Is it just me, or is stump grinding a huge pain?

[PTS]

How about some horror stories, what have you hit with your stump grinder? I'm always afraid of finding a live underground power wire or a water line.

Anyone hit anything weird?

Yesterday a waterline on a golf course. Course Super was present and assured us that there was no irrigation in the area. As the water was flowing my guy calls to tell me what was going on. Mad at first as he continued the story telling me about the Supers presence and his assurance of no irrigation my frown became a smile as I envisioned him getting sprayed. At least it wasn't our problem. I don't like problems

 

[ropensaddle]

Well seeing how its been my income for last month I guess
that changes my motivation! I used to hate it but now have a large
grinder sc602 I have around 10 golf course properties that I am grinding
and will be repeat biz! It is funny I used to not make money at stumping
and priced as much as 100 per stump, now on volume jobs with a hundred
stumps 10 per stump I do pretty good. My best day was 127 stumps times
10 = 1270.00 not bad to grind and leave eh!

 

[gr8scott72]

Now THAT is motivating, grinding stumps in someones septic tank effluent!

Can you say wireless remote?

 

[tree MDS]

Can you say wireless remote?

A+ on the new machine dude, nice!

 

[Treetom]

Horror stories.

I've hit a lot of crap with my stump grinder over the years, everything from galvanized water pipes to brake drums, a lot of fence posts, concrete. A guy I used to subcontract stumps to ran into a tire rim. The tree had been planted inside the rim and had grown over it, so it wasn't visible until he started to grind through it. My closest call was earlier this Spring when I was grinding out a 45+ inch oak stump. I was chasing a root about 4 inches under the surface when I hit a gas line. It was a calm foggy day and the gas stayed close to the ground. The fire department wouldn't let us start our trucks for fear that the ignition spark would cause an explosion. Normally gas lines are a lot deeper than 4". The best I can figure is that over the years, the tree roots slowly pushed the pipe up until it was just below the surface.

 

[Gunsmoke]

I've got the brother to your machine gr8scott. 06' Carlton SP7015 went w/ the wheeled version though. 129 hrs. Sandvik wheel all the same goodies got and love it! I ended up getting the machine of the guy I bought my first mach. off of (carlton 2300)

As for it being a pain I would disagree. I have had many days @ $600 w/ just me and my machine and be home by 3:00pm. Machine burns 1 1/4 gals per hr. truck burns 13miles per gal. w/ machine on trailer. ins cost me $1985 per yr.(for everything) advertising costs 200 per mo. teeth $6.70 a piece. Not gettin' rich but livin' good.

I was just told by one of the BIG tree companies in the are that he wished all he had was a grinder his truck and trailer to worry about. Said he was in to deep and that there is to many headaches.

Oh well to each his own it is better than the alt. driving/owning a semi and paying out $2,000 a week in diesel and not making ends meet!

 

[treemandan]

I've hit a lot of crap with my stump grinder over the years, everything from galvanized water pipes to brake drums, a lot of fence posts, concrete. A guy I used to subcontract stumps to ran into a tire rim. The tree had been planted inside the rim and had grown over it, so it wasn't visible until he started to grind through it. My closest call was earlier this Spring when I was grinding out a 45+ inch oak stump. I was chasing a root about 4 inches under the surface when I hit a gas line. It was a calm foggy day and the gas stayed close to the ground. The fire department wouldn't let us start our trucks for fear that the ignition spark would cause an explosion. Normally gas lines are a lot deeper than 4". The best I can figure is that over the years, the tree roots slowly pushed the pipe up until it was just below the surface.

More coincidence here. I JUST started calling the utility companies on EVERY stump. These days there is a lot more under the ground. I do about a day of grinding once a month with a rented grinder( its a long day). 50 bucks a year to sign up with PA -1 call, just call with the details and they will do it no matter how many. They call all the utililties and they let you know what's up. I do not like my eggs on my face, ever.
By the way, glad you ain't dead. And for you guys who send employees out to do it without calling, screw you.

 

[kennertree]

Here in TN there is no charge for calling to get utilities marked. Sometimes it takes them a few days to get out and mark. Unless I know for sure there is nothing below the stump I give them a call.

 

[treemandan]

By the way for all you grinders out there: Stop crying and clean up a little, do a little extra for the people who chose you out of the hundred other guys.
Hell, I bomb out a tree, I fill in the holes. I use the soil I made from all the stump grindings I brought back. Its not like its hard work or cost a whole lot either. At least its not for me, I am happy to do it. You guys sound like those computer programers complaining of carpal tunnel.

 

[Gunsmoke]

This is my "pain" I'm not sure how to resize so let me know if you guys can see this pic or not. Just keep clickin until something happens!

 

[treemandan]

This is my "pain" I'm not sure how to resize so let me know if you guys can see this pic or not. Just keep clickin until something happens!

I don't know, I clicked it , something came up and said I have to pay, I stopped right there. What is it?

 

[gr8scott72]

This is my "pain" I'm not sure how to resize so let me know if you guys can see this pic or not. Just keep clickin until something happens!

Doesn't work for me. Can't see anything.

 

[Gunsmoke]

It was a pic of my grinder but everytime a try to upload says pics is to big? I'll wake up Junior he's 22 months but could prob. figure it out!

 

[gr8scott72]

It was a pic of my grinder but everytime a try to upload says pics is to big? I'll wake up Junior he's 22 months but could prob. figure it out!

Email it to me. I'll post it.

[email protected]

 

[oldirty]

By the way for all you grinders out there: Stop crying and clean up a little, do a little extra for the people who chose you out of the hundred other guys.
Hell, I bomb out a tree, I fill in the holes. I use the soil I made from all the stump grindings I brought back. Its not like its hard work or cost a whole lot either. At least its not for me, I am happy to do it. You guys sound like those computer programers complaining of carpal tunnel.

sounding like a pro to me there bub. i like it.

i believe its pride that'll seperate "you" from another. i'd hate to walk away from a job and not be proud of it.

 

[treemandan]

sounding like a pro to me there bub. i like it.

i believe its pride that'll seperate "you" from another. i'd hate to walk away from a job and not be proud of it.

No, just the best hack in the world but thank you, chisel chest.

 

[oldirty]

No, just the best hack in the world but thank you, chisel chest.

well if thats the case i'd let you drag the brush on my crew any day. i mean the best hack ever? thats a looong list.

lol

 

[gr8scott72]

It was a pic of my grinder but everytime a try to upload says pics is to big? I'll wake up Junior he's 22 months but could prob. figure it out!

 

[Gunsmoke]

You are a computer genious!!! I'll send ya some close ups of the "Grinda" as my little guy calls it when I get some good ones!

 

[treemandan]

You are a computer genious!!! I'll send ya some close ups of the "Grinda" as my little guy calls it when I get some good ones!

What is that leaking under the truck?