I usually don't like to revive 2-months old threads, but even if southernman13 bought something since then, some other people might be interest in reading this.
There are many types of technologies being used for landclearing. I will let aside burning, chemicals spraying, roller-choppers, bulldozers and their derivative (like this
vintage machine)
Speaking of mulching attachments with a rotating appartus (which are called by many names depending on where you reside: mulchers, grinders, shredders, brush cutters, brushcutters, mastication heads, and more...), there are two main concepts: the vertical shaft and the horizontal shaft.
The vertical shaft concept usually drive a horizontal disc. On the disc can be attached:
- free swiveling blades;
- or fixed blades or teeth;
- one could think of chains also, I don't know if that has been done or not.
A vertical shaft might not always have a disc, though. I'm thinking of a machine from Quadco which is spinning a simple plate, at each ends of which is a free-swiveling blade. Manufacturer of vertical-shaft machines often have different option available from the above (Slashbuster, Promac, Quadco, ...)
The horizontal shaft concept usually drive a rotor. On the rotor can be mounted:
- free rotating knives, either at full 360-degrees (like Seppi and many others) or partial rotation (like our old TRH models);
- fixed hammers;
- fixed knives;
The idea behind of the free rotating knives is that if they will rotate if they hit something too hard like rocks. In theory, they then should last longer in rocky condition. Construction have to be well-thought though, to avoid damages to the axle. And because the angle of cut is not constant, performances are not the best.
The fixed hammers technology feature a hammer, most of the time with carbide tips, which will last long in abrasive conditions. Some manufacturers claim they will eat rocks (although carbide do shatters when they hit rocks too hard). Some others will only say you can use them to mix material into the ground. Not as sensitive to impacts as knives, but far from being as productive when eating vegetation.
The fixed knives concept takes the axe and bring it to a rotating drum. As good in rocks as a chainsaw (meaning, not really). However, in vegetation, it's the most productive way of working. Does require to sharpen the blades, or otherwise, you end up working with tools like hammers.
That's of course not a complete picture, and things are evolving fast in the mulching equipment world.
Which machine to buy will depend on what you are required to do (or what kind of service you want to offer):
- for remote-areas where quality of finish is irrelevant, the vertical-shaft is often a good, low-cost option;
- for commercial-grade work, with nice finish, where productivity is not paramount, swiveling knives are fine;
- for anything that required to mix material into the ground, fixed-hammers mulchers are the choice. Or a roto-tiller.
- for work at ground-level or above, where nice finish is wanted and highest productivity is wanted, fixed-knives mulchers are the way to go.
And after that, your choice for a particular machine will depend on other features:
- frame construction (light duty, commercial, industrial?);
- driving mechanism (PTO, hydraulic, with v-belt, cogged-belt, direct drive?);
- service and support (spare parts included with the machine, visit by a technician, availability of spare parts if failure?);
Now it's yours to check out FAE, Fecon, Loftness, Tushogg, DENIS CIMAF and all the other different manufacturers, and decide which one has the machine for you...
Happy shopping
FD
Frederic Denis
DENIS CIMAF Inc.
www.deniscimaf.com
