Improvised Straight Front Blade?

[Buckee]

From reading some previous threads, I'm wondering could I pinch a length of 2x12 between my grapple & bucket and have a cheap straight blade for light snow and loose dirt? Could even improvise some offset blocks on either side of the board to get an angle. Wonder how strong the grapple pinch pressure is? Going to try this out ... Anybody tried this?

 

[rdln]

bolt 2x12 to old tires in the middle of the tread and grapple tires, giving you flex when you hit something, just thinking....

 

[BigAl]

I did something like this for moving snow with my old Kubota ,which had a 4in 1 bucket . I was using a 4x12 about 10 feet long . It worked fine for plowing off the old paved road that was about 1 mile long .I only did it that one time as we do not get enough snow usually to plow . I had it angled just a bit ,like a "one way" plow . I would be careful as this does put some added side stress on your loader arms and could crack or bend them .
Big Al

 

[Buckee]

I like the idea of old tires as "shock absorbers" - they will replace the blocks on the prototype. Will still be light enough to drop from the grapple, flip over by myself, & get the opposite angle. I think a std pine 2x12 is smart too because if she takes any unexpected hits it will just split lengthwise, cheap to rebuild. This is not for grading, just light stuff - but I will stress one to failure & report the results.