Equipment
Cutter wheel
The cutter wheel is the large spinning disc on a stump grinder that carries the cutting teeth and does the work of chewing through the stump.
The cutter wheel is the heart of a stump grinder. It is a heavy steel disc that spins fast. Cutting teeth sit around its rim in holders called pockets.
The operator moves the wheel across the stump in sweeps. Each sweep removes a thin layer of wood. Wheel size affects how big a stump the machine can take. For example, one maker lists a 31-inch diameter belt-driven cutter wheel on one of its models.
Makers offer more than one wheel design. Bandit says all of its stump grinders come with one of two cutter wheel options, and the choice affects performance in different soil conditions. Rocky soil wears the carbide teeth faster than soft soil.