Birthday present

[fried1765]

Maybe this post should be titled "self flagellation".

I turned 80 last week!
Today, I ordered myself a birthday/Christmas present.
A root rake grapple!
I seriously doubt that any 80 year old NEEDS a grapple!

Nothing fancy. Not expensive.
Why.....because I have wanted one for a long while, and I have many vines in trees, that I hope to tear out.
Just a 550 lb. light/standard duty 60" single lid grapple from MS attachments in Denton, NC.
Nice folks on the phone, and they do seem to have a very good reputation.

Delivery in two weeks+.
They said they are very busy!

 

[Rebeldad1]

At 80 (I'm 72) I'm sure there are a lot of things you would like to do that your body says no to. I'm learning to use the tractor for more things than I did when I was younger.
A grapple is a fine gift you will appreciate for a long time. My retirement gift was a excavator. Using my tractor or excavator a lot more has saved me from anymore back problems.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I love buying tools. Just seems so noble. You could have bought a Plether Lazyboy with heat/massage/bluetooth and four cup holders for the same amount on a BLACK FRIDAY sale. lol

 

[fried1765]

I love buying tools. Just seems so noble. You could have bought a Plether Lazyboy with heat/massage/bluetooth and four cup holders for the same amount on a BLACK FRIDAY sale. lol

LOL :laughing:

 

[dodge man]

Congrats on turning 80 and still being able to do tractor work.

 

[i7win7]

I have wanted one for a long while, and I have many vines in trees, that I hope to tear out.

That's a dangerous operation. Don't pull as easy as you think. I use a tree puller for this and it lifts the front end off the ground. Wear a hard hat, small & dead branches can snap off. Cut vines 4-6 weeks before pulling to hopefully weaken them before pulling.

 

[Molalla1]

Maybe this post should be titled "self flagellation".

I turned 80 last week!
Today, I ordered myself a birthday/Christmas present.
A root rake grapple!
I seriously doubt that any 80 year old NEEDS a grapple!

Nothing fancy. Not expensive.
Why.....because I have wanted one for a long while, and I have many vines in trees, that I hope to tear out.
Just a 550 lb. light/standard duty 60" single lid grapple from MS attachments in Newton,NC.
Nice folks on the phone, and they do seem to have a very good reputation.

Delivery in two weeks+.
They said they are very busy!

All I can say is go for it big guy (78 next month for me) :drink:

 

[Molalla1]

Congrats on turning 80 and still being able to do tractor work.

There are some on here that are still quite active into our 80's . . . not there yet myself, close.

 

[goeduck]

Congratulations on the grapple. I ordered myself a new Work Sharp (Ken Onion model) knife sharpener and a meat grinder / sausage stuffer attachment for myself. I cannot believe I never had either so I felt like splurging.

On my list is another SSQA Pallet Fork attachment for the house parcel (my other forks are an hour away) and a fruit dehydrator. They may have to wait until next year.

 

[Molalla1]

Congratulations on the grapple. I ordered myself a new Work Sharp (Ken Onion model) knife sharpener and a meat grinder / sausage stuffer attachment for myself. I cannot believe I never had either so I felt like splurging.

On my list is another SSQA Pallet Fork attachment for the house parcel (my other forks are an hour away) and a fruit dehydrator. They may have to wait until next year.

:thumbsup: . . .

 

[mcfarmall]

Happy Birthday! Have fun with your present!

 

[fried1765]

That's a dangerous operation. Don't pull as easy as you think. I use a tree puller for this and it lifts the front end off the ground. Wear a hard hat, small & dead branches can snap off. Cut vines 4-6 weeks before pulling to hopefully weaken them before pulling.
View attachment 679065

I will be pulling down, so there is little likelihood that the front end will lift off the ground (there is also a 2,000 lb. backhoe hanging on the rear)..
The vines are in live thick green large bushy holly trees, and there are no dead branches.
I do not intend to crawl under/into those sharp leaved hollies, to cut vines,..... that is the reason for the grapple.

 

[goeduck]

:thumbsup: . . .

Work Sharp, an Oregon company. So I can sharpen my Benchmade knives, another Oregon company. You Oregon guys know your knives. :thumbsup:

 

[Molalla1]

Work Sharp, an Oregon company. So I can sharpen my Benchmade knives, another Oregon company. You Oregon guys know your knives. :thumbsup:

Ya, we also have Gerber/Fiskar here for the knives.

 

[goeduck]

Ya, we also have Gerber/Fiskar here for the knives.

That is more on the corporate global level but I did not know that. Benchmade is off of Molalla (spelling? ) ave in Oregon City if I recall correctly from when I did business there.

 

[Smokeydog]

Stop moving, start dying. Power to you continuing to do new things. My wife and I couldn’t do as much caretaking and improving without our tractors and grapples. Living the retirement dream. Happy Birthday!

 

[Molalla1]

That is more on the corporate global level but I did not know that. Benchmade is off of Molalla (spelling? ) ave in Oregon City if I recall correctly from when I did business there.

. . .

 

[i7win7]

I will be pulling down, so there is little likelihood that the front end will lift off the ground (there is also a 2,000 lb. backhoe hanging on the rear)..

I was pulling 40-60 foot vines from oak trees, loaded tires + rear ballast, lifting front end with loader arms or pulling in reverse easy to do.
backhoe is ballast for lifting, not lowering FEL. now that I understand your dealing with short bushy material the grapple may be the correct tool.

 

[Smokeydog]

Work with trees and brush quite a bit. Four post ROPS and canopy have saved my noggin more than once. Big reason for my current tractors selection. Most folks see a need to improve grill protection with a grapple before too long.

Have wild muscadine grape vines as big as your leg, poison ivy and Virginia creeper as big as your arm. Have English and Swedish ivy that has gone rogue that will kill trees and climb on buildings. Then there is kudzu down by the railroad track wants to cover my field and trees around the pond. You got the right tool to help.
Have a machete sheath pop riveted to the underside of the tractor canopy to carry my vine slaying blade.

Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe Amazon.com : Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe : Garden & Outdoor

 

[Thomas]

Wishing you many more trips around the sun.

That's nice present enjoy. :thumbsup: