Mistletoe = mess?

[leswold]

Anyone else find the innards of their chipper completely gummed up after putting mistletoe thru. While routinely cleaning & changing blades (Quadchip 160) it took me ages to dig the gunk from...everywhere.

[Mick Dempsey]

If I'm honest, no.

I put a lot through my chippers, a GM and TW, never had an issue.

How does this gunk affect the performance of the machine?

[treequip]

Its the seed coating, its as sticky as hell.

 

Birds are the vector for the seeds, nature has designed it adhere to bark.

[Ghettoblaster]

Nasty, sticky things mistletoe berrys!

I believe it helps the the seeds to stick to the host tree whilst the seeds germinate, kind of like a glue that will set and harden.

Never put any through a chipper but I can just imagine the result!

[Goaty]

I assume Mick did it at the right time of year.

[Mick Dempsey]

I have found the "balls" a right booger to get into the rollers.

I've been meaning to take some pics of entire poplar plantations infested with mistletoe over here, it's really quite a sight.

[Aunt Maud]

Saw some Poplar stands (I think) that were chock full of the stuff in France. None up this way though.

[leswold]

If I'm honest, no.

I put a lot through my chippers, a GM and TW, never had an issue.

How does this gunk affect the performance of the machine?

 

Performance wasn't affected...not that I noticed anyway.

Edited January 23, 2016 by leswold

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

I've thought about harvesting around Christmas time. Anyone found it's worthwhile?? I guess it needs the right tree at the right time....

[Mick Dempsey]

Performance wasn't affected...not that I noticed anyway.

 

So what's the issue?