DIY: Follow These Steps on Grinding a Stump Yourself

Let me guess: Your wife or girlfriend wants those ugly stumps in your yard to disappear. Or maybe you’re just sick of mowing around the seven giant hunks of rotting wood dotting your lawn. Perhaps you’re trying to sell your house, and you know the market value will increase if you rid the yard of the unsightly tree stumps. Either way, the burden is on you to figure out the best stump removal method. If you have multiple stumps, grinding them down might just be the fastest way to go. Here’s how:

How to Grind a Stump Yourself
Tools Needed: Stump Grinder, chainsaw, protective goggles, hearing protection

It’s up to you to determine whether you want to rent or buy a stump grinder. Many big-box hardware stores rent them out for day use for around $100. Alternatively, you can purchase one if you want to spend from $1,400 to $5,000.

If you do rent a stump grinder, ask the rental dealer to give you a rundown on how the machine works. If you purchase one, read the directions and warnings thoroughly. Stump grinders are heavy machines, and the blades are sharp. There’s little room for error--be sure you know what you are doing before you attempt to use one on your own.

Step 1: Clear the area around the stump of rocks and debris.
Step 2. Using a chainsaw, cut away as much of the top of the stump as possible. You will want to try to cut it as close to the ground as you can.
Step 3: First, position the grinder wheel right over the top of the front stump edge. Turn the machine on and lower it down into the stump a few inches. Swing the grinder wheel from side to side slowly, and you will see the wood chunks begin to clear. Raise the grinder wheel up and back down onto a new area of the stump and repeat this process until you have ground the whole stump.

Stand towards the back of the stump grinder, and stay clear of the grinder wheel at all times.

Consider Hiring a Stump Removal Service
If you’re like most people, you don’t have the time to spend an entire day dealing with a stump grinder rental company and grinding stumps. Why not let the professionals at Buffalo Stump Removal do the heavy lifting for you? From multiple stump removal to commercial stump removal, we have the tools for every job. Call us or text STUMP to 67076 for a free estimate.

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