Stump cutters, as one might gather, are used to remove tree stumps in land clearing, tree care, landscaping and storm clean-up applications. Rental customers might include land-clearing contractors, commercial tree service firms, landscapers, lawn care operations, golf courses, municipalities and public works departments.
As is the case with most other types of equipment, stump cutter customers choose to rent for four primary reasons:
- They will not use the equipment everyday.
- They want to avoid the up-front investment of buying.
- They do not want the burden of equipment maintenance.
- They want a newer, dependable piece of equipment when it is used.
There are a number of things to consider as you help customers shop your store for a stump cutter.
“Rental stores should be prudent when renting out stump cutters,” says Mark Rieckhoff, environmental product manager at Vermeer Mfg., Pella, Iowa. “It's important to know if the customer is a contractor or homeowner, whether or not they've ever ran a stump cutter before, what types of conditions they'll be working in and how large the typical stumps are.”
Stump cutter sizes
According to Rieckhoff, several different models of stump cutters exist. “Some are towable behind a car or small truck,” he says. “Larger models are towed behind a larger pickup; there are also self-propelled models.
“As you go up in horsepower class, the machines get heavier, which requires different towing vehicles. A customer should understand how he'll need to transport the machine.”
Asking a customer how many stumps need removing and the physical location of the stumps is also important, according to Rieckhoff. This may mean the difference between suggesting a self-propelled unit or a towed one.
“If the contractor is doing stump removal for a land-clearing application, the best option would most likely be a larger machine,” he says. “The large machines offer plenty of horsepower to get the job done quickly and efficiently. On the other hand, if the contractor is going to do numerous smaller jobs in remote locations, the rental salesperson will want to target a machine that has the ability to move itself to the stump without the use of a towing vehicle.”
Special features
Rieckhoff also says the versatility of the machine is important. For example, some self-propelled models are small enough to fit through a 36-inch gate, which may be a typical need when working in residential settings. These are often difficult areas to reach with a pickup or other towing vehicle, which makes self-propelled units very valuable for rental operations to have available on their yards.
“The majority of the customers in the rental market are going for the smaller horsepower, self-propelled machines,” Rieckhoff says. “Rental centers are smart to keep these machines on-hand, because customers are often homeowners who want to remove stumps themselves, or small business contractors who are just getting started in the industry.” But, he adds, larger machines with versatile capabilities are catching on as well.
Different machines come with different bells and whistles. Many times, these features play a key role in production. For example, remote-control systems can be used when the machine has to get into those hard-to-reach places. This feature allows the operator to operate the machine at a distance, if necessary, which removes the operator from the dust, debris, and noise levels generated by stump cutting.
Operating safety
“Going through training and reading through the operator's manuals with rental customers helps ensure safe and proper operation of the machine,” says Rieckhoff. “This is not only for the safety of the operator but also for those people and objects around the machine when it is working. Think safety first.”
According to Rieckhoff, every machine that Vermeer sells and ships includes with it a safety and operations video, as well as operator's maintenance and parts manuals for the machine. Therefore, most manufacturers and suppliers likely follow this same practice.
Article provided by Vermeer Mfg., Pella Iowa.
Stump Cutter Selection Tips — At a Glance
As you assist a customer renting a stump cutter, you should investigate the following:
- Is the customer a homeowner or contractor?
- Has the customer operated a stump cutter before?
- What are the towing capacities of the customer's vehicles?
- How many stumps need removing?
- How large are the stumps?
- Where are the stumps located? How are they accessed?
- What environment will the customer be working in?
- Does the customer understand the important safety practices?
Toro
The Toro stump grinder attachment, for use on Dingo compact utility loaders, was designed to handle any stump removal project. Its 17-inch cutter wheel features 12 cutting teeth, a wheel speed of 2,000 revolutions per minute and a tooth tip speed of 148 feet per second. To ensure that all stump material is removed, the unit offers a 36-inch above grade maximum cutting height and 16.5-inch below grade maximum cutting depth.
www.toro.com • 952/888-8801
RS# 162
Hitachi
For those who require neither slide nor compound capabilities in their miter saw, Hitachi Power Tools provides its C10FM 10-inch miter saw. With 13 amps of power running at 4,500 rpm, it can cut a 2-by-6 inch or a 4-by-4 inch work piece with a single press cut. The unit also features a 3 1/8-inch extra tall fence that allows some molding to be cut standing vertically.
www.hitachi.com/powertools 800/546-1666
RS# 164
Bachtold
Bachtold's TRV-26 commercial-duty vertical splitter is rated at 16 tons force and is available with a standard Briggs and Stratton 5-horsepower engine or an optional 5.5-horsepower overhead valve Honda unit. The hydraulic splitting cylinder has an automatic return feature, another time-saver that allows the cylinder to return to the start position when the wood is split. The gear pump is located inside the hydraulic fluid tank. Because it is continuously bathed in warm fluid, the pump lasts longer.
www.bachtoldbros.com
217/784-5161
RS# 165
Stihl
The Stihl 046M recently received a power increase to 4.5 kilowatt. This improvement allows for faster cutting performance without an increase in the weight or the price of the product. The new unit is also equipped with the Stihl IntelliCarb compensating carburetor, which permits long running times at full power without the need for constant air filter cleanings.
www.stihlusa.com • 800/467-8445
RS# 163
Bandit
Bandit Industries designed a new conveyor feed system for its Model 1850 and 1900 towable and self-propelled whole tree chippers, which enable the machines to better handle piled brush, logging slash and whole trees. The compact 18-inch diameter capacity 1850 whole tree chipper is available with engines up to 275 horsepower while the 19-inch diameter capacity 1900 is available with engines up to 500 horsepower.
www.banditchippers.com • 800/952-0178
RS# 166
Vermeer
Its narrow width and tow-free, self-propelled design, allow the Vermeer SC50TX to navigate in tight spaces. The unit is recommended for tree contractors and land clearing jobs. It has a 50-horsepower Caterpillar 3024 diesel engine and a 26-inch gear-driven cutter wheel. With turf-friendly rubber tracks, the SC50TX applies fewer pounds per square inch than a human foot.
www.vermeer.com • 888/VERMEER
RS# 167
Mackissic
The improved stump cutter by MacKissic uses a braking system that will stop the cutter head in less than 2 seconds. The frame was also redesigned to feature a stronger uni-body construction and a rear kickstand to keep the cutter head elevated during storage and transportation, and to double as an additional cutter head guard. A new front bumper protects the engine and provides a stronger handle for lifting.
www.mackissic.com • 800/348-1117
RS# 168
Bosch
The Bosch 1613AEVS Plunge Router features a heavy-duty 2-horsepower, 12-amp motor and offers a variable speed range of 11,000 to 22,000 rotations per minute. It also offers a soft start to reduce start-up torque, plus constant response circuitry to monitor and adjust the power to maintain desired rpm for consistent performance and control. The router also features an extra-large 3 3/8-inch base opening to accept larger bits.
www.boschtools.com • 877/BOSCH-99
RS# 169
Dewalt
The new DW703 10-inch compound miter saw from Dewalt can accurately cut 5 ¼-inch crown molding and 6-inch base molding. For increased versatility, the DW703 cuts 50-degree left and right miter angles and has 48-degree bevel capability. The 33-pound unit has a built-in carrying handle for portability. It also comes with a dust bag, a 40-tooth carbide blade and a one-year warranty.
www.dewalt.com • 800/4-DEWALT
RS# 170
CS Unitec
To achieve accuracy with a portable pneumatic band saw from CS Unitec, the new clamp-on vise can be easily installed. The clamp secures to rounds up to 4¾ inches O.D. as well as squares and angles up to 3 by 3 inches. It allows straight cutting of pipe, bolts, steel, super alloys and other nonferrous materials such as wood, plastic and fiberglass.
www.csunitec.com • 800/700/5919
RS# 171
Milwaukee Electric Tool
The Sawzall Plus, model 6519-21 is constructed with an 8.5 amp motor, variable 0-2800 spm and trigger speed control that allows the operator to adjust the blade speed to meet the demands of the material being sawed. The unit from Milwaukee Electric also features a Quik-Lok Cord, which allows quick detachment from the tool for tangle free carrying and storage. The unit uses a 1-inch blade stroke for fast cuts and good plunge cutting ability.
www.mil-electric-tool.com • 262/783-8311
RS# 172
Morbark
The Morbark slasher saw was designed for use in conjunction with the company's log infeed conveyors. The saw is mounted on a hydraulic swing arm assembly, allowing the operator to cut tree length material to specific lengths or to cut crooked logs. It operates with either manually or automatically operated log stops. The 72-inch saw slashes up to 26-inch diameter logs.
www.morbark.com • 800/233-6065
RS# 173
Foster Mfg.
The Forester log splitter product line from Foster Mfg. Corp. was designed to handle any tree. The new line includes models with both horizontal and vertical style splitters and units range from 16- to 25-ton capacities.
www.fostermfgcorp.com 262/633-7073
RS# 174
Hawk Equipment
The new Hawk stump grinder is designed to offer a portable, user-friendly alternative to full-sized stump grinders. At 30Ω inches wide and 320 pounds, the unit is capable of grinding any stump diameter from a height of 24 inches down to 16 inches below grade. Options include a 20-horsepower Honda engine with electric starter, a 12-horsepower recoil-start Kohler engine, and a 20-horsepower Kohler engine with electric starter.
www.hawkstumpgrinder.com 877/591-5855
RS# 175
