FAE uml/st forestry mower
- Thread starter PurdueJoe
- Start date
- Location
- Holzhockerstettle PA
The few guys that I do know that used them complained that the mulch left behind was impossible to deal with if you are planning to replant something like pasture or crops. They would have rather cleared with a loader/excavator/burnpile/tub grinder setup. For trails or ROW work they seem to be great tho if your operator doesn't tear up equipment.
SumoClimber
New member
- Location
- Fox Cities, WI
No experience with the FAE tractor attachments, but I've spent a bit of time driving other forestry mowers. How good they are really depends on what the intended purpose is for clearing the land.
The biggest complaint I have with every single forestry mower I have used is chip size. There's no uniformity, with some chunks being near sawdust, and others being chunks nearly a foot long. Of course, this can be helped by travelling slowly and being on the top end of the horsepower curve, but there's no real way to get uniform results.
I definitely agree with barpincher in that when the land needs to be cleared down for planting the mulcher/mowers do not do the job sufficiently by themselves.
Of course, if you are dead set on getting the mulcher and need to be able to clear for planting, there's a lovely type of farm machine available. A derocker or rock picker is a pretty standard item for a farm implement company to own and rent out or offer as a service, as you generally only need it once per field. There are quite a few models out there, the one I have the most experience with is a Rotoveyer, made by Rockland.
Last time we cleared a field, we rented a forestry tiller from a local timber company and used that to mulch the land cover and then another pass with it set as a tiller to loosen the ground down to a foot. (AFIK, there's no rock clearing system that doesn't need the soil to be at least somewhat loose.) After the ground was tilled we brought in a 160hp tractor with a Rotoveyer, rented from a local potato farm. The Roto picked up pretty much everything that wasn't dirt. Roots, rocks, chunks, etc, I was quite impressed by how small of material the Roto picked up.
The biggest complaint I have with every single forestry mower I have used is chip size. There's no uniformity, with some chunks being near sawdust, and others being chunks nearly a foot long. Of course, this can be helped by travelling slowly and being on the top end of the horsepower curve, but there's no real way to get uniform results.
I definitely agree with barpincher in that when the land needs to be cleared down for planting the mulcher/mowers do not do the job sufficiently by themselves.
Of course, if you are dead set on getting the mulcher and need to be able to clear for planting, there's a lovely type of farm machine available. A derocker or rock picker is a pretty standard item for a farm implement company to own and rent out or offer as a service, as you generally only need it once per field. There are quite a few models out there, the one I have the most experience with is a Rotoveyer, made by Rockland.
Last time we cleared a field, we rented a forestry tiller from a local timber company and used that to mulch the land cover and then another pass with it set as a tiller to loosen the ground down to a foot. (AFIK, there's no rock clearing system that doesn't need the soil to be at least somewhat loose.) After the ground was tilled we brought in a 160hp tractor with a Rotoveyer, rented from a local potato farm. The Roto picked up pretty much everything that wasn't dirt. Roots, rocks, chunks, etc, I was quite impressed by how small of material the Roto picked up.
Good to know. I agree with all the forestry mowers i've seen have through some pretty big pieces. However, this one has a shield that comes down which works like a mulcher attachment on a lawn mower not allowing the material to be through out. The sales man for the product says that you run into the material first with the hood opened then back over with the hood down to grind it finer. Whats everyone's opinion on that. Best way to figure out if its going to work is to demo it.
SumoClimber
New member
- Location
- Fox Cities, WI
Sounds like the FAE mower/mulcher is pretty similar to the ones I have used before as far as tiller settings. Thinking about things and doing a few google searches for FAE, the tractor attachments are probably going to do an ok job unless you need a fairly fine soil right away, like for planting a lawn. You've got it right, though, proof is in the demo, especially if they'll let you demo it on the property you intend for it. Let me know how it works out.
Other advice I can give, lowest travel speed possible for best results. Most of the dealers will probably try to sell you on installing a creeper gear on the tractor. Might not be a bad idea, really depends on the tractor. I'm a bit of a cheapskate, probably try without, and if I'm just bogging the mulcher down and standing on the brake, well, ok, guess I'll get the creeper.
Other advice I can give, lowest travel speed possible for best results. Most of the dealers will probably try to sell you on installing a creeper gear on the tractor. Might not be a bad idea, really depends on the tractor. I'm a bit of a cheapskate, probably try without, and if I'm just bogging the mulcher down and standing on the brake, well, ok, guess I'll get the creeper.
- Location
- Holzhockerstettle PA
I'm agreeing with Sumo on this. The demo is the key. Personally I think the 2nd pass with the hood down is a waste of time and fuel (sales GIMMIK!!). I see it this way. Making the crap finer does not reduce the volume of the material. The issue is is the mulcher the right tool for the job i.e. is it ok to have a heavy layer of mulch put down? If the answer is yes then you really don't need to make a 2nd pass and chop it up finer. If the answer is no then your back to excavators and tub grinders... I don't envy your decision
New threads New posts
-
test
-
-
-
-
What's on your mind? TCI Magazine wants to know
- Started by Tree Care Industry Assoc.
- Replies: 23
-
Apr 09 (Free CEUs) & May 07 - 'Urban Forestry Today' Webcasts @ Noon (Eastern)- Started by UFT
- Replies: 0
-
