yet another thumb on its way

[MJPetersen]

Yeah, that guy is good.
Do you see he places the thumb where it needs to be and brings the bucket to it? Shoot, he never misses.

Yea! That is not his first time using the thumb!! I have heard that once you use a hoe with a thumb that you will be reluctant to use one without! I have never used one with so it is interesting to see your example and excitement about using it.

Mike

 

[workinallthetime]

complete new tooth part of the thumb almost done

 

[workinallthetime]

I had a big long story and explanation of what i did but tbn loged me out and lost it all, here is the pics of the new design.

 

[3RRL]

I like that one a lot!

 

[2310 guy]

I had a big long story and explanation of what i did but tbn loged me out and lost it all, here is the pics of the new design.

Thats what i'm taking about. How thick is the metal for the flanges and the actual thumb?

 

[workinallthetime]

Thats what i'm taking about. How thick is the metal for the flanges and the actual thumb?

The entire thing is made from 5/8 mild steel, I was using it on a tree the first day and broke the braket where the top of the thumb attaches to the dipperstick, the metal tore. I looked back through a few designes and decided to "box in" that braket. The twisting motion of the tree caused to much side pressure on one braket. now that its boxed in the force is dispersed over a larger area.

 

[workinallthetime]

just an update, it apears even 5/8th mild steel isnt strong enough to do rock work. the tips have a real nice bend in them now and I am working on a way to enforce them. When a rock is just the right size it fits between the teeth and if your not on the ball the pressure from the bucket will push the rock and bend the teeth out. I will probably weld some sort of webbing from the tip to the backing plate, i will post pics whe im done

 

[2310 guy]

Do you have any pics of the mounts on the dipperstick?

Thanks KC

 

[workinallthetime]

Do you have any pics of the mounts on the dipperstick?

Thanks KC

You can see most of them on the 3 pic from the first set of pics, let me know if you want more. still not paint, waiting to see how it will hold up and if i need to make any mods

 

[2310 guy]

I was wondering how you boxed them in... Also, do you feel the dipperstick is still strong after welding to it? I really like your set up but I'm worried about welding to the dipperstick. A guy I know welded a fixed thumb to his case 580 and the dippersick cracked after giving it some abuse.