Wallenstein offers a range of wood chippers, from smaller PTO-driven units to larger, self-contained, towable models. They are designed to efficiently process woody material, making them ideal for trail maintenance.

 

How they help produce wood chips for trails:

  1. On-site Processing of Woody Debris:
    • Fallen Branches and Limbs: When you clear fallen trees or trim encroaching branches from the trail corridor, you'll have a lot of woody debris. Instead of hauling it away or burning it (which can be risky and environmentally impactful), a Wallenstein chipper allows you to feed these branches directly into the machine.
    • Brush and Saplings: Overgrown brush and small saplings that are removed to maintain trail width can also be chipped.
    • Stumps (smaller roots and tops): While a dedicated stump grinder is best for large stumps, smaller roots or remaining woody material from stump removal can often be fed into a chipper.
  2. Resource Creation (Mulch for Trails):
    • Erosion Control: Wood chips are an excellent natural mulch. When spread on the trail surface, especially on slopes or in areas prone to water runoff, they significantly reduce erosion. The chips absorb impact from raindrops, slow down water flow, and stabilize the soil.
    • Weed Suppression: A good layer of wood chips can suppress weed growth on the trail, reducing the need for manual weeding or herbicides. This keeps the trail looking tidy and minimizes maintenance effort.
    • Moisture Retention: Chips act as a natural sponge, helping the underlying soil retain moisture, which can be beneficial for nearby plants and trees, especially during dry spells.
    • Improved Aesthetics: Wood chips create a soft, natural-looking surface that blends seamlessly with the forest environment. They can define the trail tread and make the path more pleasant to walk on.
    • Nutrient Cycling: As the wood chips slowly decompose, they return organic matter and nutrients to the soil, improving soil health over time.
    • Reduced Waste/Hauling: By chipping material on-site, you eliminate the need to haul away large volumes of brush, saving time, fuel, and landfill space. This is particularly valuable in remote areas where hauling is impractical.

 

Wallenstein Chipper Features that are beneficial:

  • Capacity: Wallenstein chippers come in various capacities (e.g., 5-inch, 7-inch, 10-inch) allowing you to choose a model appropriate for the size of woody material you typically encounter on your trails.
  • Feed Systems: Many models offer gravity feed for simpler operation, while some larger ones have hydraulic roller feed systems that actively pull material into the chipper, increasing efficiency and reducing operator fatigue, especially with brushy material.
  • PTO vs. Self-Contained: Wallenstein offers both PTO-driven chippers (which connect to a tractor) and self-contained models with their own engines (towable). A towable unit provides greater mobility if you don't always have a tractor available or need to cover a large trail network.

 

Wallenstein Log Splitters: Preparing Wood for Bridges, Benches, or Firewood

While wood chippers deal with smaller, brushy material, log splitters tackle larger rounds. Wallenstein log splitters are known for their robust construction and splitting power.

 

How they help split bucked-up logs:

  1. Processing Large Blowdowns: When a large tree falls across a trail (a "blowdown"), you'll often cut it into manageable "bucked-up" sections with a chainsaw. These sections can still be very large and heavy. A Wallenstein log splitter efficiently reduces these large rounds into smaller, more manageable pieces.
  2. Resource Creation (Specific Uses):
    • Trail Features: Split wood is invaluable for constructing or repairing trail features.
      • Steps: Split logs can be used to create durable, natural-looking steps on steep sections of trail, preventing erosion and improving accessibility.
      • Water Bars: Larger split pieces can be strategically placed and embedded into the trail to create effective water bars that divert runoff away from the trail surface.
      • Small Bridges/Boardwalks: For crossing wet or muddy sections, split logs can form the decking for small footbridges or boardwalks.
      • Benches/Seating: In designated rest areas, split logs can be used to create rustic benches for trail users.
    • Firewood for Trail Campsites/Emergency: If you have designated campsites along your trails, split firewood can be produced for user convenience or for emergency situations. It burns cleaner and more efficiently than unsplit logs.
    • Clearing for Aesthetics/Safety: Even if not used for construction, splitting large, bucked-up logs can make them easier to remove from the trail corridor or stack neatly off to the side, improving safety and aesthetics.

 

Wallenstein Log Splitter Features that are beneficial:

  • Tonnage: Wallenstein splitters come in various tonnage ratings (e.g., 20-ton, 27-ton, 31-ton), indicating their splitting force. This determines how easily they can handle tough, knotty, or large-diameter logs.
  • Horizontal/Vertical Splitting: Many Wallenstein models offer both horizontal and vertical splitting orientations. Vertical splitting is particularly useful for very heavy logs, as you can simply roll the log onto the base without having to lift it onto a horizontal bed.
  • Log Lifters: Some larger models feature hydraulic log lifters, which are invaluable for reducing physical strain when dealing with heavy logs.
  • Cycle Time: Efficient cycle times mean you can process more wood in less time.
  • Portability: Like chippers, Wallenstein log splitters are available as towable, self-contained units with their own engines or as PTO-driven models that connect to a tractor, offering flexibility depending on your operational needs.

 

By having both a Wallenstein wood chipper and a log splitter as part of your equipment arsenal, you can transform almost all woody debris generated during trail maintenance into valuable resources, improving your trails and practicing sustainable land management. Given that Wallenstein equipment is Made in Canada, you can also expect reliable performance and easy access to parts and service throughout North America.