Anyone build a grapple like this

[Stomper]

Just wondering if anyone has built or used a grapple like the one in the link. 90% of what I will be using a grapple for will be getting fire wood for my outdoor wood boiler. This looks like it would clamp down a single piece or on several pieces. I like the design
Igland GR20 Grapple - YouTube

 

[motownbrowne]

It looks a little limited in its application. Looks pretty good for logs and large rocks, as it shows, but useless for brush. I'd rather have a bit more of a compromise grapple. Not purpose built for one specific task, but instead able to push up, pile, and grab brush and debris as well as move logs, and even maybe pick up split firewood.

 

[polemidis]

I also agree that it is limited. Check out my design. I have to figure out a few details, and it will be ready.

Grapple - AGreekulture Farmstead Wiki

 

[Rustyiron]

There are a lot of them around here, and in my opinion only good for rocks & 8-10' logs. While they are designed for logs and will clamp them, to me they lack the width and require a lot better estimation from the operator to "balance" the log with a very narrow load support. The design lacks (for the average user) in terms of versatility. On the other hand they can be had for just over a grand I think and are prolly fine for smaller tractors & loads. A friend has one and it's adapter to ssqa is weak and bent up pretty good.

 

[Cord]

That grapple is styled after the huge ones they use on wheel loaders to unload logging trucks in a single pick. The bottom forks are spaced pretty far apart is clearly designed to allow smaller materials to fall through. Awesome if you're trying to pick logs up. Might work if you have enough brush to bridge the bottom teeth, but you should anticipate dropping some material. I personally use a small grapply and I really like it. It's a very versatile tool and I find that I can do more things with this grapple than I could with a larger one. The only drawback is moving brush. This is the one task that a larger grapple would excel at. Here's a mfr link to mine: Home

Couple videos with me using it: Moving log with Faver grapple - YouTube Boulder - YouTube Moving culvert with Faver grapple - YouTube Moving concrete block with Faver grapple - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUsXppAMD8M

 

[LD1]

Agree with others here.

Looks good for logs......sucks for about every other aspect of a firewood operation

 

[Stomper]

Thanks for the input guys

 

[4570Man]

It would be cheap to build and nice for logs. It would be handicapped for most other uses.

 

[John_Mc]

It looks a little limited in its application. Looks pretty good for logs and large rocks, as it shows, but useless for brush.

I own a similar design (Sundowner GR40). It works just fine for the brush I haul, but then I'm not trying to pick up a bunch of 2' long pieces.

 

[Stomper]

The main purpose for it would be harvesting firewood. I won't be moving much brush with it or much of anything eles for that matter. My primary need for a grapple is firewood.

 

[LD1]

You keep saying firewood.

firewood or logs?

That wont pick firewood. Just logs.

A regular grapple will pick firewood up.....and do equally as well on logs.

 

[Stomper]

It would pick up my firewood. I guess I should clarify. I want a grapple to get firewood for my new outdoor wood boiler. The max length of wood the boiler will take is 44". So I guess where the confusion is, I am calling a 44" long log firewood. My research shows that this type of grapple average width is 30"-36" with most being 30", so it will pick up what I am calling "firewood" and what I am calling logs.
My bad!

 

[Stomper]

That grapple is styled after the huge ones they use on wheel loaders to unload logging trucks in a single pick. The bottom forks are spaced pretty far apart is clearly designed to allow smaller materials to fall through. Awesome if you're trying to pick logs up. Might work if you have enough brush to bridge the bottom teeth, but you should anticipate dropping some material. I personally use a small grapply and I really like it. It's a very versatile tool and I find that I can do more things with this grapple than I could with a larger one. The only drawback is moving brush. This is the one task that a larger grapple would excel at. Here's a mfr link to mine: Home

Couple videos with me using it: Moving log with Faver grapple - YouTube Boulder - YouTube Moving culvert with Faver grapple - YouTube Moving concrete block with Faver grapple - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUsXppAMD8M

This grapple is interesting and looks sturdy. How far does the grapple close. With the look of the tines and the lid, it looks like it would close up pretty tight.
edit: I checked the rest of the site and it will close up to clamp a 12.5" log

 

[John_Mc]

You keep saying firewood.

firewood or logs?

That wont pick firewood. Just logs.

I had picked up that he was looking at 44" pieces as "firewood" in another thread. A forestry grapple will work fine for that.

A regular grapple will pick firewood up.....and do equally as well on logs.

A "regular" grapple will certainly do better at picking up what most people mean when they say "firewood" (+/-16" rounds or split). A forestry grapple stinks for that sort of work. I'll also agree that it is superior to a forestry grapple at cleaning up brush, though I use my forestry grapple for this all the time with good results. (Can I "rake the lawn" with it? No. Can I pick up large amounts of brush or limbs with it while working in the woods? Sure.)

As to doing equally as well on logs, that depends on the design of the "regular" grapple. A single lid that is about as wide as the grapple will not do as well on long logs, unless they are very straight and uniform. Once you get some odd shapes, and sometimes even when picking up multiple straight logs, they tend to pinch one end of the log, but the other end of the grapple can't pinch down on the log (since it is held open by the far end). This allows the loose end to slide around, and can cause problems during transport. A double lid with independent cylinders overcomes this problem, but at higher cost. The design of the forestry grapple grabs odd shapes and multiple logs well just about every time.

Further, both the single and double lids tend to be significantly heavier than a forestry grapple. I think it was Stomper who indicated in another thread that he was concerned about not losing too much lift capacity to the weight of the grapple itself. It's likely the forestry grapple weighs about the same as the bucket it will replace. Finally, the narrower profile of the loader allows for tighter turning and maneuvering in the woods. I've had a much easier time getting into and out of tight spots with that as compared to my 66" bucket.

 

[4570Man]

Do you only harvest 8” logs? Otherwise how do you deal with 42 inch long pieces?

 

[John_Mc]

Do you only harvest 8” logs? Otherwise how do you deal with 42 inch long pieces?

Did you mean 8 FOOT logs? I can pick up 42" long pieces without a problem (OK, now you'v egot me, I'll have to go out and measure the distance between the lower arms).

 

[4570Man]

Did you mean 8 FOOT logs? I can pick up 42" long pieces without a problem (OK, now you'v egot me, I'll have to go out and measure the distance between the lower arms).

I meant diameter. Do you have a super long splitter to split the 42 inch long pieces.

 

[Stomper]

I meant diameter. Do you have a super long splitter to split the 42 inch long pieces.

Why do they have to be split if they are over 8"? My buddy has the the same boiler I am getting and he burns up to 12" diameter, he just has to toss in a few smaller ones with it. It will burn 10" logs (firewood) with out issues. He has burned bigger but says it doesn't work as well. Maybe another piece of the puzzle that is missing, is that the trees this far north average in the 10" and below diameter. Sure there are some bigger ones but they are not in abundance as they are in the south. The pictures that I see on this forum of trees that some of you guys are harvesting simply do not exist in my area. The average size I will be harvesting will most likely be in the 8" and below. That is why I am after a grapple that will clamp down on the smaller diameter to hold them secure.

 

[4570Man]

Why do they have to be split if they are over 8"? My buddy has the the same boiler I am getting and he burns up to 12" diameter, he just has to toss in a few smaller ones with it. It will burn 10" logs (firewood) with out issues. He has burned bigger but says it doesn't work as well. Maybe another piece of the puzzle that is missing, is that the trees this far north average in the 10" and below diameter. Sure there are some bigger ones but they are not in abundance as they are in the south. The pictures that I see on this forum of trees that some of you guys are harvesting simply do not exist in my area. The average size I will be harvesting will most likely be in the 8" and below. That is why I am after a grapple that will clamp down on the smaller diameter to hold them secure.

8” is the number I made up. How big of a stick can you lift into the stove? A 20” round at 42” long weighs 380 pounds assuming 50 pounds a cubic foot. That’s more than double my body weight. No way could I lift it in a stove. I guess if you don’t have any it’s not a problem but I’ve got plenty of trees like this. That’s another reason I’m in the anti cheap saw camp. I usually cut the firewood I’m selling 16” long. I usually cut the wood I burn 24”. My splitter will do 30” but my stove won’t.

 

[polemidis]

The main purpose for it would be harvesting firewood. I won't be moving much brush with it or much of anything eles for that matter. My primary need for a grapple is firewood.

Firewood is on my duties. What I will do is to make a few holes at the outer tines so I can insert 1 1/4 pipe through them to form a grid. So I will have a multi use tool for brush, firewood,rocks, logs.