Grapple Millonzi Grapple

[flINTLOCK]

I'd really like to be able to talk myself into the Milonzi 48 inch, but it would be so much easier if I could plan to use it for cross-bucking logs that have been branched already. You'd almost need to create a cradle to sit inside the bottom jaw to take up the room. My creative mojo is at an ebb right now. Any thoughts about how one might "rig" something like that??

 

[3RRL]

flintlock,
From the looks of it, you could drill a couple holes in the tips of the jaws and the back. Then add a steel brace/bracket with some serrations on it spanning that curve. You could do the same on the bucket if there is curvature there, or bolt on side walls to take up the slack.

That is one thing my bucket grapples are good for.
I set them up to have a slight underbite and a small opening.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'd really like to be able to talk myself into the Milonzi 48 inch, but it would be so much easier if I could plan to use it for cross-bucking logs that have been branched already. You'd almost need to create a cradle to sit inside the bottom jaw to take up the room. My creative mojo is at an ebb right now. Any thoughts about how one might "rig" something like that??

First, I'd try it out just with a deadweight log in the back of the grapple to take up the extra space. If I needed something different and I was really just trying to hold a log in place for sawing, I'd think about banging together a few pieces of lumber to act as a spacer in the back of the grapple. Maybe even strap the spacer in place with a webbing tiedown and a rachet. That would allow you to pin the log of interest against the lumber spacer. It would not require any modification to the grapple itself either.

 

[dknarnd]

This thread has become pretty interesting now. One of the tasks I have planned for a grapple is to grasp and carry dead timber, without any branches, out of the woods to be cut up into firewood. Without the grapple being able to close onto a log tightly it could cause a dangerous situation with the log moving around.

Sure glad I didn't buy one and find out later that it wouldn't close onto a log.

 

[GIJOE]

For those looking for a grapple that will completely close around and stabilize a log, take a look at the clam style grapples like W.R.Long the 4N1 Bucket People or the Skid Steer and Compact Loader Attachments - Attachments Direct, Inc. . There are several other companies that make this style, these are the only two I could think of rite now.

 

[IslandTractor]

This thread has become pretty interesting now. One of the tasks I have planned for a grapple is to grasp and carry dead timber, without any branches, out of the woods to be cut up into firewood. Without the grapple being able to close onto a log tightly it could cause a dangerous situation with the log moving around.

Sure glad I didn't buy one and find out later that it wouldn't close onto a log.

A grapple definitely can hold a log securely. I do that all the time and have posted many photos of large and small logs secured in the grapple for movement up and down hills, across bumpy terrain etc. No problems with the load shifting. The discussion here now is how a grapple can function as a sawbuck holding a single small debranched log that might be small enough by itself to be loose in the grapple maw. For general use, you simply would either grapple more material at one time so the material was compressed and thereby secured or you would grab a single small tree in such a way that the upper jaw clamped on a branch to provide stability. Don't get the impression that securing a load is a challenge. It is rarely a consideration at all.

Using a grapple as a sawbuck does require adapting the usual strategy just to figure out how most conveniently to take up the extra space and still have the log perpendicular and hanging out one side. I have not needed to do any of the manuvers I have suggested in earlier posts but that is how one could pretty easily make the grapple double as a sawbuck. On reflection, the first thing I would try is simply to have a few short logs or pieces of branches already in the grapple before I picked up the log I wanted to saw. Not such a big deal really. I did use my grapple as a sawbuck only once when I took down a 12" oak. I have put a photo below that shows how the grapple held that log which had not been debranched so I could cut it up (note chainsaw ).

One additional point: this thread has made me realize that what I have always seen as a disadvantage of a bucket grapple: that the sides of the bucket limited the ability to carry logs, can actually be an advantage when using it as a sawbuck. The bucket sides would be just about right for pinching a single 6-12 inch log against. Anything smaller would have the same issues as a full grapple.

 

[IslandTractor]

For those looking for a grapple that will completely close around and stabilize a log, take a look at the clam style grapples like W.R.Long the 4N1 Bucket People or the Skid Steer and Compact Loader Attachments - Attachments Direct, Inc. . There are several other companies that make this style, these are the only two I could think of rite now.

I've always liked the design of the WR Long RGB2 grapple and I almost bought one before I discovered the Millonzi. The downside compared to my grapple is that it is a bit heavier and costs more than twice (?three times) as much. The Attachments Direct grapple is similar to the WRLong in design but much heavier (over 800lbs), much more expensive ($3000) and designed primarily for skid steers.

 

[jinman]

I'd really like to be able to talk myself into the Milonzi 48 inch, but it would be so much easier if I could plan to use it for cross-bucking logs that have been branched already. You'd almost need to create a cradle to sit inside the bottom jaw to take up the room. My creative mojo is at an ebb right now. Any thoughts about how one might "rig" something like that??

Hmm... Is this what you are talking about? I think I could grip a 2x4 if I needed to. The problem with mine is not gripping, but how do you get a 20' log you are hauling between two trees that are 10' apart? I have to grip and drag from the end of the log and my grapple works great for that too. Once I get into the open, I can grip the log and cut to my heart's desire.

 

[m7040]

I installed the Thumb myself by welding to the top of the std 72 inch bucket. It works very well, did not add a lot of weight and like stated above I think I can grip a 2 by 4 very easily. It picks up brush very well and holds large rocks quite easily for transport. It is about 350 dollars so not a very big investment. It is always on the bucket so available without having to switch attachments although pulling a few pins it will come off very readily. The only thing with that approach is that the bucket has sides that will limit to some extend how many poles can be carried. When that is the case I will use the pallet forks sloped up to transport those.
I like the 4 - in one - bucket as well because of versatility and ability to backdrag as well is pick up trees or rootballs. Much stronger than the std bucket that is already dinged up a bit from rocks.
If I was to get a grapple I would likely buy the Anbo because of its usefullness to be used to doze rocks out of the ground and then use the upper part to back rake the rocks into piles that can be picked up in big chunks.
Grapples and bucket selections all depend on what you want to use it for like Islandtractor using his lightweight grapple for mainly brush and small trees is a good application for the purpose

 

[Turbys_1700]

I've been looking at front end loaders and grapples for my 1720 now for almost a year now. The Millonzi was my first chioce until I saw a new type of grapple from westendorf. It's a new design and would work best for carrying brush. You couldn't dig with it or pop out any small stumps. I've attached some photos. Very interesting concept.