ruttin1
Full Member
Posts: 128
Likes: 201
Location: Shawano Co, WI
Zone: 4B
|
Post by ruttin1 on Dec 13, 2022 21:15:33 GMT -6
Buy the splitter and rent the chipper. You'll use the splitter until you die. Probably good advice. If you do tire of splitting wood.....a good splitter will sell again for much of what you pay for it. Maybe not so much with a chipper. What do you want with all the chips? (burn em?) I don’t really want them, I just want to remove some of the tops, etc that were left when they cut the property. Not all of it. Some areas are good. There is enough for bedding and cover, but other areas are a bit clogged. Hell, maybe it’s just the aesthetics to me. I think I can use a bunch of the chips around the house in flower beds, etc though.
|
|
ruttin1
Full Member
Posts: 128
Likes: 201
Location: Shawano Co, WI
Zone: 4B
|
Post by ruttin1 on Dec 13, 2022 21:16:14 GMT -6
Deer love to bed by tipped over trees laying on the ground. Yes they do. It’s not all bad that’s for sure. Not looking to remove all of it.
|
|
ruttin1
Full Member
Posts: 128
Likes: 201
Location: Shawano Co, WI
Zone: 4B
|
Post by ruttin1 on Dec 13, 2022 21:18:55 GMT -6
Ruttin, Wouldnt this be fun! That’s the cat’s meow right there that is.
|
|
|
Post by Tooln on Dec 14, 2022 7:21:16 GMT -6
I have been looking at log splitters and wood chippers to start some timber work and clearing on my land. There is enough work it would be a never ending project, so the need would go on for years. Really plan on taking a section at a time and doing some cleanup from the select cut that was done 2 1/2 years ago (prior to ownership). Also, looking to take out a few trees where I intend to put food plots. First question: Are either or both products worth owning or are you better off renting on occasion when doing the work? Second question: Any recommendations on sizes, brands, etc? There seems to be quite the variety available at a range of price points. Thanks for your comments. Back in the 80's I heated my home with wood as did my folks. We started out renting a splitter from the local coop. It got to the point where getting it was a pain so we purchased one. A 2 stage pump is a must as is a detent on the return stroke. The unit we bought at the time had a tube for the frame and the tube held the oil. It had a 5hp engine and would split anything we put on it. When we went shopping I took the nastiest piece of piss elm I could find and used it as a test piece for what we were considering buying. Being bent over a splitter all day is a back breaking job. One with a table lift would be nice. Good luck
|
|
|
Post by Catscratch on Dec 14, 2022 10:32:07 GMT -6
Ruttin, Wouldnt this be fun! I've spent a lot of time considering building one of those. Just completely awesome in my book! We don't grow straight trees though and everything I cut is a different diameter so it would have to have some play in it. If the engine or pump ever goes out on my splitter I'll probably build one of these; If the OP has never seen a splitter with a lift watch this video. Makes a huge difference!
|
|
ruttin1
Full Member
Posts: 128
Likes: 201
Location: Shawano Co, WI
Zone: 4B
|
Post by ruttin1 on Dec 14, 2022 11:54:25 GMT -6
Ruttin, Wouldnt this be fun! I've spent a lot of time considering building one of those. Just completely awesome in my book! We don't grow straight trees though and everything I cut is a different diameter so it would have to have some play in it. If the engine or pump ever goes out on my splitter I'll probably build one of these; If the OP has never seen a splitter with a lift watch this video. Makes a huge difference! Wow! That definitely makes things easier. I’m guessing that comes with a pretty hefty price though? Trying to keep the cost downs bit. Been looking at this one at TSC. It can be operated either vertical or horizontally, which may make it easier for those bigger logs. Thoughts? Oh, I should say my property is all hardwood. Mostly sugar maple, red maple and some red oak and yellow birch. www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/champion-power-equipment-37-ton-full-beam-towable-log-splitter
|
|
|
Post by Catscratch on Dec 14, 2022 12:46:32 GMT -6
I've spent a lot of time considering building one of those. Just completely awesome in my book! We don't grow straight trees though and everything I cut is a different diameter so it would have to have some play in it. If the engine or pump ever goes out on my splitter I'll probably build one of these; If the OP has never seen a splitter with a lift watch this video. Makes a huge difference! Wow! That definitely makes things easier. I’m guessing that comes with a pretty hefty price though? Trying to keep the cost downs bit. Been looking at this one at TSC. It can be operated either vertical or horizontally, which may make it easier for those bigger logs. Thoughts? Oh, I should say my property is all hardwood. Mostly sugar maple, red maple and some red oak and yellow birch. www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/champion-power-equipment-37-ton-full-beam-towable-log-splitterCan't really comment on the box store units, have basically only used homemade jobbers. Looks good though.
|
|
|
Post by Foggy on Dec 14, 2022 18:24:54 GMT -6
If you have enough wood.....I would consider just getting the logs to a decent "landing site".......and pay someone with a "wood processor" to do the cutting and splitting or rent one of the machines. Amazing what they can do in a day. All depends on how much wood you want to make and how deep your pockets are.
|
|
ruttin1
Full Member
Posts: 128
Likes: 201
Location: Shawano Co, WI
Zone: 4B
|
Post by ruttin1 on Dec 14, 2022 18:32:20 GMT -6
If you have enough wood.....I would consider just getting the logs to a decent "landing site".......and pay someone with a "wood processor" to do the cutting and splitting or rent one of the machines. Amazing what they can do in a day. All depends on how much wood you want to make and how deep your pockets are. That would be a great solution. Unfortunately, it would take me a long time to get it all to one central location. I am a remote owner and there is a lot of wood. Think it’s going to be a long term project. I like the advice I’mgetting. Think I’ll pass on the chipper. Most of those tops have some pretty decent branches in them. If I’m splitting wood what is left I can pile and make bedding and funnels. I have to remember I’m a fat old man (55) with a couple of fake hips. I can only do so much, regardless of what my head tells me I’d like to do.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Dec 14, 2022 19:44:09 GMT -6
If you have enough wood.....I would consider just getting the logs to a decent "landing site".......and pay someone with a "wood processor" to do the cutting and splitting or rent one of the machines. Amazing what they can do in a day. All depends on how much wood you want to make and how deep your pockets are. That would be a great solution. Unfortunately, it would take me a long time to get it all to one central location. I am a remote owner and there is a lot of wood. Think it’s going to be a long term project. I like the advice I’mgetting. Think I’ll pass on the chipper. Most of those tops have some pretty decent branches in them. If I’m splitting wood what is left I can pile and make bedding and funnels. I have to remember I’m a fat old man (55) with a couple of fake hips. I can only do so much, regardless of what my head tells me I’d like to do. I know a few people who feel the tops should be left on the ground. They fear the removal of too many crops of trees will deplete the soil. Leaving the tops will slow the process of depletion.
|
|
|
Post by Catscratch on Dec 14, 2022 19:47:15 GMT -6
Just like you are planning I use tops for various habitat features. Great to have around!
|
|
ruttin1
Full Member
Posts: 128
Likes: 201
Location: Shawano Co, WI
Zone: 4B
|
Post by ruttin1 on Dec 14, 2022 19:51:36 GMT -6
Just like you are planning I use tops for various habitat features. Great to have around! Absolutely, not looking to remove them all. Just leave them in strategic places and bedding areas. Don’t want them everywhere though.
|
|
|
Post by biglakebass on Dec 14, 2022 20:16:47 GMT -6
I have always piled the slash/branches/tops for critter piles.
|
|
|
Post by nhmountains on Dec 15, 2022 9:28:00 GMT -6
Ruttin,
Let's see some photos oof your land of what you're talking about. Are these maple, oak, pine tops?
|
|
ruttin1
Full Member
Posts: 128
Likes: 201
Location: Shawano Co, WI
Zone: 4B
|
Post by ruttin1 on Dec 15, 2022 19:51:28 GMT -6
Ruttin, Let's see some photos oof your land of what you're talking about. Are these maple, oak, pine tops? I’m surprised at how few photos I have of tops etc. guess most of my cams were set away from these areas. If you look in the background here you can kind of see what I’m talking about. This isn’t the worst by any means. To be specific the property is 73% sugar maple, 14% red maple, 9% red oak, 5% yellow birch (DNR report). With a sprinkling of hemlock throughout. So, most of the tops are maple.
|
|