Work Smarter Not Harder
A PTO (Power Take-off) wood chipper is a convenient piece of equipment that simplifies munching tasks. And if you are a farmer, lifestyle block owner, or contractor, you must be aware of its benefits.
PTO-powered wood chippers are a lucrative investment. But it is very crucial to choose the right one.
Are you planning to buy one?
Here is a comprehensive guide to the uses of PTO wood chippers, along with key points to consider when buying one.
So, continue reading to make a worthwhile decision!
For a crash course and overview in all things chippers check out our guide How a Wood Chipper Works
What’s a PTO Wood Chipper?
A PTO wood chipper uses the power take-off from your tractor to supply energy to the chipper, converting fallen logs and branches into wood chips or mulch instantly. They are typically more powerful and effective than gas-powered wood chippers.
A PTO wood chipper chips branches that are four times larger than an ordinary one can.
You attach it to your tractor. The PTO draws power from the tractor and transfers it to the chipper. It enables you to harness the sizable power and strength of your tractor.
Highlights and Usage
A tractor PTO-powered wood chipper can make your life easier as a farmer or lifestyle block owner. First, it helps clear your property. Then, instead of dumping or burning the organic waste, you can convert it into chips using a PTO wood chipper.
The scattered wood chips will eventually decay. Moreover, they turn into soil nutrients after decomposition. It is better than gas and electric-powered chippers as it can handle larger wood.
8 Essential Things to Assess Before Purchasing a PTO Powered Wood Chipper
You need to consider various factors and parameters of a PTO wood chipper to make your investment worthwhile. However, it is challenging to decide as the market is flooded with multiple models. To resolve your problem, we have compiled eight essential things to evaluate before buying this functional equipment.
1. Specify Your Needs
The foremost factor is to identify your requirements. Evaluate your property size and work type. Do you want a PTO-powered wood chipper for small land or commercial and industrial purposes? Depending on your needs, you can choose from light to heavy-duty models of PTO wood chippers.
2. Compatibility With Your Tractor
It is mandatory to assess its compatibility with your tractor. As mentioned earlier, PTO-powered wood chippers draw power from your tractor’s engine. Therefore, the power output and capacity of your tractor and the PTO equipment should be well-matched. Moreover, it is also vital to consider implementing your PTO chipper with your tractor’s hitch type.
3. Weight
Consider the weight of the PTO wood chipper, which is determined by the flywheel. The flywheel’s size and weight impacts the amount of energy a PTO chipper can store. Most PTO chippers have flywheels that weigh around 85 kilograms. It is excellent for smaller-scale work. However, you should look for a heavier PTO wood chipper to store maximum energy for smooth chipping for commercial uses.
4. Quality Build Ensuring a Long Lifespan
Always buy a durable and robust PTO wood chipper that can handle heavy-duty tasks. You can read reviews of various PTO chippers models. It gives a deeper insight into the pros and cons so that you can opt for the best.
5. Feed System – Hydraulic, Self-Powered, or Gas Powered
The feed system of the PTO wood chipper has a direct impact on its efficiency. Discover the differences between self-powered and hydraulic chippers to identify what suits you the best:
● Self-powered
A self-powered wood chipper is ideal for handling branches of up to 4 inches in diameter. It has a simple design and accommodates many types of tractors. Unfortunately, it is highly manual.
● Hydraulic
Hydraulic wood chippers are a good option for large scale jobs that require minimal manpower and must be completed more quickly than what can typically be achieved with the self-feeding variety. It has a high-quality design and is perfect for chipping larger logs.
● Gas Powered
Although this post focuses primarily on PTO chippers it is a good idea to ask yourself whether a gas powered wood chipper could be a potential option. The highly capable chippers are able to operate completely tractor independent and come equipped with a tow hitch that makes transport possible via virtually any type of vehicle.
For more information regarding the pros and cons of self-feeding vs. hydraulic wood chippers check out our post Self Feeding or Hydraulic: Which Wood Chipper is Right for Me?
6. Shredder or No Shredder
There are two basic types of PTO wood chippers: with shredder and without the shredder. Depending on your workload, you can choose one of them. Here is the difference:
● PTO Chipper Without Shredder
It has a large flywheel that can store more energy. As a result, it reduces the overall load from your tractor. Moreover, it can convert large logs and branches into small, uniform chips.
● PTO Chipper With Shredder
It offers competitive power for wood chipping as the one without a shredder. However, it cannot handle wood larger than 1 inch in diameter.
7. Adjustable Chip Size
Do you need a PTO wood chipper that can convert wood into various chip sizes? Many models allow you to adjust the chip size as per your requirements. Valby PTO wood chippers are impressive in this regard.
8. Ease of Use and Effective Handling
Consider purchasing PTO wood chippers that are easy to handle and maintain. Inexpensive and self-powered wood chippers are easy to maintain but are highly manual. However, hydraulic ones are more automatic.
The Bottom Line
PTO-powered chippers are much more efficient than electric and gas-powered ones. However, most ordinary farmers don’t need it.
But if you are dealing with larger wood and property area, then upgrading to a PTO wood chipper is the best option.
At Victory Tractor, we source all of our equipment directly from the manufacturer and pass the savings on to our customers. As always, the team is standing by to answer any questions to assist with your decision. Victory support can be reached directly at (562) 534-8182 or sales@etractorimplements.com
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