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How to Choose a Stump Cutter
When stump removal is required, stump cutters can help you do the job quickly and inexpensively.
Whether you're grinding a few small stumps or many large ones, working in a narrow space or a wide-open area, there's a stump cutter that's right for the job. Choosing the right candidate should increase your efficiency and productivity, save you money - and keep you safer. Stump cutters are specifically designed to remove stumps, which means, in most cases, they are a more efficient and cost effective way of handling this task. "It takes a lot less time to cut a stump than to dig it out," says Mark Rieckhoff, environmental product specialist manager for Vermeer, "plus you have all of the roots to deal with. Dozing is usually more expensive and if access is a problem, dozing becomes impossible. When you use a stump cutter, you can use the chips to backfill the hole or mulch. Plus with digging or dozing, you are left with an empty hole and probably more lawn damage than you would have had with a stump cutter." The choices There are basically three types of stump cutters. Manually operated cutters are handlebar units. The operator stands behind the machine and moves it side to side and up and down. These machines range from 9 to 20 horsepower. Manual units have a lower horsepower rating, but are ideal for working around existing landscaping. Most units are small enough to fit within a 36-inch-wide opening and can be transported in a van or pickup. Hydraulically operated cutters are more powerful and are either self-propelled or towed. The self-propelled machines are usually small enough to travel through a 36-inch-wide gate and are ideal for limited-access applications. These units range from 20 to 85 horsepower. If access is not an issue, you can get the job done faster using a larger towed cutter with a horsepower range of 35 to 120. Hydraulically operated cutters have increased arc and depth of cut compared to a handlebar cutter. The application To determine what type of stump cutter will handle the job most effectively, evaluate the volume and size of stumps you will be removing. "If you've got two to four stumps," says J.R. Bowling, sales and rental manager for Rayco, "and none of them are very big - maybe 10 inches in diameter - a handlebar cutter is going to be adequate. But, if you've got half a dozen stumps that are 4 or 5 feet across, the handlebar type isn't your best choice. You want to use a hydraulic cutter." The next consideration is location. If access is difficult or the area is confined, a smaller unit is necessary to get to the stumps. "You can't always use the machine that will get the job done fastest," says Rayco's Bowling, "because they can't get to the stumps. Higher horsepower cutters are faster, but they are also bigger." If you want to use a larger stump cutter that must be towed, be sure the carrier can get the unit to the stumps. "If you rent a larger towable unit," says Vermeer's Rieckhoff, "and then find yourself needing to get into a backyard that's only accessible through a gate, you won't be able to get the cutter in, not only because of the stump cutter's size, but because of the width of the truck." Keeping it safe One of the biggest concerns stump cutter manufacturers are faced with is keeping operators safe. "Rental dealers should train contractors on the specifics of stump cutter safety," says Rayco's Bowling, "including anything from coming into contact with the cutting wheel. We provide the rental dealer with a safety instruction brochure that outlines safe operating procedures." Rayco stump cutters offer several safety features, such as an operator presence feature that shuts the machine off if the operator leaves the controls, and a cutting wheel brake that stops the cutting wheel if the operator leaves the controls. "We have chip retainer curtains," says Rayco's Bowling, "that fold out and swing to the sides of the machine to minimize flying debris. We also have optional dual wheels to provide better stability and help the operator keep the machine from rolling over when working on slopes." Vermeer stump cutters include an abrasion-resistant polycarbonate plastic shield that swings out to allow the operator to see the cutting area better, while protecting him from debris. This feature is standard on all Vermeer stump cutters except the SC252, which is the smallest in the Vermeer. On the SC252, the operator's station is positioned so the shield is not necessary. "The clear window," says Vermeer's Rieckhoff, "keeps the operator working in the safest mode possible. We also offer an optional remote control feature to allow the operator to use the machine in particularly hard-to-reach areas." The operator Manufacturers have continued to refine stump cutter design to increase user friendliness, operator comfort and minimize fatigue. For example, BlueBird stump cutters provide the operator four handle height positions, as well as an ergonomic handle. "Allowing the operator to adjust the handle height," says Carla Herron, director of marketing and business development for BlueBird, "ensures the operator comfort and a safe stance during all stages of stump removal. It also helps to reposition the height of the handle as the cutter moves deeper into the stump for better control. "BlueBird's unit has a Noram centrifugal clutch that provides a safe, no-load, quiet start. Once engaged, the clutch reduces vibration while utilizing peak torque for more efficient engine performance. It also provides overload protection for the operator's safety." To improve operator efficiency, the Vermeer patented AutoSweep feature monitors engine rpm and controls the sweep rate into the stump, so the operator doesn't have to. "All they have to do is push a lever," says Vermeer's Rieckhoff. "If the bite into the stump was too much and the engine rpms are falling off, the electronic AutoSweep system will slow down the sweep rate and allow the engine to resume. When the engine is up to speed, the swing rate automatically increases." Rayco has also developed a feature that helps control the sweep speed. Command Cut, a standard feature to its larger machines, automatically adjusts the sweep speed - the speed the cutter wheel moves from left to right - to keep the operator from overfeeding the machine or stalling it out by taking too big a bite.
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