I'm in the market for a woodchipper and ran across these guys on sleaze bay. They have a machine somewhat similar to a Woodmaxx WM-8H which from my hours of research seems to be the top dog for my needs and compatibility with my B3200 (23 PTO HP)
They claim to have been in business 20 years and further claim their units are made in Canada. They also claim The Woodmaxx is a knockoff of their unit? Their website sounds like it was written by an experienced used car salesman.
THEIR VERSION LINK
The price is attractive BUT sounds a bit
So I thought I'd ask here for any experiences with them good or bad. They sell a lot of other implements as well.
TIA for any input
Looks a lot like my 8" chinesium chipper I bought off kijiji 15 years ago for $1800. Came in a steel crate I too "assembled" in Canada. At the time I figured it was cheaper to buy and modify this unit than to build it new.
Out of the crate it's designed to break down every 5-15 minutes. After a lot of mods I can use mine for about 1-2 hours before jamb ups occur.
Here's my recommendations:
Don't buy if you aren't handy and don't have a full weld and fab shop.
That mechanical feeder is garbage and was the first thing to go as stray wood chips would knock the belt off like clockwork. I tossed mine and now have hydraulic infeed.
I replaced all the safety guarding fasteners to standardize on a single M8 bolt threading into a weld nut so I can fix in the field with only one ratchet wrench and no fiddling with nuts and washers.
The chip chute design is designed for clogging. I modded mine to make it easier to remove in the field with only 1 wrench. I also added a swivel to let me rotate the chute.
Get yourself a PTO slip clutch - better than your new chipper being an engine brake and stopping your tractor.
I find a squirt of diesel on the chipper/flywheel acts as a good chip lube and prevents jamb ups.
REGULARLY check your belts, belt pullies, bearings, chipper teeth, anvil clearance.
I treat my machine like a death trap and don't anyone else feed the machine. I avoid standing near the 200lb flywheel during operation...I have enough experience not to have a lot of confidence in the chinesium quality of parts used. Take great care in choosing your work clothing and gloves, machines like these have minimal safeties and will suck you in mercilessly and turn you into hamburger. Top up your life and disability insurance. If you have employees DON'T buy one of these machines.
Get and wear a quality certified forestry helmet with hearing and face protection. You WILL get chips and branches flying out of the infeed and hit you.
