Calling all chipper users! :)

Now here is a really strange question.

Can you run straw through a chipper? The guys doing our lawn ran out of time when the rain came and gucked it up right after it was fertilized and seeded. We had about an acre seeded.

We went across the street and got 10 bales of straw from the neighbor and I talked Fingers into cutting it up first with the chain saw. He thought I was nuts
But it worked great! Problem though is it's really hard on the chainsaw.

We saved about 600 bucks on the lawn because it didn't get the top coat of the newspaper pellets, and we decided to put straw down instead for more seed insulation because of this time of year....(we did 10 bales last night after 5pm and in rain for about an hour. .... well I just happened to have to fix dinner just before it started )

So being a normal guy he sees the savings turning into a chipper, which we really could use I'm in agreement.

But Can you use a chipper to hack up bales of hay or straw? Or will it jam it to pieces and kill it?

Help me out here, and also who has a chipper and what size and brand? Do you like it or would you buy something different next time?

[nunyadam]

determine how much you will use it and what types of material you will be using it on first. Then decide how much chipper you need.
Straw should be doable. I would advise you to feed it in slowly though to keep from jamming it up.

[sao95]

i wouldn't load it by the bail

[Quidam]

I have a 5 HP Craftsman chipper and would feel comfortable putting (dry) straw in it. If you top feed, I would sprinkle it in and determine an efficient rate. If you rake it into a horizontal hopper, just get it into the opening and the vacuum action will pull it in. Works for me with leaves, why not straw!

Originally posted by sao95
i wouldn't load it by the bail

Yeah, I thought about that

nunyadam, we have lots of use for it with about an acre and a half of woods and brush. Not that we are going to chop anything down, but trees fall and vines have to be cut out to keep trees alive but we are keeping the woods deer friendly.

Quidam, that's another thing I would want to do is chop leaves for composting

[nunyadam]

this would be nice.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...categoryId=144

[Warthog]

Can I get a Tim Taylor grunt:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...4&categoryId=0

If your chainsaw doesn't cut it, you need MORE POWAH muhahhahaha

Geeze, the power is out here again, (lot's of wind) and it looks like most stores don't have them anymore, I better go and start foraging the stores

That one does vacuuming too, I think I just need a straight chipper, but there is this chipper They have it at Lowe's for the same price and if I open a charge I should get 10% off and then just pay the bill and not pay any finance charges

[nunyadam]

It should serve you well.

By the way wart thats not a chainsaw. this is a chainsaw.
(click on a movie link.)
http://www.bogsquad.co.uk/downloads.htm
( and yes somebody already posted this.)

[Warthog]

haha that's awesome