What Determines Disc Chipper Production?
One of the common questions we hear when someone is considering a used disc chipper is:
“How much will it produce?”
The answer isn't as simple as looking at the horsepower or the diameter of the chipper disc. Several factors work together to determine both how fast material can be fed into a chipper and how much material it can pro...
Most disc chipper operators understand the importance of maintaining sharp knives. Knives are removed, inspected, and changed on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the components b...
Chipper Discharge Options: Top, Bottom, or Rear?
Most sawmill operators are familiar with top discharge and bottom discharge chippers. Each has its place—and each comes with trade-offs that tend to show up over time.
But there’s a third option that doesn’t get talked about nearly as much: rear discharge. In the right situation, it can solve problems that both of the other ...
The Time Ben Jones Bought a Town
In 1963, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer ran a feature titled “Mr. Jones Buys a Town.”
That headline was more literal than it sounded.
At the time, Ben Jones was operating sawmills across multiple states. In Vredenburgh, Alabama, a fire had taken out a mill that supported an entire community. What was left wasn’t just damaged equipment—it was...
Why Some Auction Bargains Never End Up Running
I buy machinery at auction regularly, and so do many of my customers. Most buyers go into an auction with good intentions and a clear plan: buy a machine, move it, install it, and put it to work.
In practice, that plan doesn’t always survive contact with reality.
This isn’t a criticism of auctions. Auctions serve an important...
I buy machinery at auction frequently. Many of my customers do as well — and at times we find ourselves bidding against each other. I also count several auctioneers in this industry as close personal friends. Auctions play an important role in the machinery market, and when they’re the right fit, they can work very well.
That said, auctions aren’t the right solution for eve...
