Grapple Millonzi Grapple

[jinman]

Island, does your grapple let you grasp a single log of say 10-12 inches??
I guess it would if the jaws are offset top and bottom a bit, rather than meeting at their tips.

Here is a link to my rock bucket thinking it's a root grapple. I can't curl it all the way down and pick stuff up from the top, but it is so long it is easy to get this 16" diameter tree trunk. The sides of a bucket limit how big an item you can pick up, but the rock bucket's tines give it a big advantage over a bucket.

Rock Bucket / Grapple

 

[flINTLOCK]

Do you have a side view of the closed grapple?? What would you estimate the gap between front and back when closed?? I'm asking because I was expecting to use it for clearing brush as well as picking up logs for bucking into shorter firewood length pieces. I guess the weight of the log would hold it in place if curled down.

 

[IslandTractor]

Do you have a side view of the closed grapple?? What would you estimate the gap between front and back when closed?? I'm asking because I was expecting to use it for clearing brush as well as picking up logs for bucking into shorter firewood length pieces. I guess the weight of the log would hold it in place if curled down.

Side photo attached. I understand your question regarding use as a "saw buck". I have done that but I cannot locate my photo showing that event right now. I'd estimate the distance inside the grapple when closed is almost 2 feet front to back and maybe 18-20 inches up and down. If you need to wedge material in place, you can always "preload" the grapple with brush before you load the log you want to hold in place securely for sawing. Alternatively you can load the log and before closing the grapple toss in a few big branches then close the grapple and wedge it all together. As I recall, when I used the grapple as a saw buck I picked up a log that had some branches on it and the combination of log diameter and branches jutting out at odd angles allowed me to get a very solid hold on the log for sawing.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I saw one someplace on the internet that was sort of a cross between Island's root grapple and a logging grapple. It would close down on a small branch or log, but on the other hand, I doubt it would dig at all and the total "grab" would be significantly less. There all always compromises, and Millonzi appears to have the biggest bang for the buck. I almost talked myself into a bucket mounted grapple, until I priced them. Why would you pay 500 to 600 for a bucket mount when for another 150-200 you can get the real thing?

 

[IslandTractor]

Why would you pay 500 to 600 for a bucket mount when for another 150-200 you can get the real thing?

I can agree with that comment.

 

[m7040]

I am still looking for a grapple for my rock. Small may not be the answer to all applications Islandtractor??

 

[Glowplug]

Now, now Frits. Don't upset the natives. I think you need a 50,000 lb. excavator for that rock.

 

[m7040]

A backhoe will not get it out of a 7 ft deep hole. The 50,000 lb excavator is another matter. Think that I need more equipment although my wife does not understand how important this is!

 

[IslandTractor]

I am still looking for a grapple for my rock. Small may not be the answer to all applications Islandtractor??

No, small would be fine. But first you need a small amount of dynamite.

 

[Glowplug]

No, small would be fine. But first you need a small amount of dynamite.

LOL. Very good.

 

[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.