When to buy a bigger chipper?

[JCONN]

I have been tossing the idea around of a new chipper. I currently use a 12 inch capacity bandit 200+. This chipper is fine but i was thinking of going towards a 18" ( I would keep my current chipper unless i found i didnt need it). I have never used a whole tree chipper and wasn't't sure if it would be a good investment. I have a 20 yard truck and in the process of putting together another chip truck so space is not a problem, I have a dingo also, no skid steer but access to a cat 257b track unit anytime i need it.

I do an even split of removals and trimming. However a lot of times they are in limited access areas. Do these chippers do OK with 4' sections of log or does that jam them up. I am going to make note of all our jobs to track if we can winch the tree in or have to chunk it out.

Around me its much easier to get rid of chips then logs especially crap wood. I guess i am just looking for input on when you guys decided to go towards the bigger chipper.

Thanks Jeff

 

[Thillmaine1]

The last two companies I worked for have had bandit 1590's.THe first company was a crane removal company. THe 1590 was about perfect size. On some occasions a larger chipper would have been nice, but never any smaller. The company was is in upstate NY (Saratoga Area), so lots of maples, and pines.
THe company i work for know is primarily a pruning company. We work in Westchester county, the trees are huge, a 1590 would be a waste of time if we were doing big removals. Need a real whole tree chipper, 24 inches or bigger. For what we do, the 1590 is overkill. We could get away with a 200/250/254 easily. All our wood is kept for firewood.
If I had to buy an all purpose chipper I would go with that size. 16-18 inch, Im not sure exactly what it is, but def bigger then a 200. THe most pronounced difference is the feed opening size, its like night and day compared to a 200.THe being said your looking at 50k or so brand ew with winch and a big motor. Best of luck..

 

[jefflovstrom]

Do these chippers do OK with 4' sections of log or does that jam them up.

They do great,
Jeff

 

[oldirty]

get a woodsman 18xx if you want a bigger chipper. the bandits or vermeer cannot chip like the woodsman.

or you can go big time and get the 790.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4KcrreUggc

 

[Scottscape]

that woodsman is a beast. what did they do about the chip throwing? slow the autofeed down?

 

[jefflovstrom]

Control panel keeps the RPM's up.
Jeff

 

[ipkyss]

Buy a chipper with the capacity you need. Are you constantly cutting stuff smaller to fit it through the chipper? Will 4-6-10" bigger make your day a lot faster? Is the chipper really what slows your job down? A lot of people are happy with a 18" 180hp chipper. They need the extra capacity, but the 180hp will keep the job moving fast enough and will save a lot of money.

We do a lot of big take downs. We also sell chips and really dont save firewood. My 1890 bandit (great chipper btw) was really slowing the day down. Picked up a Conehead 570 23" 325hp. My next problem is the 27 yard chip truck is not near big enough. Can fill it with pine in 8-10 mins.

It all depends on what you need to get your jobs done, in your area.

 

[JCONN]

I guess I need to track our jobs a little better. to figure it out. Sometimes its the chipper slowing us down and other times its just the job. I haven't put much thought into a larger chipper when on the job site just trying to get down and keep things running smooth. I always cut anything that's under 12" to chip cause that's all I can do now, have to fig if I can move the whole tree or section to the chipper and avoid liming it up and loading out the main trunk.

 

[arbor pro]

Sounds like your operation is similar to mine. I do a lot of pruning but also small to medium removals. I usually don't get into trees over 4'dbh as I don't have the large skid steer or crane to handle such big wood.

I sold my bandit 200+ and went back to a vermeer 1800 which I used to run many years ago. It's great for small to large jobs. I love not having to trim up branches like I had to with the small infeed of the 200+. I can pile high the 1800 with branches, fire it up, and have the stuff chipped in a fraction of the time the 200+ would have taken. My ground guy is especially happy that he doesn't have to work so hard to feed the chipper now. We won't ever go back to a 12" machine. A 12" machine is difficult to feed with a mini skid. I've tried it - too small of infeed. An 18" machine is perfect when matched with a mini.

Go for the bigger machine. No regrets.

 

[blakeaferd]

200 vs 250

i use a bandit 200 and 250 everyday, removals and pruning. The 250xp definatly increases production because of the larger hopper; it allows you to put larger brush in without cutting it up to fit in, also larger stacks of brush, as well you dont always have to cut stubs off when chipping logs...saving time

 

[a_lopa]

18" with a winch and you wont use the 200 anymore.

 

[oldirty]

18" with a winch ......

i see you finally fixed the winch.

 

[Menchhofer]

We just traded in our 12" 250xp disc chipper this year and went to 17" 1590 w/drum.
Difference is amazing. Will never own a disc chipper again. For some reason, the knives stay sharper longer wider infeed chute, higher horsepower, and large limbs feed in straight instead of being pulled to one side. Great machine.

 

[a_lopa]

i see you finally fixed the winch.

It always worked just need rope,Using dyneema(Dutch made stuff) now it last WAY longer than other "winch rope"