Guess what I got today! (Alpine Magnum)

[Hoosier]

Nice... I bought it new, and must say that the quality is outstanding. Fit and finish were second to none. I have worked in a fab shop in the past and really can appreciate the work that has gone into this.

I took out a row of shrub stumps today, obliterated them without breaking to much of a sweat. I played around on a larger stump this evening and must say this is going to be fun. I got the SOLO 694 head, that rocks,I want one with a bar and chain!

 

[Ekka]

What did that set you back and what's a Solo saw? How big etc??

 

[Hoosier]

Solo is a German saw brand, hers a link.
http://www.solousa.com/store/flypage/chain_saws/694-28_chain_saw.html

The machine with that head costs about $800 US less than the same unit with a big husky head. You can also get it with a Stihl concrete saw head.

So as mine is equipped it was about $3600 and 88lbs.

 

[Steadfast]

I have two of these now.

I too own one of these stump grinders. Actually, I just purchased my second one. They really are great. I noticed in your pic that you do not have the spike on the bottom of the foot. I find having the spike fitted on the bottom of the foot really helps while working the machine. I like to try to stand up while using the machine, ranther than leaning too much forward. I adjust the position of the foot to allow for maximum comfort. Both of my machines have the Stihl Concrete saw head. The power is amazing. The stumps are simply ripped appart. I do however, change and sharpen the teeth fairly often. Just like a chainsaw, a sharp chain/sharp teeth kick butt.
One tip I have for saving the sharpness of the teeth is, to cut the middle of the stumps first and then the outer edges. This will postpone you from hitting rocks and ultimatly dulling the teeth. I also have a time saver, for large stumps that were left a little taller than normal, I like to use the alpine to score arroung the base of the stump to remove any dirt and bark, then I simply cut it real low with a chainsaw, this technique will save you time, money, clean up as wel as chainsaw chains!
:chainsawguy:

 

[John464]

I cant believe something that small can actually take out a stump bigger than bush in a reasonable amout of time. Seems there are a few on here that have them and must be for some reason. I don't see why you wouldn't want atleast a 35hp self propelled diesel. I have never seen one of these in action, but could of used them on about 2-3 jobs in the past year that I couldn't get to. However, those 2-3 stump jobs came no where near $3600 so I dont forsee myself buying one of those. Still would like to see one in action someday!

 

[Hoosier]

John, Here is a video on youtube, it is not me, but this guy runs it well. Look at the time it took him start to finish.

Hey Steadfast.... I put the spike on this am before I left the house, did ten stumps, all smaller and all for free. At least the family is out of the way.

But thanks for the tip on squaring the trunk for the ALAP cutting with the saw first, that makes perfect sense.

 

[John464]

John, Here is a video on youtube, it is not me, but this guy runs it well. Look at the time it took him start to finish.

I dont see the link?

 

[Ekka]

Mate, you forgot the video link!

 

[neighborstree]

John, Here is a video on youtube, it is not me, but this guy runs it well. Look at the time it took him start to finish.

Hey Steadfast.... I put the spike on this am before I left the house, did ten stumps, all smaller and all for free. At least the family is out of the way.

But thanks for the tip on squaring the trunk for the ALAP cutting with the saw first, that makes perfect sense.

still waiting for the link

 

[Hoosier]

Sorry, I was in a hurry I guess.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD9urOi4oJc

 

[rbtree]

I cant believe something that small can actually take out a stump bigger than bush in a reasonable amout of time. Seems there are a few on here that have them and must be for some reason. I don't see why you wouldn't want atleast a 35hp self propelled diesel. I have never seen one of these in action, but could of used them on about 2-3 jobs in the past year that I couldn't get to. However, those 2-3 stump jobs came no where near $3600 so I dont forsee myself buying one of those. Still would like to see one in action someday!

Reason, it goes where no other machine can....any slope anywhere...And, when sharp, will cut very fast.

I like mine, but, as I've said, It is impossible to use without ruining the teeth in short order in rocky ground. To avoid this disaster, one must painstaking dig around the stump, removing as many rocks as possible, then watch like a hawk for the inevitable rocks embedded in the stump. The teeth dull much more easily than any other teeth. It only takes one errant swipe to break the carbide cutter clean off.


I also like the spike, as it holds the leg in place better.

I paid about $4000 total for mine, plus another 6 set of teeth...already gone through 5 sets of 8....
I'ts already paid for itself...and only a few of the stumps could have been done with a portable machine...But, because it dulls easily, I still send most stump work to my various subs. I now shoot for close to $200 per hour with it.

 

[John464]

RB,

couldnt you have gotten a self propelled to that job in the picture? and done that stump with a lot less effort, quicker and not having to worry about ruining teeth ever so easily? Looks like plenty of space for a 36" wide machine. I mean how many jobs do we actually see per year that these tools are the only grinder that can get the stump out? $4,000 is a lot to spend to be able to do only a few extra jobs than you normally can do with a regular stump grinder.

 

[Hoosier]

As fast as this can reposition and cut you can do a mid sized stump as fast or faster than a smaller tow behind unit. And FWI, they offer softer teeth for rocky terrain that handle abuse better without dulling as fast or chipping. I did 4 stumps the size in the pic, and about 11 shrub stumps into obliteration and am thinking about sharpening my teeth Sunday. So all in all not to bad. Did I mention that I keep this in the back of my truck while towing other equipment? I can tow a mower or small backhoe or my chipper and be able to do a job in one stop, if I had to tow I would be screwed, and if I try a tiller style on any slope at all I am working much harder than I would with this one. The hardest part about this thing is lifting it in and out of my tall bed.

But I am not here to sell it, as far as I am concerned I hope to never see one of these around here

 

[neighborstree]

i must say, i was verry impressed by the guys verry verry dull stihl in the vidieo. if he is going to make a vidieo, why not start with a sharp saw.

i was slightly impressed by the alpine magnum. for the price of one of them, why not buy a small vermeer grinder and do it right

 

[dshackle3]

I think that he ground the stump quicker than he cut it. Dull saw

 

[Hoosier]

i was slightly impressed by the alpine magnum. for the price of one of them, why not buy a small vermeer grinder and do it right

Ehh? I didn't see a vermeer in this price point that could come close to this price point or ability? I saw some of those rental / tiller style manual push me things, no thanks.

Anyway, the less these populate the better off for me.

 

[rbtree]

You guys oughta read my last post. I stated that I just got the machine, did do a few stumps that could have been done with a normal portable.........I will continue to do so.

Hoosier, perhaps your ground isn't as rocky as ours......Even the rock teeth dull and chip badly and easily. The only difference is the rake angle, not the hardness of the carbide----I think. I'm going to talk to Keith to see if there's anything that could be done to improve the durability of the teeth.

But, on a reasonable size stump, as Hoosier said, if the teeth are sharp (the normal teeth which have a sharper rake angle than the rock teeth), the AM is very fast cutting, and could well be faster than a 25 horse 252 or Rayco,.

On a typical stump in our rocky soil, I spend might 25 minutes digging and 15 minutes grinding. With a 252 sized machine, it would be more like 10 minutes of digging, 15 minutes grinding, and 15 minutes load/unload.

My main business is tree work, not stumps. I got the AM to be able to do stumps that no one else can do...My 3 stumper subs are now referring jobs to me, as are a couple of tree services. I don't use the AM much, but am told by Keith of AM that there are a bunch of users that keep busy with the machine and make a boatload of $ with it.


Yes, those ~13 hp small do it yourself grinders are worthless compared to an AM. Won't work on steep slopes, relatively bulky,less rpm, so less grinding speed.....My unit has plenty of power, so I'm going to keep the 9 hp 3120 stock. I doubt my 13 hp modded 3120 would be any faster....for one thing, its muffler wouldn't fit...and would be obnoxiously loud. The 4800 rpm AM has so much wheel speed and inertia that it allows throttle blipping...don't have to run it at continuous full throttle.

 

[Steadfast]

Anyway, the less these populate the better off for me.

I absolutely agree with you Hoosier.

Steadfast

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I cant believe something that small can actually take out a stump bigger than bush in a reasonable amout of time. Seems there are a few on here that have them and must be for some reason. I don't see why you wouldn't want atleast a 35hp self propelled diesel. I have never seen one of these in action, but could of used them on about 2-3 jobs in the past year that I couldn't get to. However, those 2-3 stump jobs came no where near $3600 so I dont forsee myself buying one of those. Still would like to see one in action someday!

One thing that people dont get with so much equipment is that we all work with different clients in different environments and different backgrounds.

Any piece of equipment is infinately valuable or worthless depending on whether it can be used in your work.

An SC252 or rg1625 I could have used less than a half dozen times in the last 6 years. anything bigger would be totally unusable. If you gave me the choice between and brand new 18 inch chipper and a 6 inch I would go for the 6 inch because the 18 would just loose me money. Yet the 42 inch bar on my 088 isnt big enough to get through the trunk of some trees I have done if cutting from both sides. A bucket truck would be worth nothing to me. But I wouldnt sell my chainsaw winches for anything. I have had to use a helicopter to remove stumps! This probably doesnt make sense to you but you havent worked in my town.

I have a simular unit, actually the original that the alpine magnum was copied and upgraded from. Its a Stumpmaster and its fantastic, they are cheaper than AM, teeth are cheap, it takes a minute to change heads on the job. I just mounts on the drawbar of my chipper so my truck looses no space and everything can be done in one trip. I love it, and it makes me over $100 per hour with ease, wouldnt buy a bigger grinder! Everyones different, and everywhere is different!

 

[superior72]

One thing that people dont get with so much equipment is that we all work with different clients in different environments and different backgrounds.

Any piece of equipment is infinately valuable or worthless depending on whether it can be used in your work.

An SC252 or rg1625 I could have used less than a half dozen times in the last 6 years. anything bigger would be totally unusable. If you gave me the choice between and brand new 18 inch chipper and a 6 inch I would go for the 6 inch because the 18 would just loose me money. Yet the 42 inch bar on my 088 isnt big enough to get through the trunk of some trees I have done if cutting from both sides. A bucket truck would be worth nothing to me. But I wouldnt sell my chainsaw winches for anything. I have had to use a helicopter to remove stumps! This probably doesnt make sense to you but you havent worked in my town.

I have a simular unit, actually the original that the alpine magnum was copied and upgraded from. Its a Stumpmaster and its fantastic, they are cheaper than AM, teeth are cheap, it takes a minute to change heads on the job. I just mounts on the drawbar of my chipper so my truck looses no space and everything can be done in one trip. I love it, and it makes me over $100 per hour with ease, wouldnt buy a bigger grinder! Everyones different, and everywhere is different!

I agree, where i live i use nothing but the AM to remove stumps and i would not even consider buying a larger machine. A local dealer tried to demo a rayco 1625 JR for me and we did the same size stumps and i had mine almost finished and he was just getting his off the trailer! All i do is stumps and my machine makes me at least $150 per hour. It is so versatile and easy to use i would use no other. And people also like the light weight no marking aspect, also the go anywhere ease.