iDRY Vacuum Kilns

Sponsors:

Grapple

Started by hopm, January 13, 2018, 06:47:51 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

hopm

Been watching grapples being used and see it as something that could be beneficial to my setup. However, like so many other pieces of equipment, price becomes an obstacle. In looking I saw a bolt on bucket grapple was priced reasonably. Any experience with one of these? I would be using it on an compact tractor. I have seen similar on large equipment, but would like your opinion on what I could expect on a compact. Thanks in advance for any guidance!!

YellowHammer

I've never used one, but have a full grapple for my tractor. They are very useful, in the correct setting. The sides of the bucket or grapple play a large roll in what it can handle.  If I was getting a bolt on grapple, I would either install bucket teeth or cut an angled "V" in the sides of my bucket, much like a backhoe bucket, so stabilize and hold material better.

If I had to get only one attachment for a tractor, it would be a quick attach set of forks.  Even these days, 90% of the time, forks are on the tractor.   
YellowHammerisms:

Take steps to save steps.

If it won't roll, its not a log; it's still a tree.  Sawmills cut logs, not trees.

Kiln drying wood: When the cookies are burned, they're burned, and you can't fix them.

Sawing is fun for the first couple million boards.

Be smarter than the sawdust

ladylake

 
Keep in mind a grapple weighs quite a bit, reducing the lifting capacity on a compact tractor. They are great for handling logs if you can lift them.  Steve
Timberking B20  18000  hours +  Case75xt grapple + forks+8" snow bucket + dirt bucket   770 Oliver   Lots(too many) of chainsaws, Like the Echo saws and the Stihl and Husky     W5  Case loader   1  trailers  Wright sharpener     Suffolk  setter Volvo MCT125c skid loader

york

I did not know that you could put a grapple on a compact tractor-How about a link for this grapple?
Albert

47sawdust

What is the loader capacity on your tractor?The other factor to consider is the wear and tear on the tractors front end.Light duty axles and gears will not hold up.
Mick
1997 WM Lt30 1999 WM twin blade edger Kubota L3750 Tajfun winchGood Health Work is my hobby.

hopm

This video caught my attention after I saw a larger grapple on a 70 hp tractor on a job I was on. The tractor in this video appears to be way small.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHGRxenfK9c

This is the one I want....
https://www.everythingattachments.com/Compact-Tractor-Wicked-Root-Grapple-50-Single-lid-p/eta-cut-sl-rg-50.htm

This is probably the best I could hope for....
https://www.palletforks.com/48-60-bolt-on-grapple-attachment.html

Darrel

My FIL had a 24 horse Kabota with a bucket and backhoe.  I was amazed at how much it would do. Then when I had it at my mill, I was even more amazed at how much it wouldn't do. 
1992 LT40HD

If I don't pick myself up by my own bootstraps, nobody else will.

DDW_OR

Here is what i recommend.
get the quick attachment like a skidsteer has.
then get pallet forks, and this
https://www.palletforks.com/48-60-bolt-on-grapple-attachment.html

i may also get them

FYI, my pallet forks have 4 forks. makes my Mahindra 5520 into a pitchfork  8)
"let the machines do the work"

Bruno of NH

Google the thumb grapple it will bolt or weld on many things buckets or forks
Lt 40 wide with 38hp gas and command controls , F350 4x4 dump and lot of contracting tools

submarinesailor

I recently installed a thumb grapple http://greens-machine.com/ and like the way it works.  Need to get you guys some pictures.

Bruce

Novascotiamill

I just ordered a 55 inch wicked grapple for my ck2610,the grapple only weighs about 200lbs so ill have about 1000lbs of lift to use to move logs around ,pick up brush piles etc,it has a quik attach system as on a skidsteer. Ive got forks Ive been using to load logs but I think the grapple will be easier and safer. Go for it ,order one up!
2017 HM130
Stihl 261
2010 F150 xtr
Lots of rigid genx5 tools
1 long haired german shepherd
2017 kioti ck2610HST with FEL and forks
Grindlux band sharpener
Wicked 55" root rake grapple
O

bandmiller2

As hammer says its hard to beat simple pallet forks. I have had a grapple and found it very useful for picking logs off a trailer and grabbing brush other than that I prefer forks. Frank C.
A man armed with common sense is packing a big piece

Chuck White

My pallet forks came from Titan, off of the PalletForks.com web site, delivered here for $431.00!

About half price of the JD dealerships deal, and heavier made!

I use them on my JD 1023E subcompact and on my brothers JD 990!
~Chuck~  Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and single tooth setter.  2018 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
With basic mechanical skills and the ability to read you can maintain a Woodmizer  LT40!

farmfromkansas

  The latest Cooks flyer has reasonably priced grapples.
Most everything I enjoy doing turns out to be work

buzywoodliff

I have to agree with Yellowhammer..... I have a fork attachment for a 100 hp kubota and use it all the time..  with a little finesse, i can pick logs up and out of my flatbed trailer that has 12" side boards.

samandothers

I have a 42 hp Kubota with a 60" grapple.  Most useful tool I have.  I have a backhoe on the tractor as a counter balance.  I use it not only to load logs but to put the waste for the burn pile on when sawing.  I put my boards on a set of forks that are not connected to the tractor.   After dumping waste on burn pile I drop the grapple and hook up the forks to take the boards to stack and sticker.  Quick attach feature makes the change quick and easy.

I would be concerned with the bucket attached grapple being strong enough.  I have a slight bend to my top grapple because on not balancing my weight well enough. Can not imagine what this would have done to my bucket.

Also the the grapple is great for cleaning brush.

Ohio_Bill

Rather than going with a bucket grapple I decided on a Frostbite grapple . I have been very pleased with it .


 
Bill
USAF Veteran  C141 Loadmaster
LT 40 HDD42-RA   , Allis Chalmers I 500 Forklift , Allis Chalmers 840 Loader , International 4300 , Zetor 6245 Tractor – Loader ,Bob Cat 763 , Riehl Steel Edger

JB Griffin

Google Wicker grapple to see the only type for around a sawmill imo.
2000 LT40hyd remote 33hp Kubota with 6gpm hyd unit, 150 Prentice, WM bms250, Suffolk dual tooth setter

Over 3.5million bdft sawn with a Baker Dominator.

JB Griffin

2000 LT40hyd remote 33hp Kubota with 6gpm hyd unit, 150 Prentice, WM bms250, Suffolk dual tooth setter

Over 3.5million bdft sawn with a Baker Dominator.

Randy88

Grapples are great, but first you need to narrow down exactly what your going to use it for, if all your doing is moving logs, a center grapple on forks works slick, if your picking up other things, a dedicated grapple bucket is the way to go, if your moving brush, the style shown on the skid steer is perfect.     

What you need to determine is how tight you want to squeeze what your picking up, and then figure out if you want one clamp or two.   

The style shown on the skid steer will squeeze what your picking up, most others won't unless the log is larger than the clamp, if that makes sense.     

I run a double clamp severe duty grapple on my skid steer, with two clamps, works great for logs, or multiple logs, is about worthless on brush and smaller stuff, it won't clamp that stuff tight enough to carry it very far.     

Mine weighs in slightly less than a 1000 lbs and the bucket portion is bullet proof, the hold down clamps we've tweaked over the years.     For the use and abuse we do with ours, the clamp should have been made out of T1 but I didn't know it at the time, the one I bought was the heaviest unit at that time, today there are dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of styles to choose from.  Best of luck. 

crowhill

I purchased "the thumb" off the internet for my Kubota M4900. Best investment I've made for support equipment to my tractor. I also purchased a "tooth bar" to bolt on the leading edge of my bucket, also off the Internet. With the combination of the two I've had great luck handling logs up to 20' long around the mill. I installed / welded a flat 1"x4" bar across the top of my bucket for additional strength and support to which I bolted "the thumb". The tooth bar is the best, maybe only way to go with the setup. One would still be limited by their tractors max capacity and use common sense in operating. Mine was easy to hook to the hydraulic system as I have a remote on the rear of the tractor. You will want a counter balance weight on the rear, I use my farmi winch for the balance weight. No regrets. Easy install, lots of uses.
TimberKing B-20, Kubota M-4900 w/FEL with tooth bar, hyd thumb and forks, Farmi winch, 4 chain saws.

Novascotiamill

Just recieved my wicked 55" root rake grapple it looks pretty cool,apparantly someelse likes "wicked" grappling too! In case you cant read it her pendant says "wicked" looks identical to the logo on the grapple

2017 HM130
Stihl 261
2010 F150 xtr
Lots of rigid genx5 tools
1 long haired german shepherd
2017 kioti ck2610HST with FEL and forks
Grindlux band sharpener
Wicked 55" root rake grapple
O

John S

Who noticed the pendant?
2018 LT40HDG38 Wide

KirkD

Brings a whole new meaning to Grapple
Wood-mizer LT40HD-G24 Year 1989

Jeff

Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

Thank You Sponsors!