DIY Grapple Tines

[sgt227]

Howdy all, currently drawing up a grapple to build.
I notice that some designs have the tine points sloping up and some down.
I intend to use it mainly for cleaning up branches and logs, but not likely to pick up rocks or dig up roots.
Is there any good reason to chose one design over the other?
Seems to me the type with the flat base would be easy to sit flat on the ground to pick up branches, etc, whereas the other style requires the grapple tilted at just the right angle?

 

[Midniteoyl]

If your going though a big pile, the up curved ones help keep you from snagging rocks or roots or whatever on the ground with bone jarring results

 

[TMGT]

Tried both, when I built mine I put the tines angled up, works much better for what I do.

 

[Renze]

Tried both, when I built mine I put the tines angled up, works much better for what I do.

What do you do ?

 

[Renze]

If your going though a big pile, the up curved ones help keep you from snagging rocks or roots or whatever on the ground with bone jarring results

Biggest issue i have with using the manure grab with forged silage tines for branches, is that they weave between the tines. When you push hard, the wedged branch pushes one tine into the ground, breaking or bending it, or it simply tears up the field.

I guess upward curved tines are most prone to skip and drag, instead of scalp up from the ground ?

 

[TMGT]

Mostly pick up brush and logs, the downward tines had a tendency to dig into the ground or snag roots etc. near the surface easier.

 

[countrybumpkin]

I did down ward when I built mine, but after using it for a bit I found I would have been better off with upward ones. With mine if you try and raise the rear of the grapple up a bit to keep it from digging in it puts the tines just that more down, where with them pointing up you can roll the front down and keep the rear out of the dirt more.

 

[Renze]

I did down ward when I built mine, but after using it for a bit I found I would have been better off with upward ones. With mine if you try and raise the rear of the grapple up a bit to keep it from digging in it puts the tines just that more down, where with them pointing up you can roll the front down and keep the rear out of the dirt more.

I was intending to make mine by welding 60x40mm bar UNDER a square tube so the rear tube allways has 60mm (2.5 inch) of ground clearance.

 

[Xfaxman]

The tines on my Gorilla Grapple are different and work well for everything that I have used it on.

I like that it doesn't have teeth on the ends, like my big grapple does.

 

[sgt227]

Thanks all, seems tines sloping up at the end is the preferred option. Great to get some comment from people who have tried both styles