Jeff, where are you located?
Mine doesn't shoot stuff back much at all, and if you are feeding from the side, as is proper, I don't see much concern from MY experience with MY machine. I have mudflap like heavy, slitted rubbery material draped down from in front of the chute, just in from the folding tray.
That being said, one guy that started working for me was feeding from the front on the one day he worked for me, AFTER the feed from the side part of the training, and had a chunk pop out and give him a family jewels shot. He ended up getting into the college classes that day that he was told he wouldn't be able to get into that quarter, so I couldn't see if that experience was the best way to teach someone not to feed from the front. I do feed from the front at times, but know what to expect.
Regardless of what machine, slow or fast speed feed, I wear a face shield and earmuffs, which offer some protection, but its not really needed that much when someone uses the machine properly, feeding from the side.
A lot of people think that its really dangerous and all, but I don't.
If you need a lot of crotch crushing power, then feed wheels are great. The biggest problem that I encounter are nasty, long since pruned fruit trees, and dead wood, the latter I feed tip first.
Mostly chipping conifers, maple, and alder, 4-5" and less, though I have put in bigger, closer to 8", but for me, that's usually firewood.
I was able to pick mine up for $2450, and have put in around $1200-1500 over 4 years. New clutch, radiator rebuild, used tires, fluids and filters, lil carb work, new marine plastic gas tank, home paint job, and some lettering.
Figure I can sell it for the same amount.
God only knows how many hours are on it and its still dependable and runs well.
For a cheap chipper, its made me lots of money.
Only weights 4400 pounds and is balanced where one strong person can tip it up on the axle by the tongue and pivot it around on FLAT ground. Reasonably easy enough to get the pintle ring on the hook when slightly off the mark when backing it up.
Telescoping chute, adjustable deflector (naturally), and pivots side to side. Some don't do this, as some are intended to always shoot chips into a chip truck directly in front of the chipper on the road, or with a side discharge. I have no problem getting chips to fully fill my 11' southco box.
Its got its pro's and con's, but was the right price and has been dependable.
