Thumb New thumb design for small backhoes

[gordon21]

I found this on e-bay today. The design is very simple and appears to be made up of off the shelf parts and no need for plasma cutters. Two box blade rippers welded together in the middle with one bushing and the holes at the end of the rippers already pre drilled too. What do you guys think??
Agri-supply sells the ripper shanks for $10 each. Add another $40 for misc parts and you can make a thumb for $50. It could be customized for virtually any backhoe shape. The rippers could even be bolted together with a bushing instead of being welded.


eBay: small garden tractor backhoe Thumb Kubota John deere (item 280097084555 end time Mar-29-07 15:12:21 PDT)

 

[HomeBrew2]

A bit sexier than mine

 

[irwin]

Thanks for the heads-up Lewis. Looks great- good idea. I'm adding that to my to-do list.

 

[design]

Brilliant!!!
The idea of using off the shelf parts to fab one is great.

 

[escavader]

Im not knocking any ones design,but I would think the larger arms that are cut out with the plasma cutters,would be able to grip more objects.With the different size objects being picked up ,would the angle of the thumb always be right?Also with the 'plasma cutout arms"its amazing how much stuff you can grip even when they are folded up.They also offer good protection to your dippersticks from getting banged up spooning rocks.Even though I built mine with a plasma cutter,There are alternatives to cutting out the arms,such as a good sawzall,or I often use ultra thin cutting wheels in my hand angle grinder,they work really well and quick.
ALAN

 

[HomeBrew2]

Personally, I'm hungup on a few old concrete form stakes and a hunk of angleiron as a gripper on the bottom. It ain't perty, but it does as much or more than any pix I've seen yet