Whether you’re a farmer looking to clear some space for your next project or a simple homeowner beautifying your yard, there often comes that time where you would need to remove that unwanted tree. While cutting down said tree would get it out of the way, there is still the need to get that stump out of the way. When it comes to taking out stumps though, very little is as cost-efficient as stump grinding in Central Coast.
That being said, stump grinding is not an easy task. In fact, it is better left to professionals (it is a professional service after all). This is not to say that it is impossible to be carried out by non-professionals though, just that it would be harder? To help make things easier, you’d need to have the right tools and equipment.
Not sure what those are? You need not worry, we’ve got you covered. Below are the must have tools every stump grinder needs.
Ratchet
The ratchet becomes useful when your machine becomes faulty on the job. This isn’t an impossible thing to happen. If your grinder parts get shaky or noisy, this is your go-to tool. You just need to figure out which parts are loosened and do the needful. If it’s the other way around – you need to loosen some maintenance parts – use the ratchet.
Screwdriver
The screwdriver is a necessary tool to have when dealing with machines. This ubiquitous tool can be used for lots of things on-site. Tightening and loosening loose screws, no problem | maintenance and getting wood chips off tight spots? It’s got it covered.
Pliers
What do you need pliers for? You literally deal with wood and not metal! Well, surprises happen. There have been situations in Australia where the grinder comes in contact with some metal wire buried underground.
What happens when the metal wire wounds its way around your grinder teeth? You stop work and call maintenance? Of course not! If you’re with a pair of fully functional pliers, you just need to get down and get to work. Use the pliers to cut out the wire traps and free your grinder teeth of their misery.
Attachments
ALWAYS remember to have all the necessary attachments for your grinder. Whether or not you’re dealing with large tree stumps, having an attachment to a tool is the only way to make things much easier for you. If you need a list of attachments for your grinder, here’s a good one.
- Stump buckets. Used for digging stumps, rocks and even breaking up compacted soil.
- Pallet forks. They’re useful for hauling anything and everything. Trees, fence posts, logs. Anything!
- Tree booms. Useful for transporting trees from hard-to-reach areas. Not necessary if you’re dealing with a single tree.
- Power rakes. Used for finishing, grooming, or grading the surface after grinding.
- Max seed-to-soil contact. Also used for grading and smoothing surfaces. Only this time, it has a larger surface area to the rake. It could be used on a farm or construction site.
- Bale spears. They’re used to transport the wood chips you get after grinding. You could think of them as a replacement for the shovel and wheelbarrow.
Mattock
If you’re into removing stumps the old fashioned way, then this would be the most crucial tool for you. Even with the machine, it’s still advisable you have a mattock in your toolbox.
Epsom salt
Epsom salt is another innovative tool for removing tree stumps. Adding some Epsom salt to the stump would make grinding much more comfortable as the salt absorbs all the moisture off the stump and the ground. This makes the decay process much faster. Besides, Epsom salt is known to stop already ground tree stumps from regrowing.
To get this done, apply the salt across the stump a day before grinding. This leaves it a whole 24 hours to do its job. You’d be surprised how easy grinding the stump would be after adding the salt.
The stump grinder itself
This is where all the magic happens. A stump grinder is a machine used by farmers and homeowners alike to ‘grind away’ stumps reducing them to chips and dust. The grinders come in a wide variety of sizes and designs. Although you should only choose the one needed for your type of project.
If you’re a homeowner just looking to make Saturdays more fun in your yard, you should go for the smaller-sized one (no bigger than a hand-pushed lawnmower).
On the other hand, if you’re a farmer or working on a large piece of untouched land, get a bigger one instead. Some grinders exist as tractor attachments – saving you from having to maintain a separate machine.
Safety tools
Stump grinding in Central coast is a dangerous task to embark on. Most times, it’s advisable you have a professional do it for you. If you’re not careful, you could:
- Get injured from all the wood chips flying around.
- Get injured when felling the tree (if you ever have to fell one).
- Get injured if you’re dealing with a decaying tree.
- Get injured from a faulty machine part.
To avoid injuries, make sure you:
- Dress well. Hard hats, earmuffs, goggles, and steel toe boots are a must for tree removal agencies.
- Avoid wearing jewellery of any sort. Keep your long hair tied up.
- Be very careful when installing blades.
- Follow safety instructions and guidelines for stump grinding in Central Coast.
- Put a warning fence to let passers-by know what’s being done.
Before you go ahead with carrying out your do-it-yourself stump grinding though, remember, this is delicate work. Be careful and don’t take on more than you can handle. And most importantly, if you ever find yourself in need of some professional help, never hesitate to contact stump grinding experts in Central Coast. Better safe than sorry.
Disclaimer: This is a generic Information & post; content about the services can be changed from time to time as per your requirements and contract. To get the latest and updated information, contact us today or visit our website.
