Sure beats a shovel.
How about a little more detail though?
What size motor and pump did you use?
Two stick or four-stick?
What are the cylinder sizes you used?
How big is the bucket?
You get the idea

We like details.
PS: Is that a Linde mig welder in the background??
The motor is a Briggs Opposed 17 hp.
The pump is (I think) a 1 gpm. Not exactly sure on that as It was one I bought on ebay for cheap as it is now obsolete. The seller didn't know too much about it.
I think I only gave around $30.00 - $40.00 for the pump new. It was a pretty great deal and it works great.
The cylinders, I think are 2 inch bore. (Will have to check again what the retract and extended length are) as I forgot. The bucket is 16 inches wide. It was made out of an old loader bucket.
The valve is a 5 stick, but currently only using 4. The fifth one I may use to eventually add a hydraulic thumb.
All in all. The total cost to build it came to $2,000.00 That's mainly for all the hydraulics. But includes the welding rods, and the steel tubing that I bought new for the boom and the stick.
But it's well worth it.
I also took a video of the way I hooked up the pump to the motor "I belt drove it" and made a tensioner for the belt.
I'll get that edited down so it won't be such a big file and hopefully the sound will still be there. Then I'll upload it and post it here.
The rear end came out of my old Buick Regal.
PS: Is that a Linde mig welder in the background??
If your referring to that green box? No that's a pressure washer. A friend gave it to us. The pumps cracked and sprays water. But it still does a great job at cleaning.
Chad