Any recommendations on a 3 chipper/shredder?

I am shopping for one with an electric start, towable around the big yard to mostly to make mulch of twigs and small branches, green or dry. I have seen quite a few on the net, but there weren't many favorable comments on any of them large or small. I wore out a Sears 8hp one some years back and that could hardly handle green 2" stuff.
Thanks for your time.....IaLeo

As with many pieces of outdoor power equipment, you can buy cheaply priced stuff and then moan about the mistake you made OR..... you can spend what it takes to purchase a high-quality product that will last for years, do the job you want it to and have the full backing of the factory for parts and warranty.

There are lots of cheaply made units out there and some of them hide behind quality names that were purchased by MTD. Shredding and chipping takes horsepower and it also takes components made from structural steel instead of stamped sheet metal. Blades must be easily replaceable because they need to be sharpened for the unit to work properly. Interchangeable screens are also important if you intend to use the byproduct to mulch your gardens or around trees and bushes. The 12PHT isn't for everyone due to the $2500.00 price tag new but it is the type of unit that a rental company would buy because of the quality. Rental companies usually sell their equipment after 2 or 3 years and a homeowner can often get himself an excellent buy. Keep in mind that rental units are serviced after every rental because they must be in tip-top shape for the next person who rents it.


Another good brand is DR. Copy and paste this link into your browser.

http://www.drpower.com/power-equipment/chippers/


Once again, quality comes at a price and as you will see, the prices for the DR line are similar to Mackissic.

When shopping for a chipper/shredder, look at what the unit weighs. The gross weight is an indicator of how much steel was used to make the unit. Ask how easy it is to replace the chipper knives and the shredder flails. Ask about the prices and availability of these wear parts. Ask about the gauge of steel used to create the main housing. It is not about what the unit costs to buy. It is about what the unit costs to run and maintain.
mackissic

The nicest chipper I have worked on was a Crary Bearcat. Parent company is Echo that makes trimmers and chainsaws. 20 hp Honda engine. I don't know cost but not cheap though.

Echo is known for quality products.
bearcat

Thanks for the comments, Tom. I am circling a Mackissic 12PTE1100 electric start. I wouldn't know where to start asking for or evaluating the maintenance/sharpening ease. It looks like just what I would use it for to generate
mulch for young trees from the many limbs of my 40+ old maples. I save and burn anything bigger than 2-3 inch diameter and pile and burn the "brush" as of now.

I wouldn't have any idea what a Briggs and Stratton 11.5 is (249cc). Electric start is a must

Do you have any experience with Mackissic stuff?

Thanks again, IaLeo

My main focus is on outdoor power equipment built by COLT, CASE and INGERSOLL, all of which were available with a hydraulic drive system. The beauty of the Hydriv system is that the flow of oil can be used to power attachments such as mower decks, snow blowers, rotary tillers, field mowers, log splitters, vacuums AND.... a chipper/shredder which was made for Ingersoll by Mackissic using the tried and true Mackissic design and parts. I have been an active member of Case forums since the turn of the century and I have never, ever encountered anyone who had anything negative to say about the performance of their chipper/shredder from Ingersoll. That is the only endorsement I can give because I have personally not used one of them or any other Mackissic unit.

I know that most people hold Mackissic in high regard and I would not hesitate to purchase one of their products.

As for the engine, I had hoped that Mackissic had chosen a Vanguard Series for that 12PTE1100 because I have a lot of faith in the Vanguard's. Ingersoll began using them about 14 years ago and still use them today. But I think that the 12PTE does not require the torque that a Vanguard Twin puts out and so it appears to me that Mackissic has chosen the 1150 Series Briggs and Stratton horizontal shaft engine. See the link below Due to recent lawsuits, the engine manufacturers are reluctant to post horsepower ratings for their engines and instead, they post the displacement and the torque. The engine chosen puts out 11.5 foot pounds of torque at 2600 RPM in accordance with a standard set down by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).

Engine life is contingent on the maintenance it is given no matter who makes the engine. Timely oil changes and other procedures that are set out in the Operator's Manual must be followed religiously to achieve the projected hours of operation before a rebuild is necessary.
B & S