Everything Attachments Wicked Grapple Build

[jmc]

You guys that feel left out of the free stuff-did you make any effort on your own behalf? Some famous guy once said something to the effect that a big part of life is just showing up. And I think the grapple wasn't just a lottery. It was a TBN vote in combination with EA's accessment that the winner was reflective of a potential customer for such a kit.

 

[murphy1244]

Yea Really:laughing:

 

[ericher69]

94BULLITT;


Any plans for paint? If so what type do you plan on using and why?

Good job so far

 

[94BULLITT]

94BULLITT;


Any plans for paint? If so what type do you plan on using and why?

Good job so far

I will probably use some Dupont self etching primer, that stuff is good. As of now I think I am going to go with Kubota Bright Orange II. It is acrylic enamel. It is the right color for the tractor and I like painted to match implements/ attachments. I need to figure out what kind of hardener to get and how much I should use because I want something durable.

 

[mikehaugen]

but green looks so much better! :laughing:

 

[aczlan]

but green looks so much better! :laughing:

Until it gets lost in the grass and you hit it with the bush hog :laughing:

Aaron Z

 

[boxorox]

this did inspire me to do a front end loader build soon so I can add a grapple as IM in the tree business and think this would be the way to get limbs to chipper. earlier I was kidding for by his build he was the perfect example to see how its done Im a stick welder any way. thanks for info.

 

[jenkinsph]

Roger,
That grapple is coming along great. Workmanship looks first class too.:thumbsup:


I think I would consider powdercoating this when finished.

 

[Zebrafive]

The tines would be a start but there are still so many complicated pieces you would still need. Why not buy a whole kit and everything will go together smoothly. The 3x3 tubing on the kit has a bunch of laser cut holes in it for the tines, QA, lid hinges, and cylinder mounts. It would be way harder to put the grapple together without the indexing tabs which you would be loosing.

They could redesign the tines with square holes to slide on the square tubing like the round tube at the bottom. But even if they offered the kit two ways, complete or only special cut pieces, I bet 90% would buy complete kit.

 

[94BULLITT]

Roger,
That grapple is coming along great. Workmanship looks first class too.:thumbsup:

I think I would consider powdercoating this when finished.

Thanks. I thought about having it powdercated but I had a friend tell me the local guy charged $300 to do the racks on his company truck. I thought he would want a lot to the grapple. I also have mixed feeling about powder coating. I have seen some hold up good and sometimes it flack off. The racks on this truck were holding up well and they had been on it for a few years.

 

[charlz]

Thanks. I thought about having it powdercated but I had a friend tell me the local guy charged $300 to do the racks on his company truck. I thought he would want a lot to the grapple. I also have mixed feeling about powder coating. I have seen some hold up good and sometimes it flack off. The racks on this truck were holding up well and they had been on it for a few years.

If the powdercoater is in the area it might not hurt to just run by with the grapple once you are done with all the welding and get a quote.

Nice work so far!

 

[94BULLITT]

but green looks so much better! :laughing:

There is too much green on the tractor now.

 

[94BULLITT]

If the powdercoater is in the area it might not hurt to just run by with the grapple once you are done with all the welding and get a quote.

Nice work so far!

Thanks. I was thinking I could call him and maybe email him some pictures and dimensions or I could run it by his place.

 

[kiotiken]

There is too much green on the tractor now.

Man, you're not kidding. Usually green is afraid of orange, you must have a different shade

 

[SPIKER]

Rodger:

couple items on Powder Coating (I built the equipment and powder coated items myself for years.)

It is REALLY GOOD when done properly. that means Cleaning the metal well & removing all mill slag/scale/rust/weld coatings. It also means if not sandblasting all the scale off to bare steel it will not bite very well. If it is flat & bar stock that does not have mill scale on it then it needs to be phosphate coated/acid etched or sand blasted just the same.

The BASE METAL then has to be heated up for the powder to stick and melt together properly. On you thicker plates of metal that means Baking it in the oven first to bring the base metal up in temp pulling it out powder coating it and putting it back into the oven for (based on powder) recommended time.

It will still wear and chip like paint so I suggest a standard color that is available in spray can form for touch-ups later. The Phosphate coating when done correctly will protect base steel for a good amount of time even when the top coat gets scratched off.

The Shape of the grapple will cause some issues powder coating it as well as the Electrically Charged Powder does not get into small corners/cracks and junction points where 2 parts are welded together. Spray Painting in general will have similar issues where paint sticks to the angles but not well in the crack/corner where 3 parts come together.

I suggest welding all way around both sides of all the bits so there are no small gaps or holes even capping the sq tube ends so that inside can't rust much. Sand Blast it down to bare metal, use GOOD etching/Phosphoric Acid and a zinc etching primer then top coat with a catalyzed enamel in a BRIGHT ORANGE (Color) mainly for visibility so you can easily see the edged / corners when working it.

Mark

 

[Dr Dave]

Nice welds, this looks like a quality kit, I would be interested in a grapple kit, to add on to an existing bucket.

Dave

 

[Renze]

Problem with powder coating is that you cant touch up when you scratch it. Normal wet paint systems dont stick to powdercoat.

 

[murphy1244]

If the job is done right, it won't scratch at all.

 

[slicktierney]

Awesome grapple design (EA) and Great assembly job Roger! Stick with the enamel paint, the powder coating will get damaged by rocks and then will peel off in sheets like my snow plow. You might consider bandsaw cuts on the tubing ends to vent/drain the tubing so it won't rot from the inside.

 

[boxorox]

see just a little green on that tractor and it looks crukid.