What Is a Stump Grinder?
A Stump Grinder is a machine used to pulverize tree stumps into wood chips. It is equipped with a sturdy cutting edge, which can be cylindrical or disc-shaped. There are mainly two types of blade shapes, both operating on a mechanism of substantial weight and high-speed rotation.
As a result, lightweight models suitable for handheld operations are limited, and many are designed to be attached to heavy machinery such as tractors or backhoes. Some are even self-propelled, making them convenient for home use. However, unlike the mounted type, which can reach greater heights, self-propelled models are limited in their reach, resulting in a narrower working range. There are also handheld types available, some of which are compact and portable.
Nevertheless, compared to mounted and self-propelled models, handheld ones are smaller and less powerful, which can lead to longer work times.
Uses of Stump Grinder
The cutting edge of a Stump Grinder, located at the tip, is made of ultra-hard tips and operates by rapidly rotating to grind away tree stumps. In the case of cylindrical-shaped blades, serrated protrusions on the sides allow for the grinding of tree stumps at high speeds.
This shape provides a larger contact area with the tree stump, allowing for more efficient removal. However, extreme contact areas, such as placing the blade and stump flat on the ground, can burden the machine and become a potential source of trouble, requiring caution.
The mechanism is the same for disc-shaped blades. While the contact area with the tree stump is less compared to cylindrical ones, resulting in longer work times, it has the advantage of placing less strain on the machine.
Moreover, machine-mounted types offer substantial power, making them suitable for grinding large and robust tree stumps.
Self-propelled models, being more compact than mounted types, can excel in confined spaces on various job sites when compared to their larger counterparts.