Quick Spade FEL attachment - good idea?

[DJG]

Hi Guys:

Has anyone tried these QuickSpades? They look great but I'm concerned they could flex/bend the bucket if not chained perfectly - and I'm not sure but I think maybe chaining to the upper corners of the bucket might work.

I can't afford and probably don't really need a backhoe and but this seems like a poorboy substitute.

The web site for this tool is:
http://www.paumco.com/product_quickspadecombo.shtml

Thanks in advance for your expertise.
David

 

[meanjean]

I didn't see a pic although I really want a tree spade.
Looks easy enough to build.

 

[DJG]

Hi Meanjean:

There's no picture but there is a web link to a picture & a video.
Yep, it probably would be easy to make if.....if I had an ironworker, a welder, 220V service and a spouse who understood I needed to spend $20,000 for equipment and a pole barn to store it so I could save $100 on a $250 tool. I mean, it's a no-brainer, am I right?

So....I'm one of of those guys who buy stuff when he can't make it. Not that I don't scab together fixes with stuff laying around and left over, but it usually doesn't involve more than drilling holes and bolting or nailing.

Thanks anyway. I'll let you know how it works after I get it. I'm negotiating with them right now so I should have it by next week.

Adios, amigo.
David

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I dont quite see the need to stick a shovel on the edge of a front end loader bucket.

 

[DJG]

I dont quite see the need to stick a shovel on the edge of a front end loader bucket.

I think the answer, Erin, is that it could dig a narrower swath. I'm actually planning on using it more to dig out smallish tree roots. I guess I could use the forks I have that attach to the bucket, but they tend to swivel and this space would be yet another tool in the arsenal. And we like our tools, don't we?

David

 

[meanjean]

Use it for moving trees.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I sat and watched the entire 8 minute video on the spade earyler and I'm just not convinced. It seemed like it had a slightly better advantage on the skid steere with the pallet forks then it did on the FEL. I reckon my thing is everbody and his brother these days has a tractor of some nature and I'm starting to notice that alot of equipment companies seem to capitolize on this booming new market and sell alot of useless junk we dont need.

Watching the video it seemed kinda odd to me that the majority of the work area was out in a field with alot of thick grass surrounding the work area, kinda like they were hiding something while filming the video. As far as them moving small boulders with it. I dont see how its any different to doing the same task with a regual FEL.

I suppose I tend to over analize things when it comes to a big investment on a piece of equipment and do alot of reasearch before I rush out and buy the first thing I see.

 

[DJG]

I sat and watched the entire 8 minute video on the spade earyler and I'm just not convinced. It seemed like it had a slightly better advantage on the skid steere with the pallet forks then it did on the FEL. I reckon my thing is everbody and his brother these days has a tractor of some nature and I'm starting to notice that alot of equipment companies seem to capitolize on this booming new market and sell alot of useless junk we dont need.

Watching the video it seemed kinda odd to me that the majority of the work area was out in a field with alot of thick grass surrounding the work area, kinda like they were hiding something while filming the video. As far as them moving small boulders with it. I dont see how its any different to doing the same task with a regual FEL.

I suppose I tend to over analize things when it comes to a big investment on a piece of equipment and do alot of reasearch before I rush out and buy the first thing I see.

Hi Eric:

Man, you are a tough sell - just like me - only you're a bit more of a contrarian and pretty damn suspicious, I might add. Not that that's a bad thing, especially when thinking about buying a $300 attachment/toy. As you said, there is a lot of junk out there so analysis and research are the right things to do.

I agree with you that the Quickspade would probably be easier to see through SkidSteer pallet forks instead of a FEL bucket, especially since my X-ray vision went to hell after I turned 50. Luckily, I've got some forks for the FEL and am hoping the QuickSpade Combo will give me better visibility.

I've been doing more checking and came across a discussion of the QS Combo on TractorbyNet.com, which is a good site like OTT (though I prefer my Kubota buddies, of course).

I'm need to remove invasive buckthorn saplings from my five acres of woods, where they've taken over & are choking out all the hickory-oak-maple saplings. I've been pulling the tiny ones by hand, the slightly larger ones with my new Extractigator (a pretty good tool), and have another FEL "attachment" (scissor clamp) for the yet larger saplings.

It's a daunting task and my back is screaming at me. The tree-size buckthorns I'm cutting flush to the ground with a chainsaw and poisoning the stumps. If anyone has a recommendation for clearing a lot of buckthorn without massive poisoning or bulldozer damage, I'm all ears.

If I get the QS Combo, it'll be mostly for digging up smallish tree stumps and free up & moving smallish boulders.

For pulling the mid-size saplings I mentioned earlier, I just bought a "pallet puller scissor clamp". I've used heavier tools for moving steel plate & slab, but they are industrial-heavy & cost $500/$1000. The pallet clamp is rated for up to 1,000lbs and my FEL only has about 500lbs lift, so I've got that going for me.

It seems perfect and I'll get back to you after I try it when the ground dries up enough to travel through the woods without rutting everything up.

My FEL came with a hole drilled in the center/front of lower plate with a trailer ball inserted and the scissor clamp will hang over that. At about $75 delivered, the clamp seems like a bargain - if it works.

You can find it at ebay - PALLET PULLING SCISSOR CLAMP ATTACHMENT PULLING TOOL | eBay (PS - I don't work for the manufacturer or distributors. Matter of fact, I don't work, period. Some call it retirement, I call it "self unemployed".)

Thanks for listening to this rather long rambling and I welcome your comments and questions.

Dave

 

[300zx]

DJG, I for one am anxious to hear how it goes, especially now that I hear what you want to do with it. I know from what your said you don't do too much metal fabricating, but I do wonder if you removed the scoop and rigged the spade to a fabricated rigid frame back to the FEL if it wouldn't be better for not only visibility, but also more lifting and maneuverability. If done right, it could be used for forks as well as the spade. You have me thinking, anyway.

 

[DJG]

DJG, I for one am anxious to hear how it goes, especially now that I hear what you want to do with it. I know from what your said you don't do too much metal fabricating, but I do wonder if you removed the scoop and rigged the spade to a fabricated rigid frame back to the FEL if it wouldn't be better for not only visibility, but also more lifting and maneuverability. If done right, it could be used for forks as well as the spade. You have me thinking, anyway.

That sounds like a good idea, 300zx.

I'll let you know if I buy it and how the spade works, and you let me know if you come up with any fabrication plans, OK? My neighbor is a metal fabricator and can do anything - for a not inconsiderable price.

Thanks.
David

 

[300zx]

you let me know if you come up with any fabrication plans

I will,

John

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I've seen these stump puller items in the Gemplers catalog. I dunno how well they work but they might be a better choice over a pallet puller since these things have teeth to grip with.

http://www.gemplers.com/search/stump

 

[DJG]

Well, guys, I did get the QuickSpade and it works well for some stuff and not so much for others.
I would recommend having your FEL bucket top lip beefed up with some structural steel (I'm sure Wildfire would have an elegant solution) so that torquing on the spade doesn't bend it.
I use a nylon cinching strap with hooks on both ends to keep the QuickSpade in place. It's one heavy piece of equipment (about 85#); slips snugly over the FEL lip, and secures well.
It's great for digging up small stumps and could be used for transplanting quite small trees but it only goes as deep as it's length, which is about two feet. I tried moving a 3" caliper swamp oak but it didn't get deep enough and the root damage killed the little bugger.
I've also used it for some trenching and once you get your positioning right (with enough room to dig & dump from several angles) it works well enough. More practice would also improve my digging, I'm sure.
It's a "po-boy" backhoe, not the real thing. I'm happy I've got it in my small arsenal of tractor tools.
David having a KubotaBall

 

[DJG]

DJG, I for one am anxious to hear how it goes, especially now that I hear what you want to do with it. I know from what your said you don't do too much metal fabricating, but I do wonder if you removed the scoop and rigged the spade to a fabricated rigid frame back to the FEL if it wouldn't be better for not only visibility, but also more lifting and maneuverability. If done right, it could be used for forks as well as the spade. You have me thinking, anyway.

I promised to let you know how the spade works. It works fine for some stuff but it's not a backhoe. The problem is maneuvering the dirt away from the hole if you're trying to dig a ditch, for instance. Digging backwards is the only option. Also, I would recommend stiffening the bucket lip & top to avoid bending either. There's a lot of torque when digging the clay around here.
Nonetheless, it's great for popping out little stumps and other smaller tasks that would be big if you only had a shovel.
Your idea of fabricating a frame seems like a good one.
Over & Out
David