Well I have done it. I finally did my first weld job today. I welded my fel hooks on. And they are surely strong. I was able to pick up items hat I could not even beleive. Also added some rops lighting. Will post some pics soon But have to watch the super bowl....
Welding Bucket Hooks!
- Thread starter xlr82v2
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Bill Barrett
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2006
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- 670
- Location
- midwest
- Tractor
- Kubota L3130, Satoh G650, Case 580, Case 446
This thread sure has some legs! LOL
patrick_g
Elite Member
Sully2 said:
Hooks will often work with more than one size chain. Maybe you could size your hooks to fit the 2-3 most likely sizes to encounter. There is no penalty for putting on a couple sizes of hooks if you want.
I typically do not have chains for the loader and chains for X and chains for Y. Instead, I have a collection of various sized, length, and rating of chains. I have some 5/16 and 3/8 and 7/16 chains, some in grade 70 (gold) and some not. I tend to use the "good stuff" (DOT grade 70) for securing loads such as a tractor. Any of my chains in a single "ply" will easily safely hold more than my FEL can lift. Why do I buy some quite oversized HD chains? The price was right that day at Harbor Freight and it gives a good upper body workout to use them.
Pat
Sully2
Veteran Member
patrick_g said:
I didnt have but one chain AT ALL here. Bought back in the late 70's. I didnt NEED the capacity of any 3/8ths actually ( I use this one for a tow chain)...so since I didnt need anything larger than 5/16...thats how I sat mine up.
gemini5362
Veteran Member
I believe that if you use 3/8 hooks that you can use them with 5/16 chain. That is what I did and it works fine. The difference in price is almost nothing. I just bought a bunch of hooks to get one time shipping and then welded them on my FEL and on my trailer. I got the grade 70 3/8 and I am good for pretty much anything I need to do.Sully2 said:
gemini5362
Veteran Member
I am not trying to be safety police here but I am going to tell about my exciting day yesterday. I was grinding some welds off of my welding project making an adapter for the front forks I bought for my FEL. I had the forks sitting on the pad outside of my new 4 car garage where my welder is residing. I was grinding and had to go inside the house to do something for my wife. When I came back out i noticed smoke and there was a small grass fire going around the welding project. I stomped it out i thought. I was checking for more flames. I had my string trimmer out earlier and had not put it away yet, the grass had burned over to it and was still burning under it. I moved it but the plastic on the string trimmer caught fire and it started burning pretty well. ( by the way did i mention the reason it was still out was that I had filled it with gas and guess where the gas can was sitting. I went in the house and got a bucket of wire and got the string trimmer fire out finally after a few buckets and finally moving it around to where I could use the hose on it. I am amazed that a spark could start the grass fire. It snowed here thurs and friday I figured the grass and ground was soaked enough not to be an issue. Needless to say the wife was not a really happy camper, something about gasoline and fire and our new garage did not really make a good mix for her.
The good news is that she went back into the house muttering something about we have to build you a shop away from the house. I am not saying this is a recommended way to get the wife to agree you need a workshop. Just be careful when grinding and welding where the sparks go.
The good news is that she went back into the house muttering something about we have to build you a shop away from the house. I am not saying this is a recommended way to get the wife to agree you need a workshop. Just be careful when grinding and welding where the sparks go.
wushaw
Elite Member
"The good news is that she went back into the house muttering something about we have to build you a shop away from the house. I am not saying this is a recommended way to get the wife to agree you need a workshop. Just be careful when grinding and welding where the sparks go."
If a small grass fire is all it takes to get a bigger shop out of ear shot of the wife then what is the problem
If a small grass fire is all it takes to get a bigger shop out of ear shot of the wife then what is the problem
patrick_g
Elite Member
Thomas, If you are clever enough to, as you said in your words, "I went in the house and got a bucket of wire and got the string trimmer fire out finally after a few buckets " then I assert anyone who can put out a fire with a few buckets of W-I-R-E is clever enough to stage a phony emergency to plant a seed and support the concept of a shop. Having SWMBO think of it first on her own is a good ploy. Never fear, I'd never even hint to her that you could be so devious, probably. Besides, when would I even have a chance?
Now there you have it, independent confirmation of the one hook fits a couple chains idea.
Probably the most realistic reason I have different sizes of chains is that I see a bargain and don't really remember what size I got before so I figure, what the heck. Then when I go to use a load binder (boomer) what the heck, the hooks on the boomer fit more than one size. Now I have two sizes of boomers, probably for the same memory reason as above. There can be a little difficulty if the weld on the chain sticks up significantly as it will tend to jam on the smaller size hook but if yo turn the chain the right way it is OK. At any rate, if you give it a tap it will release even if tightly bound up on the "wrong side."
Pat
Now there you have it, independent confirmation of the one hook fits a couple chains idea.
Probably the most realistic reason I have different sizes of chains is that I see a bargain and don't really remember what size I got before so I figure, what the heck. Then when I go to use a load binder (boomer) what the heck, the hooks on the boomer fit more than one size. Now I have two sizes of boomers, probably for the same memory reason as above. There can be a little difficulty if the weld on the chain sticks up significantly as it will tend to jam on the smaller size hook but if yo turn the chain the right way it is OK. At any rate, if you give it a tap it will release even if tightly bound up on the "wrong side."
Pat
dirt ditch
Platinum Member
WOW! I reached the end . Great welding info. I bought 10,000lb tow hooks to bolt onto my bucket but now I may weld them on .
. Great welding info. I bought 10,000lb tow hooks to bolt onto my bucket but now I may weld them on .Sully2
Veteran Member
gemini5362 said:
Might be able to do that..??..dont know for sure. But Im positive the chain locks in tight with the same size hooks. If it ever becomes any sort of problem for me I'll just grind the throat out enough to handle something larger..even though I dont need the capacity of any chain larger in size.
I also have screw pin clevises that I can shove into the FEL hooks..and i KNOW they are large enough to handle any size hooks on the end of chains