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My first tractor grapple
- Thread starter MarcusCarr
- Start date
- Views: 5680
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MarcusCarr
Silver Member
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MarcusCarr
Silver Member
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MarcusCarr
Silver Member
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MarcusCarr
Silver Member
MadReferee
Elite Member, Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2003
- Messages
- 3,862
- Location
- New Hampshire
- Tractor
- Kubota B2710, IH TD6-62 dozer with Drott 4n1 bucket loader
The price you paid for that single Silver & Deming drill bit was way, way way overpriced, even if it was USA made which it isn't (USA made for $15.95 at Enco). You can get a complete set of 8 Silver & Deming bits (9/16" thru 1") from Enco on sale for $21.95. I have this set (it's made in Poland), along with several others, and they work just fine for non-production use.
Never, ever buy any machine tooling from Sears or any other box store. You can always get the same or better stuff for less from an industrial machine tool supplier like KBC Tools or Enco.
KBC Tools
Enco
Also, you will ruin that bit by drilling the entire hole in one cut. You must step the hole up, say 3/8" then 9/16" then 3/4" then 1". The larger drill bits are not designed to cut the entire hole at once.
Never, ever buy any machine tooling from Sears or any other box store. You can always get the same or better stuff for less from an industrial machine tool supplier like KBC Tools or Enco.
KBC Tools
Enco
Also, you will ruin that bit by drilling the entire hole in one cut. You must step the hole up, say 3/8" then 9/16" then 3/4" then 1". The larger drill bits are not designed to cut the entire hole at once.
OP
MarcusCarr
Silver Member
dang it....oh well, live and learn... I will check those sites for a full set of bits.
Marcus
Marcus
PineRidge
Super Member
Be careful when you start drilling those larger holes. I blew the gears out of my favorite Milwaukee 1/2" drill when we were drilling ours for the grapple.
(bit caught as it was just about to go through the side of the bucket) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
(bit caught as it was just about to go through the side of the bucket) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
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MarcusCarr
Silver Member
I took it nice and slow while drilling the 1" holes. The bit worked great. I kept it lubed and cooled with mineral oil. It took about 10 minutes to get through a 1/4" of steel. I drilled a total of 10 holes.
I also did the grinding and tacked the thing together with a new 100amp mig welder. I will have a neighbor do the final welding as he has both experience and a more powerful welder to handle the 1/2 inch stuff.
I should also have the part for the hydraulics on Wednesday. I will post more pictures as I have them. The grapple pictures here and the hydraulics picture in the My First Grapple - Hydraulics thread.
Marcus
I also did the grinding and tacked the thing together with a new 100amp mig welder. I will have a neighbor do the final welding as he has both experience and a more powerful welder to handle the 1/2 inch stuff.
I should also have the part for the hydraulics on Wednesday. I will post more pictures as I have them. The grapple pictures here and the hydraulics picture in the My First Grapple - Hydraulics thread.
Marcus
OP
MarcusCarr
Silver Member
Here are a couple of pictures of the grapple after I tacked it together.
A few observations...
The mounting brackets on either end of the long bar, cause the long bar to sit about 1/2 inch above the bucket. I can't put bolts through that and the brackets may not be strong enough. My solution will be to cut the ends of the long bar off so the long bar sits flat on the bucket, between the welds at either end of the bucket. I will then use six 1/2" bolts to mount it, rather than the four that I had originally planned.
I was very happy to see that the tip of the grapple will come about 1/16" from the cutting edge of the bucket when the cylinder is fully extended. I can move this around a little to create a zero clearance if I need to.
As always, any comments or observations are welcome.
Marcus
A few observations...
The mounting brackets on either end of the long bar, cause the long bar to sit about 1/2 inch above the bucket. I can't put bolts through that and the brackets may not be strong enough. My solution will be to cut the ends of the long bar off so the long bar sits flat on the bucket, between the welds at either end of the bucket. I will then use six 1/2" bolts to mount it, rather than the four that I had originally planned.
I was very happy to see that the tip of the grapple will come about 1/16" from the cutting edge of the bucket when the cylinder is fully extended. I can move this around a little to create a zero clearance if I need to.
As always, any comments or observations are welcome.
Marcus
