MechMaxx Stump Grinders or Other Homeowner Stump Grinders

[Sidecarflip]

Never used a carbide tipped loop, just a suggestion on my part, nothing more
Far as grinding stumps, you ate doing it as a business so time is important. He's not so it's his time all the time, just like me. You have a commercial stump grinder that costs BIG bucks. I don't. One, I have no reason to spend that amount of jack and two, I have a machine that does the job for me perfectly (3 point mount grinder that isn't going to beat me to death like one of those ones with the small grinding wheel and lawnmower engine ones.

Of course they are less expensive than a 3PH mounted grinder (not a lot) but the mounted one like I have (Land Pride-Erskine) machine totally eliminates the physical abuse part as the tractor absorbs that abuse.

Mine isn't as quick as yours, but light years easier on the operator to use.

I believe I paid just over 4 grand for it new and when not in use, it's parked in the barn in the corner.

The only caution I have to use is, how much power I input to it. I'm using a 90 pto tactor to drive it, consequently I have the slip clutch on the machine set pretty light so as to not tear up the driveline. I believe the one I have is rated for 50 pto maximum.

 

[StihlsawuserMS361]

He'd be cutting for the rest of his life with a carbide chain, they're very slow and dead ash can be very hard, although some is rotten as can be.

OP:
Flush cutting with a semi-chisel is the quickest and easiest way to deal with these stumps.
When cutting wood with dirt or stumps, do everything you can to avoid pulling dirt thru the cut. If the tip of the bar comes out the opposite side of the stump, make sure you are using the top side of the bar so the chain throws the dirt away, this will keep the chain sharp much longer than if you pull any dirt through the cut.
When I have large stumps or many to do, I rent a large 55hp diesel grinder that's about 600 a day with rental fee, tax, and fuel. I use it on customers stumps, then bring it home and do whatever stumps I've made at.the house and neighbors. If I have very large stumps I'm doing for a client(36 or larger), I will normally do over 20 stumps average, but most times I'm doing around 30 and ha e done over 40. That number includes driving 25 min either way to pick up the grinder, then add two or three stops with unchaining/unloading, reloading and chaining, filling it with fuel, and doing a great job blowing it off with my backpack blower. When I grind stumps I'm typically grinding them very deep and chase roots ,then remove the grindings(Usually the next day), then add topsoil and seed. Yours will go much quicker if you are just flushing them to get over with a mower, when I'm at a client's that doesn't want to spend the extra on grinding I just upcharge for sharpening time and my chain and cut them very close, it works just fine, but some people want to plant grass or a new tree.
Hope this helps.

Here's a cherry stump I ground, you'd be there for over an hr with a small grinder to achieve similar results, my time is more valuable than saving a few bucks with a little grinder, but I'm sure there's a place for them.



@pioneerguy600 could we get this moved to the appropriate forum. Thanks .

Chipper1
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I do have one more rental place to inquire about a rental. He's grown since he relocated, so perhaps he may have one.
It figures I wouldn't have a semi-chisel ,all 5 of each are full chisel. I assume they'd work, with more sharpening I suppose?

 

[Chainsaw Pete]

Chipper1
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I do have one more rental place to inquire about a rental. He's grown since he relocated, so perhaps he may have one.
It figures I wouldn't have a semi-chisel ,all 5 of each are full chisel. I assume they'd work, with more sharpening I suppose?

Yes, a semi chisel will withstand more abrasion than a full chisel in dirty conditions before it dulls. How much more would be an interesting question.

 

[Del_]

I'm of the opinion that stump grinders under 35 hp really don't grind stumps well. I remember moving up from a 35 hp Vermeer to a 65 hp gas Rayco and the larger stump grinder was at least four times faster. It's like it takes a minimum amount of HP to even moderately start bust a stump.