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different material size requirements .”
Selecting the right drum The Vermeer microchip drum produces chip sizes between 1 / 8 ” ( 3.2 mm ) to 5 / 8 ” ( 15.9 mm ), which is suited for producing wood pellets for residential and wood fuel plants , as well as chips for landscaping , gardening , animal bedding , composting and playground applications . The macrochip drum can produce chip sizes between 5 / 8 ” ( 15.9 mm ) and 11 / 4 ” ( 31.8 mm ). Applications for wood chips in that size range include silt socks , erosion control , capping landfills , mulch , wood fuel plants and land clearing .
To determine which chipper drum is right for a company , Van Rheenen recommends contractors evaluate how the processed material is being used and which markets are they being sold to . “ If the chips are simply going
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back to the forest floor as part of a land clearing project , it may be more efficient to use a macrochip drum and a large depth of cut ,” he said . “ Larger chips will not decompose as rapidly as smaller ones . However , if a company is selling the chips to an end user , the drum type will depend on the needs of customers . The goal should be to create a size that most closely matches the needs of the customer .”
Making adjustments While having different drum types provides companies with a lot of flexibility , the ability to easily make size adjustments to the drum is equally important . On many chippers , making adjustments or performing routine maintenance can be time-consuming and laborintensive because the process of babbitting requires working with molten lead . Vermeer developed a new approach with its patented
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pusher bolt knife design .
“ Knives on Vermeer whole tree chippers can be positioned quickly with just a wrench ,” Van Rheenen said . “ We use threaded holes in the end of the knives where pusher bolts take the place of babbit . This design makes it much easier to make adjustments and sharpen knives . Our unique pusher bolt system helps prevent knives from sliding outward toward the shear bar .
“ Another unique feature of the Vermeer microchip and macrochip drums is that they are completely threadless ,” Van Rheenen added . “ Instead , we use a replicable hex nut for knife retention , which makes it much easier to replace a knife if it gets damaged .”
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The design of Vermeer chipper drums makes it easier to efficiently make adjustments , which is beneficial for forestry and logging operations that cater to a wide range of customers . It also helps reduce the need for regrinding .
Growing demand As more and more countries , communities and individuals discover the advantages associated with using natural and renewable wood chips , markets will continue to grow , and new ones will emerge . To create chip sizes for a broad range of applications and help minimize operation costs , choose wood processing equipment that can be quickly and easily adjusted .
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