grapple arms

[dirt clod]

Have seen a few homemade on here and looked at few bought ones.
Hadnt seen any with tube grapples. Is there some reason that arms wouldn't as strong are work as well if made from schedule 40 or 80 pipe? Would think it would easier and maybe cheaper than have steel cnc cut. Harbour freight sells a pipe bender pretty cheap. The ends of the grapples could even be fitted with teeth. Would 1 1/2" pipe be strong enough. I would think it would be lighter.

 

[3RRL]

I think Ronmar made a set out of tubing like you're talking about. They weren't connected together if I remember right, and he had 2 hydraulic cylinders, one for each arm hooked up in parallel so they could work independently....one going down farther than the other if needed. Hope he sees this and corrects me if I'm wrong about it.

 

[tree grower]

I don't know what you would be picking up with a grapple made of tubes, but I wouldn't try anything heavier than feathers. The only structural cross-section weaker than a tube is flat stock. Sched 80 1 1/2" might handle dry hay, but invariably, when we are working our machinery we tend to push it just a little bit more. If it worked once we can do it again, and push just a little bit more. CNC-cut steel teeth on grapples are usually stronger than the hydraulics.

 

[dirt clod]

Thanks Tree Grower. Don't need anything weak. Looking at building 3RRL's design.

 

[blacksmith]

Here are some pictures I copied from the net. I do not know how strong it is.