Best Grapple for Grabbing Split Firewood? Show us your pics!

[My Hoe]

Great pics and info--keep 'em comin'!

My Hoe

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Here's a customer getting it done with our 66" Dual Lid Wicked Grapple on his Bobcat Toolcat.
Travis

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I wonder if a tined manure fork/grapple might work best on piles of bucked and split cord wood?

 

[aeblank]

Even better, put it on a pallet instead of throwing it on the ground.

 

[Grateful11]

I agree with "aeblank", why use a grapple?

Here's the only grapple, a bucket grapple, here on the farm. Not quite big enough to fit around this big Hickory that came down, roots and all, during recent heavy rains and wind. We've had 8.95" just in Nov.

 

[aeblank]

I agree with "aeblank", why use a grapple?

For the record, I do have one, and like it very much!

 

[Grateful11]

For the record, I do have one, and like it very much!

I like the use of the grapple for that, hadn't thought of that. Our splitter is a Horiz./Vert. but no one likes using it vertically very much, it gets everyone in the back.

 

[Grateful11]

Not a grapple but those L3940's have a lot of guts for their size.

 

[4570Man]

Not a grapple but those L3940's have a lot of guts for their size.

Yes they do. My L3240 is pretty well the same machine with less HP. A L3800 or Kioti ck25 can't hold a candle to it.

 

[cliffepackaging]

Lovely looking grapple!

 

[aeblank]

I like the use of the grapple for that, hadn't thought of that. Our splitter is a Horiz./Vert. but no one likes using it vertically very much, it gets everyone in the back.

Agreed, way too much PITA using it vertical.
I have also put pieces in the bucket, and made it level with the deck. The grapple was BRAND NEW on this occasion though.

 

[dstig1]

Eh, I gotta chime in.... You won't like it Nothing works good for grabbing splits unless it is from a huge pile. Even a nice grapple is very inefficient in this. The best and fastest method is to hand load/stack the grapple or bucket. It takes 2 minutes, but you get 3x what you can grab with the grapple from the seat. And you can only grab from a pile that is not in the dirt. If you try to grab from a small pile you will get a ton of crud like dirt, etc. It just doesn't work well in most situations.

And looking at that use of a grapple to place a round on the splitter? I cannot think of a slower or less precise way to do that. I can't see what is going on up there to the precision that is need for placing a round on the splitter. Plus that round is not anything that should be a problem for a normal man to lift. Now if you are disabled or something, then i can see it, but a much better method would be a small boom crane/winch, or log lift on the splitter. You can see what you are doing and control it a ton better. I would expect that 50%+ of the time the round would fall off unless you left the grapple around it to keep it in place (and I'm being generous...I would guess realistically more like 95%). Then you are working around the grapple to split it the first time, then running back to the tractor to move it out of the way. Tel me how this is efficient?

I LOVE automation, and go to some extremes to make it work for me. None of this works well both from experience and common sense once you really think about it. Like I said, I'm here to be the wet blanket of reality!

 

[Grateful11]

I couldn't agree with dstig1 more, that's why I posted the photos of the pallet loaded with fresh splits. We had 3 people splitting that day, 1 running, 1 loading the splitter and 1 stacking the pallets, get one full take it and stack it. No dirt or grass in your firewood either.

 

[aeblank]

And looking at that use of a grapple to place a round on the splitter? I cannot think of a slower or less precise way to do that.

Heh, believe what you want.
The pieces had to be shuttled a little ways and were heavier than $*it (the one shown is smaller than most of them).
It wasn't just me, I had a helper. I'd put them up there, loosen the grip, and bust it in half. One half would get a second split while the other went on the grapple that I had rolled back down. Then the second half got split. I could see it all without any issue.
I would not hesitate to do it again.

My dad put a harbor freight hoist on his splitter. He loves it. He usually splits by himself, and the grapple monkey business wouldn't work well by ones self.

Your wet towel won't stop me! :thumbsup:

 

[4570Man]

I have tried using a grapple and backhoe thumb to set wood on the splitter. Neither works very good. I prefer using the splitter vertical. If you use a round as a seat it works pretty good. I do use the grapple for huge ones, but for 24" or less it is easier to roll them be hand. It is usually easier to saw the huge ones in 1/4s rather than try to split them.

 

[dstig1]

Heh, believe what you want.
The pieces had to be shuttled a little ways and were heavier than $*it (the one shown is smaller than most of them).
It wasn't just me, I had a helper. I'd put them up there, loosen the grip, and bust it in half. One half would get a second split while the other went on the grapple that I had rolled back down. Then the second half got split. I could see it all without any issue.
I would not hesitate to do it again.

My dad put a harbor freight hoist on his splitter. He loves it. He usually splits by himself, and the grapple monkey business wouldn't work well by ones self.

Your wet towel won't stop me! :thumbsup:

Well, I'm glad you had help. The equation changes dramatically with a second person there. Most of us don't have that luxury when splitting. Good friends even tend to be busy I was assuming solo, in which case, I still stand by my comments.

 

[4570Man]

A tractor mounted boom pole except using a hoist instead of the tractor to lift would be nice. The reason for mounting it from the tractor is that it is easily moved and would work with any splitter which isn't heavy enough to have its own crane.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I agree with the hand loading being more efficient and the vertical splitter mode for big rounds being easier.

 

[4570Man]

Unless you are moving long distance hand loading is not more efficient. I moved this pile and only hand loaded the last load. The key to my success was a concrete floor.,

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Seriously, you sure that's not a prison?! At the very least you are ready for the zombie apocalypse.

I am totally facinated by your place. Can you post more pics?