Rock Bucket completed

[SJBegin]

After searching for a rock bucket, I found them to be expensive 1200. or more. And most were heavy about 700 lbs+. My tractor will only lift 1200 lbs at the pins on a good day. So I redesigned and came up with this.
I used 3/4" cold roll round stock for the tines
Using cold roll I figured the tines would be a little more brittle, but stronger which allowed me to use 3/4" in stead of 1" in order to lighten it up. I was able to bend the round stock to about a 60-70 deg angle with with no problems, this way when attached to the loader I can tip the bucket back more to hold the material better. So far this has worked awesome and I've been able to pick up a rock literally the size of the bucket and the center of the bucket didn't flex, which was one of my major concerns trying to lighten it up. Weighs roughly 300lbs and cost me the same. Hope you like.

 

[PapaPerk]

That looks great! Very nice work! How's it working so far?

 

[teg]

Nice looking build :thumbsup:

 

[TraderMark]

Very good looking bucket! :thumbsup:

I love to see things people have built themselves!

 

[Hiltz]

Ill give you $400.00 for it. Just kidding, thats really nice. Is that 3/4 black pipe that plumbers use? Really nice work........

 

[Ductape]

I need a few close-up pictures.

 

[Big Bri]

I need a few close-up pictures.

+1

That thing looks great.

 

[Lil_FarmerJim]

Very nice work. That definitely looks like it will get the job done.

 

[Big Bri]

I need a few close-up pictures.

+1

That thing looks great.

 

[pat32rf]

What spacing did you use between the rods?
I have an old home-made stone fork but the spacing is about 7". Fine for big stuff, and roots/stumps but too wide for fine work. (it started out as a manure fork, 1 1/8" tines)

 

[MikeD74T]

Ill give you $400.00 for it. Just kidding, thats really nice. Is that 3/4 black pipe that plumbers use? Really nice work........

3/4" cold roll round stock for the tines" is solid round bar. MikeD74T

 

[HCb]

How did you bend the round bar? They look really consistent, not like they were bent with a rosebud and a sharp eye.

Regardless, that's a nice piece of work.

--HC

 

[Marveltone]

Very nicely done!
I know what you mean by most rock buckets being too heavy for some of these little tractors. I think you have a winner! :thumbsup:
Let us all know how it holds up with time.

Joe

 

[jinman]

Tine material is critical. I think with your design, the middle of the bucket may end up sagging after long-term use because you will catch things in the middle and there is just not enough strength to hold. Even so, having a slight bow-down in a rock bucket may prove to be more of a benefit than a problem. I applaud your work and design. I love my rock bucket/grapple and use it often. They are really handy.:thumbsup:

 

[brucewj]

Looks great! Good job.

 

[SJBegin]

Jinman, I would have to agree that the tine material is critical. I've used it several times with some huge rocks in the center and so far so good, but that is still a concern of mine over time. I figured that if I had to, I can reinforce it with some flat stock on edge, and go to plan B.

 

[SJBegin]

To bend the tines, I used a pipe bender (no heat needed), and just measured the length of the hydraulic ram when bending it to keep them exact. Then built a jig out if wood strapping to get all the pieces spaced the same and square it up before any welding. I used a 4"x4"x1/4" angle iron at the base to help support the bend, and act as a back-drag (cold roll steel is much harder then hot roll and will not bend or flex as easily, so it is more brittle and when a sharp bend is used it weakens the material and needs to be supported) sorry I didn't take more pictures, currently it's buried in 3' of snow! I will post more pics when I put it into action this spring!!!

 

[SJBegin]

19 Tines are spaced 2 1/2" apart, bucket is 5' wide with the base roughly 27".

 

[lordofseo143]

hey that awesome...... it really looks great, fantastic. great job.

 

[jmanatee2]

That is awesome.. I want one! I will have to add it to my list of to do projects..

What was the cost?