Tree chippers, not small ones... BIG ones!
Discussion
I'm "lucky" enough to have a pretty big garden, but the bottom 1/2 has been somewhat neglected by the previous owner (and then by us 
) so we now have some pretty big trees that need some serious thinning out in order to get some light back into the garden, I spent last summer hacking back the smaller trees and have more than filled the ample compost heap with chopped up branches (although could defo have cut them down more than I did).
Having spent todaybutchering carefully trimming just one of the bigger trees back today I am left with a mahoosive pile of branches and even with some serious logging with the chainsaw the top 2/3 of the tree is dense foliage which is currently in a 10' pile in the middle of the garden
I have a basic garden shredder but it's just not man-enough, now I need the collective advice of the PH massive to suggest something a bit more heavy duty as I'm resigned to the fact that this isn't going to end, now I've seen those trailer jobbies that the local pro's use - that would be ace, but the only access to the end of the garden is via a domestic side door though the garage so that's probably not going to work, although at a push I could get something through our neighbors garden and I'm guessing they are very expensive, given a budget of say £500 what ya got?
) so we now have some pretty big trees that need some serious thinning out in order to get some light back into the garden, I spent last summer hacking back the smaller trees and have more than filled the ample compost heap with chopped up branches (although could defo have cut them down more than I did).Having spent today
I have a basic garden shredder but it's just not man-enough, now I need the collective advice of the PH massive to suggest something a bit more heavy duty as I'm resigned to the fact that this isn't going to end, now I've seen those trailer jobbies that the local pro's use - that would be ace, but the only access to the end of the garden is via a domestic side door though the garage so that's probably not going to work, although at a push I could get something through our neighbors garden and I'm guessing they are very expensive, given a budget of say £500 what ya got?
I burnt it last year, but trouble I found is that as it's very damp/green wood, so if I don't let it dry out for a couple of months its very, very smoky when it burns, and I try to be as considerate as possible to the surrounding people (unlike capt. bonfire at the end of the road 
).
found one of these via eBay, looks like it could suit http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-13-HP-PETROL-GARDEN-CHIP...
Did look into hiring, but would prob be done gradually over a couple of weekends each year so will prob be more cost effective to purchase (and then rent to my neighbours for beer, mmm).
All the mulch would be good for the flower beds too I guess
).found one of these via eBay, looks like it could suit http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-13-HP-PETROL-GARDEN-CHIP...
Did look into hiring, but would prob be done gradually over a couple of weekends each year so will prob be more cost effective to purchase (and then rent to my neighbours for beer, mmm
).All the mulch would be good for the flower beds too I guess
SaTTaN said:
found one of these via eBay, looks like it could suit http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-13-HP-PETROL-GARDEN-CHIP...
My protection stuff just blocked and warned me off that site...what's going on, is it ebay?SystemParanoia said:
steam engine, and an electricity meter that lets you sell back to the grid
job jobbed!
great idea! job jobbed!
You can get chiping fuelled boilers which appeal. the thing i am not so sure about is how you 'season' the chippings or more to the point how you store them? do you need a big metal vermin proof box for all the chippings..?).
if nothing else though you can use the chippings to keep the weeds down and things.
SystemParanoia said:
steam engine, and an electricity meter that lets you sell back to the grid
job jobbed!
Build your own bio mass powerstation in 3 easy steps!job jobbed!
I think perhaps the hire option myself. Then at least if what you decide on is not man enough you can wheel it back and get something even bigger!
SaTTaN said:
...... I am left with a mahoosive pile of branches.....
It's amazing how large a pile of branches results from even the smallest of pruning jobs.
But on the other side of the coin, its amazing how small a pile of chips the chipper will turn the aforementioned 'mahoosive pile' into.
If you've got a big garden do you have a garden tractor? If so, if it's a Countax I can recommend their chipper/shredder, it really will do up to 65mm and produces great chippings for compost or dressing for flower beds etc.
http://www.countax.co.uk/shredder.htm
Not cheap new, but they pop up on ebay for a few hundred.
http://www.countax.co.uk/shredder.htm
Not cheap new, but they pop up on ebay for a few hundred.
we use one of these occasionally...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u75yHv31Mc
may be a tad on the large side though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u75yHv31Mc
may be a tad on the large side though.
I bought on of these second hand recently:
Self feeding which makes it vastly more pleasant to use. If you do go for a self feed machine make sure you buy one with a working kill bar for the feeder though.
I looked at self feed chippers and if you've got any quantity of material to get rid of they are hard work. You also have limitations on material input size. What works with brand new blades in the demo video may not work after a few hours out in the field.
The other thing to watch out for in demo videos is prepared timber. Look at the ebay video and see how the branch has had all the smaller branches lopped off before being introduced into the machine. That's a hell of a lot of work if you've got a big area to clear. Self feed machines will grab the branch whole and sort themselves out without you having to prep everything.
To save money I bought a petrol machine rather than a more popular diesel engine. It probably saved me £2-3k. With these pro machines you'll get all your money back if you want to sell it on providing you buy right. Mine was acquired in a deal that wouldn't have looked out of place on Snatch. All that was missing was the dog. We had a bit of a carve up on and old motor that had been sitting round the back of the yard
For a self feed machine you're looking at around £3,500 upwards and it pretty soon hits £7k. The £3,500 - 7k bracket is always active when you want shot of the thing.
TimberWolf and Greenmech are generally regarded as good brands.
Hope that helps.
Henry
Self feeding which makes it vastly more pleasant to use. If you do go for a self feed machine make sure you buy one with a working kill bar for the feeder though.
I looked at self feed chippers and if you've got any quantity of material to get rid of they are hard work. You also have limitations on material input size. What works with brand new blades in the demo video may not work after a few hours out in the field.
The other thing to watch out for in demo videos is prepared timber. Look at the ebay video and see how the branch has had all the smaller branches lopped off before being introduced into the machine. That's a hell of a lot of work if you've got a big area to clear. Self feed machines will grab the branch whole and sort themselves out without you having to prep everything.
To save money I bought a petrol machine rather than a more popular diesel engine. It probably saved me £2-3k. With these pro machines you'll get all your money back if you want to sell it on providing you buy right. Mine was acquired in a deal that wouldn't have looked out of place on Snatch. All that was missing was the dog. We had a bit of a carve up on and old motor that had been sitting round the back of the yard
For a self feed machine you're looking at around £3,500 upwards and it pretty soon hits £7k. The £3,500 - 7k bracket is always active when you want shot of the thing.
TimberWolf and Greenmech are generally regarded as good brands.
Hope that helps.
Henry
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