5 ton mini excavator thumb question

[Cmark]

Hey all.

I'm in the process of building a cheap thumb to go on a 5 ton mini for a one off rock wall job.

How important would you say it is for the thumb to have some sort of curve or serrations at the end for grip, or will I get away with just leaving it flat?

 

[lantraxco]

For rock you're going to want both, a curve with some teeth or notches to grip hard irregular objects.

 

[Ronsii]

If you don't want to go with a curve just put a good sized tooth or lip at the end of the thumb at least 3-4 inches would be my minimum for rock work.

 

[Cmark]

Thanks for the advice folks. If it doesn't look too shoddy I'll take a photo when it's done.

 

[Scrub Puller]

Yair . . . I'm sure we'll see a photo then, judging by your other work it is not going to turn out too shoddy. (big grin)

Cheers.

 

[Cmark]

Here we go. Took about a day to build. Spent more time turning the bosses and boring the holes than doing the fabricating.

 

[stumpjumper83]

For a one timer it looks good. For me, my thumb is priceless, I'm always using it. Id hate to have to live without it and I have a hydraulic one.

 

[DigDirt]

Thumb looks great!

 

[Ronsii]

Looks like it will get the job done!!!

I give it a 'Thumbs Up'

 

[ttazzman]

done some rock work myself with a fixed thumb.....i have moved a lot of large sandstone boulders with a thumb and had some breakage due to the amount of grip required would sometimes split the stone.......is there a option on a thumb where it has some give to it?

 

[maddog]

nice job

 

[DigDirt]

done some rock work myself with a fixed thumb.....i have moved a lot of large sandstone boulders with a thumb and had some breakage due to the amount of grip required would sometimes split the stone.......is there a option on a thumb where it has some give to it?

If you use a wider thumb you should have less breakage, because you are spreading the pressure point over a larger area.

 

[CM1995]

Looks good Cmark, nice fab work!

 

[JBGASH]

Cmark, nice looking job on that thumb, it will come in handy.