From No Access to No Limits - The Story of Sydney Stump Specialist

The Challenge of Stump Grinding:

In the world of tree work, stump grinding can be a task few want to do.

Stump grinders do a tough job, and as machinery goes, they tend to be bulky and heavy - a feature that can make access to the stump one of the trickiest parts of the process.

For Declan Thompson, owner of Sydney Stump Specialist, stump removal isn’t just part of the job, it’s the focus of his business. With one particular machine - the Terminator Chainsaw Stump Grinder - playing a crucial role.

From England to Sydney

On the southwest coast of England, in a hamlet so small it barely counted as a village - “just a pub and a few houses,” Declan recalls his journey in arboriculture.

He began his career in 2019, just before COVID hit. A couple of years later once travel restrictions eased, he booked the first available Australian flight to Sydney. As a citizenship holder, he already had family and ties there. Nine months later, and Declan had set up as a sole trader contracting as a groundsman for local tree care companies.

Spotting an Opportunity

As workload increased, Declan spotted an opportunity offering stump removal as a local subcontractor. Instead of buying a chipper and truck as many people do when first scaling, he decided his initial piece of kit would be a stump grinder. As workload increased, he still offered his arb services, but with more focus on stump removal.

Sydney Stump Specialist was born.

"I wanted to be the guy people called when nobody else could get a stump out."

Learning From The Best

During this period, Declan worked regularly with Arbor Co, a respected local tree company. They're just around the corner from me and great lads," he says. "Harri the owner has grown that company massively, which is awesome to see."

He also connected with Northern Beaches Arborist, another neighbour in the trade. "Seb's killing it in the arb game too. We've done jobs together and he's been a huge part of my early journey."

Along the way, he also found a mentor in Dion from Frankie's Stump Grinding, based on the Central Coast. "Dion's been a fountain of knowledge for me. If I've ever got a question about a grinder, he's one step ahead."

The Punishment of Early Grinders

Declan's first real grinder was a Red Roo SG350 - lighter on features and heavier on effort. It did the business but taught him some hard lessons.

“One job I’ll never forget was for Seb at Northern Beaches Arborist. We had to haul the SG350 up what felt like Mayan temple stairs in the middle of a blazing hot day, sun beating down on my pomy skin, sunscreen dripping, it was brutal. But it was also my biggest job at the time, about $500, and I was stoked to get it done!”

The SG350 had no powered drive but it did have a locking wheel, allowing the operator to slew the machine left to right when grinding. At 150kg, it needed ramps and sheer determination for Declan to load it onto the ute. Eventually he upgraded to the Red Roo SHP400, which was a hydraulic stump grinder with more bite.

But limitations remained - the wheel guard would clog with fibrous stumps like Strelitzia, and the weight meant it bogged down in soft ground and left marks on concrete. In Sydney's tight urban backyards, it also couldn't reach every stump.

The Jobs Turned Away

Declan was doing work with Hedgehog Trees and Trimming, run by Tan and his crew in Sydney CBD and western suburbs. "They're brilliant to work with, but access in the city is just brutal."

Jobs were piling up that couldn't be tackled with the gear we had. "It got to the point where I was saying 'no' more often than 'yes'."

That's when Tan suggested Declan look into a Terminator Stump Grinder Chainsaw attachment.

How The Terminator Changed Everything

Declan recalls that the change to his business was immediate - the Terminator Chainsaw attachment was lightweight, portable, and designed to be powered by Stihl chainsaws he already carried.

With the bar and chain removed, the attachment bolted in place. The ability to simply carry a stump grinder began to unlock jobs that had been impossible for Declan before.

"The beauty of it is, you just throw it over your shoulder and carry it anywhere. I've taken it through houses, up stairs, over steep garden beds. You name it. I've used it on Strelitzia stumps that would completely bog the Red Roo. The Terminator chews right through."

More Than Just a Tool

With the Terminator on the team, Sydney Stump Specialist was transformed:

• No more turned-down jobs - Access problems were no longer a reason to say no.

• Specialist service - Declan could finally position himself as the go-to operator for tight-access grinding.

• Increased revenue - Stump grinding became a profitable core service instead of just an add-on.

"Having the Terminator elevated my stump grinding, my workload, and increased my income. That's why I rebranded to Sydney Stump Specialist. I wanted to offer that specialist service. Mum always said I was special, haha!"

Today, the Terminator is still at the heart of Declan's setup. Even when he's working with his bigger machine, he always has the Terminator in the ute.

"There's always one stump tucked away in a corner where nothing else will fit. The Terminator means I never have to say no."

Looking Ahead

Declan's ambitions don't stop here. He's done his research on bigger grinders like the Bandit SG40, Red Roo SGTRX30, Toro, and Vermeer. But bigger machines mean a new ute and trailer too.

"So I'll be ready for a Toyota Hilux SR5 soon enough!"

Declan's plan is to build capacity for larger commercial contracts while still being the go-to operator for tight-access stumps. And no matter how much he scales up, the Terminator will always be with him.

"It’s my bread and butter. Bigger grinders have their place but the Terminator is what sets me apart."

A Specialist Mindset

Declan's journey shows what's possible when you turn limitations into strengths.

From dragging a 150kg grinder up steps to building a specialist business trusted by customers and industry professionals - his story shows that the right tools don't just get the job done, they create new opportunities to scale a business.

Contact

To find out more information about Sydney Stump Specialist and their services - Contact Declan 📞 + 61 421561932 🌐 Instagram - @sydney_stump_specialist