Chippers?

[cornraker]

I'm in the market for a new chipper. I do a fair amount of tree trimming and small tree removal and i'm getting tired of making 5 trips to the dump per job to haul branches and junk away. I know NOTHING about chippers and i'm hoping some of you could give me some insight; maybe some reccomendations on models. I would need something to handle pieces up to 6-8" in diameter. Thanks

 

[TreeGhost]

Are you considering used at all? I have been looking for a chipper for a few months now. My tree biz is part-time so I am having a hard time justifying the cost for a new chipper.

 

[cornraker]

i've looked into used chippers around here and everything i find is used and abused but i can see where you are coming from. Chippers are so expensive.

 

[kennertree]

I would go with the biggest I could afford. If you get a small machine you will spend alot of time cutting crotches just so the chipper can take the branches. Time = money.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

Asking what chipper you should get is like asking what chainsaw you should buy. The chipper is a contextual asset. Depending on the kind of work you do, the access you have, your budget, your tow vehicle, level of staff etc etc your choice could make or break you business.

Chippers are very cheap in the USA, 10k will get you a chuck and duck from the eightys here.

 

[wisconsintreegi]

If you intend on doing the repaires yourself i would suggest an 12" Altec drum chipper with a ford 300 inline. they a cheaper to fix then most and alot easier.
I used one for a couple of years and only had to replace the altenator and the swith thats $400 in parts over 2 years. the easiest chipper to operate and use is probably the vermeer bc1000 they make nice chips. i personaly am not a fan of bandits. the dual feeder wheels just make em a headach to clean out and the feed table is really low. thats my thoughts hope they are helpfull

 

[TDunk]

Are you considering used at all? I have been looking for a chipper for a few months now. My tree biz is part-time so I am having a hard time justifying the cost for a new chipper.

Trust me, a chipper is worth the investment. I only do tree work part time also and it paid for it's self in a few months. You can pick up an older chuck-n-duck for about 3K in decent shape.

 

[cornraker]

ive heard that vermeer chippers are plagued with problems though. Know anything about morbarks?

 

[wisconsintreegi]

I have only used a Morbark once so i am not going to be very helpfull with them. i was not impressed with the one i used but it was way undersized for the job. but it was old as dirt and was still running strong. So i cant judge em. If you are looking to get a chipper that will make it money back quick with little matinence get the chuck and duck. altec 12" or somthing similar just dont get a chipper under 10" you will find yourself cutting alot more wood. They are also sheet metal so panting your company name on is simple compared to the new chippers that are half plastic.

 

[ASD]

a friend of ours has a morbark he rents one of our bandits when his in down (it's down alot)

 

[redprospector]

I'm in the market for a new chipper. I do a fair amount of tree trimming and small tree removal and i'm getting tired of making 5 trips to the dump per job to haul branches and junk away. I know NOTHING about chippers and i'm hoping some of you could give me some insight; maybe some reccomendations on models. I would need something to handle pieces up to 6-8" in diameter. Thanks

If you know nothing about chippers, here's a little tidbit you can take to the bank. Chippers are a lot of work (not as much as hauling brush though). My hand's have nick-named my chipper "The Wheel's of Hell".
If you think a 6 to 8" chipper will do the job, get a 12" model. You'll be much happier. If you're mechanically inclined, try to find a used one in decent shape.
A chipper can pay for itself pretty quick. I tell people that if it wern't for my chipper I wouldn't have my Bobcat, or skidder, or dump truck, or dump trailer, or processor, or etc.

Andy

 

[tree md]

I found a 98 Bandit with 2 hours on it on ebay earlier this year. It was a municipal deal where a city had bought it with federal money from a hurricane, used it once and garaged it for 10 years. I bought it for 11K and it's just like new. I find I like Bandit chippers much better than Vermeer because of the lower feed table. It's much easier to load with a lower table and less back work. Another thing to consider is what you have to haul the chipper with. The bigger the chipper the heavier a truck your gonna need to haul it around with. I am a full time tree service and have been for quite a few years and I get by just fine with a Bandit 90, 9" chipper and a 2 ton GMC C65. There are some good deals to be had, you just have to shop around.

When I worked as a climber for the larger services back in the 90's most were using Mobark 18" chippers and they are rock solid IMHO.

 

[cornraker]

should i go disc or drum? whats the advantages/ disadvantages?

 

[tree md]

Here's a link to a good discussion about disc and drum chippers:

http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=32747

 

[ropensaddle]

Neither if money is not an option go with a tub grinder and a grapple truck
thats the combination for quick brush be gone.

 

[Slvrmple72]

I have an older chuck n duck drum chipper with the ford straight six. I bought her off of e-bay for 3600. I had some alternator issues but she is rock solid and handles all the brush great. If it is over 4" I use it for firewood, except pine. That being said make sure you replace the belts, oil, filter, plugs, plug wires, etc before you put it into full time tree work. On Friday ( the 13th of course) she ripped the main belt, the breather overfed the engine and the resulting backfire blew the muffler apart. As far as considerations for your business, look at your budget, planned growth, abilities to do maintenance/repairs or pay for them, and your equipment vs. manpower workload. Do your research, hydraulic vs manual feed, options, gas vs diesel, disc vs drum, the predominant type of tree work you will be doing, etc. etc.

 

[cornraker]

whats the run-down on the conehead and discone chippers? anybody have any experience with them?