Have you ever watched other people grind stumps?

[Topbuilder]

In my search for a new stump grinder, I have watched several utube videos. I watch the techniques used by the operators. For the most part, the first thing that comes to mind is - That operator is not the one making the payments on that machine. Next thing I think is, OK, you have had XXX , pick a number, hours to work with the machine to see what works and what does not. Thats what you came up with?

Good example:



Anyone else notice that?

 

[OLD MAN GRINDER]

Watched about 3 minutes, was falling asleep LOL.....
He must be getting paid by the hour....

Bob.....

 

[ReggieT]

Looks like he's give that stump too much respect...Wow...really milking it out! opcorn:

 

[MasterBlaster]

It's time to replace those cutter heads!

 

[Creeker]

Anything over 300mm ( 12 inches) I cut off with the chainsaw, why wear out the stump grinder.

 

[La taupe]

I agree with all of the above, seems strange to start from above, I always find that coming in from the side means the chip comes off easier, less bounce all round better, admittedly I run a smaller machine.

 

[BSG Stumper]

no barriers for flying debris right next to road either. this guy is terrible. waste of a good machine.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

My Betsy would eat that stump for lunch and still be looking for dessert. Picture of me grinding a 8' diameter maple. Approx 2 hrs to grind.

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[Topbuilder]

My Betsy would eat that stump for lunch and still be looking for dessert. Picture of me grinding a 8' diameter maple. Approx 2 hrs to grind.

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Nice machine there. Nice set up. That's where I am trying to get to. I like the 50 but am tired of eating dust.

 

[Topbuilder]

This guy does allright. I would not be moving trees with it though.
Not how I operate the RG50 but I do not have the chip capacity or power he does.

 

[La taupe]

I've looked at these machines for a while, love them! He's obviously pro operator, top top machine.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

That must be a awful soft hardwood stump to be taking that big of bites. Guessing popular

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[NCgrinder]

I'd be interested to know what he charged for grinding those size stumps...

 

[2treeornot2tree]

Around here for 12 stumps that size you would be looking around $400

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[ShermanC]

I agree with all of the above, seems strange to start from above, I always find that coming in from the side means the chip comes off easier, less bounce all round better, admittedly I run a smaller machine.

Precisely, his cutters are dull and he should have slab-cut the upper table, then grind from the side. Maybe this machine is his first and he is enrolled in the school of hard knocks. His use of PPE is wise.
I run two 13HP walk behind with Green #500 cutters.

 

[CalTreeEquip]

That's an old Vermeer 2460B. Back in the day it was the bomb. Biggest, baddest grinder you could get. The cutter rides on a rail, doesn't pivot on a bearing. Really high reach, I think 4' or so. 60 to 100 hp.
These guy don't have a clue what they are doing.

 

[old_soul]

Amazing that they took time to dig the soil away from the stump BUT did not have time to flush cut it lower

I've never seen anybody grind stumps from the top, is that common practice?

 

[CalTreeEquip]

No its not common at all, its assed backwards.

 

[ShermanC]

Be glad you were not watching us today. Yesterday would have been a better watching day, for in cold windy weather we ground ten stumps on a slope of 15-25 degrees and my groudies' son, 14, inventoried 105 old stumps in this long hayfield for diameter and height in the project. Two weeks ago my customer and I did prep work for the project as we tape-tagged all we could find in this hayfield fashioned on an Ozark ridge. The customer thought there might be 50 stumps. The inventory totaled 105 stumps holding 2,265 inches to grind.
But yesterday my self-propelled Beeline balked like a mule, stuck in reverse and the key wouldn't turn it on or off but it would start on first pull of the cord. The Beeline had to stay in my shop while the Husqvarna SG-13 got to be the champion mule and did all the work well. The wind made the work pretty tough so we traded places operating often to give each other a rest and vary the duties of cutting excess stump tops with chainsaws.

After supper it got a change of Green #500 teeth and the grinder shaft got greased making it ready to work Tuesday. I was too worn out to work on the Beeline.
So today we started with a prayer out in the workshop. Then we did a job briefing and safety meeting. Our work began first to cut off a 27" d. X 30" stump but the customer said no need to grind it due to the steep slope. Then we moved to a 20" stump in the middle of the hayfield. Most of the stump was ground when the Husky's grinder head broke the cutter shaft. What a noise that makes! Man we had a great plan to work the ridge length but only got one finished. Then we got a big 22" x 19" diameter stump loaded so I could route a recess in it later for a blacksmith anvil. We took Husky to the small engine tech who is so good on these kinds of problems so we could see what parts ought to be replaced while we had it disassembled. As I pulled the trailer in his driveway my GMC brakes and power steering quit! Oh no...not now. We left the grinder there, got the truck to the local garage I depend on and broke the team off for the day. Although this sounds or looks like a bad luck day, it was safe, we laughed at ourselves, got a good anvil stump and did not make any money. The activity cost $300 for the cutter head assembly from ereplacementparts in Utah and I was glad they had one in stock. I am in suspense about my GMC repairs. Tomorrow will only reach 37 degrees so I'll try to adjust the Beeline hydro-stat. That's all folks! I hope your day of watching was a positive day.