stump grinder
ArboristSite Member
Of course it is not made for production work! But, you knew that and so did I. Don't tell anyone else,ok?
Dean
Dean
Stump grinder
- Thread starter Fenwicker
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Looks like a 4 to 6 hr job to me Stumpgrinder, I own the same setup as you trailer and all.
If I was pricing it up here it would be around $400-$450 the reason being that I have learned over the last year that:
A: You make much better time and money on the 18" and under stumps.
B: A large stump usually has more imbedded junk in it resulting in dull teeth, more time, more load on the machine.
C: You need to pay yourself for the time to sharpen the teeth as well, if your'e just going to replace dull teeth you are going to go broke.
D: The machine will last your lifetime if used properly and maintained well, therefore it does not need to be paid for in one year or even two, so you don't need every ugly job out there.
E: Add some other service into your business, perhaps that compliments the stumping, seed and sod maybe, point is it's better than relying on one thing and bumps up the return on the trip.
If I was pricing it up here it would be around $400-$450 the reason being that I have learned over the last year that:
A: You make much better time and money on the 18" and under stumps.
B: A large stump usually has more imbedded junk in it resulting in dull teeth, more time, more load on the machine.
C: You need to pay yourself for the time to sharpen the teeth as well, if your'e just going to replace dull teeth you are going to go broke.
D: The machine will last your lifetime if used properly and maintained well, therefore it does not need to be paid for in one year or even two, so you don't need every ugly job out there.
E: Add some other service into your business, perhaps that compliments the stumping, seed and sod maybe, point is it's better than relying on one thing and bumps up the return on the trip.
Never liked sharpenning those teeth, or the dust! How do you do it?
Carbide dust as well as the Silicon carbide dust from the grinding wheel are not poisionous per se, they will however cause silicosis in your lungs as the particles get embedded.
A dust mask is a good idea as is eye goggles.
I use a bench grinder and Silicon carbide wheel, to touch up the teeth.
If you have difficulty getting them ground right keep a new cutter on the bench beside the grinder and compare often as you grind.
Only the relief angle of the radiused face is ground, the top of the tooth is not ground, in effect you are just grinding the same radius further back each time.
As with most things there is a trade off with the grinding wheels the more friable(breaks down quicker) the less you heat the teeth as you grind them. A harder wheel will last longer but creates more heat.
Don't allow the tooth to get so hot during grinding that you start to see blue on the material you are grinding, if you do, allow to cool slowly. If cooled quickly in water you can get thermal stress cracks causing chipping of the teeth even on the small rocks.
A dust mask is a good idea as is eye goggles.
I use a bench grinder and Silicon carbide wheel, to touch up the teeth.
If you have difficulty getting them ground right keep a new cutter on the bench beside the grinder and compare often as you grind.
Only the relief angle of the radiused face is ground, the top of the tooth is not ground, in effect you are just grinding the same radius further back each time.
As with most things there is a trade off with the grinding wheels the more friable(breaks down quicker) the less you heat the teeth as you grind them. A harder wheel will last longer but creates more heat.
Don't allow the tooth to get so hot during grinding that you start to see blue on the material you are grinding, if you do, allow to cool slowly. If cooled quickly in water you can get thermal stress cracks causing chipping of the teeth even on the small rocks.
stump grinder
ArboristSite Member
Keener,
Glad to see someone has the same setup as me. I think I have about an hour to an hour and a half left to do on that job. It was going great unitl I hit,yes embedded objects! How do you go about your pricing? I am woring in norther New York, what area do you work?
Dean Chartier
Glad to see someone has the same setup as me. I think I have about an hour to an hour and a half left to do on that job. It was going great unitl I hit,yes embedded objects! How do you go about your pricing? I am woring in norther New York, what area do you work?
Dean Chartier
I can't tell you what is competitive in your area but here in B.C around Vancouver/Victoria metro area $80 to $100 per hour is about right.
Takes a while to learn how many hours it's going to take though so you will probably learn the hard way on some or even most for a while.
Like anything it will get easier with practice.
Takes a while to learn how many hours it's going to take though so you will probably learn the hard way on some or even most for a while.
Like anything it will get easier with practice.
Well it's Friday and I'm finished for the week.
The Rayco stumper worked 1.5hrs on Thurs and 1.5hrs this morning, actual running time. The jobs from start to finish where 2 hrs each, one Douglas fir stump( 30") and one Lombardy(32") at ground level.
Charged $214 for the fir and $235 for the Lombardy so 3hrs of run time on the stumper produced $449 gross receipts.
This is just about right as all expenses and taxes have yet to be paid and the teeth have to be sharpened on the weekend to be ready for next week, I like to pay myself for that too.
Also I always take a helper with me for prep before grinding and cleanup, also very handy when the machine tips over on uneven ground, hard to pick up with one guy.
Because the U.S. dollar is worth more and cost of taxes and your cost for stumper parts, fuel, ect is less than up here I would think an hourly rate around $65 to $75 per hour would make sense.
Sound right to you?
The Rayco stumper worked 1.5hrs on Thurs and 1.5hrs this morning, actual running time. The jobs from start to finish where 2 hrs each, one Douglas fir stump( 30") and one Lombardy(32") at ground level.
Charged $214 for the fir and $235 for the Lombardy so 3hrs of run time on the stumper produced $449 gross receipts.
This is just about right as all expenses and taxes have yet to be paid and the teeth have to be sharpened on the weekend to be ready for next week, I like to pay myself for that too.
Also I always take a helper with me for prep before grinding and cleanup, also very handy when the machine tips over on uneven ground, hard to pick up with one guy.
Because the U.S. dollar is worth more and cost of taxes and your cost for stumper parts, fuel, ect is less than up here I would think an hourly rate around $65 to $75 per hour would make sense.
Sound right to you?
stump grinder
ArboristSite Member
Keener,
Sounds like you are getting good money for your jobs. Good for you! I am starting to price my jobs higher because of the maintaince of teeth on the machine. I got a job on the way home yesterday to do 12 poplar trees at my insurance agents business. Doing that in two weeks on the weekend when there are no customers there. The trees are all about 17" so It should go fairly fast. Getting $350 for that job. I have two more jobs coming up , things are picking up as we get out of winter
Dean
Sounds like you are getting good money for your jobs. Good for you! I am starting to price my jobs higher because of the maintaince of teeth on the machine. I got a job on the way home yesterday to do 12 poplar trees at my insurance agents business. Doing that in two weeks on the weekend when there are no customers there. The trees are all about 17" so It should go fairly fast. Getting $350 for that job. I have two more jobs coming up , things are picking up as we get out of winter
Dean
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