What GPM does a skid steer screening bucket need?

Most skid steer screening buckets require 15 to 30 GPM of auxiliary hydraulic flow. Standard-flow skid steers typically produce 15 to 22 GPM, which is adequate for many screening buckets. High-flow buckets that require 25+ GPM need a high-flow skid steer or a hydraulic upgrade. Always check the bucket manufacturer's specifications against your machine's auxiliary flow rating before purchasing.

Can I use a screening bucket on a Bobcat?

Yes. Most screening buckets use a universal skid steer quick-attach plate that fits Bobcat and other major skid steer brands. The key factor is not the brand of skid steer but the machine's auxiliary hydraulic flow and lift capacity. Check your specific Bobcat model's specs to make sure the screening bucket you are considering is compatible.

How many yards per hour can a skid steer screening bucket process?

Typical throughput ranges from 10 to 25 cubic yards per hour, depending on material type, moisture content, screen opening size, and operator technique. Dry, free-flowing topsoil screens at the higher end of that range. Wet or clay-heavy material drops production significantly.

Is a screening bucket worth it for a small landscaping business?

For many small landscaping operations, a skid steer screening bucket is one of the best equipment investments available. If you already own a skid steer, you add screening capability for $6,000 to $20,000 instead of $50,000+ for a standalone screener. The screened product sells for $15 to $25 more per cubic yard than raw material, so the bucket can pay for itself within a few months of regular use.

What is the difference between a vibrating screening bucket and a rotary screening bucket?

A vibrating screening bucket uses a hydraulic motor to shake a flat mesh screen. Material falls through the mesh openings as it vibrates. This design is simpler, less expensive, and works well with dry, free-flowing material. A rotary screening bucket uses rotating drums, blades, or star discs to tumble and separate material. Rotary designs handle wet, sticky, and clay-heavy material much better because the rotation is self-cleaning. Rotary buckets cost more but offer greater versatility.

When should I upgrade from a screening bucket to a standalone screener?

When your screening volume consistently exceeds 20 to 25 cubic yards per hour, or when you find yourself screening for more than half of your working day, a standalone screener will improve your productivity and product quality. Screening buckets top out at roughly 150 to 200 cubic yards per full working day. A small shaker screen or trommel can double or triple that output with one operator.

Vendido

Name: Grinder Crusher Screen
Telephone: 770-433-2670

Browse new and used horizontal grinders for sale from Morbark, Peterson Pacific, Vermeer, CBI, Bandit, Diamond Z, Rotochopper, and other manufacturers. A horizontal grinder feeds pre-sorted wood on a conveyor into a hammermill, producing consistent mulch, biomass fuel, and processed wood products at high volume. GrinderCrusherScreen has been helping operators find the right used horizontal grinder for sale since 1973. Browse our inventory below or call 770-433-2670 for pricing and availability.

How Horizontal Grinders Work

A horizontal grinder feeds material on a belt conveyor into a spinning hammermill or rotor fitted with replaceable hammers. The conveyor controls the feed rate. Hammers reduce the material and force it through a sizing screen. Screen size determines the final product dimension. The result is a consistent, uniform output — mulch, hog fuel, or wood chips — at high throughput rates.

Applications include:

Mulch production — consistent particle size for bagged or bulk mulch
Biomass and hog fuel — chips sized to meet power plant feed specifications
Land clearing — sorted trees and brush (separated from dirt and rock)
Pallet and crate recycling — clean wood into mulch, bedding, or fuel
Sawmill waste — slabs, offcuts, bark, and trim processed into usable products

Feed stock must be pre-sorted. Rocks, metal, and heavy contamination damage the rotor and hammers. Operations processing dirty material use a shredder or tub grinder for rough material, then a horizontal grinder for clean wood.

Types of Horizontal Grinders

Stationary horizontal grinders — permanent installations at recycling yards and mulch plants. Maximum production at the lowest per-ton cost.

Track-mounted horizontal grinders — self-propelled for land clearing, logging, and portable biomass operations where the grinder moves to the material.

Wheel-mounted horizontal grinders — tow behind a truck for fast transport between prepared sites. The most common configuration for mulch producers and grinding contractors.

Horsepower & Capacity

Horizontal grinders range from approximately 400 HP to 1,200+ HP. The right horsepower depends on your production target and material type:

400–600 HP — suitable for smaller mulch operations, pallet recycling, and clean softwood processing. Handles 50–100+ tons per hour on clean material
700–900 HP — mid-range machines for commercial mulch production, biomass processing, and mixed wood waste. The workhorse range for most grinding contractors
1,000+ HP — large-scale biomass, high-volume mulch plants, and operations running multiple shifts. Maximum throughput for the highest daily tonnage

Higher horsepower does not always mean better. An oversized grinder costs more to operate, maintain, and transport. Match the machine to your actual daily volume.

Brands We Carry

Morbark: the 3800 and 6600 series are standard machines on biomass and mulch operations
Peterson Pacific: reliable grinders with strong dealer support for biomass and clean wood
Vermeer: the HG series is popular with land clearing contractors; large dealer network
CBI: high-throughput machines for large-scale biomass and mulch manufacturing
Bandit: capable grinders for smaller operations and mixed equipment fleets
Diamond Z: aggressive performance with a reputation for tough material
Rotochopper: known for high-quality finished product in a single pass; popular for mulch coloring

We also see Rayco and DuraTech from time to time. Call 770-433-2670 if you need a specific model.

Horizontal Grinder vs. Tub Grinder

A horizontal grinder feeds clean, sorted wood at a controlled rate for higher throughput and a more uniform product. A tub grinder accepts oversized, irregular material — stumps, root balls, tangled brush — that would jam a horizontal grinder.

Many operations use both: a tub grinder for rough material, and a horizontal grinder for clean wood where product quality and volume matter most.

Find the Right Horizontal Grinder

Browse our current horizontal grinder inventory below, or call 770-433-2670 to talk with our team. We can help match you to the right machine, arrange financing, and coordinate delivery anywhere in North America.

Not sure whether a horizontal grinder or tub grinder fits your operation? Read our wood grinder buying guide for a full comparison, or our horizontal grinder buyer's guide for material analysis and sizing guidance.

Need replacement hammers? Browse grinder tips and hammers for all major manufacturers.