Anyone ever build a stump grinder?

[cptbarkey]

I've been brainstorming buying a used tiller with front tines to create a murder machine inspired by @oil pan 4, but just ran across what I think is the poor man's version using a run of the mill gas edger, put on 3 saw blades separated by washers. Here is a gentleman who made short work of a large stump. I'm certain "collateral damage" can probably do the same job at a fraction of the time.

I picked up a 5hp troy bilt this afternoon and will give it a try on a dead tangerine tree stump sometime soon.

 

[oil pan 4]

I could use my stump grinder as a tiller. It just wouldn't dig very wide or deep, but it will dig really fast.
Problem with collateral damage is if if the stump is too small and if it's kind of rotted it will rip it out of the ground and throw the stump at my feet.

 

[oil pan 4]

My stump grinder is now pink.
That is all. Still works.

 

[Pablo]

My stump grinder is now pink.
That is all. Still works.

You OK?

 

[oil pan 4]

You OK?

Yeah I had everything powder coated.

 

[oil pan 4]

I did the longest stump grinder job todate yesterday.
À 30 inch stump, and 4 more that were in the 16 to 18 inch range.
$1000 for 4hrs of work because he wanted me to grind them as deep as I could get them.
I'm beat and my stump grinder only broke an oil line.
The guy running the job had cut the trees down and cut the stumps 12 to 18 inches off above the ground, was trying to use a little backhoe to dig and rip them out of the ground. Broke the rental backhoe. He should have cut them off like 3 or 4 feet above the ground. 10% rule.
Some of them thought my pink stump grinder was funny untill it started throwing wood chips nearly a hundred feet and ripped through 18 inch stumps in "half the time it took the excavator".

 

[IndyIan]

I did the longest stump grinder job todate yesterday.
À 30 inch stump, and 4 more that were in the 16 to 18 inch range.
$1000 for 4hrs of work because he wanted me to grind them as deep as I could get them.
I'm beat and my stump grinder only broke an oil line.
The guy running the job had cut the trees down and cut the stumps 12 to 18 inches off above the ground, was trying to use a little backhoe to dig and rip them out of the ground. Broke the rental backhoe. He should have cut them off like 3 or 4 feet above the ground. 10% rule.
Some of them thought my pink stump grinder was funny untill it started throwing wood chips nearly a hundred feet and ripped through 18 inch stumps in "half the time it took the excivator".

I like it! Maybe the next upgrade is to rubber mount your handle and maybe do some experimentation with filling the handle with sand to tune out the vibrations? Do you have a ground anchor so you aren't pushing or pulling against it the whole time? My ancient little front tine tiller is a pain in the hands to use if I don't set the rear depth gauge up to limit its bucking around, and so I don't have to hold it back the whole time...
It sounds fun to make some simple tools using a small engine, and even more fun to get paid to use them!

 

[oil pan 4]

I like it! Maybe the next upgrade is to rubber mount your handle and maybe do some experimentation with filling the handle with sand to tune out the vibrations? Do you have a ground anchor so you aren't pushing or pulling against it the whole time? My ancient little front tine tiller is a pain in the hands to use if I don't set the rear depth gauge up to limit its bucking around, and so I don't have to hold it back the whole time...
It sounds fun to make some simple tools using a small engine, and even more fun to get paid to use them!

Excellent suggestions.
I've wanted to add a battery for starting but then that would throw off the balance, a sand filled handle could provide the counter balance. In stump grinders heavier is better.
I make a ground anchor by digging out a rut and roll one of the wheels into it and use that as a pivot point. Add diviots as needed. Usually only need 3 or 4 per stump then I can change my angel of attack by switching which wheel I sink into the divot.