Stump Grinder - Buy One or Hire One?

[bulletpruf]

Fellas -

Looks like I'll have 10-15 trees to take out on my property. Nothing too big, but each one will have a stump, of course.

What's my best bet for stump removal? Hire it out at several hundred per stump? Or rent a small backhoe or Bobcat and do it myself?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[GroundZero]

Fellas -

Looks like I'll have 10-15 trees to take out on my property. Nothing too big, but each one will have a stump, of course.

What's my best bet for stump removal? Hire it out at several hundred per stump? Or rent a small backhoe or Bobcat and do it myself?

Thanks,

Scott

How big are they? Probably best to hire a professional either way. Cheaper and safer.

Sent from my SM-G892U using Tapatalk

 

[bulletpruf]

24” tops. Majority will be smaller.

EDIT: If I'm going to rent a Bobcat or backhoe to do some work in the yard, should I use one of these to dig up the stumps, too?

 

[GroundZero]

24” tops. Majority will be smaller.

EDIT: If I'm going to rent a Bobcat or backhoe to do some work in the yard, should I use one of these to dig up the stumps, too?

I would just hire someone one. Probably less than $500 for all 10.


Sent from my SM-G892U using Tapatalk

 

[bulletpruf]

I would just hire someone one. Probably less than $500 for all 10.

Sent from my SM-G892U using Tapatalk

Yeah, if they can do it for $500, no sense screwing with it myself.

 

[VirginiaIron]

It was just as cheap for me to hire a professional than for me to rent it, learn how to operate it, go get it and return it.

 

[a1stump]

Probably a lot cheaper than you think, get a quote. Really consider what you plan on doing with the stump before you dig it up with a backhoe. Can't count the times that customers called and said, "Well, got all of the stumps dug up for ya, just need you to remove them." Dump fees and logistics to get them to the dump are always going to be more that grinding.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Bobcat isn't going to easily dig out 24" stumps. Ideally I'd use a large exacavator, like a 330 or 400, but smaller would work, just take longer.

 

[mrhemihead]

I could not hire a stump grinder in my area for the rates in this thread.
In the DC metro area they charge by the inch, usually twice the above ground stump diameter. Cost me $450 for 3 20" stumps.

My property slopes which requires a self propelled machine. Local company rents one for $350/day plus delivery, etc. Not so sure a day would be enough as a DIY project.

 

[bulletpruf]

Since I started this thread a few months ago, I ended up renting a larger skid steer. Used it mostly to tear out a lot of concrete, but also got after some of the stumps.

Still have a few dozen stumps to go, but most are smaller -- small trees and large shrubs. I'll dig some out by hand, the larger/more difficult ones I plan to use a combination of winch + axe + pick + shovel. I expect to have 3 or 4 left that I'll either rent a grinder for or cut flush and treat with something that will break it down some.

 

[lone wolf]

I could not hire a stump grinder in my area for the rates in this thread.
In the DC metro area they charge by the inch, usually twice the above ground stump diameter. Cost me $450 for 3 20" stumps.

My property slopes which requires a self propelled machine. Local company rents one for $350/day plus delivery, etc. Not so sure a day would be enough as a DIY project.

3.00 an inch here