I just had four large Monterey pines removed from my back yard. The tree company charged about $200 per stump to grind them. The small grinders they use are about the size of a large rototiller, or walk behind ditch digger. I'd at least get a professional estimate before going DIY.
Palms are really a pain. I much rather take down 200+ foot tall redwoods and Doug firs, if it don't take a D-7 at a minimum to move the butt, it ain't a tree.
