Rock Bucket completed

[MikeD74T]

Ill give you $400.00 for it. Just kidding, thats really nice. Is that 3/4 black pipe that plumbers use? Really nice work........

3/4" cold roll round stock for the tines" is solid round bar. MikeD74T

 

[HCb]

How did you bend the round bar? They look really consistent, not like they were bent with a rosebud and a sharp eye.

Regardless, that's a nice piece of work.

--HC

 

[Marveltone]

Very nicely done!
I know what you mean by most rock buckets being too heavy for some of these little tractors. I think you have a winner! :thumbsup:
Let us all know how it holds up with time.

Joe

 

[jinman]

Tine material is critical. I think with your design, the middle of the bucket may end up sagging after long-term use because you will catch things in the middle and there is just not enough strength to hold. Even so, having a slight bow-down in a rock bucket may prove to be more of a benefit than a problem. I applaud your work and design. I love my rock bucket/grapple and use it often. They are really handy.:thumbsup:

 

[brucewj]

Looks great! Good job.

 

[SJBegin]

Jinman, I would have to agree that the tine material is critical. I've used it several times with some huge rocks in the center and so far so good, but that is still a concern of mine over time. I figured that if I had to, I can reinforce it with some flat stock on edge, and go to plan B.

 

[SJBegin]

To bend the tines, I used a pipe bender (no heat needed), and just measured the length of the hydraulic ram when bending it to keep them exact. Then built a jig out if wood strapping to get all the pieces spaced the same and square it up before any welding. I used a 4"x4"x1/4" angle iron at the base to help support the bend, and act as a back-drag (cold roll steel is much harder then hot roll and will not bend or flex as easily, so it is more brittle and when a sharp bend is used it weakens the material and needs to be supported) sorry I didn't take more pictures, currently it's buried in 3' of snow! I will post more pics when I put it into action this spring!!!

 

[SJBegin]

19 Tines are spaced 2 1/2" apart, bucket is 5' wide with the base roughly 27".

 

[lordofseo143]

hey that awesome...... it really looks great, fantastic. great job.

 

[jmanatee2]

That is awesome.. I want one! I will have to add it to my list of to do projects..

What was the cost?