Grapple grapple not what they said !

   / grapple not what they said ! #51  
I am a bit late to this thread, but I see you have decided to keep it.

That is probabally a good call. I dont know how much other grapples cost, but if yours is indeed made entirely out of T1 steel, you should have no issues at all.

T1 is also know as A514 steel. You can google that if you want. But the 3/8 A514 is a significant bit stronger than even 1/2" A36 mild steel that most other grapples are probabally built from.

Mild steel has a 60ksi-80ksi tensil and only a 36ksi yield strength. A514 tensil and yeild is BOTH in the 110ksi range:thumbsup: That makes it VERY tough, it is NOT brittle, and it is very abrasion resistant.

Some common uses are bridges and cranes (for the strength) and dozer blades and BH buckets for wear resistance. A514 is used because a smaller dimension of steel can be used and still be just as strong. Thus saving weight.

My only concern is that if it is indeed made all from A514, it should be welded with a 110 series filler. Like a 11018 rod and not 7018. Or a ER110 wire for mig.

It can be welded with the weaker filler, and it wont cause any issues with the A514, just note that the welds will be weaker than the parent metal. Probabally not an issue on your grapple thought. Because the way most stuff is designed, the welds dont have to have 100% of the strength. Other parts will bend/break first due to leverage and the way things are designed.


Do you have any pics BTW, or did I miss them?
 
   / grapple not what they said ! #52  
I'm going to do what brewdog did for the top jaw, on his ,he had some triangular web pieces cut and welded in. I can see that yes it would have been nice to have had it made out of 1/2" T-1 but I'd lost a lot in what I could lift. I still think that it just needs a few tweaks to it and it will be everything I need in a grapple.

First One,

I took a couple photos of my Grapple with the modifications tonight for you. I should of posted these sooner, but I had to go to the cold Barn and I've down with a nasty cold. I can pick up one inch twig with my grapple or a 1000+ pound boulder. The lower reinforcing plates are cut to go back to the main square tube cross member and fully welded all the way around. You can see I've been using mine all last fall and haven't had one bend at all. Hope this helps you out.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0811.jpg
    IMG_0811.jpg
    430.7 KB · Views: 302
  • IMG_0813.jpg
    IMG_0813.jpg
    358.6 KB · Views: 281
  • IMG_0810.jpg
    IMG_0810.jpg
    405.1 KB · Views: 322
  • IMG_0807.jpg
    IMG_0807.jpg
    579.3 KB · Views: 243
   / grapple not what they said !
  • Thread Starter
#53  
First One,

I took a couple photos of my Grapple with the modifications tonight for you. I should of posted these sooner, but I had to go to the cold Barn and I've down with a nasty cold. I can pick up one inch twig with my grapple or a 1000+ pound boulder. The lower reinforcing plates are cut to go back to the main square tube cross member and fully welded all the way around. You can see I've been using mine all last fall and haven't had one bend at all. Hope this helps you out.

Was your grapple 3/8" or made out of 1/2" ? I'd like to think that I can get mine welded up so it won't bend thanks for the pic's I'm going to try and do something like that. Hope you kick tha cold soo, and thanks again.
 
   / grapple not what they said ! #54  
Was your grapple 3/8" or made out of 1/2" ? I'd like to think that I can get mine welded up so it won't bend thanks for the pic's I'm going to try and do something like that. Hope you kick tha cold soo, and thanks again.

First One,

Mine was made out of 3/8" steel. It's plenty beefy everywhere else except the tine tips, they see enormous stress from the weight of the logs, especially when you are pulling a log sideways with the tractor. Good luck and stay healthy.
 
   / grapple not what they said ! #55  
I am a bit late to this thread, but I see you have decided to keep it.

That is probabally a good call. I dont know how much other grapples cost, but if yours is indeed made entirely out of T1 steel, you should have no issues at all.

T1 is also know as A514 steel. You can google that if you want. But the 3/8 A514 is a significant bit stronger than even 1/2" A36 mild steel that most other grapples are probabally built from.

Mild steel has a 60ksi-80ksi tensil and only a 36ksi yield strength. A514 tensil and yeild is BOTH in the 110ksi range:thumbsup: That makes it VERY tough, it is NOT brittle, and it is very abrasion resistant.

Some common uses are bridges and cranes (for the strength) and dozer blades and BH buckets for wear resistance. A514 is used because a smaller dimension of steel can be used and still be just as strong. Thus saving weight.

My only concern is that if it is indeed made all from A514, it should be welded with a 110 series filler. Like a 11018 rod and not 7018. Or a ER110 wire for mig.

It can be welded with the weaker filler, and it wont cause any issues with the A514, just note that the welds will be weaker than the parent metal. Probabally not an issue on your grapple thought. Because the way most stuff is designed, the welds dont have to have 100% of the strength. Other parts will bend/break first due to leverage and the way things are designed.


Do you have any pics BTW, or did I miss them?

LD1,

I always read and appreciate your experience and comments. Got into Dolmar (Makita) saws because of you, too. :thumbsup:
I sold my Titan grapple because of poor workmanship and will look for the lighter/stronger A514 steel version instead of 1/2" mild so I get strength and less weight penalty.
 
   / grapple not what they said ! #56  
LD1,

I always read and appreciate your experience and comments. Got into Dolmar (Makita) saws because of you, too. :thumbsup:
I sold my Titan grapple because of poor workmanship and will look for the lighter/stronger A514 steel version instead of 1/2" mild so I get strength and less weight penalty.

Thanks for the kind words. You certainly didnt go wrong with your saw choices:thumbsup: How many are you up to now? Still just the two 6400's?

Did you ever get that echo 670, or did you just put a 24" on one of the 6400's?

A514 (T1) is definatally a lot stronger than mild steel. Just be prepared for the price so you dont go into sticker shock. That stuff aint cheap.
 
   / grapple not what they said ! #57  
Ok , this is what happened, I bought a grapple on line and when it got here it wasn't what they said it was. They said it was made out of 1/2" T-1 steel . The weight of it is 600lbs.
Well, when it showed up it was made out of 3/8" steel, if it's T-1 I have no idea .
I called them up and asked about it , they said it was a mistake in the add and that they felt bad about it and would return $75 . That they don't make it in 1/2" only 3/8" .
The thing is I like the way it's put together even though it still is 600lbs. What do you think about 3/8" instead of 1/2" I only have the kubota L3240 with the 724 loader so it's not really that big of a tractor . I spent $1,375 for it and can't spend anymore than that on one .
So would you return it or not ? I don't want something I'm going to be bending up all the time. I've never used one but only once and wouldn't know if it would hold up. thanks!

If you have a grapple competently made out of T-1 steel it could be a fine item. That is hi strength steel. The strength will make up for the thinner metal everywhere except the projected part of the tines. If well done these will have some evident side bracing to prevent breakage at their root. If it is indeed T-1, and done well, it is a lightweight but strong grapple. Many times, excess implement weight on a loader is a liability.
larry

LD1,

I always read and appreciate your experience and comments. Got into Dolmar (Makita) saws because of you, too. :thumbsup:
I sold my Titan grapple because of poor workmanship and will look for the lighter/stronger A514 steel version instead of 1/2" mild so I get strength and less weight penalty.

Thanks for the kind words. You certainly didnt go wrong with your saw choices:thumbsup: How many are you up to now? Still just the two 6400's?

Did you ever get that echo 670, or did you just put a 24" on one of the 6400's?

A514 (T1) is definatally a lot stronger than mild steel. Just be prepared for the price so you dont go into sticker shock. That stuff aint cheap.
If OPs grapple is T-1 I think he got a real good price.
larry
 
   / grapple not what they said ! #58  
Thanks for the kind words. You certainly didnt go wrong with your saw choices:thumbsup: How many are you up to now? Still just the two 6400's?

Did you ever get that echo 670, or did you just put a 24" on one of the 6400's?

A514 (T1) is definatally a lot stronger than mild steel. Just be prepared for the price so you dont go into sticker shock. That stuff aint cheap.

I have 2 of the Makita 6400's, (1) with 20" and (1) with 24" and (1) Echo 670 w/ 24".
All of them run far better than I expected. Would like to make one a 28" saw, but can't decide which one.

I too was impressed with a lot of the attachments from Wildkat and look forward to buying from them
 
   / grapple not what they said ! #59  
I have 2 of the Makita 6400's, (1) with 20" and (1) with 24" and (1) Echo 670 w/ 24".
All of them run far better than I expected. Would like to make one a 28" saw, but can't decide which one.

I too was impressed with a lot of the attachments from Wildkat and look forward to buying from them

Kinda off topic, and hijacking, and in the wrong forum section, but......

Hows the echo 670 compared to the 6400's?

Always heard good of the echos, just that they are a tad slower.
 
 
 
Top