When a drum mulcher is working, the rotating drum creates an impressive chopping motion, successfully mulching crops in its trail. The chopping tooth at the drum shred subject material right into a nice mulch, which will also be unfold calmly around the flooring.
Drums are most well-liked in spaces the place flying particles is a priority, like residential environments. They go away a finely mulched end all the way through preliminary knockdown and are extra productive at processing felled subject material. They are additionally ready to grind stumps under flooring degree whilst offering a managed chopping movement that directs maximum particles towards the bottom.
One key benefit of drum mulchers is that they’re more uncomplicated to perform than a disc, requiring minimum coaching for knowledgeable operators. Visibility is very good and a person can see when and the place the drum engages subject material.
Disc mulchers make the most of a round flywheel which spin at excessive speeds and successfully grind and mulch upon touch. The chopping tooth positioned at the best, backside and perimeter of the disc lend a hand shred subject material.
Because of their competitive chopping design which depends upon saved power within the disc, disc mulchers are extremely environment friendly at clearing land briefly. Disc mulchers can shred a complete tree inside a 2d, and briefly get better pace to maintain greater volumes of subject material in much less time.
Disc mulchers in most cases have decrease upkeep necessities in comparison to drum mulchers, resulting in decreased downtime.
DRUM Mulcher |
DISC Mulcher |
Reducing Capability |
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| 14” Diameter Timber | 14” Diameter Timber |
Reducing Width |
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| 60″ & 72″ | 60” |
Really useful Glide Price |
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| 30-50 GPM – Top Glide Most effective | 30-45 GPM – Top Glide Most effective |
Running Ways |
|
|
|
MATERIal End |
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| High quality Preliminary Mulch, Smaller Wooden Chips | Leaves Greater Wooden Chunks & Branches – Reprocess for a Finer End |
DEBRIS CONTAINMENT |
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| Superb, Throws Maximum Subject material Downward in Managed Movement | Unpredictable, Will Throw Subject material Away From the Mulcher |
PUSH BAR |
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| Fanged Bolt-On Push Bar Design to Lend a hand Information Timber Away From Loader | Bolt-On Push Bar to Lend a hand Information Timber into the Deck |
VISIBILITY |
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| Operators Can See When Drum Engages Flooring & Subject material, And With A Shallower Intensity and Decrease Profile vs. Disc Mulcher, A Drum Has A Slight Visibility Merit | Operators Can not See the Disc from the Cab and Should Depend on Revel in, Really feel, and Sound to Perform Successfully |
Maneuverability |
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| Excellent for Use in Tight Areas, City Spaces, or Asymmetric Terrain. Weight Distribution is Extra Towards Loader, Giving a Lighter Really feel In comparison to a Disc | More difficult to Maneuver in Tight Areas or Asymmetric Terrain. Extra Weight is Dispensed Away From the Loader, so it Feels Heavier When up Top Than a In a similar way Sized Drum |
Stump grinding |
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| Open Design Lets in Fast & Simple Stump and Root Grinding, and Mulching of Different Under-Flooring Plants | Will Grind Stumps to Flooring Stage or Moderately Under Grade |
Evaluating Mulcher Efficiency & Potency
When comparing drum mulchers vs. disc mulchers, many components will have to be thought to be. From chopping energy and pace, to suitability for various terrains, all can form your resolution on the most efficient mulcher to your particular wishes.
Productiveness 
Potency is a essential issue to believe, because it without delay affects your productiveness and time control. Disc mulchers are extra environment friendly than drums, particularly when mulching 4-8” diameter timber and dense crops. They be capable of absolutely procedure a complete tree in a cut up 2d.
End
Even supposing disc mulchers procedure subject material briefly, they go away in the back of massive chunks of picket which might require reprocessing, again dragging or additional website clean-up. Drum mulchers go away in the back of a finely shredded mulch and make up for a slower tempo with a finer end all the way through preliminary knock down.
Surroundings
Drum mulchers are thought to be more secure to be used in city spaces, as they direct maximum particles downward and create a finely mulched picket chips. This implies a extra managed chopping procedure and bigger directional precision. Disc mulchers are higher fitted to rural environments, as they’re going to throw massive chunks of picket in a miles much less predictable method, ceaselessly at higher distances.
Irrespective of the positioning of operation, we advise bystanders to handle a secure distance of no less than 300 toes from a mulcher to forestall harm.
For flooring mulching and stump grinding, drum mulchers have a bonus. A disc can grind stumps right down to flooring degree, leaving roots intact. The chopping disc is in most cases held at an perspective, permitting it to chop via picket whilst seeking to steer clear of chopping into soil. Enamel can boring briefly, and the disc is handiest ready to mulch fairly under grade. Drums, against this, excel with massive stumps and in depth root methods as a result of they’re particularly designed for this objective. The open design permits them to be more practical at grinding as much as 2” under grade.
Compatibility & Tuning
This may occasionally appear glaring, nevertheless it’s very important to test compatibility between the mulcher and your loader. Test mulcher glide fee and loader capability necessities and examine them for your skid steer specifications. Compatibility problems can result in deficient efficiency, attainable injury, downtime and in all probability catastrophic failure.
Drums are belt pushed with two sheaves, a drum sheave and a motor sheave. Sheaves are very important achieve optimum drum pace and include various teeth amounts. Each and every sheave mixture is handiest suitable inside a selected glide fee vary, for instance, 38-42 GPM. If there’s a wish to transfer to a loader above the 38-42 GPM glide fee vary, then a special mixture of sheaves must be put in for optimum drum pace. If loader make and style are equipped, then Virnig can track the mulcher (with the appropriate sheave mixture) from the manufacturing facility so it is able to perform.
Competitor mulchers will want a motor displacement screw adjusted to the specified measurement measured with a caliper. Moreover, they’ll wish to take a look at the drum RPM with a tachometer after adjustment is done. Each and every mulcher producer supplies their very own pointers and charts to help with tuning the mulcher to the skid steer. Some drum mulchers come pre-tuned to be used with a selected loader, whilst others require scheduling a technician to regulate the mulcher ahead of use. Failure to take action might void the guaranty.
Disc mulchers come able to perform from the manufacturing facility, without a tuning required. Discs are statically balanced, and are a lot more uncomplicated to rebalance by way of merely including or taking away weights from the disc. They don’t require pricey balancing apparatus. Switching to another loader logo or style handiest calls for accurately sized hoses and couplers.
Drum Mulcher Commonplace Specifications
63-115cc piston motor | 60″ & 72” lower widths | 15-20″ drum | 2,000-2,500 RPM
Glide fee vary: 30-50 GPM | 2800+ lb. really useful running capability
Virnig glide fee increments (GPM): 30-33.9, 34-37.9, 38-42, 42.1-45, 45.1-50
Virnig drum RPM: 2,350-2,500
Disc Mulcher Commonplace Specifications
125cc-160cc piston motor | 60″ disc/lower width | 1,000 RPM max disc pace
Glide fee vary: 30-45 GPM | 2,800+ lb really useful running capability
Virnig glide fee requirement (GPM): 30-45
Virnig disc RPM: 700-1,000
Particular Concerns in Disc & Drum Mulchers
To make an educated resolution at the best suited mulching attachment to your particular wishes, it’s vital to believe protection, price range, operator enjoy, and extra choices. By means of working out the to be had possible choices and attainable improvements, you’ll higher fit your particular undertaking necessities. Sparsely weigh those components, and you’ll optimistically make a selection the mulching answer that no longer handiest meets your wishes but additionally guarantees a clean, productive, and secure operation.
Protection Necessities
Protection will have to at all times be a best precedence when running heavy equipment. Search for forestry mulchers that prioritize operator protection by way of incorporating options reminiscent of shatterproof polycarbonate doorways and cabs, hydraulic coolers and FOPS. Prioritizing protection will give protection to the operator and cut back the chance of injuries and gear injury.
As a result of disc mulchers can throw greater subject material at higher distances, drums are thought to be more secure in residential spaces. On the other hand, each disc mulchers and drum mulchers may cause particles, rocks, and picket chips to ricochet towards the loader and operator. For operator protection, all mulcher producers require shatterproof cabs to be put in. Some additionally advise the usage of a falling object coverage gadget (FOPS).
Every other protection attention is protective the attachment itself. Motor guards, spindle guards, and power reduction valves lend a hand give protection to your funding for long-term heavy use.
Funds
Drum mulchers have a miles upper in advance charge, and choices like chew keep watch over, carbide tooth, power gauge and/or hydraulic doorways briefly upload to the preliminary expense. They have got extra shifting portions than disc mulchers and have a tendency to be dearer and hard to handle. On the other hand, their are much less tooth and they are are more uncomplicated to sharpen and exchange on a drum than a disc.
Operator Revel in & Choice
Disc mulchers require the next level of ability and enjoy to perform successfully. It will take time to be informed complex tactics, particularly chopping and guiding timber into the chute for fast processing.
Drum mulchers require minimum coaching for knowledgeable operators and be offering an not obligatory power gauge which is recommended for newbie operators. It is helping save you each underloading and overloading the hydraulic gadget. It’s particularly fine whilst grinding stumps, because it’s more uncomplicated to observe the gauge whilst the loader isn’t shifting.
Each drum mulchers and disc mulchers would require an skilled operator. That mentioned, drums are in most cases more uncomplicated to perform as a result of they provide higher visibility, higher maneuverability, and more effective chopping strategies.
Drum Mulcher Motor Choices, Drum Types, Enamel Choices
There are two bent-axis piston motor choices for drums: fastened displacement and variable displacement. A set motor is more economical and gives one pace at max torque. A variable motor operates at two other speeds and torque ranges. Variable motors robotically cut back pace in dense crops for extra torque and again to the next pace in lighter crops. Variable motors are preferred for his or her productiveness positive factors and decrease susceptibility to stalling.
There are two number one drum choices to be had: clean or chew keep watch over. Even supposing clean drums are extra not unusual, chew keep watch over drums are higher fitted to amateur operators and processing greater timber and crops. Easy drums generally tend to throw greater subject material and will grasp and pull themselves into stumps and different subject material extra simply, which will increase the possibilities of stalling the drum. By contrast, chew keep watch over regulates the volume of subject material the drum can chew off, is helping handle rotor pace, and gives a extra constant picket chip dimension. Metal tooth are most well-liked on chew keep watch over drums, as carbide tooth don’t seem to be as efficient with them. Chunk keep watch over drums are dearer than clean drums.
Maximum operators get started with carbide tooth on a clean drum, until working a chew keep watch over drum the place they’d use metal. Carbide is ceaselessly changed with metal planers since they’re inexpensive and extra productive. Operators can mix’n’match teeth kinds so long as the similar teeth is put in at the opposing facets of the drum. Some operators set up metal in the course of the drum since that’s the place lots of the mulching manufacturing happens, and use carbide at the outdoor for much less upkeep. The outdoor of the drum is much more likely to touch rocks and different particles, which carbide can withstand higher than metal.
Disc Mulcher Motor Choices, Chute Types, Enamel Choices
Some disc mulcher producers might be offering a equipment motor as a inexpensive choice, however this will likely lead to decrease efficiency. Bent-axis piston motors with fastened displacement are the most typical and are in most cases most well-liked, as they provide the most efficient productiveness and function. A piston motor supplies extra torque, quicker restoration time and the loader’s hydraulic gadget runs cooler.
The most suitable option for a disc is a completely machined, completely balanced disc with bolt-on teeth mounts and bolt-on tooth. Those bolt-on teeth mounts and bolt-on tooth make for a miles more uncomplicated rotation or substitute procedure as opposed to welded-on substitute portions.
The disc mulcher is supplied with a typical tapered chute design which is helping information timber into the disc. The ground edge drops under the disc to lend a hand scoop timber from the bottom. We additionally be offering an open chute choice, which options more room between the chute and disc to procedure greater, furry subject material. The ground edge is flush with the disc, permitting more uncomplicated stump grinding and mulching fairly under grade.
Virnig’s Tree Disc Mulcher comes usual with 4-point rotatable metal tooth, constructed from high-grade alloy metal and heat-treated for optimum efficiency. They’ll wish to be sharpened and circled frequently to handle chopping efficiency. We additionally be offering carbide tooth as an choice, with a pointy and competitive chopping perspective for productive mulching. Carbide tooth are low upkeep, without a polishing required, and are perfect for rocky or sandy environments. The tooth are sourced from Quadco® this means that confirmed efficiency and they are going to remaining and hang their leading edge longer.
Mulcher Upkeep and Put on Portions
Making an investment in a forestry mulcher that gives sturdiness and simplicity of upkeep is very important for long-term cost-effectiveness. Overview the development high quality, subject material sturdiness, and total reliability of the mulcher. Moreover, believe components reminiscent of accessibility for regimen upkeep, availability of spare portions, and producer warranties to verify a clean and hassle-free possession enjoy.
Upkeep Necessities of Drum Mulchers
With extra portions which are in most cases dearer and hard to handle, drum mulchers have the next running charge. For instance, there is a put on liner, two bearings, sheaves and a timing belt which do not exist on a disc mulcher. The drum bearings will have to be greased ceaselessly and bearing spindle oil degree will have to be checked periodically as nicely. If choices like a power gauge and hydraulic door are added, upkeep prices might upward push.
Drums are dynamically balanced, and vibration is measured whilst spinning the usage of specialised balancing apparatus. Balancing comes to figuring out any unbalanced forces by way of figuring out their weight and placement, adopted by way of including or taking away weights in a selected development for counterbalance. A three ounce weight distinction can create sufficient vibration within the cab to make the mulcher inoperable. In comparison to disc mulchers, rebalancing a drum is significantly more difficult and calls for a pricey balancing equipment or a third-party balancing provider.
Upkeep Necessities of Disc Mulchers
With fewer shifting portions it’s in most cases more economical and more uncomplicated to handle disc mulchers in comparison to drum mulchers. The commonest substitute portions are the tooth, and Virnig gives various teeth equipment choices for each metal and carbide tooth. Those kits come with all required {hardware} to briefly and simply exchange worn tooth, without a welding vital! Additionally, the holders are bolted to the disc and are easy to switch in contrast to a drum the place the holders are welded to the drum rotor.
Environment friendly drum and disc mulcher efficiency depends upon well-maintained and functioning put on portions. Operators will have to be capable of unexpectedly investigate cross-check, clear, and exchange when vital. Reduce downtime and maximize productiveness by way of taking note of those put on portions and understanding when to rotate or exchange. Alternative portions will have to be simply obtainable and readily to be had.
Conclusion – Which mulcher is best for you?
Each drum and disc mulchers excel in positive environments, so without equal resolution to the Drum Mulcher vs. Disc Mulcher debate is whichever is most suitable for you and your shoppers.
Disc mulchers are quicker and excel at mulching massive timber and dense crops, processing whole timber inside seconds. On the other hand, their chopping motion is much less predictable and they have a tendency to throw greater picket chunks, making them extra appropriate for rural spaces.
Drum mulchers perform at a slower tempo however produce a finer mulch. They’re in a position to grinding stumps under flooring degree and be offering a managed chopping motion which directs lots of the mulch downward. Drum mulchers are thought to be more secure to be used in city spaces and along roads.
Each and every form of mulcher has its personal distinct benefits, so the extra you realize about your particular wishes for activity websites the extra knowledgeable resolution you’ll make. We are hoping this information has been useful in comparing chopping energy, potency, sturdiness, and protection. You will have to now be supplied with the information vital to make a choice the most efficient forestry mulcher that meets your online business wishes, complements productiveness, and guarantees long-term worth to your funding.
If you happen to’d like to speak about extra about Virnig’s V70 Drum Mulcher or the V70 Disc Mulcher, please give our attachment professionals a decision at 800-648-2408.
If you happen to’re able to buy your new mulcher attachment, discover a Virnig broker close to you to test pricing and availability.
For a extra basic define on drum vs. disc mulchers, make sure to take a look at this publish from 2021 the place we speak about charge, efficiency, and a couple of different variations.
If you happen to’re enthusiastic about extra details about Virnig brush cutters, don’t fail to notice The Final Information to Skid Steer Brush Cutters. This complete useful resource is brimming with precious insights and sensible recommendation that will help you maximize the opportunity of your brush cutter.
