Thumb test drive.

Works great! Picks up logs and concrete beams and even delicate stuff such as steel beams. I'm well pleased with the result 😸

The huge concrete beam weighs somewhere beyond 8 tons and is too heavy for our little digger, but it can grip it and drag it around. The thumb and fangs easily withstand the full force of the bucket curl cylinder.

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Thumb ready. Finished making the pins and adjuster holes.

Didn't weld tubes inside the other holes. We'll see how they hold up. If they do oval out I can still do that, for the ones I use a lot.

I see now why nobody sells adjustable thumbs. This was a lot of extra work that would make it too expensive. Only DIYers get to have it :)

Only primer on there yet, still need to paint it but only have orange, blue and green available, none of which match well here.

#DIY #ExcavatorThumb #Welding
#Metalworking #Homestead #SalvagePunk #Maker

Thumb is getting there. Cut off the corners, flipped them around and welded them back on as reinforcements, now the whole thing looks more streamlined. I think it'll be strong enough without doubling up the thickness near the fangs.

If they break I'll do it :)

Also made two pins out of three. This is the dullest job in the world, drilling a 8mm hole through 25mm solid rod, but the pins I bought weren't long enough after some design tweaks. At least it's not stainless steel!

#DIY #ExcavatorThumb #Welding #Metalworking #Homestead #SalvagePunk #Drilling