Stump Cutter/Tree saw

[Stroby]

Anyone on here ever used a "stump cutter or tree saw?" I am referring to the one that mounts on 3pt hitch, pto driven and has a 32" blade that is horizontal. They claim it will cut a tree at grade level without damaging the teeth. My neighbor has one he is going to let me borrow, but wondered if there is any input out there. It has a guard/base much like a bush hog, but has a "V" cut from the rear so you back into the tree. There is a push bar on it as well to push against the tree as you back up. I know that you don't want to push on too big of a tree, but I will be cutting 4" at the largest to clear some junk that the previous owner let go. I think I can get @ 3/4 of an acre back on the 5 acre plot so I can get a few bales of hay off of it, or a deep food plot or bush hog it to keep it clear. Thoughts?

 

[Stroby]

...I meant DEER food plot...

 

[Matt from Oz]

Hi Stroby

Never seen one of these sounds dangerous if not used carefully. If it were me I would only want to use this on a stump, the thought of even a small tree coming over onto me sitting on a tractor I would not want to be there. What about dropping the tree first with a chainsaw then using this? Better still if you want to farm the area get a dozer to push it out get rid of the stumps and everything pile it and burn it. That way there are no surprises for any farming equipment like staked tyres.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Thoughts, If I made something like that some would accuse me of making a death machine.

Instead of cutting trees, I would dig them out by the roots so they won't come back. Cleared many trees and asain honey suckle from the gravel pit.

geo

 

[Janicholson]

Assuming you use it from the safest direction and put brush killer on the stump, it will do what you think it will do. but unless the tree is actively growing, it may not die as you want it to. The roots have all the power in them and are not sucking energy out of the winter conditioned tree. In spring they will shoot up runners and make worthless hay, I would wait for spring (unless you are located where things are still growing. Way south) Jim

 

[Steve@Advance]

I can't see how any kind of wood cutting blade, even carbide, could blindly cut down in the rocks without damage.

If they were not cut at or below grade they would sure be destructive to mowing equipment.

And there is the resprouting.

If they are all small trees, I would be more inclined to cut them high, push over the stumps and pull them out.

 

[showcrop]

I googled it. It is called the Turbo Saw. It has an hydraulic grapple to push the tree away from the tractor.

 

[Mule Meat]

The ones I have saw made by Brown do good only with a hydrostatic drive tractor. With a hydro tractor you can ease into a tree slow enough for the saw to do its job. With a clutch you work yourself to death using the clutch and brake to keep the tractor moving. And when a tree starts to fall, the time it takes to register in the brain to getting the tractor shifted into a forward gear and moving a world of hurt could come crashing down on your head..

Plan your days cutting. Check the trees out before you cut especially if they are tall slender ones, look for rot, broken or hung limb etc. Start at the back or far end and work your way out while trying to make the trees all fall the same direction without piling up or crossing each other. That way you will have a clear patch out and not have to be driving or backing over downed trees to get to the next one. Last thing to remember. Your tractors traction is not as good in reverse as going toward. If you have any daughts about your tractor being able to push a tree over. Leave it and let the chainsaw crew get it.

 

[Lazy WP]

They use a lot of them around here on skid steers to clean up Cedars. Have carbide tips that are replaceable. Most trees, that you can get to, don't grow in serious rocks.
Just watch out for barbwire. It takes a LONG time to get it cut off. So I am told.

 

[Oliver 500 Wa]

I have a friend with something similar on his tracksteer loader. It is really nice in that it has grappel jaws that grip the trunk above the cut. Then you can move the tree around and lay it down wherever you want. It also is a shear cut instead of a rotary blade. Less bothered by dirt or rocks in the cut zone than a rotary.

 

[fixerupper]

Would a tractor with a good strong hydraulic loader bucket work? The tractor can be pushed backwards into the tree using the bucket.

 

[gajack]

Brown Manufacturing, Ozark, Ala.