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Tree/ Branch chipper information needed

Kurly

Active Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2011
Messages
38
Location
WI
Occupation
Retired
Hello, I live between Chicago and Milwaukee in Caledonia Wisconsin and have a little 8 1/2 acre farmette with 5 acres of woods. We have had a complete die off of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Bore and also a invasion of the very invasive Buckthorn shrub/tree. I've been Killing the Buckthorn with a chemical treatment. My question is about PTO chippers. I have a few pieces of equipment and would rather not have an additional engine to maintain. I'm looking for some experiences with PTO chippers to chip Ash and Buckthorn branches, usually less than 4 inches. My fleet leaves much to be desired 1936 Farmall F-12, 1944 Farmall M, 1952 Ford 8N, 1980 Case 580C loader backhoe, and IH 500C dozer W/ 6 way blade. I would like something 3 point that I could take into the woods on the trails and chip the dead branches. The 8N is the most versatile but only about 25HP. My snooping around tells me I need power feed as I'm 67 years old not 27. The M is about 44 HP but doesn't have three point (they are available). The dozer is a diesel but doesn't have a PTO, are they available??? Maybe pulling a diesel powered unit behind the 8N would be the easiest but they seem to be crazy expensive and wide, heavy, and big to pull through a 5 acre woods. What is your experiences? More HP the better is what I think.

Curly
 

Camshawn

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Messages
585
Location
Langley BC
Occupation
retired
I have only used the larger pull behind chippers. There is a world of difference between the gas powered units and the small diesel units. I would rent one for a week/weekend if you can (They are getting hard to rent in our area). 2 of us can chip all the dead limbs and wind falls on our 10 acres over the weekend. We just drag the chipper to the limbs with the tractor. It is amazing how much material one will process in a short time. I have been looking for an older diesel unit to buy. Cam
 

stinky64

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2017
Messages
861
Location
java center ny
Occupation
big truck wrench/fixer of things
If you don't already have one get a 3 pt. boom for the 8N, make up manageable piles put a chain around them and pull them out into the open,cut to stackable, burnable hunks then call the neighbors and have a bonfire.(neighbors optional). I've got 15 acres of woods and its a never ending battle with blowdown, ashborer damage. Aside from the afore mentioned method I pick up branches all year long and stack them for cooler weather fires or cut it up for fire starter or sugar wood. The boom would also serve well to drag branches/trees out to a stationary chipper.
 
Last edited:

Kurly

Active Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2011
Messages
38
Location
WI
Occupation
Retired
Thanks for the input and ideas. I can rent a 6" 25 HP Kohler for $230/ day, OR 12" 85hp Cummins for $500.00/ day. I have burned for years and I enjoy spending time out in the woods with a fire but it takes forever. I'm thinking trying a chipper to improve my production/efficiency and not have to handle every piece more than once. I'll rent the small one first and expect to be
disappointed but it only weights 1900 Lbs. with a disc grinder. The big one weights 4200lbs. and uses a drum grinder.

Curly
 

Camshawn

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Messages
585
Location
Langley BC
Occupation
retired
I was spoiled by my neighbour tree trimmer a few yrs ago and experienced several of the hi horsepower drum units. I got to use 2 of his young labourers one Saturday and we cleaned up an amazing amount of trees in 4 hrs. Probably 4 times faster than picking up, transporting and burning. My wife and I pick up branches as we walk around all year and then move the piles to the burn site with the pallet forces on the tractor. We have found chipping to be less effort at our place. Cam
 

hosspuller

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2014
Messages
1,869
Location
North Carolina
I have a Woodland Mills PTO chipper. It has a hydraulic feed which is important to low power tractors. One can slow the feed to match the PTO power. The large infeed helps with reducing the amount of crotch trimming. I rarely chip anything more than 3 inches since I use it as firewood. The limiting factor is weight on the 3 point.

I used to burn the trimmings but since I've gotten old, slow, and weak... the chipper reduces the labor tremendously. Instead of trimming, dragging, stacking, and loading, I feed the butt into the chipper and reach for the next branch. Owning it means I don't have the time pressure of a rental. I do much better working in short intervals.

https://woodlandmills.com/wc88-8-pto-wood-chipper/
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
I'd rent the 25HP unit and see how much you can get done. Have a bunch of piles ready beforehand. A wood chipper would be really taxing on a 70+ year old 8N and it wouldn't have hyd's. to run auto-feed. You wouldn't gain anything if you damaged the tractor in the process. The big unit would take bigger branches and tree's but you'd have to cut them small enough to handle anyways.
 

hosspuller

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2014
Messages
1,869
Location
North Carolina
I'd rent the 25HP unit and see how much you can get done. Have a bunch of piles ready beforehand. A wood chipper would be really taxing on a 70+ year old 8N and it wouldn't have hyd's. to run auto-feed. You wouldn't gain anything if you damaged the tractor in the process. The big unit would take bigger branches and tree's but you'd have to cut them small enough to handle anyways.
Major brand Chippers have a self contained hydraulic system. No power connection to tractor besides the PTO
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
I don't think the smaller PTO chippers do. The auto- feed runs off the tractor hyd's. A PTO chipper would be a lot for an 8N. If it was in top shape could probably handle one but why risk it on an older tractor like that.
 

aighead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2019
Messages
2,541
Location
Dayton, OH
get a 3 pt. boom

Thanks for this tip about the boom, stinky, my neighbor just gave me one, that was taking up space in his garage, and I didn't consider using it like a log arch. Good stuff. He suggested using it with a short chain to pick up such and such, but I have a backhoe that is typically easier to pick stuff up with and it can be picked up higher, however, the tractor may be pretty useful to drag logs/trees around with.
 

aighead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2019
Messages
2,541
Location
Dayton, OH
Yes sir. When the neighbor dropped the boom off he said it'll lift until the front wheels start coming off the ground. Your point is well taken. Luckily any trees I move will be out in the middle of the yard without much to get hung up on and anything big I'll use the backhoe anyway. Thank you!
 
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