Alpine Magnum Question: Bar to Grinder

[Dutch295]

Is anyone going back and forth from bar to grinder? If so I'd would like to hear your thoughts... been putting off getting something bigger for sometime now (24" is the biggest I currently carry) my gut says just get a 395 with a 36" bar and be done with it but if I can kill two birds with one stone and save money then I might give it a shot.

 

[mikewhite85]

Is anyone going back and forth from bar to grinder? If so I'd would like to hear your thoughts... been putting off getting something bigger for sometime now (24" is the biggest I currently carry) my gut says just get a 395 with a 36" bar and be done with it but if I can kill two birds with one stone and save money then I might give it a shot.

I own an alpine and do not convert it to a chainsaw (mine has the ts-760 powerhead which converts to a cut saw anyway). From what Keith says at Alpine Machine, it takes over an hour to convert the thing and there are custom parts (different for each powerhead) in addition to the grinder attachment that need to be installed. Not to mention converting it in the midst of a job where there is so much mess, noise, and woodchips everywhere. Easy to lose parts.

If you swap between the 2 units it will save a little money in the short run but ultimately if will cost you way more in time and frustration. I do highly recommend the machine though. I love mine. Took out a 4' semi rotten stump with it in less than an hour a week or 2 ago. It doesn't have the power of a big diesel machine but it sure is cheaper and reasonably fast considering how small it is.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

The conversion over for a 3120xp MIGHT be easier.

 

[imagineero]

A guy I work for has one, and it's on an old stihl demolition saw. I cant picture how changeover would work - you need an oiler on a bar, and none on an alpine magnum. The stihl demolition saws are awful to start, clunky and not very high revvers but pretty torquey. In all honesty though, nowhere near torquey enough so I would rather have the extra revs. The way most guys use alpines is to 'chip' rather than 'sweep'. Because you cant get a good sweep going, most guys kind of chip it down, and it bogs, lift it and it picks up, chip-chip-chip...

I've seen one run on a 3120 and it was way better. Having said that, those old demo saws go for very little money.....

Alpine magnums are just too expensive in aus to be worth me buying one. They're up somewhere around the $5k mark which is quite a lot for a mild steel wheel, a short section of extruded aluminum, a couple of pulleys, a v belt, couple bearings and some bolts. I've often thought of making one but never got around to it. The biggest thing holding me back is that I hate stump grinding so much.

Shaun

 

[Kottonwood]

I have got one with a 3120. I have only tried the switch over one time, and it takes way to long to be worth it. I actually got another used 3120 powerhead from Keith at alpine machine for a great price. Now I have a spare for the stumper and a big saw. I use that alpine magnum about three days a week so I like having the spare, and the switch over (definitely over an hour for your first few times doing it) is worth it if that stumper goes down.

 

[Kottonwood]

A guy I work for has one, and it's on an old stihl demolition saw. I cant picture how changeover would work - you need an oiler on a bar, and none on an alpine magnum. The stihl demolition saws are awful to start, clunky and not very high revvers but pretty torquey. In all honesty though, nowhere near torquey enough so I would rather have the extra revs. The way most guys use alpines is to 'chip' rather than 'sweep'. Because you cant get a good sweep going, most guys kind of chip it down, and it bogs, lift it and it picks up, chip-chip-chip...

I've seen one run on a 3120 and it was way better. Having said that, those old demo saws go for very little money.....

Alpine magnums are just too expensive in aus to be worth me buying one. They're up somewhere around the $5k mark which is quite a lot for a mild steel wheel, a short section of extruded aluminum, a couple of pulleys, a v belt, couple bearings and some bolts. I've often thought of making one but never got around to it. The biggest thing holding me back is that I hate stump grinding so much.

Shaun

Yep, that is how it works, dig it in, bog it down, pull it out, repeat. If you try to sweep it will take you forever. The trick is to work your way from one side of the stump to the other digging straight down.

It is truly a great machine and I have been very impressed with it. We use the hell out of it. Basically any stump under four feet in a backyard we do with it. I usually sub out the front yard ones. If you do a lot of small trees (under 24" stumps) it is perfect. My groundman is grinding a 32" cottonwood stump today, I bet it won't take longer than about an hour including getting the surface roots. I love always having it on the truck too, without towing a trailer.

 

[Dutch295]

Man, I've been trying to get back to this thread but have had the hardest time staying online ... I ended up contacting Patriottreeco through his website.... if my dumb arse can figure out how to rep, you got a bunch coming your way ... I appreciate your help. Now I'm at my mother-in-laws due to the storm and everthing is fine. I contacted support and Darin suggested I reboot, so when we get back home and get some power I'll try that....
... I tip my hat to many of y'all... I've had mine about 5 years now and in the beginning I did the big stumps ... NEVER again. No desire to sell it and its paid for itself several times over but if I could (still scratching my head on this one) get it to serve dual roles then I might give it a shot. I do think the teeth are absolutely horrible.... I went as far as getting a crazy idea and ordered a sample of the small greenteeth (500 series) but quickly realized I'd probably break my wrist. Now the local community college machine shop has one alpine tooth and he's a pretty sharp cat so who knows.... but I do appreciate everyones thoughts on this...

 

[imagineero]

Im pretty sure multi tip makes a wheel for the alpine magnum and teeth to go with it. Everyone I've spoken to who has multi tip teeth has spoken very highly of them and the general consensus is they are more powerful, easier on the machine, faster to change and longer lasting than other teeth. The wheel they make isnt a circle - it's a polygon. The teeth aren't all the same distance from the centre, they are all different distances, but no left and right, they are all identical. The teeth all cut at different 'depths', so the lead tooth takes the hardest hits and when it wears you can just replace the one tooth.

I think multi tip is a sponsor here as well (or they used to be?)

Multi-tip Home page

Shaun

 

[Dutch295]

I thought I would share this... I spoke with Keith and ordered the parts I needed ($35 bones.. thx Keith).... went through tree stuff dot com after the local husky dealer jacked me around for a week plus ... 36" bar and two loops ... $171 I think.... it's easy to change the sprocket out but you need an impact wrench ( I didn't have one... borrowed from a buddy).... you can definitely change this thing out in less than 30 minutes and it couldn't have come at a better time... I've been putting in 14 hour days due to Irene dealing with a little of everything. The jury is still out on whether I should go back and forth from grinder to bar. Right now I wish I had bought a 395 and kept the alpine together.... I've been dealing with root balls (headache which I'm going to start a new thread about) and big wood. The alpine is great for finishing the roots on a downed tree and the way FEMA has set up storm recovery .... just get the debris to the street including root ball and move on..... I did tree work 20 plus years ago and been back in it about 7 and have never seen anything like this but that's another story in itself. On another positive note... Keith was so helpful I ordered some rock teeth from him (hadn't tried 'em yet)... man he's tough ... wore me out about the multi tip wheel.... that guy should be in sales :msp_biggrin:

Thanks everyone for your insight

 

[mikewhite85]

I thought I would share this... I spoke with Keith and ordered the parts I needed ($35 bones.. thx Keith).... went through tree stuff dot com after the local husky dealer jacked me around for a week plus ... 36" bar and two loops ... $171 I think.... it's easy to change the sprocket out but you need an impact wrench ( I didn't have one... borrowed from a buddy).... you can definitely change this thing out in less than 30 minutes and it couldn't have come at a better time... I've been putting in 14 hour days due to Irene dealing with a little of everything. The jury is still out on whether I should go back and forth from grinder to bar. Right now I wish I had bought a 395 and kept the alpine together.... I've been dealing with root balls (headache which I'm going to start a new thread about) and big wood. The alpine is great for finishing the roots on a downed tree and the way FEMA has set up storm recovery .... just get the debris to the street including root ball and move on..... I did tree work 20 plus years ago and been back in it about 7 and have never seen anything like this but that's another story in itself. On another positive note... Keith was so helpful I ordered some rock teeth from him (hadn't tried 'em yet)... man he's tough ... wore me out about the multi tip wheel.... that guy should be in sales :msp_biggrin:

Thanks everyone for your insight

He IS in sales! Quite a good salesman. I wonder how many alpines he has sold.

I assume he did not like the multi tip wheel because the beauty (and the bain!) of the alpine system is in the teeth themselves! Being only 4 or 5 hp I assume it couldn't do too much with conventional teeth.

The alpine has been a great purchase for me thus far. It paid for itself pretty quickly and is a great part of my little arsenal. If my TS760 powerhead ever dies I would love to see how fast it cuts with the 3120.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

He IS in sales! Quite a good salesman. I wonder how many alpines he has sold.

I assume he did not like the multi tip wheel because the beauty (and the bain!) of the alpine system is in the teeth themselves! Being only 4 or 5 hp I assume it couldn't do too much with conventional teeth.

The alpine has been a great purchase for me thus far. It paid for itself pretty quickly and is a great part of my little arsenal. If my TS760 powerhead ever dies I would love to see how fast it cuts with the 3120.

I brought a 3120 a few years ago to up power my 760 on my stumpmaster. It came with a brand new 28 inch bar and full chisel chain, So I took it to block down a big stick and fell in love. I might have to get another to power the stumpmaster with.

 

[stumper63]

Keith does have the gift....

The 3120 is actually 8.4hp, but get your point anyway. I've got the 3120 Alpine and it does love to eat wood. Won't regret ever purchasing it. Had it two years, super low maintenance, paid for itself a few times over already. Sharp teeth are the key. I usually dress mine with the diamond wheel on the cordless grinder before each use. Takes a couple minutes, makes huge difference.

I've never run the 3120 with a bar/chain, bet it would throw some serious chips...

Stumper63