TreeCo, here is your Conehead lab report

[jazak]

My buddy just bought a Discone 570 here are the specs:

Discone 570:
H.P. - 325HP JD
Diameter Capacity- 22"
Opening- 35" X 22"
Standard Weight- 16,4010 lbs.
Length- 17' 8"
Width- 8'
Torsion Axle- 8,000 lbs. Tandem
Swivel Discharge- 360o
Channel Frame- Reinforced 6" H.D.

He also owns a Brush Bandit 1890:

BB 1890:
H.P. - 110-140hp CAT, Cummins, Perkins, or JD
Diameter Capacity- 18"
Opening- 10 5/8" x 20"
Standard Weight- 9,250lb.s
Length- 15' 11"
Width- 7' 10"
Torsion Axle- 10,000lb.s
Swivel Discharge- 360o
Channel Frame- 6" w/channel cross members

Morbark 18":
H.P. - 130-225hp CAT, JD or Perkins (Cummins been taken away)
Diameter Capacity- 18"
Opening- 31" x 20"
Standard Weight- 11,700lb.s
Length- 17' 6"
Width- 8' 2"
Torsion Axle- 10,000lb.s
Swivel Discharge- 360o
Channel Frame- 6" and supports

I have used all of the above and have to say there is little difference between the Discone, Morbark, and BB. The discone is bigger then the other and chips a little better, the morbark is easier to get into places and out performs the BB. They all use about the same on gas the Discone a little better but not by much. Discone sales representatives state that their chipper doesn't take as much abuse while chipping as the other brands because of how they have supperted the system on springs, ext. That is true about the springs but when I have used it it shook just about as hard as the Morbark. The power is much bigger but is reallyundneeded due to the fact that a 150hp or 200hp unit can chip just as good as 350hp unit. This machine does out perform other machines in the following: chipping smoother, uses a little less fuel but NOT by 60 something percent, maybe by 15-30 percent. For doing residentail or commercail work I would have to say this machine is overkill and a waste of money. If I was to rank the machines it would come out like this:

1st Discone 570
2nd Morbark 18
3rd BB 1890

BTW I will soon be testing the Discone model 55 vs. Morbark 1 vs. BB 1590 When I do I wil post the differences and pros and cons of each machine this next itme I will go into more depth and show more statistics. Also here are some pics of the machines.

 

[Bigstumps]

opcorn: opcorn: opcorn:

 

[jazak]

opcorn: opcorn: opcorn:

So do you like it?

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

Mark it's about the data. I gave two reasons but they do not carry equal weight. The dealers comments are immaterial to me.

Hmmmm. You sure sounded like it mattered.

I've also sent emails with links to this thread to the University and as of now they have not entered into the discussion or even return emails.

Dan, get serious. You don't expect a university to get into an Internet forum peeing match, do you?

If I had spare time, I'd like to see a copy of the report, if only to tear it apart.


One of the bad things about such sloppy studies is that they tend to splatter mud on the subject. For example, if someone reads that report and recognizes that its conclusions are not supported by the evidence given, they might then conclude that the conclusions are entirely false. That might be true, but it might not. A good study might well show the same results, but such a report will find that the water has been muddied, and might not be given the weight it deserves.

Ah dunno.

 

[bcorradi]

I'd like to point out that this thread arose from another thread were someone was asking about chippers.

Are you sure you weren't meaning to use the word "where" here?

 

[Lakeside53]

Treeco, surely you didnt make a typo???

 

[priest]

Thanks for the comments, though I'm still almost as foggy on this subject as ever.
I'm demo-ing a Vermeer BC-1000 tomorrow with the intent to buy if it meets my needs. I've heard some testimony both for and against these machines. A few people I know greatly prefer Morbark, but this is a few thousand cheaper than a new Morbark, and I figure I can always trade up in a year or so if it sucks (got 7 months of warranty left).

It is through the Vermeer dealer and was a rental machine (rented to the DOT only for 7 months, 300 hours). He is asking 21K.

I think I'll eventually want a larger chipper, so in a couple of years when I'm maybe running two solid crews I'll re-evaluate and may consider a Dynamic if they have proven themselves at that time.

Thanks again for your input.

Nate

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I don't pay much attention to what dealers say.

Noooo problem. Just razzin' you.

I have been interested in the conehead design since seeing it first advertised 5 or 6 years ago.
I was really disappointed to see what looks like some really bad science being used to promote the product when I read the report.

Yeah, it looks interesting. I can understand how you feel about it. It looked good, but then they pull some, uh, less than honorable stuff, and it also calls their claims into question. I mean, if they have VALID claims, they sure don't need to be touting bogus claims.

Sure would be nice to see some bright young grad student (maybe in a forestry or arborist program?) do a valid study on this. Fuel isn't getting any cheaper, and it would be nice to see what the real efficiencies are in real-world conditions. It would be a good challenge to lay out a testing protocol that simulates actual usage, and keeps comparisons on an apples to apples basis. It would actually make for a good project for a paper. Maybe not enough for a thesis, but still...

 

[Bigstumps]

So you think Central Michigan will do my taxes???? They look to have some creative thinking!! :jester: