Stump grinder, a worth while investment?

[Stumpy Grinder]

12 minutes ago, kevinjohnsonmbe said:

All good tips so far! 

 

I’d add, FWIW, a tirfor can sometimes be a very useful, and sometimes over looked option. 

 

Recently had a row of hedge stumps to remove (and another similar but larger scale job coming along) 

 

They are small diameter (<150mm ish) using one to pull the next in the row allows both to be loosened / pulled out at the same time. Appreciate this is only smaller dia stuff, but it was quicker & easier than grinding. 

 

Not a a big fan of grinding but will offer the ‘up-sale’ and do it if required. Priced to reflect the mundane / potential risks associated with this work. 

This works best if you cut them off quite high. Use the winch between the top of one to the bottom of the next one. The extra leverage on the one secured at the top will pull it over enough to cut the roots with a mattock or similar. It's ok until you get to the last one though! A high lift jack (the sort that off-roaders use) can also be used to effectively pull them out vertically. Trees such as conifers are strong laterally, but rely on gravity to hold them down. Pull them upwards and they will give if you can pull hard enough!

Seeing myself out of a job here!

SG

[nepia]

4 hours ago, Stumpy Grinder said:

This works best if you cut them off quite high. Use the winch between the top of one to the bottom of the next one.

Quicker surely to just anchor on an end stump if it's big enough and keep that anchor.  Start at the stump furthest away so that your rope shortens as you progress down the line and you don't have to manually pull out more for each subsequent stump.

[Ty Korrigan]

Every tree removal qiote I do normally has 'Option stump grinding'

The uptake on these is quite high, more than half for sure and the more urban the client the higher my chance of winning the stump.

 I'd need to make a detailed study of one years quotes 'v' invoices to be sure of figures.

After the debacle with 'Lemon Plant' and the dodgy Carlton 4012 (cuts out randomly up to 6 times an hour at times) I'm going back to a wee grinder for a while.

 Watch this space...

      Stuart

Edited June 28, 2018 by Ty Korrigan

[john p]

Buy a grinder, I found customer s prefer a one stop service rather than my mate will be over next week to grind, you have control of the job/clear up and your reputation!

[aspenarb]

As John says just buy it. Its also surprising how much other work and how many new contacts are made from owning bits of kit like this once folk know what you have. Works well both ways.

 

Bob

[Rough Hewn]

For the last couple of years I've used a Jack.
He's really big and strong and loves nothing more than digging a trench around a stump before axing roots and using a long bar to rip it out of hole.
All with a sweaty smile[emoji106]
He's done a 3' stump in about 2-3 hours.
Should really buy a stump grinder though. [emoji12]

[Ty Korrigan]

7 hours ago, Stumpy Grinder said:

1. For the amount of work you describe, coupled with the outlay and running costs, the short answer is NO!

 

 2. The last point is a very important one too, as you really need to be a capable mechanic to effectively run a grinder - especially and older used one!

 

3. Stumps can be quite 'seasonal' too as there is not much work about during mid summer (bid nesting!) or mid winter.

 

In response to Stumpygrinder:

1. Higher percentage of quotes won due to being able offer a complete service.

Running costs of a small pedestrian grinder are not an issue if your pricing well.

 

2. Apart from mysterious and never ending remote control issues on a larger machine, the main mechanicals have been belts, pulleys and bearings.

Pretty simple stuff really.

I found a retired engineer who likes free firewood to guide me when advice needed.

I'm sure I can't be alone in that respect.

 

3. Never noticed a 'season' for stump work. Stumps go hand in hand with tree and hedge removals.

Sure, some people will programme work to avoid nesting birds but in general, if the job is on then the stump needs gone.

[Ty Korrigan]

7 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

For the last couple of years I've used a Jack.
He's really big and strong and loves nothing more than digging a trench around a stump before axing roots and using a long bar to rip it out of hole.
All with a sweaty smile
He's done a 3' stump in about 2-3 hours.
Should really buy a stump grinder though.

I challenge you to repeat that task 'daily'

 Stuart

[josharb87]

Buy one, i brought one at the end of last year, and am using it twice as much as i thought, probably more 

 

I don't have gaps in the calendar, but after for example, a days subbying, ill do a few stumps, an extra hour, and double my money that day

[Stumpy Grinder]

14 hours ago, Rough Hewn said:

For the last couple of years I've used a Jack.
He's really big and strong and loves nothing more than digging a trench around a stump before axing roots and using a long bar to rip it out of hole.
All with a sweaty smile
He's done a 3' stump in about 2-3 hours.
Should really buy a stump grinder though.

Trouble with that is you've lost a groundie for a few hours and probably broken him for the rest of the day! You are also then left with a large hole to fill, along with a huge stump to get rid of. Difficult to lift, can't cut it up or chip it and it won't burn. Whereas I could have turned it into wood chip in about 10-15 minutes and raked it over - job done!