Stump Grinder

[slipshod]

This is a picture of my stump grinder. I have done about 250 stumps with it so far with out many problems. So far I have had to replace three cutters.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/slipshodent/John%20Deere%204600/PCDV0004.jpg

[guest]

Have you done enough tree stumps to recover your initial cost yet? Have you noticed a steady demand for its use? I have been eyeing one of those but not sure if I could get that much demand for it in my area.

[slipshod]

The first 75 stumps paid for the cutter. There sure seems like there is enough work around here where I could just about grind full time. The hook I use is the "complete" job, stump ground out, chips removed, and soil replaced. People sure seem to like that service. I have driven around and seen so many grind jobs where the chips lay in the hole next to forever and the homeowner never knows the operator has left a high snag until they get thier wheelbarrow out to fix the hole. That is the advantage of having my grinder on my JD, I have a fel and a dump truck on the job site. With the clam I can pick up all the scraps and never get off the machine.
There is an enormous side benefit also, I bring the chips home and compost them. I designate an area and spread them about one foot thick and let them rot down until the weeds start poking through then I cover it all again with another foot of chips.The whole process does not take long because the chips from a stump grinder have dirt mixed in with them. My grand experiment is farming the stuff. I have an area about 500 x 200 feet where all of it has gone. My plan is to pile it up once the weather gets nicer and see just what kind of product it produces.
So overall I give my stump grinder Idea two thumbs up. :fing32: :fing02:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/slipshodent/John%20Deere%204600/stumpgrinder.jpg

[JDFANATIC]

slipshod,

What brand of stump grinder is that? And what kind of PTO hp does your Deere have?

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

[slipshod]

My stump grinder is a Shaver SC-50 the same people who are famous for thier fence post pounders. My JD is 43 hp at the pto and handles this machine quite well. Shaver makes a smaller moldel that will run on 18hp at the pto, it is a SC-25 I believe. Shaver has a web site with a video of the grinder working.
www.shavermfg.com/stumpbuster.htm

[JDFANATIC]

Slipshod,

Thanks for the link. I'm going to check out the local distributor for the shaver products.

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

[sixchows]

Slip

What's the going rate for stump grinding?

[slipshod]

Slip

What's the going rate for stump grinding?
Six,
I charge mostly hourly rate for whatever I do, stump grinding, tear-out work, grading, finishing, back-hoe, etc....My rate last year was $60.00 for tractor work per hour. If My dump truck was running with a driver doing haul away work add $40.00 an hour plus any dumping fees or materials such as stone, topsoil millings, or mulch. Ther is a minimum charge of $100.00 for me to leave the yard with my equipment. The clock starts when I pull up in front, but that may change with the high fuel prices. It seems that my prices are low from what people in the business tell me, but I have the advantage of owning my farm that I use as a yard so there is no rent to pay for.
Most of the stump jobs I did last year were very competitive price wise to the guys that grind and run. Again I repeat people really like the complete job concept. The price I paid for the bigger grinder was $6500.00 the smaller one is about $1000 less

[sixchows]

Sounds like a fun job!

[farmallmaniac]

would a 4100 John Deere be powerful enough to run the smaller stump grinder? Don't see anyone advertising for stump grindings, that may be something for me to look into...

[itsgottobegreen]

I am in the middle of looking for a Rayco super 50 stump grinder. A guy can make a living with these machines. I was figuring about $75 an hour with a 1.5 hour minumum. Everybody has a chain saw. Very few have a stump grinder. And no one has one that can fit in a 36" gate. But $12,000 for a used one is hard to justify.

[slipshod]

Maniac I believe your 4100 will handle the small model, if not there are others out there it will. Green your $75.00 an hour 1.5 hours minimum is very close to what I charge. Prior to buying my three point hitch set-up I rented several different grinders. all had thier pluses and minuses. The very grinder you talk about buying I have rented. What I did not like about it, slow on big stumps, and once you get going on the big ones it is in the pit. Then you have to start muscleing it around a bit. It travels well on it's own little trailer and it will fit in tight places. I find it rare that there is a stump I can not get to, unlike the tow behind ones like a Vermeer. Those work faster then mine but can be a real pain to back into place and forget most stumps in back yards.
My grinder would cut quicker on a tractor with more HP but I would sacrifice maneuverability, so I tried for a happy medium. One thing to keep in mind, this is a wicked machine. It can throw chips a long way and will launch a rock off to the side if given a chance. Also has no respect for phone lines, gas lines, Electric lines, or most any other buried tressure, so flags are a must.

[itsgottobegreen]

Well a buddy of mine has one. The 4x4 model. You can't get it stuck. (Than god I had a 4x4 tractor to pull the 2wd vermeer I rented once) He has the new round cutter bits on his. Which make the regular bits look like a toy. The cut better than any other bit.

Again the Rayco 50 is a much smaller machine than what you got. But remember when getting paid by the hour, slower smaller machine can be a good thing. Just have to come up with the money for one first. (have a new pickup coming soon, which cleaned me out)

All I know is I will never buy or used again a Vermeer tow behind or a self propelled model ever again. Both are a pain and junk.

[Carl]

Now if you can get Chipmaker to make you a vacuum cleaner to suck up the chips when the grinder makes them :trink40:

[itsgottobegreen]

Now if you can get Chipmaker to make you a vacuum cleaner to suck up the chips when the grinder makes them :trink40:
I got a gaint vac truck loader that does that. Its 13hp and will suck up just about anything that will fit in the 8" intake.

[Carl]

That certainly explains why you do more. You have the imagine to know what the customer wants, and operate by the rule that you will give the customer what you would expect for yourself. :congrats:

Satisfied customers are your best advertisement.