From Estonia, of all places, comes an unusual attachment.
The Dipperfox Stump Crusher is a vertical stump grinder that mounts on excavator booms and other equipment.
After the carrier positions the attachment directly over the stump, it essentially grinds stumps from the middle out with a much smaller debris field than traditional CTL-mounted stump grinders and dedicated mulchers. And there's less noise.
Other benefits are more direct visibility to the stump and the ability to get to stumps in tight places.
Dipperfox makes three sizes to fit different sizes of equipment and handle different stump diameters.
The smallest, the SC400, can fit on mini skid steers, mini excavators from 1 to 5 tons, and “all kind of loaders,” according to the company.
Its hydraulic engine produces about 2,922 lb.-ft. of torque, providing power for low RPM cutting. This avoids aggressive contact between the blades and the rocks in the ground. There are no fast-moving blades to throw around debris.
With the debris staying next to the drilling position, cleaning the area should take less time.
The SC600, the middle model, is a tool designed for urban and other areas where large excavators are too big, and access is limited. It fits 6- to 14-ton excavators and backhoe loaders, and 2- to 6-ton compact loaders and CTLs.
Its low revolving speed (a maximum of 60 RPM) prevents the throwing high-speed debris. In the event of the blade hitting a rock, it will be pushed away rather than ricocheting.
Watch the company's promotional video below to see the Stump Crusher at work.
With a drilling depth 19.6 inches below ground level, it’s possible to plant a sapling in the same footprint of the previous tree.
The big boy in the family is the SC850 Pro, designed for 100-plus-horsepower excavators from 14 to 30 tons and large-volume work.
It features a patented gear changing mechanism that converts revolving speed into torque depending on the hardness of the stump. The company says the Dipperfox is also the only attachment in its class with bolt-on consumables such as cutting blades and a central screw.
In fact, those are the only consumables—feed screws and various sizes of straight and toothed blades. They are available through Dipperfox and its U.S. dealers in New Hampshire, Florida, and Oregon.
The 20-year-old forestry company reported net sales of 2,063,956 Euros in 2023.
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.