Well guys im pretty new to the forum. More of a lurker with a few questions from time to time.
Got it in me a few months ago to build a grapple, or should I say procure the components and have a welder do the assembly.
I was fortunate enough to come across a set of grapple arms laying in the weeds behind the shed of the first place I stopped to ask about some custom welding. He used to fabricate grapples for a small now defunct company. Once I had them I was off to the races. Its was at that point also that I knew it was meant to be......designing the arms seemed to be the most challenging part when your trying to keep it strong, simple, and cheap, all while not having that homemade slapped together in my garage look.
Found all my steel including cutting edge at a scrap yard. Found a guy to make all my hoses for a 1.70 a foot.
I thought you all might like my bulk head. Angle iron with two plumbing couplers welded through two holes. Very simple , cheap and cost effective. Perhaps this had been done before by someone on the forum but after seeing what just the bulk head costs where I knew I had to come up with something.
All in all after the welding bill, I should have around $600 in it total. Not counting gas hunting parts, steel, measurements.
The only thing it needs is a nice thick coat of black paint which I will wait until spring. If there was ever a winter to paint in iowa it would be this one, but im just too plain excited to not be tearing brush off my property.
I have been staring at logs, trees and brush for the last year saying to my self.....I will get you.....when I have my grapple bucket.
Also as a note for all, I was one who absolutely felt like I was going to need the 3rd function rocker switch on my joystick. In my mind having used a skidloader with push button grapple controls, I felt that it was a must..........however due to trying to manage the expense piece I reluctantly decided to power off rear remotes for the time being. After using it most of today I will tell you, much like jinman and others have said using your rear remotes is no big deal. I cannot imagine a situation where I would need to feather those arms down while manipulating the bucket. Just my two cents for any of you that are out there hemming and hawing, researching surplus center, northern tool etc trying to figure out how your going to plumb your 3rd function in economically. Don't get me wrong, if I had an abundance of cash I would get it, but unfortunately I will take the cash and put it towards more steel, hoses, and cylinders to fabricate additional hydro powered destruction tools!
Let me know if you have any thoughts on some things I may need to add or change. Im already thinking some steel to protect the hoses and cylinders possibly.
Thanks for everyones posts, if it had to do with grapples, plumbing etc I probably read it!
Got it in me a few months ago to build a grapple, or should I say procure the components and have a welder do the assembly.
I was fortunate enough to come across a set of grapple arms laying in the weeds behind the shed of the first place I stopped to ask about some custom welding. He used to fabricate grapples for a small now defunct company. Once I had them I was off to the races. Its was at that point also that I knew it was meant to be......designing the arms seemed to be the most challenging part when your trying to keep it strong, simple, and cheap, all while not having that homemade slapped together in my garage look.
Found all my steel including cutting edge at a scrap yard. Found a guy to make all my hoses for a 1.70 a foot.
I thought you all might like my bulk head. Angle iron with two plumbing couplers welded through two holes. Very simple , cheap and cost effective. Perhaps this had been done before by someone on the forum but after seeing what just the bulk head costs where I knew I had to come up with something.
All in all after the welding bill, I should have around $600 in it total. Not counting gas hunting parts, steel, measurements.
The only thing it needs is a nice thick coat of black paint which I will wait until spring. If there was ever a winter to paint in iowa it would be this one, but im just too plain excited to not be tearing brush off my property.
I have been staring at logs, trees and brush for the last year saying to my self.....I will get you.....when I have my grapple bucket.
Also as a note for all, I was one who absolutely felt like I was going to need the 3rd function rocker switch on my joystick. In my mind having used a skidloader with push button grapple controls, I felt that it was a must..........however due to trying to manage the expense piece I reluctantly decided to power off rear remotes for the time being. After using it most of today I will tell you, much like jinman and others have said using your rear remotes is no big deal. I cannot imagine a situation where I would need to feather those arms down while manipulating the bucket. Just my two cents for any of you that are out there hemming and hawing, researching surplus center, northern tool etc trying to figure out how your going to plumb your 3rd function in economically. Don't get me wrong, if I had an abundance of cash I would get it, but unfortunately I will take the cash and put it towards more steel, hoses, and cylinders to fabricate additional hydro powered destruction tools!
Let me know if you have any thoughts on some things I may need to add or change. Im already thinking some steel to protect the hoses and cylinders possibly.
Thanks for everyones posts, if it had to do with grapples, plumbing etc I probably read it!
