Forst warranty and service top notch.

[Ty Korrigan]

Not knocking GM Pete, just saying that all brands can have issues.

I was referring to Stuart's 200 rather than the quad chip.

 

GM replaced the 190 with a new 200 end of January.

This is an excellent machine.

I've personally only used it for one day 2 weeks ago putting 5 hours on the clock chipping Macrocarpa but that was enough of a test.

The roller feed is horizontal, easier to feed and the rollers far more aggressive.

Ty

[Marc]

Sorry Ty a 5 hour test on macrocrapa would be good enough, I'd be more interested in 6 months usage.

 

Our TW230 despite its problems has been a fantastic machine to own and run and I am fairly confident it is one of the best machines it it's class, it's price is also one of the best and parts support is good.

 

For me performance is just as important as reliability, and whilst I think the First is a more reliable and durable machine it's higher price and poor user experience puts it below a TW230 for me.

[josharb87]

Sorry Marc, out of interest, how or why do you say the TW is a fantastic machine to own when it's cost 5k and breaking down every other month?

[Ty Korrigan]

Sorry Ty a 5 hour test on macrocrapa would be good enough, I'd be more interested in 6 months usage..

 

No-one gets 6 month tests on any product.

Except girlfriends, which is why I used to chop them in so often.

Eventually, I found a reliable one which wouldn't let me down, low maintenance, expensive outlay initially but low long term running costs.

Treat your chippers like you treat your women.

Keep them close, keep them lubed and watch what they eat...

Ty

[josharb87]

and watch what they eat...

Ty

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Sorry Ty a 5 hour test on macrocrapa would be good enough, I'd be more interested in 6 months usage.

 

Our TW230 despite its problems has been a fantastic machine to own and run and I am fairly confident it is one of the best machines it it's class, it's price is also one of the best and parts support is good.

 

For me performance is just as important as reliability, and whilst I think the First is a more reliable and durable machine it's higher price and poor user experience puts it below a TW230 for me.

 

Really odd self contradictory post:confused1:

[Marc]

Really odd self contradictory post:confused1:

 

I wanted to put context, yes we have had a rough time with ours yet our Forst is trouble free, we run 2 6" machines side by side with much bigger machines.

 

When I demoed the Forst I very impressed so bought it, we didn't get to demo the TW230 yet was given an amazing Deal so went with it as it was over £4K cheaper than what Forst offered us on a trade in so took a gamble with it.

 

The TW230 has cost us money in down time over 2 years and that isn't right, yet I am fairly sure it was not a conspiracy by TW to sabotage our business or their intention to cause me so much grief and loss, it's just a machine and they paid to put it right. It was one of those things, life is never smooth and it's the same for business and operating machinery.

 

The Timberwolf has huge love from the team that are used to running very big equipment.

When the team are assigned the TW230 they are happy, when I use it on site I am happy it's such a joy to use for it size class and that's what's important.

 

The Forst 6" which was so impressive on its demo over time I have got annoyed with its foibles.

 

I think if I bought another TW230 it would probably give us no grief, yet I could buy a Forst and potentially it could be a nightmare - sometimes it's a lottery with this small scale produced bits of kit their is no point formulating an opinion through one bad experience.

 

I demoed a Vermeer BC190XL recently and thought it was a piece of junk that even our TW230 would run rings round, yet so many owners are loving it, maybe I am missing something?

 

Sorry if I am coming across as confusing and contradicting we all have our opinions and mine is based on performance and when the TW230 is on song and spitting out bearing it is simply the best machine in its class I have used long term and would buy another for that simple reason.

[Marc]

Sorry Marc, out of interest, how or why do you say the TW is a fantastic machine to own when it's cost 5k and breaking down every other month?

 

Because it's a beast for its size and so easy to use and work on, other machine just feel poorly designed, like Forst still persisting with those stupid buttons that make life hard, narrow hopper that makes feeding brash hard, feed rollers that do not grab timber easily, those stupid buttons that spit jams onto the floor making my old bones bend down to pick them up (nothing makes me grumpier), blade changes that whilst not a great effort are not a breeze like the TW.

 

The TW takes brash so easily, jams are easy to sort with a quick back forwards of the buttons ensuring the timber/brash is in the rollers still, wider infeed deals with forked material better, blade changes are easy and double sided blades, sub 750kg so nice and light to push round in the yard.

 

We have talked about this with the crew if we didn't have the luxury of the big chippers and only had one chipper to deal with our work everyone would choose the TW230 simple and does what it says on the tin.

 

This is our long term opinion after all the troubles we have had so I would hope that says something, if there is a better chipper out there being it to me please.

Edited June 22, 2017 by Marc

[GlobalNewark]

Because it's a beast for its size and so easy to use and work on, other machine just feel poorly designed, like Forst still persisting with those stupid buttons that make life hard, narrow hopper that makes feeding brash hard, feed rollers that do not grab timber easily, those stupid buttons that spit jams onto the floor making my old bones bend down to pick them up (nothing makes me grumpier), blade changes that whilst not a great effort are not a breeze like the TW.

 

 

 

The TW takes brash so easily, jams are easy to sort with a quick back forwards of the buttons ensuring the timber/brash is in the rollers still, wider infeed deals with forked material better, blade changes are easy and double sided blades, sub 750kg so nice and light to push round in the yard.

 

 

 

We have talked about this with the crew if we didn't have the luxury of the big chippers and only had one chipper to deal with our work everyone would choose the TW230 simple and does what it says on the tin.

 

 

 

This is our long term opinion after all the troubles we have had so I would hope that says something, if there is a better chipper out there being it to me please.

 

 

Can I bring the 75?

[Marc]

Can I bring the 75?

 

I would love to demo it Dean, a new small chipper is on the back burner as the Forst and TW are running fine for the moment so wouldn't want to waste your time but if your ever down this way...