Bucket Pallet Fork Fabrication

[BigBoyToys]

Needed to build a set of pallet forks to lift some plywood for a new building. I wanted to load the plywood in the long way to get the it up higher to unload. Fortunately I got a 20' piece of 6" C-Channel from work that had been laying around since our new building was build 6 years ago. I had everything else I needed except some one inch square tube to support the forks under the bucket. This was needed to level the fork to the 1" cutting edge.

First was to cut the c-channel to length. I wanted to have the forks extend 4' off the front edge of the bucket. So the overall length was 6'.

I then cut some 3" c-channel to act as vertical backstops on the forks.

Some 1/4" plate was cut, drilled and welded to the fork and vertical stop for a connection point.

I bent a 2" piece of 1/4" bar for the rear connection point.

Last was to weld some 1" square tube for keeping the fork level with the cutting edge on the bottom of the bucket.

I then drilled a 3/8" hole at the end of the forks to mount a 2x6 between them to support a 4" wide piece of plywood with the end of the plywood extending into the bucket.

Here's the forks set wide to allow the plywood to go into the bucket.


Here I have the plywood in position to unload in the building.


Shot of the back end of the fork with the mounting points and 1" tube supports. There is a short lip so the fork can "hang" on the bucket while attaching the straps.


How the fork sits under the bucket when mounted.


Front edge bucket mount.


Rear bucket mount.


Here they are mounted in a normal position closer together.


So far they served the intended purpose of getting the plywood up high enough to load into the building. I know they will be used for a lot more jobs! :thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

Hey, if a man has a welder and some steel, about anything is possible.. Looks good..:thumbsup:

 

[BigBoyToys]

Hey, if a man has a welder and some steel, about anything is possible.. Looks good..:thumbsup:

I initially purchased it for a Jeep build I did with my son.
It's not something you use a lot...but sure is handy to have around!!!

 

[roadhunter]

Looks pretty useful to me. Nice work.

 

[PILOON]

Once you are introduced to welding you can't live without, next you become a scavenger and collect every bed spring that the neighbors put out to trash.
As you graduate you visit the recycle yard and bring home 'deals' that you might need.
Shucks even 3 or 4 inch scraps might become handy.
Ever notice that metal you hoarded for 10 years and tossed last week is just exactly what you needed today?
You gotta have an understanding 'better half'.

 

[BigBoyToys]

and collect every bed spring that the neighbors put out to trash.

Bed frames...did you say bed frames... hahahahahaha



I never throw away anything! I keep a "Scraps Bucket"...you never know when you'll need that little piece of something!

 

[k0ua]

Bed frames...did you say bed frames... hahahahahaha

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I never throw away anything! I keep a "Scraps Bucket"...you never know when you'll need that little piece of something!

Oh now! That was a great way to repurpose them old bed rails. That looks like fun!

 

[stuckmotor]

The most frustrating drilling job I ever came across was in a bed frame. That metal was HARD!

 

[k0ua]

:thumbsup: First time trying it out.
How does that old saying go...A Family That Shoots Together, Stays Together!

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Excellent! :thumbsup:

 

[PILOON]

The most frustrating drilling job I ever came across was in a bed frame. That metal was HARD!

Yes, you need good drill bits.
Also not all thet easy to weld some of them.

 

[Oldpath05]

Cobalt drill bits will drill through bed frames all day long, even longer with CRC drill/tap spray. I made a lot of stuff with bed frame, self brackets to ATV trailers, have to use 70-wire to weld it.
Nice job on the forks, if you lift something round like logs, put something like a piece square stock, foot or so long pointing forward on top of your vertical post. On my forks, I pin my vertical post in that has a forward rod pointing forward on top, so when I lift something round it wont roll back on me when the loader is up.

 

[BigBoyToys]

On my forks, I pin my vertical post in that has a forward rod pointing forward on top, so when I lift something round it wont roll back on me when the loader is up.

GOOD POINT! :thumbsup:
I think I'll bend an "angled adapter" that I can bolt onto the top of the vertical upright. I have some 2" wide 1/4" bar that would work.

I see you are up in Liberty Maine...I was up there 3 weeks ago with a friend visiting his neighbor who has a cottage on St George Lake. Really beautiful country up there. Took the wives to Camden and Belfast...but only after a few hours of fishing!