How to remove tree stumps ?

[hawkman]

I know I could have someone grind them out, for a couple hundred dollars, but looking for a cheaper solution. Had 5 pine trees cut in my yard Sat. Stumps are 18-24 inches across, most people want $2-2.50 an inch to grind them. Been reading about other methods, most involve boring holes & pouring chemicals into them to speed up the rotting process. I know it would still take a couple of years but that is OK. Tree Stump Remover, potassium nitrate, drain cleaner & rock salt were mentioned. Anyone used any of these or have any other solutions? Big as they are digging them out by hand is out of the question. Two of them are within 3 feet of the end of my carport & roots would be a problem if I had tried to have them pushed out.

[horseshoer]

Hawk,
Bore some big holes in them and pour de-icing salt in the holes. That stuff penetrates them about as fast as I have seen anything do. Once the salt has broken down add more, pretty inexpensive and will not make the area sterile for reseeding something over it once the stump is gone. You may want to run a few doses of water on a slow drip after the stump is history to leach the salt down into the subsoil.

[Fishtaco]

Have you considered renting a stump grinder.

[centerdriver]

I remember my dad drilling half inch holes in a big ol oak stump when I was about 14. Every evening he would fill those holes with Kerosene for a week. Then he let it sit for a week, put some fresh kerosene on it and torched it. It burned real good, like a frickin candle for hours. Even after that (2 or 3 days) it was still smoldering. I walked out by it after a few days and when I got about 3 feet away, the ground gave way and I ended up over knee deep in a hole. Seems like it burnt the roots out too. He hauled in dirt to fill the hole. Tamp, fill, tamp, fill then let the st. augustine run over it. after a few months, could not tell where a stump was.
Personally, I would dig down about a foot all round it, take a chain saw and cut out in chunks. Then fill with dirt and let the grass grow. Know it would take some effort, but it is illegal to make pipe bombs anymore like grandpa use to with sulfur, salt peter and charcoal.

[fishinRod]

I always burn them out. Build a good hot fire on it, cover with a piece of metal, like tin roofing material and they disappear overnight sometimes, bein that close to your carport may be a problem though

[feelay]

You can usually rent a stump grinder for around a $100 a day, at least around here.

[jimmydee1]

My wife and I are burning one out as we speak. It's been a pleasure. Here's the process: Get a 12 pack, ice it down, grab a couple lawn chairs and start a fire directly over the stump and let it burn. Have a few frosty cold ones and TALK! Talk about the kids, work, fishin, upcoming NFL season, grandparents, anything and everything. When you get tired talkin, go inside. The fire will eventually burn out. Repeat the process the next night, and the next night, and the next night, till you're talked out. The stump may not be completely gone, but a lot of your problems will.

The quicker method is to dig down around it about 6-8 inches, and chain saw it out piece by piece. It'll be gone in an hour or two using this method, but you'll have missed out on some quality time. Just sayin------

[rango]

try this.....

[billbob]

in the fire put coal

[jimmydee1]

Rango, that'd probaby work real good, specially if you'da had lit fuses in the other sticks.