Show us your Arb Diggers please.

[Slicer Dicer]

10 hours ago, billpierce said:

What thumb do you have? Ta

I have the RSL ones. They're very strong and are the same width as dipper so doesn't get in the way on any other operations. You see some thumbs that are quite wide but there isn't much benefit for this and in fact makes it more prone to having twisting forces against it.  it's incredible how much of a "lump" can be lifted with. A dedicated fixed grab has more benefit in the sense that you can articulate the whole grab and work in closer to the machine. A thumb does have a sweet spot in the distance out from the machine where it works best due to geometry, but I always find I want a bucket on and I want to grab too so its the most convenient solution for me- when I'm using just the proper grab theres alot more changing over attachments .

[billpierce]

so it seems that a decent hydraulic thumb from jb equipment or digbits is about the same as a decent tined grab from the same.  am i correct thinking a grab will be slightly better at grabbing? charging into brash with etc....i imagine a thumb wont be as useful for gripping brash? i got the digger to do a load of jobs on the farm - i dont do any landscaping so imagine if it comes on a job itll be doing arb only

 

thanks

 

appreciate everyone input

[aspenarb]

57 minutes ago, billpierce said:

so it seems that a decent hydraulic thumb from jb equipment or digbits is about the same as a decent tined grab from the same.  am i correct thinking a grab will be slightly better at grabbing? charging into brash with etc....i imagine a thumb wont be as useful for gripping brash? i got the digger to do a load of jobs on the farm - i dont do any landscaping so imagine if it comes on a job itll be doing arb only

 

thanks

 

appreciate everyone input

 

It depends on what you are doing Bill, a rake and hydraulic thumb on a machine can group up/load brash much quicker than just a grab/rotator.Grab/rotator is a great tool if everything is ready to be grabbed.

 

Bob

[tree_beard]

Have had a digits thumb on a 2.5t machine for the last few years. Always intended to upgrade to a fixed mount rotating grab, but so far I've always had more pressing things to spend 3k on and never not managed to grab and manipulate something I've pointed a 12" toothed bucket and thumb at...

 

Gathering and moving/loading brash not a problem, very good for big lumps and trunk manipulation, more cumbersome at handling and stacking short roundwood neatly, loading a chipper do-able with practice.

 

[Slicer Dicer]

5 hours ago, aspenarb said:

 

It depends on what you are doing Bill, a rake and hydraulic thumb on a machine can group up/load brash much quicker than just a grab/rotator.Grab/rotator is a great tool if everything is ready to be grabbed.

 

Bob

Definitely this. If your chucking brash around you'll get alot more in a bucket and thumb combo. But that's likely more favourable if brash raking and scrub clearance where bulk shifting of material is required . Arb work being more organised and refined by its nature a  grab is very good at precision stuff. Tbh there's nothing I can't do with a thumb  that I can with grab but grabs articulation can be more preferable for certain tasks. As said if your needing to do anything with a bucket too than it's always there when you need it. A grab is another thing to take in the trailer and time will be spent taking it on and off when it's not needed. 6 of one half a dozen of the other . ...

[Slicer Dicer]

6 hours ago, billpierce said:

so it seems that a decent hydraulic thumb from jb equipment or digbits is about the same as a decent tined grab from the same.  am i correct thinking a grab will be slightly better at grabbing? charging into brash with etc....i imagine a thumb wont be as useful for gripping brash? i got the digger to do a load of jobs on the farm - i dont do any landscaping so imagine if it comes on a job itll be doing arb only

 

thanks

 

appreciate everyone input

You will I think love the thumb for general farm work. I'd favour an RSL grab myself over the JB or similar design. The JB ones are quite wide and feel more cumbersome out on the end, the RSL ones are same width as dipper and pretty much indestructible.

[Slicer Dicer]

Just now, Slicer Dicer said:

You will I think love the thumb for general farm work. I'd favour an RSLthumb myself over the JB or similar design. The JB ones are quite wide and feel more cumbersome out on the end, the RSL ones are same width as dipper and pretty much indestructible.

 

[doobin]

7 hours ago, Slicer Dicer said:

Definitely this. If your chucking brash around you'll get alot more in a bucket and thumb combo. But that's likely more favourable if brash raking and scrub clearance where bulk shifting of material is required . Arb work being more organised and refined by its nature a  grab is very good at precision stuff. Tbh there's nothing I can't do with a thumb  that I can with grab but grabs articulation can be more preferable for certain tasks. As said if your needing to do anything with a bucket too than it's always there when you need it. A grab is another thing to take in the trailer and time will be spent taking it on and off when it's not needed. 6 of one half a dozen of the other . ...

Scrub clearance is way easier, neater and precise with a fixed rotating grab. Can’t imagine doing this with a thumb and bucket, it would be a nightmare. You’d leave half of it in the ground sheared off, or turn the lot into a ploughed field and have to move tonnes of mud.  
 

One hours work. 

Edited November 30, 2023 by doobin

[billpierce]

1 hour ago, doobin said:

Scrub clearance is way easier, neater and precise with a fixed rotating grab. Can’t imagine doing this with a thumb and bucket, it would be a nightmare. You’d leave half of it in the ground sheared off, or turn the lot into a ploughed field and have to move tonnes of mud.  
 

One hours work. 

What size machine do you have that on? I worry that on a 1.7t machine I'll use half its lift capacity  with a fixed rotating grab

[woody paul]

5 hours ago, billpierce said:

What size machine do you have that on? I worry that on a 1.7t machine I'll use half its lift capacity  with a fixed rotating grab

What ever you fit be it a thumb and bucket or grab lift capacity will go down, but it's easier then moving stuff by hand.