Tips for Operating Orange Peel Grapples
You probably use an excavator and a number of attachments frequently, whether you work in construction, metal recycling, or scrap yards. One of the most useful attachments is an orange peel grapple. That said, if you’re not accustomed to working with orange peel grapples—no problem. We’ve got you covered with a few tips for operating orange peel grapples; read on to learn more.
Avoid Lifting From Tough Surfaces
If at all possible, you should always lift from stockpiles to prevent damaging your grapple. Some inexperienced machine operators will try to lift materials from concrete which often results in bumping and scraping the tines against a tough surface. We make our orange peel grapples with HARDOX and WELDOX certified steel which makes ours especially durable. That said, you still don’t want your equipment to wear down prematurely.
Grab Materials From Their Centermost Point
To maximize efficiency and prevent premature wear, you should always do your best to lift materials so you have even weight on all sides of the grapple. If only a portion of the grapple endures the majority of the weight, the grapple’s more likely to wear down faster. Moreover, orange peel grapples are meant to make it easier to lift items—don’t make it harder on both yourself and the machine.
Only Use the Grapple for the Appropriate Applications
Orange peel grapples are especially suitable for almost anything including moving demolition materials, long beams, and car bodies. That said, you shouldn’t try to use an orange peel grapple for everything—even if it seems like it’ll work. There are dozens of excavator and crane attachments that manufacturers designed for a specific reason. If you try to make an attachment work for something it wasn’t meant to do, you might damage the attachment or cause an accident.
In general, orange peel grapples are very easy to use; that doesn’t mean there aren’t mistakes you can make. We wanted you to know some simple tips for operating orange peel grapples that’ll provide maximum performance.
If you’re in the market for a waste handling grapple, look no further than Moley Magnetics. Our family-owned and operated business takes immense pleasure in offering only the highest quality products. If you have any questions or would like to ask about pricing, give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you.