Search the Community

Dear All, Am responsible for bringing to heel about 80 acres of stored woodland of which I own about 20%. Complete newby and aim to get it managed within 5 years. Have some knowledge of timber in the lab and in buildings (www.atics.co.uk) but limited out in the woodland. Have an Avant 760i and most of the attachments needed but need a chipper that is a) suitable for the short term volume of work (I guess several hundred hours), easy to maintain, runs on diesel, has hydraulic input, can be towed or pushed to awkward locations, directional output for trailer as chips are due to be sold or used to make compost and wont break the bank. I have come to the conclusion that it is either a Timberwolf 150 HB towed to location via the Avant or a tractor OR one like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TH8-HYDRUALIC-DOUBLE-FEED-CHIPPER-FORESTRY-WOOD-PROCESSING/173020236598?hash=item2848cf4b36:g:tHUAAOSwySVaErtg from MDL https://www.mdlpowerup.com/product/th8-pto-driven-twin-roller-chipper/ The latter will of course need the tractor with the chipper and so collection of chippings would have to be by another machine. What chipper would the combined wisdom of the forum advice? More specifically, I have two TW 150s in mind - one is 2006 and going for under £3k but looks really tatty despite its low hours 600 odd The other is 2013 and has done 900 hours and looks pretty good despite its apparent suspect "provenance" from a "vendor" that does not live on the UK mainland and refuses to accept payment other than by Pay Pal (has turned down a BACS). Would you go for the older or younger one? After how many hours do these machines require serious maintenance eg major engine rebuild or chipper bearings etc ? ie say the equivalent for the average car was 100,000 miles when one should think of getting rid of it Yours Chris