Stump Bucket Grapple Build

[f150skidoo]

So I know a lot of you guys enjoyed my 5x8 dump trailer build, so I figured some of you would enjoy this one.

So this summer I'm going to be tearing out a couple hundred spruce trees that are Christmas tree size so I was going to chock them with a chain and pull them out with my skid steer. but doing it that way is going to be slow as hell so a stump grapple will fit the bill perfectly.

First thing first was to fabricate the skid steer quick attach plate (SS Q/A), Since the stump buckets are really narrow I needed to use cross tubes on the Q/A plate to resist the bending force so I used 3"x3" .250" tubing. Once I got it tacked up it was time for the all important test fit then welding out.

 

[f150skidoo]

Next was to fabricate the bucket portion. The bucket is 15" wide and 36" deep not including the 3/4" cutting edge or bucket teeth, It tappers up to 20" at the back. First part was to plasma cut the pieces out of 1/4" plate. I was thinking of going to 3/16" to save on cost. But I remembered last summer I was digging out roots with my 4200 lbs pallet forks and bent one of the forks so I decided to go up on the thickness on everything. Once cut it was time to tack everything up but i needed to weight down the floor since it was warped.

 

[f150skidoo]

So next was to weld out everything on the bucket portion, made sure to leave a gap on the outside corners to get a good bead on them. Just the pictures on this post works out to 24' of beads that I welded.

 

[f150skidoo]

First thing for today's progress was to bevel the cutting edge. The cutting edge is 3/4" x 6" that I plasma gouged the bulk of the material off then ground and flap disk the rest. Next was to tack then weld on the cutting edge and the 1/2"x2" wear bars on the bucket. Before I welded on the 3/4" steel I made sure I did 300F preheat.

 

[f150skidoo]

Next was to weld the bucket to the Q/A frame. Once welded out I decided to do a test with the bucket on the skid steer. I still have to add a bunch off gussets to the bucket

 

[NUTTSGT]

So basically, you'll just dig in under the tree and try to rip them out ? It looks like it should work. What size of Hobart welder are you using ?

 

[f150skidoo]

So basically, you'll just dig in under the tree and try to rip them out ? It looks like it should work. What size of Hobart welder are you using ?

Ya basically, on small trees with just a few inch diameter I should be able to pinch the trunk between the grapple and the bucket and pull them out vertically. I'm using a Hobart 190 amp mig.

 

[f150skidoo]

Today consisted of making brackets and templates. First was to make the bracket for the mounts on the grapple arms. Next was to make the template for the grapple arms them self. Took several attempts to get it the way I wanted, but that's why I'm using cheap wood for the trial and error parts. I'm going to drop off the template to the steel supplier I use so they can cut it on there CNC flame cutter out of 3/4" plate

 

[manwithtools]

Today consisted of making brackets and templates. First was to make the bracket for the mounts on the grapple arms. Next was to make the template for the grapple arms them self. Took several attempts to get it the way I wanted, but that's why I'm using cheap wood for the trial and error parts. I'm going to drop off the template to the steel supplier I use so they can cut it on there CNC flame cutter out of 3/4" plate

OMG, you are making the grapple arm out of 3/4" plate with a cross section that large? You could reduce that by half and still have plenty of strewth for that application.

I like the rest so far, I built grapple for my tractor and it's the most used attachment I have.

 

[f150skidoo]

OMG, you are making the grapple arm out of 3/4" plate with a cross section that large? You could reduce that by half and still have plenty of strewth for that application.

I like the rest so far, I built grapple for my tractor and it's the most used attachment I have.

Your post made me think/realize that the grapple arm is overkill. So I ran out to the shop and modified my template. I think the new one will look aesthetically better also, but I'm still going to make it out of 3/4".

 

[bimmer1980]

Looks good! I've been pondering the idea of a grapple for my machine as well... I already have a trencher bucket that looks a lot like the bucket that you fab'd.

Just make sure you have enough "hook" on the end of your pivoting grapple arm so that you can snag something at various angles of "open". Worst case, you could always weld on some teeth or something at the end of the arm if you need more "bite".

Regardless, nice work.

 

[f150skidoo]

So I was off work today, so I had some more shop progress. Got the grapple arms mounts welded on. It took me several tries to get the two separate mounts lined up perfectly, ended up using a chunk of 1" wood dowel to help with the alignment. Also got the brackets made up for the cylinder mount, used the port-A-band on a stand to cut the pieces.

 

[ilovevocs]

Not being an a$$ but im going to say it. Your fabrication is not an issue but if I had couple hundred connivers to clear I would find someone with a dozed to clear it. I had a bad day and even my dog pissed me off today so take it for what it's worth. If it's s labor of love go to it, but having three kids I value my time. A dozer will clear the land exponentially faster than you will with this grapple. One day with a dozer and it's done.

Maybe you have the time, if so go with it... Personally I would rent a dozer and get it done.

Use the grapple to clean up the aftermath.



Sent from my mountain fortress wearing tin foil hat.

 

[f150skidoo]

Not being an a$$ but im going to say it. Your fabrication is not an issue but if I had couple hundred connivers to clear I would find someone with a dozed to clear it. I had a bad day and even my dog pissed me off today so take it for what it's worth. If it's s labor of love go to it, but having three kids I value my time. A dozer will clear the land far faster than you will with this grapple.




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Oh I'm well aware that there are far better ways of clearing land then this attachment. This is more of a because I can rather then because I should.

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[LXCam]

Cool project bud. Looking forwards to seeing this baby work.

 

[Farmall450]

Looking really good. It'll be interesting seeing the final product. Just finished up a slip on root rake/subsoiler at school.

 

[1wook]

Nice design and great fab work. I built one out of 1/2" plate few years ago and it is so handy. A couple things:

- Teeth on the cutting edge are crucial.
- On your grapple, don't make your gusset in between the front of the arms an upside down V, make it flat or U shaped. A V wedges logs into itself...
- Depending on how hard your going to use this you may want to gusset the top edges of the bucket sides.


I did mount my bucket a little lower on the mounting plate so it well works as a trenching bucket too.

 

[vekster]

nice work.

 

[Griff93]

Great job on the fab work! This should be really useful. Sometimes I think we're really just big kids playing in our adult sized sand box with the excuse of needing to do some project.

I've been getting more and more interested in fabricating attachments myself. I have an SK650 ditch witch mini skid. I built a bucket for it the other day myself. Partly because I could and partly to give my shop helper a good productive welding project. Up to that point he had only welded on scraps. It gave him lots and lots of practice as I made a 44" wide bucket.

 

[f150skidoo]

After work yesterday I did a little bit of work out in the shop. I had a machinist friend turn me some pivot pins on his lathe so the grease zerk is counter sunk into the pin. I Can't mount the zerks on the grapple arm them self do to clearance issues. Also just flush mounting the zerks on the pivot pins are probably going going to get ripped off by a root/branch. On all the brackets I welded on a chunk of DOM tubing so I can put a 1/4" retainer bolt in to prevent the pins from walking out. I got the cylinder mount welded on and the 2 1/2" x 10" cylinder test fitted. I started to fab up the gussets from the Q/A plate to the bucket.

 

[f150skidoo]

Nice design and great fab work. I built one out of 1/2" plate few years ago and it is so handy. A couple things:

- Teeth on the cutting edge are crucial.
- On your grapple, don't make your gusset in between the front of the arms an upside down V, make it flat or U shaped. A V wedges logs into itself...
- Depending on how hard your going to use this you may want to gusset the top edges of the bucket sides.


I did mount my bucket a little lower on the mounting plate so it well works as a trenching bucket too.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm already going to use teeth, actually they should arrive at my local Deere dealer tomorrow. Making the type of grapple gussets you suggested would probably work a lot better a grabbing small items like trees/branches that are under 3".

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Great job with your metal fab work! I can tell you definitely enjoy metal work. As a contractor i have been starting to play with metal working myself since alot of my equipment needs some fixin!

 

[readhead]

I do a lot of bucket repair and I think it would be a good idea to put a piece of 1/2"x3" flat bar along the top edge of the sides. That seems to be a common failure point on inexpensive buckets. You are doing some top notch work there. You could give up the bricks and work inside out of the weather.

 

[f150skidoo]

I do a lot of bucket repair and I think it would be a good idea to put a piece of 1/2"x3" flat bar along the top edge of the sides. That seems to be a common failure point on inexpensive buckets. You are doing some top notch work there. You could give up the bricks and work inside out of the weather.

Your not the first person to tell me to give up masonry trade and go into welding/ fabricating trade, hell even my boss and coworkers tell me that. I already have 3/8" flat bar that I'm going to weld on the top sides. I was going to weld those on earlier on in the build but I screwed up the cut and made them to short

 

[ilovevocs]

Oh I'm well aware that there are far better ways of clearing land then this attachment. This is more of a because I can rather then because I should.

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That's cool.

I was coming from experience not tying to be a total a$$.

My friend and I cleared two acres of a Xmas tree farm with a jlg and a chain. Lots of work and allot of time.

Guy came next door on a different lot with a dozer and cleared the site in a few hours. My bro and I spent a few days.

Considering we they were both building and needed a contractor with a excavator to dig foundations it just didn't finically make sense.
I enjoy your fab builds. You do quality work. Not trying to discourage.

Hope it works out well for you.


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[f150skidoo]

That's cool.

I was coming from experience not tying to be a total a$$.

My friend and I cleared two acres of a Xmas tree farm with a jlg and a chain. Lots of work and allot of time.

Guy came next door on a different lot with a dozer and cleared the site in a few hours. My bro and I spent a few days.

Considering we they were both building and needed a contractor with a excavator to dig foundations it just didn't finically make sense.
I enjoy your fab builds. You do quality work. Not trying to discourage.

Hope it works out well for you.


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So you were using JLG man lift or telehander? My idea with my grapple was to tilt the bucket down to full dump and lower it down to the stump of the 3 inch tree. Then close the grapple to pinch the trunk and just lift the arms of the skid steer. May need to drive forward and back to break a few roots, but the grapple will be a lot faster then choking them with a chain.

 

[ilovevocs]

A telehandler.

Most guys who wear tools in my region call them a jlg, if you use the term telehandler they ask you what that is. My answer, " a telescoping boom lift". They are still mystified. Funny thing is some of my older machines are square shooters who was purchased by terex. We removed the ram for the square shoot feature because they had nothing but problems. Some of my guys still call them all square shooters and people really don't know what they mean.


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[f150skidoo]

Everyone around here calls the zoom booms.




Anyways I went to the dentist today and got some new teeth.

 

[C_F]

Cool project bud. Looking forwards to seeing this baby work.

Same here!

 

[f150skidoo]

Been busy the last few days so I was only able to do a little bit here and there. Got the teeth tacked on then lots of preheat time. After getting those welded on I then finished welding the lower gussets. Also got the 3/8" flat bar welded on for the top edge of the bucket sides.

 

[C_F]

Those are some nice, fat welds. What type of welder are you using?

 

[f150skidoo]

Those are some nice, fat welds. What type of welder are you using?

Hobart 190 MIG.

 

[f150skidoo]

Did a bit of work in the shop after work today. Got my top gussets made up and welded on. This bucket has way more welds on it then I anticipated. So far I've burned a entire 12.5 lbs spool and I'm working away on my second spool. Also man handling this bucket is becoming a major PITA especially after I dropped the one corner on my toe so now this skid steer is doing all the work.

 

[vekster]

Bucket looks great. Nice job.
Can I borrow it? It would work great for a trench I need to dig and I don't have an excavator.


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[f150skidoo]

Since this bucket will be tearing out small trees, grabbing brush, or digging a trench. Theirs a chance that I will get the skid steer stuck enough were I need a pull. So I welded on two 3/8" hooks. I originally did a single pass on the shanks for the bucket teeth. I said that it will be fine but changed my mind, so I re heated the area with the torch and did two more passes on the shanks.

 

[C_F]

That thing is looking pretty official now! How much would you estimate it weighs so far? ***** about dropping it on your toe.

 

[f150skidoo]

That thing is looking pretty official now! How much would you estimate it weighs so far? ***** about dropping it on your toe.

I'd bet it would be around 350 lbs, This bucket has burned 16 lbs of .030" wire alone. When the top grapple is done it will be a bit over 500 lbs.

 

[Griff93]

If you're going to do much more of this type of heavy fab, you might want to look into dual shield. It's supposed to work really good for smaller 220V migs with 0.035 E71t-1. From what I've seen, it's two main benefits are better penetration and faster welding due to not having to manipulate the wire. I need to mess around with this some more myself.

 

[f150skidoo]

If you're going to do much more of this type of heavy fab, you might want to look into dual shield. It's supposed to work really good for smaller 220V migs with 0.035 E71t-1. From what I've seen, it's two main benefits are better penetration and faster welding due to not having to manipulate the wire. I need to mess around with this some more myself.

I have been looking into using dual shield. I'm trying to find a place to buy it locally other than welding supply stores. Since i'm a weekend fabricator it would be nice to find a source for me to buy that wire on a Sunday.

 

[readhead]

We have one machine set up for dual shield and it doesn't get much use. Usually just for heavy weldments. Having a stick machine to do heavy work would do the trick and not cost a lot of money to set up.

It is unfortunate that stick welding is getting passed by as mig welding becomes so common for home use. I get that it is easy and fast and we use it a lot at the shop. But a stick works anywhere and anytime with very inexpensive and basic equipment.