Excavator size for removing Sitka stumps [not for business/commercial]

[Alec_Birkbeck]

Hi, 

We have a building project coming up on our own woodland and are planning to remove a couple of hundred sitka spruce stumps which are on flat ground.

We are looking to buy a used excavator to do a lot of the groundworks for the building project [foundations, service channels, drainage, gullies maintenance, felled log handling etc] but also to remove some of the sika stumps.

Question: Would a 6-8T excavator [with thumb] manage the stump removal ok, accepting that it may take a little more effort/time than say a 16T machine?

Thanks

Alec

 

Edited August 9, 2023 by Alec_Birkbeck

[Whoppa Choppa]

13t a bit big for house civils. Good luck finding a 2'6" bucket at the moment 🤣

[Whoppa Choppa]

What diameter are the tree stumps (stem) ?

[Alec_Birkbeck]

57 minutes ago, Whoppa Choppa said:

What diameter are the tree stumps (stem) ?

Most are around 20-25cms Diameter, thanks

[doobin]

10 minutes ago, Alec_Birkbeck said:

Most are around 20-25cms Diameter, thanks

You’ll piss that with a 3t never mind a 6t. 
If you’ve a lot to do, get a ripper tooth. 
If you’ll be log handing, get a grab. A grab will be all you need to pull those stumps. 

[gdh]

Are the trees already felled? It's a lot easier to push the tree over then cut the stump off if that's an option. Although on small diameter trees it shouldn't be too hard either way.

[Alec_Birkbeck]

Thanks.

The trees are already felled.

Some of the wind firm stumps are around 40-50cm diameter - is this going be a problem for a 6-8T excavator with the right attachments?

Cheers!

[spuddog0507]

20cm 25cm and the odd bigger one could all be done with a 6 - 8 tonne machine with ease, i have done many areas of stumps that size with a 2,7tonne machine with fixed grab,, no matter how big the machine is, it is only as good as the operator working it,

[Alec_Birkbeck]

Thanks to all for commenting, this has been very useful!