Stumpgrinder business...

[hamdogg]

Ford ranger

[Kev Stephenson]

Very very rare that someone would want to hire a grinder by the day. Around here things are priced either by the hour for multiples (1st hour being £x + £50), a quotation based on stump diameter or the operator comes out and prices the work as his own job. A small pedestrian grinder can be hired for £35 +VAT a day or £100 + VAT a week. I would expect to be able to hire a bigger machine for £100 + VAT a day. Add your wage and costs and £300-£350 a day for man and machine sounds about right. (this is Yorkshire, not London by the way!!)

 

Do not hire out your machine to be operated by others, grinders take a beating on a good day. Someone who may not be quite so sympathetic or mechanically minded could cause a lot of damage in a short period of time.

 

Stump busters here have a long wheel base transit and cart the grinder in the back of that. There's space for a couple of dustbins of grindings should the need arise aswell.

 

£10k should see you with a van, second hand grinder, CAT scanner and guards. Keep climbing for others to pay your living wage and grind on days off. If all goes to plan roles will be reversed and the climbing days will soon fill in the days you are not grinding.

 

Other costs to consider.

 

A CAT scanner is no use without the training. Telling BT you scanned for their cable and it didn't show won't get you out of paying for it if they ask for proof of competence and you don't have anything.

 

You will likely need a decent size chainsaw to take off a couple of slices to save on grinding time if the contractor left a high stump.

 

Would you consider a kango or similar for stumps in patios etc?

 

Plenty to consider.

 

Kevin

[Little Butch]

Thanks for the informative posts!

I'm going to enquire about the price on a 110 hicap local that may be up for sale. Should be able to cart the grinder in plus a bit of arrisings.

 

I've got a chainsaw with an 18 inch bar that should cover most stumps or now.

 

Looking at a jo beau tracked grinder. I've used pedestrian grinders in the past and they're one he'll of a workout. The idea was to make money with less physical strain haha!

[Big T]

Some interesting thoughts here!

[Davescay]

Ford ranger [ATTACH]180351[/ATTACH]

 

Sorry to hijack the thread. Who or where did you get your ranger conversion? Thanks

[Little Butch]

Plenty to think about!

[hamdogg]

Sorry to hijack the thread. Who or where did you get your ranger conversion? Thanks

 

 

It's factory built! It's a genuine for tipper, and body as the transits (only smaller)

[Jesse]

Saw a setup on here where he sits his grinder in the back of a 110 hicap. Looked the mutts!

I know of a hicap for sale too! Very tempting...

 

I also use it to gain height when i can back the truck up to a stump, this one was on a really steep bank with loose soil. Photos taken yesterday first day out with new Jo Beau, every job was like it, high raised and awkward, 4 different sites covering Dorset and Somerset, nice day out, grinder was fantastic, just like my old one.

[Little Butch]

That looks awesome! What did you find your best means of advertising were Jesse?

[Jesse]

That looks awesome! What did you find your best means of advertising were Jesse?

 

The truck in the photos, word of mouth around my area, i have been around for a long time.

I also try that little bit harder to get stumps out, and i do dig a lot out by hand, and that can take a special mindset, turned up on a site the other day with a spade and said i would dig them out, the 2 young lads just laughed, then watched me dig it out 18" cherry, took about 50 mins.

Edited April 11, 2015 by Jesse
bit more info