Curious about skid steer forestry mulchers? Our experts get you up to speed, and answer all your frequently asked questions below.
What does a skid steer mulcher do?
Skid steer mulcher attachments cut down and grind up brush, trees, and stumps with ease. You'll see these mulchers at work on construction sites, farmland, disaster sites, and landscaping projects. Anywhere that trees and brush need to be cut and cleared, skid steer mulchers become a valuable tool. They make quick work out of an otherwise tough job—toppling trees, munching through stubborn vegetation, and clearing land as efficiently as possible.
When should you use a forestry mulcher?
A forestry mulcher is a go-to attachment when your goal is to clear land quickly. It is designed to topple and grind logs, trees, and thick brush. Keep in mind, however, that these attachments should be considered advanced forestry equipment.
What'S the best forestry mulcher?
The best forestry mulcher attachment for you will likely be different than the one that's best for someone else. After all, it all comes down to what you need for your project. To find the best forestry mulcher for you, it pays to stay in the know about the pros and cons of each type of mulcher.
How does a skid steer forestry mulcher work?
To create mulch, skid steer mulchers use durable metal teeth that grind brush down into smaller pieces. They come in two types: Disc mulchers and Drum mulchers.
What are Disc mulcher attachments?
As you might suspect, disc mulcher attachments come in the shape of a large, sharp mulching teeth that can simultaneously cut down trees and grind them up. The rotating disc mulcher attachments can be adjusted to cut at different angles and heights, depending on the type of vegetation.
Disc mulchers are second-to-none in terms of speed. For example, the V70 Tree Disc Mulcher efficiently mulches 6-8" diameter trees and quickly removes up to 14" diameter trees. This attachment can conquer the most demanding forestry jobs.
See it in action in this video:
What are drum mulcher attachments?
Drum mulcher attachments are cylindrical, and covered in high-grade mulching teeth. As the drum rotates parallel to the ground, brush and trees are ground up upon contact with the spinning drum.
Drum mulchers are excellent at grinding stumps and can grind them below grade. They typically take longer to mulch larger diameter material but they leave a finer finished result.
A downside of drum mulchers is that tooth replacement costs tend to add up. If you go the drum mulcher route, we recommend you choose one with high-quality steel teeth. They'll pay for themselves over time.
How does a disc mulcher differ from a drum mulcher or industrial rotary cutter?
Drum mulchers make smaller wood chips from the trees and stumps while disc mulchers leave behind larger and more useful wood chunks. But you can still make smaller wood chips with a disc mulcher, all it takes is another go around through the machine. Learn more about the differences between disc mulchers and drum mulchers.
Can a disc mulcher grind stumps?
Yes, disc mulchers will cut stumps to ground level, but you'll be risking the sharpness of the teeth and the overall longevity of the mulcher. If removing stumps is your main objective, you should look into alternative options.
What thickness can a skid steer forestry mulcher cut through?
Most high flow mulchers have a cut width of 60" and a cutting capacity of 14" in diameter. If you're looking to conquer larger trees, consider a higher flow rate or look at alternative options.
What size skid steer do you need to run a mulcher?
When it comes to large-scale machinery like mulchers, the bigger the better. But as far as horsepower goes, we believe that 60 is a good bet to start with for your skid steer. Manufacturers often make mulcher attachments that can get you geared up and ready to go within a few minutes while still having top-of-the-line performance.
What are the flow requirements to run a mulcher?
To run a mulcher, you'll need a 30-45 GPM hydraulic output, and the operating pressure caps out at 4,200 psi. While these attachments are often easy to come by, it's important to make sure that the flow rate matches the machine's necessities to operate it safely.
What are the safety concerns with skid steer forestry mulchers?
Both disc mulchers and drum mulchers can launch material a long way leading to a major safety hazard for potential bystanders. For this reason, it's important to always keep safety precautions in mind when operating a skid steer mulcher attachment.
Disc mulcher attachments take most of the material from the front and will throw it further than a drum mulcher. So if you're planning on mulching near buildings, homes, utility lines, and busy roads, keep that in mind.
As a general rule of thumb, make sure to read your mulcher's manual before operating. It's crucial that you keep bystanders at least 300 feet away during operation, and always use a skid steer with a shatterproof cab door.
How much do forestry mulchers cost?
Disc mulcher skid steer attachments are less expensive. Most high flow disc mulchers fall into a $22,000-29,000 price range and have a 60" cut width, while most high flow drum mulchers fall into a $33,000-$43,000 price range and have a 50"-75" cut width.
Ultimately, pricing depends on the width of the unit, the manufacturer, and the option you decide to go with.
What Forestry Mulchers does Virnig Carry?
Here at Virnig, we supply the V70 Tree Disc Mulcher. As you saw in the video, the V70 devours trees 6-8” in diameter, and efficiently processes them into mulch.
This skid steer attachment comes with a high-torque piston motor, a premium-made spindle, and a clear-cut disc. Learn more about the V70 Tree Disc Mulcher and request a quote here.
