauling it away; (2) chipping it; and (3) burning it. After looking at the cost of hauling and land fill fees, and the cost of buying a chipper, I went with burning. Renting a chipper was not a viable option, because I'm spreading the job out over weeks and would need the chipper many times.
After several weeks of work, I have some thoughts on the subject. First, burning was the right thing to do. I have a landowner's number from the Div of Forestry and can call any morning for a permit, no charge, which they will grant if conditions are OK (not too windy, moist enough). A Ranger came out to the property first to make recommendations. We have to be 100' from roads, 100' from powerlines, and 300' from any dwellings not our own.
The Ranger suggested diesel to start the fires. I was shocked at first, but then thought about it - the diesel is going onto the brush fire, never gets a chance to soak into the land, and is burned up immediately. We borrowed a portable tank (the kind that equipment maintenance guys mount in a pickup) with a 12v electric pump to apply the diesel, but you could do it from 5 gallon cans - use off road diesel; no point burning up road tax money.
If you have any appreciable amount of brush, you will need to pile it in several manageable piles, not one big one. The conflagration would be too great, otherwise. I can tend about 3 piles at once with my TC18 and FEL. I only had one get away from me a little, and I had it out in about 2 minutes by dropping dirt over it and dragging the FEL bucket through it (this was about a 6" high grass fire, not a roaring forest fire). The FL Div of Forestry requires a loader to tend the piles.
I suppose a grapple would be nice, but you can use a brush rake (also called a root rake or grubber) just as easily, and it's faster - no waiting for the grapple to close and open. If your FEL has a skid steer quick attach and enough capacity, you can rent a brush rake from many skid steer stores. My little TC18 doesn't, so I rented a big tractor to do the rough clearing (attachment). I'm building a bucket-mounted brush rake that's more appropriate to my little tractor to clean up after the big tractor.
Brush grows fast in Florida, and I expect continuing work to stay ahead of it in the future. Once the landscaping is done and the house is built, I won't want to burn. At that point, it will be a much smaller job maybe once a year, and I plan to rent a chipper.
The chipped wood is good for compost and mulch, but ash is good for the land, too.
{edit} I thought of a couple of more things. If, in your clearing, you are pulling things out by the roots, you're going to have a lot of dirt in your piles. You have to get rid of all that before you can chip. To chip, you have to cut things up to manageable sizes. To burn, just pile and light. If you cut and chip, you'll still have big stumps/roots to burn or haul away. Burn, baby, burn.
Have fun.
After several weeks of work, I have some thoughts on the subject. First, burning was the right thing to do. I have a landowner's number from the Div of Forestry and can call any morning for a permit, no charge, which they will grant if conditions are OK (not too windy, moist enough). A Ranger came out to the property first to make recommendations. We have to be 100' from roads, 100' from powerlines, and 300' from any dwellings not our own.
The Ranger suggested diesel to start the fires. I was shocked at first, but then thought about it - the diesel is going onto the brush fire, never gets a chance to soak into the land, and is burned up immediately. We borrowed a portable tank (the kind that equipment maintenance guys mount in a pickup) with a 12v electric pump to apply the diesel, but you could do it from 5 gallon cans - use off road diesel; no point burning up road tax money.
If you have any appreciable amount of brush, you will need to pile it in several manageable piles, not one big one. The conflagration would be too great, otherwise. I can tend about 3 piles at once with my TC18 and FEL. I only had one get away from me a little, and I had it out in about 2 minutes by dropping dirt over it and dragging the FEL bucket through it (this was about a 6" high grass fire, not a roaring forest fire). The FL Div of Forestry requires a loader to tend the piles.
I suppose a grapple would be nice, but you can use a brush rake (also called a root rake or grubber) just as easily, and it's faster - no waiting for the grapple to close and open. If your FEL has a skid steer quick attach and enough capacity, you can rent a brush rake from many skid steer stores. My little TC18 doesn't, so I rented a big tractor to do the rough clearing (attachment). I'm building a bucket-mounted brush rake that's more appropriate to my little tractor to clean up after the big tractor.
Brush grows fast in Florida, and I expect continuing work to stay ahead of it in the future. Once the landscaping is done and the house is built, I won't want to burn. At that point, it will be a much smaller job maybe once a year, and I plan to rent a chipper.
The chipped wood is good for compost and mulch, but ash is good for the land, too.
{edit} I thought of a couple of more things. If, in your clearing, you are pulling things out by the roots, you're going to have a lot of dirt in your piles. You have to get rid of all that before you can chip. To chip, you have to cut things up to manageable sizes. To burn, just pile and light. If you cut and chip, you'll still have big stumps/roots to burn or haul away. Burn, baby, burn.
Have fun.
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cowboydoc
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Why not just use a front end loader to push it all in a pile and burn it? I cleared and moved 15 acres of brush with my skidsteer at my last house. Could have done the same thing with a front end loader just would have taken a little longer.
'Why not just use a front end loader to push it all in a pile and burn it? "
I didn't have much luck pushing it with my FEL. I would loose most of it before I got to where I wanted it to burn. I'll have to look into a "brush rake" and see if that would work better. Also I have yet to use my tractor since I had the tires loaded. Before I would just spin when I got hung up.
I didn't have much luck pushing it with my FEL. I would loose most of it before I got to where I wanted it to burn. I'll have to look into a "brush rake" and see if that would work better. Also I have yet to use my tractor since I had the tires loaded. Before I would just spin when I got hung up.
knucklehead
Platinum Member
<font color="green"> Burning is not too good for the environment, which is the most precious gift the good lord gave next to our life. </font>
I thought the color highlighting the quote was appropriate /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I don't think you look like a dope, John, or talk like one. We have done a lot of work (brush clearance, firewood prep, snow removal, and gardening) with hand tools only for years, to stay out of debt, for the exercise, and not to run too many IC engines, even though I'm a big fan of Infernal Combustion (Sorry, Mr Gore!). If I was really going to get into the thought process on this, I'd wonder about the fuel used to power the chipper, and the gasses generated by the accelerated decomposition process of the chipped stuff, vs the smoke of a fire. I guess the best thing to do is spread it out and let it decompose slowly & naturally and supply habitat for flora and fauna while it does so. But where's the fun in that? Seriously, I think it may be a wash, burning vs chipping, as far as pollutants in the air. We do cut firewood very small, using everything, so at least we get some heat out of the process. The big poplar, which is being thinned out (polite word for eradicated) to let the oak, maple, spruce and pine grow, will be split up to be burned in the stove, or piled in 4' lengths to use for a target backstop, or left in the woods as a long interesting wall type feature along the path. The messy stuff, 4" and smaller, will be burned or chipped with the neighbor's new Patu C-170.
Is Patu and Valby the same? One is French and one is Danish? The models are similar; could it be a Husqvarna/Jonsered type of thing?
I thought the color highlighting the quote was appropriate /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I don't think you look like a dope, John, or talk like one. We have done a lot of work (brush clearance, firewood prep, snow removal, and gardening) with hand tools only for years, to stay out of debt, for the exercise, and not to run too many IC engines, even though I'm a big fan of Infernal Combustion (Sorry, Mr Gore!). If I was really going to get into the thought process on this, I'd wonder about the fuel used to power the chipper, and the gasses generated by the accelerated decomposition process of the chipped stuff, vs the smoke of a fire. I guess the best thing to do is spread it out and let it decompose slowly & naturally and supply habitat for flora and fauna while it does so. But where's the fun in that? Seriously, I think it may be a wash, burning vs chipping, as far as pollutants in the air. We do cut firewood very small, using everything, so at least we get some heat out of the process. The big poplar, which is being thinned out (polite word for eradicated) to let the oak, maple, spruce and pine grow, will be split up to be burned in the stove, or piled in 4' lengths to use for a target backstop, or left in the woods as a long interesting wall type feature along the path. The messy stuff, 4" and smaller, will be burned or chipped with the neighbor's new Patu C-170.
Is Patu and Valby the same? One is French and one is Danish? The models are similar; could it be a Husqvarna/Jonsered type of thing?
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