It is easy to rent a stump grinder, but it isn’t always the most cost-effective option. For many homeowners, it will be cheaper to hire a stump grinding service than it would be to rent a stump grinder.
What Does it Cost to Rent a Stump Grinder?
Renting a stump grinder for a day in Ogden, UT will be approximately $380. The cost to rent a stump grinder for half a day is about $270. These prices include damage protection (highly recommended) and fuel (~$20 if you return the stump grinder full). If you return the stump grinder with less than a full tank they will charge a lot for fuel refill.
Of course, there is some cost to driving to pick up and return a stump grinder rental. How much is your time worth? That part of the calculation will be up to you.
Pando Tree Company charges $6 per inch of diameter as measured along the major axis where the root flare meets the ground. If you have one stump to grind and it is less than 41” in diameter, then it will cost less than $250 to hire Pando to grind the stump for you. You can get a pretty good idea of how much it would cost to hire Pando to grind your stump by busting out the measuring tape. You don’t even have to do that! Getting a quote for stump grinding from Pando Tree Company is free.
> Get a free stump grinding quote from Pando Tree Company
Best Place to Rent a Stump Grinder in Ogden, UT?
If you have a lot of stumps to grind, are familiar with operating heavy equipment, and have the time, then renting a stump grinder might make sense for you. To rent a stump grinder in Ogden, we recommend Diamond Rental on 12th street. They have several Toro machines that are on tracks and one Bandit machine on wheels. Each machine has some benefits and drawbacks.You can rent smaller stump grinders but for most stumps, you would need one of the hydraulic ones.
The bandit has more power, has a larger swing radius, and is less likely to damage a lawn because it is on wheels. Even so, we recommend the Toro. The Toro stump grinder is more stable. It will have less kickback and is less likely to get stuck. Even though the Toro has a smaller swing radius, you can make multiple passes for large stumps and it ends up taking a similar amount of time compared to the Bandit.
Universal Rent-All (located near the Savers on Washington in Ogden) also rents stump grinders, but they only have the Bandit model.
What to Know Before Renting a Stump Grinder
Stump Grinders are relatively easy to operate, but there is significant potential for damage to both property and people. Despite this, anybody can rent a stump grinder. You do not need any special license or certification. Plain old money does the trick.
Stump Grinders and Damage
There are three main scenarios where damage can result from stump grinding.
- Flying Objects: The cutting wheel on a stump grinder can fling debris at high speed. This can damage structures, vehicles, and people. Make sure that the area is clear and if you are not sure, set up a shield to prevent debris from flying away. This is particularly dangerous when grinding a root because it can send larger pieces flying at high speeds.
- Moving Parts: Stump grinders utilize hydraulics to move the arm and spin the cutting wheel. These parts are extremely unforgiving and will crush a body part without hesitation. The cutting wheel on the Bandit grinders remains spinning even if you move away from the controls to take a look at the stump. Don’t allow this! Make sure to stop all moving parts before moving away from the controls.
- Cutting Through Underground Utilities: Many utility companies bury their equipment underground including gas, electric, phone, cable, and water. Hitting one of these lines can be extremely dangerous and if everything works out unharmed, expensive. Make sure you call Blue Stakes of Utah before stump grinding so that they can have utilities marked on your property. When you hire Pando Tree Company to grind your stump, they take care of marking utilities and they take care to work safely around them if there is a conflict near your stump.
- Additional opportunities for damage exist when working very near structures. The cutting wheel can easily damage foundations, other trees via their root systems, fences, et cetera. While working around a chain-link fence, the chain can get wrapped up in the cutting wheel causing damage to the stump grinder as well as the fence.
Be sure to wear proper personal protective equipment such as boots, rated safety glasses, and ear protection!
Stump Grinders and Mess
A stump grinder works by splitting apart a stump into mulch-sized pieces. These wood pieces fly across the lawn leaving a mess. If you rent a stump grinder, be ready to clean up the area as well. A hard rake, regular rake, and shovel do the trick. If you backfill the hole, a sizeable pile of stump grindings could be leftover. These stump grindings work great for mulch, but if you do not want them you will have to haul them away to the dump. Leaving behind the stump grindings is standard practice for tree and stump services, but you can hire them to remove material if needed. How Long Does it Take to Grind a Stump? Grinding a stump can take anywhere from a few minutes to an entire day! Most stumps that can’t be easily removed by digging will take 1 to 4 hours for an experienced operator. If you haven’t rented a stump grinder before, account for extra time, something like 2 to 8 hours.
Other Equipment Required to Rent a Stump Grinder
When you rent a stump grinder, they come with a custom-fit trailer. Still, you will need a few other items:
- A vehicle that can tow at least 2,000 pounds
- A 2” ball hitch.
- An electrical connection for a 4-way pin, or a 4-way pin adapter that fits your connection port.
- A gas can in case the stump grinder runs out of fuel.
- Some basic tools like a prybar and hammer in case a piece of wood gets lodged in the cutting wheel, causing a jam.
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