Chipper Wood chipper: free standing or tractor implement?

[jelc]

Hi... I have nine acres, at least half of which are very heavily wooded. The lot have never been cleared, so there is a lot of dead wood and thinning to do... I was going to buy a wood chipper for my tractor (Kioti CK35). Would it be better to buy a free standing chipper? Are there any makes better than others? I have not checked the prices yet.

JLC

 

[weldingisfun]

I guess the answer to your question depends upon just how much you want to hand drag the thing around your 9 acres? I have had both and for what it is worth, in my opinion, you can't go wrong with a 3PH mounted chipper.

 

[Ductape]

Unless you are planning on a commercial grade self powered chipper, i think you will be disappointed.

I recommend the 3 point, PTO powered unit.

 

[wedge40]

I agree with everyone else so far. A 3pt chipper goes were the tractor goes, and you get one for under $2k if you watch. Jinma is the most people here would recommend, including me.

Wedge

 

[AlanB]

I think the question of how much you plan on spending is the base question.

I have the 3ph Jinma (or Jinma copy depending on whom you ask) and have been pleased overall, but plan on spending some time sorting it out, or buy from one of the dealers that does it for you.

 

[RalphVa]

It'll be A LOT more maneuverable with the chipper mounted on the 3 PH. Any free standing one is heavy enough so that you have to pull it behind a tractor. Can't imagine pulling a 2 wheel trailer (that's what it's like) behind if I could, instead, have the trailer mounted on the 3 ph.

Why maintain another engine?

Ralph

 

[jelc]

well, I have my answer... a 3 PH chipper it will be!

JLC

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree that 3pt is best for many reasons already listed. Another is that there is one less engine to maintain.

 

[putt_putt_green]

I've been thinking about posting a similar question. What if all you want to do is chip 2" stuff and smaller? I've been looking for a while for a used chipper with little luck. I was thinking that the 10HP models that you could pull with an ATV would be good. It would be more manueverable through the woods than my tractor. Anything bigger, I can cut and burn in the woodstove. I was thinking I find one and try it, if it didn't work then sell it. There are lots of the 5HP chippers for sale, which probably means they don't work.

 

[Ductape]

There are lots of the 5HP chippers for sale, which probably means they don't work.

You have just answered your own question. I don't know anyone with a small-engine powered chipper who was satisfied with it. Even the smallish capacity (4 inch and under) PTO powered chippers chip circles around the small stand alone units. On this i give you my Ductape guarantee !!

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm also a fan of the PTO chippers. Other TBNer's have given really great reasons...my contribution is you would spend some serious cash (several thousand $$$'s) for a stand alone chipper that has the horsepower of a PTO unit.

 

[RalphVa]

Put-put-green,

Any of the small stuff is trash. A MacKissic 3ph chipper/shredder will do up to 3 1/2" stuff and is really easy to maintain. I owned an 8 hp TroyBilt that was a real pain to rotate or to change out the hammers on; whereas, this job on a MacKissic is "a piece of cake" as my friend James (who has a stand alone unit) said of the job. I agree with him after doing mine once so far.

I've NEVER, absolutely NEVER, bogged down the Mac on my 18.5 hp JD. Whereas, I was forever stalling or jamming the TroyBilt or another Mac (shredder only) that mounted onto my 12 hp Gravely.

The metal casing on the Mac is considerably lighter weight than what was on the TroyBilt. It'll dent, but it hasn't perforated. The screen is also lighter weight and is kind of a pain to get off and on, because it distorts a bit. Whereas, the TroyBilt's was so heavy that it wouldn't distort (if it ever did, you'd likely have to use a torch and lots of "action" words to get it off and back on).

Ralph

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I get to be the black sheep in the group of 3PT chipper folks. For me I prefer the tow behind trailer chipper my self. I have a 25 Hp vermeer chipper that I use for my business that I keep at my Dad's place. It has a speed control for the feeding rollers which is great. That thing will chew up 6" stuff. If you wanted to go to a friend or family's place to do some chipping loading up and hauling the tractor and chipper might be a hassle. Versus pretty much any sized truck to pull it. Also you can shoot the chips into the back of a truck and haul them away. You can't do that with a 3PT unless you pull a truck up and shoot them into that..
Just my 2 cents worth.
Jim

 

[RoyJackson]

I get to be the black sheep in the group of 3PT chipper folks. For me I prefer the tow behind trailer chipper my self. I have a 25 Hp vermeer chipper that I use for my business...

Yeah, but you're writing about a commercial chipper you use for a business (landscaping?). I reckon that machine cost upward to $10000.

Most of us are discussing smaller residential units that will get (for the most part) occasional use.

 

[studor]

I borrowed my friends 10 hp unit a couple of weeks ago and was glad to return it. Compared to a little bearcat 3 point unit I used last year it is a POS. A lot of work to feed, jambs easily, a did not like to digest 1" lilacs and yes -- it was a well known American brand. A couple of hours of working with it convinced me to have a fire

 

[brandoro]

I went with the 3pt variety for two main reasons:
didn't want another engine to maintain
can get a much better built 3pt model for similar money as a not very good stand alone.
I figure anything bigger than about 2.5 inch wood is firewood but the chipper doesn't even twitch when fed the smaller stuff. Mine is rated 4' so I had to try it. Turned a 4" at the butt and about 30 foot long tree into chips in a very few seconds.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I've seen used DR 3pt chippers for around a thousand dollars, and I expect that you would be much happier with one of them than with a small stand alone. I bought an 8hp well known brand once, and like a previous poster ended up burning a lot of brush, and selling the chipper.

 

[MarkLeininger]

I've rented one the few times I've needed something large. The thing I rented was bigger than my tractor, chewed up logs. I've started keeping all that wood instead of chipping it. I pile it in back along the pasture fence to make shelter for wildlife, and rotten wood produces all kinds of things that birds like to eat. Also keeps the horses from pushing down the fences, don't have to trim under them, no pollution, save the whales, etc.

 

[putt_putt_green]

Well from the general consensus, it sounds like the even the 10HP standalone models are no good.

 

[jelc]

As I have a heavily treed 9 acres lot which has never been cleared, I am sure my use of a chipper, at least till the lot is cleared of all dead wood and lower branches on the trees cut, will be more than occasional! From the information supplied here, and now on the other wood chipper thread, I will contact my tractor dealer and see what he will sell a MacKissic TPH 22 for, and what other units he may have for sale.

JLC