3-Point Chipper Shredder

[SpaceBus]

I'm searching for a 3 point chipper that can also shred. My tractor makes a claimed 45 HP gross and about 35 PTO HP. So far it seems my only option for a 3 point machine that can do both and work with my tractor is the Wallenstein BXM42 or BXM32, both of which are very expensive and don't offer hydraulic indeed. I saw the Merry Mac unit is more affordable, but it just kind of dumps the mulch onto the ground next to the unit. I would like to be able to direct the output side of the machine.

We plan on growing a lot of vegetables and such on our property along with a tree farm, so a wood chipper will see a lot of use. I don't mind spending some coin, but only when I have to. For the most part I try to do things myself and/or inexpensively so I can have money for nice tools.

 

[SpaceBus]

Maybe I'm better off with a pull behind shredder?

 

[SpaceBus]

I guess really it comes down to hyro infeed or shredding capability. Apparently there aren't any machines that do both, or at least none for $5,000 or less, even with a pull behind.

 

[blades]

look at the echo bear cat line. I have a pull behind 20 hp unit. Be nice to move it out as I do not need it anymore. Long way away in Maine from here.

 

[SpaceBus]

look at the echo bear cat line. I have a pull behind 20 hp unit. Be nice to move it out as I do not need it anymore. Long way away in Maine from here.

It might cost me more than it's worth to ship it up here.

 

[sloeffle]

I think I'd buy two pieces of specialized equipment before I'd buy one that doesn't do a really good job at either task. That seems to be the norm for a lot of the units you see that can do two "things" with one machine.

Wallenstein makes a great product but I bet you can buy a dedicated chipper and shredder that does a better job at both tasks for less money. When I bought my chipper I read all of the reviews about the Wallenstein's and read nothing bad. But, they were almost double than what I paid for my Woodland Mills chipper. For a homeowner that is going to put about 40 - 80 hours a year on a chipper I think a Woodland Mills or WoodMaxx is a perfect fit. I picked the Woodland Mills unit because it is easier to change the knives out on the Woodland Mills unit vs the WoodMaxx. Both are built in China ( and you can tell ).

If I was making money chipping trees I'd buy a commercial tow behind chipper.

 

[SpaceBus]

I think I'd buy two pieces of specialized equipment before I'd buy one that doesn't do a really good job at either task. That seems to be the norm for a lot of the units you see that can do two "things" with one machine.

Wallenstein makes a great product but I bet you can buy a dedicated chipper and shredder that does a better job at both tasks for less money. When I bought my chipper I read all of the reviews about the Wallenstein's and read nothing bad. But, they were almost double than what I paid for my Woodland Mills chipper. For a homeowner that is going to put about 40 - 80 hours a year on a chipper I think a Woodland Mills or WoodMaxx is a perfect fit. I picked the Woodland Mills unit because it is easier to change the knives out on the Woodland Mills unit vs the WoodMaxx. Both are built in China ( and you can tell ).

If I was making money chipping trees I'd buy a commercial tow behind chipper.

I've been looking really close at the Woodland Mills 8" chipper. They hydro feed and stand look really user friendly. Really it seems like it could withstand every day use so long as it isn't abused. Is there a standalone shredder you would recommend? Can you feed the previously chipped material into the shredder?

 

[blades]

feeding previously chip material to a shredder- have to watch the max intake size the shredder is rated for ( thickness)

It might cost me more than it's worth to ship it up here.

very likely model 5672 ain't cheap does not rely on changeable screens which can be a pia.

 

[sloeffle]

I've been looking really close at the Woodland Mills 8" chipper. They hydro feed and stand look really user friendly. Really it seems like it could withstand every day use so long as it isn't abused. Is there a standalone shredder you would recommend? Can you feed the previously chipped material into the shredder?

I have the 6" Woodland Mills chipper. Anything over about 4" I use for firewood. I bought the 6" model because it gives you some leeway when you are chipping smaller branches that might have a crook in them or where the butts from other branches stick out. I thought about the 8" chipper but my smaller tractor only has 41 PTO HP. The 8" chipper needs 35 at a minimum but I'd rather not cut it so close. Personal opinion.

I didn't look at any shredders when I was looking for my chipper. We have EAB so I'm chipping all of the small ash trees and branches from dead ash trees that I cut for firewood. I just leave the chips on the forest floor to rot. The chip size isn't very big ( 1/4 maybe ) coming out of the machine. If the teeth on the hydraulic feet unit can grab the branch it will chip it. I've shoved 20' foot long ash trees that don't have any tops anymore ( essentially a pole ) and it will eat it up and not even bat an eye.

Are you wanting to shred leaves ?

 

[SpaceBus]

I have the 6" Woodland Mills chipper. Anything over about 4" I use for firewood. I bought the 6" model because it gives you some leeway when you are chipping smaller branches that might have a crook in them or where the butts from other branches stick out. I thought about the 8" chipper but my smaller tractor only has 41 PTO HP. The 8" chipper needs 35 at a minimum but I'd rather not cut it so close. Personal opinion.

I didn't look at any shredders when I was looking for my chipper. We have EAB so I'm chipping all of the small ash trees and branches from dead ash trees that I cut for firewood. I just leave the chips on the forest floor to rot. The chip size isn't very big ( 1/4 maybe ) coming out of the machine. If the teeth on the hydraulic feet unit can grab the branch it will chip it. I've shoved 20' foot long ash trees that don't have any tops anymore ( essentially a pole ) and it will eat it up and not even bat an eye.

Are you wanting to shred leaves ?

I wanted to go with the 8" unit solely for putting in large volumes of smaller pieces, basically I like the large hopper and opening. I personally burn anything over 1-2" (small stove), but I am accumulating mounds of branches, twigs, punky/rotten stuff, Alder, shrubs, etc that aren't suitable for burning. Perhaps the 6" unit would be just fine.

I plan on using the chips for trails, gardening, mulch, and animal bedding/stall material. A shredder would be nice because shredded biomass starts composting within weeks.

 

[sloeffle]

If you are burning stuff down to 1 - 2" then I'd probably not even worry about getting a chipper. If you do get a chipper and plan on chipping a lot of of small stuff then I probably wouldn't get a hydraulically fed unit. As a rough guess, the distance between the feeder unit ( the drum that pulls the material in ) and the end of the chipper is two feet. I try not to get my hands anywhere in that area. If you are chipping a lot of short stuff you are asking for trouble IMHO.

I'd think a pull behind 4" chipper shredder unit from one of the big box stores would probably be just fine for what you wanting to do.

 

[SpaceBus]

1-2" is too small now that I think about it. We jurt got here in November and I've just been grabbing up any dry wood and most of that is small. We have 25 acres and there are tons of small trees and brush that need to come out. Already we have made several brush piles and burn permits are hard to get when there's no snow on the ground. You might be right and maybe a 8" chipper is too big. I was watching the video on the Woodmills website and loved that it chewed up loads of thin long branches with leaves like it was nothing. That's what I want. Many posts on the internet say the Chinese 6" units bog down with small stringy stuff and the 8" units don't. Maybe thats nonsense to sell the bigger units.

I was just reading my manual and apparent I can use the draw bar to tow a trailer while the chipper is attached. That's all the reason in the world to get a 3pt chipper to me. My wife pointed out that a hydraulic feed unit would be safer since I'm not manually pushing things in. I also doubt I have the energy for a manual feed unit.

 

[wilsoncm1]

I have the Wallenstein BX52X that we run behind our 32HP MF. It's a beast and chips everything I can put into it. We chose the 5" model because we'll never need to chip anything that large, it would just become firewood. It doesn't have the autofeed, but it doesn't need it. Branches and whatnot are pulled in by the chipper teeth. The only time I wish I had it was when I over fed it with voluminous branches.

 

[SpaceBus]

I have the Wallenstein BX52X that we run behind our 32HP MF. It's a beast and chips everything I can put into it. We chose the 5" model because we'll never need to chip anything that large, it would just become firewood. It doesn't have the autofeed, but it doesn't need it. Branches and whatnot are pulled in by the chipper teeth. The only time I wish I had it was when I over fed it with voluminous branches.

I intend to feed this future chipper nothing but voluminous branches and wood unsuitable for burning. Everything else will be burned in the stove or milled into lumber.

 

[SpaceBus]

This is the kind of stuff I will primarily be chipping, whole Speckled Alder shrubs, many limbs full of twigs and branches, small Balsam fir and spruce trees, and whatever other wood that is unsuitable for the stove. Woodmaxx now offers a pretty slick looking hydrostatic feed 8" chipper. It has a horizontal hopper like the mechanical feed, but it also has a clamshell for the flywheel. Looks like it would be perfect, but it's pretty steep at $5,000... Their mechanical feed is under $3,000, but it only has two knives and no easy access to maintain them. I'm definitely foreseeing myself picking an auto feed with the most horizontal hopper to save my back. If my body weren't so wrecked I would probably just get the cheapest manual feed Chinese chipper...

 

[Kevin Weis]

I’m late on this but has anyone thought about DR equipment? Just a thought maybe already been posted.

 

[thewoodlands]

I’m late on this but has anyone thought about DR equipment? Just a thought maybe already been posted.

I've looked at them, I was just wondering with all the different makes/models of chippers are there any that will protect your engine more than the other models.

 

[SpaceBus]

I'm probably going to go with a wallenstein BXM42. It's pricey but I really want a PTO shredder.