Mulching head for 5.5 ton digger

[Cmoran]

I’m looking for advice on a mulching head for a 5.5 ton digger was going to buy a tractor hedge cutter but decided to go this route as there are none in this area and I’ve already lined up work It’s mostly for trimming hedges but maybe some heavier stuff if it’s suitable. I’m completely new to this so all advice would be appreciated. Tia

 

[Galcam]

How will u charge? Min fixed fee to get to site and then rate per hour? It seems like an expensive way to cut hedges?

 

[Cmoran]

Rate per hour with min charge.

 

[Fendtbro]

Have you thought about a mulching head for the hedgecutter? Then you can have a quick hitch like a digger and swap between the two. The bomford ismp head will cut 100mm wood ok, and will deal with larger more slowly. No good for hedges with the rotor spinning backwards. ideally a fixed carbide tooth mulcher to keep cutting without getting blunt. it's critical to avoid the stones with the swinging hammers, you have to cut off in layers until you can see them. The trouble with the digger is the main control functions robbing oil from the cutting head, this can be improved with a priority conversion but with the hedge cutter at least you always have full power.

 

[Cmoran]

Have you thought about a mulching head for the hedgecutter? Then you can have a quick hitch like a digger and swap between the two. The bomford ismp head will cut 100mm wood ok, and will deal with larger more slowly. No good for hedges with the rotor spinning backwards. ideally a fixed carbide tooth mulcher to keep cutting without getting blunt. it's critical to avoid the stones with the swinging hammers, you have to cut off in layers until you can see them. The trouble with the digger is the main control functions robbing oil from the cutting head, this can be improved with a priority conversion but with the hedge cutter at least you always have full power.

A priority valve will be fitted to allow all functions stay working. I see there’s heads with three knives per holder available at reasonable money it will be mostly briars and scrub I’ll be doing. Was hoping someone would recommend a make of head at reasonable money

 

[Cmoran]

This is the head I’ve looked at

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

I’ve already lined up work It’s mostly for trimming hedges but maybe some heavier stuff if it’s suitable

For properly heavy stuff, forestry spec., there are only two established brands that I would (and did) consider: FAE and Seppi.

 

[Cmoran]

For properly heavy stuff, forestry spec., there are only two established brands that I would (and did) consider: FAE and Seppi.

Thanks for that at last someone actually answered my question!! Roughly what price would I be paying for one to fit 5.5 ton machine?

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Thanks for that at last someone actually answered my question!! Roughly what price would I be paying for one to fit 5.5 ton machine?

A proper forestry-spec flail head, with a fixed carbide tooth rotor (rather than swinging flails) with a variable swash piston motor was £8K about 5 years ago. This was a Seppi Mini-BMS105 mounted to a Volvo ECR58D.

That’s a bare machine. On top you have custom brackets to get and hoses/couplers etc. to fit. Another £600 or so. Then you need to decide whether it’s worth putting a rotator on the end of the unit, which increases its flexibility 200%.

 

[Cmoran]

A proper forestry-spec flail head, with a fixed carbide tooth rotor (rather than swinging flails) with a variable swash piston motor was £8K about 5 years ago. This was a Seppi Mini-BMS105 mounted to a Volvo ECR58D.

That’s a bare machine. On top you have custom brackets to get and hoses/couplers etc. to fit. Another £600 or so. Then you need to decide whether it’s worth putting a rotator on the end of the unit, which increases its flexibility 200%.

Will that head do briars and grass aswell as heavier stuff?

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Will that head do briars and grass aswell as heavier stuff?

No, you will have to decide what is more important/prevalent in the type of work you will be undertaking. You can spec with either type of rotor. If you are cutting grass and hedges, you really want conventional swinging flails. Fixed tooth flails rotor aren't going to do the best job there. The premium as I recall was around £1K to go with a fixed/tungsten tooth rotor over a conventional rotor.

Edit: if you want I can pass on the contact details of the chap that distributes FAE forestry gear in the UK and another guy that does the same for Seppi. Probably best to have a chat with them directly about your intentions / uses / machine setup etc.