Drum or disc wood chipper?

[PlowGirl]

Most of my property is in some various stage of timber or rock. I'm selectively cutting, keeping firewood size logs and piling up the slash. The timber mixture is mostly oak, hickory and some elm, with the occasional "other" variety. It's not always optimal to burn. Sometimes too windy, wet, or dry. So, I'm considering buying a used commercial wood chipper and need some help sorting through my options.

Which is better, drum or disc? Which type is easier to maintain, or requires less maintenance? Should I get one with a clutch, or without, and what's the difference? The "chuck and ducks" scare the life out of me, so I want one with the feed rollers. How much difference of operation/efficiency will that make, if any?

By the way, I'm a woman so clue me in to any questions I should be asking or issues that I need to be aware of?

[Boss Cooker]

I have owned both types. The drum {chuck and duck} says it all. Also getting to the blades on a drum chipper is a real hard task. They need to be set very close to the cutter bar also which in no fun at all. I just sold my disc chipper after using it on our place for several years. It was easy to mantain and getting to the blades for sharpning was easy. And, no chuck and duck. Put the peice to be chipped up to the feed works and let it do the work for you. And, the real plus is the safety bar that stops the feed wheels on a disc chipper if you need to. I had a Pro Mark with an 8 inch throat. It did everything I needed it to do. By the way I found it in a junk yard. It needed two belts a battery and a paint job. A golf resort had junked it due to looking a bit shabby. I sold it for $3500.
I hope I have helped you with your choise

[PlowGirl]

Thanks Boss. I had about given up hope on reading any advice at all.
So, all the drum chippers are the quick feeds? That would mean I'm going to limit my search to disc only.

Could you tell me whether having a clutch is important or not, and why? Will it make it easier to start, operate or maintain? The only piece of equipment I have that has a clutch is my splitter, and that's for cold weather operation. I don't work in the cold, so that's not a priority.

I really appreciate the advice. And I wish I had known about the chipper you had for sale. Everything I've looked at so far has been over $5000.

Thanks again.