DIY Forklift Forks?

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Quick question, guys!I've just bought a tractor with a front end loader which will lift 3,300 pounds at the pivot points. Since I'll be using this almost exclusively for industrial use, I now need a set of forklift forks for it, which I'm planning to build myself.The plan is to build a "frame" that attaches to the front of the loader and have it setup so that the forks have a large bushing on the tops of them, which will slide across a stout pipe allowing them to adjust their width.Looking around for the forks themselves, prices often hit ~$500 for a set, which isnt really something I consider a decent buy.Therefor, I'm wanting to build my own. 1) How much would a set of 40" forks, made from 2x4x.250 mild steel hold? I dont want to underbuild this, especially for the application2) Should I just use 1x3 solid bar stock for this? It would be heavy, expensive, and I'd probably never use the leftovers, but if thats what it takes, then that's what it takes I guess3) I understand the hardest part of this design will be the 90 degree bend in the back of the fork. I'm planning to run the forks under the loader bracket and reverse-gusset them, assuming the design of the loader will allow it.Does any of this sound workable? Bonus points if anyone can link me to any references I can use in the future for calculating what type and thickness of material I should use for future projects. Thanks in advance guys!>inb4 "hurdurdur you shouldn't build this the sky is going to fall" posts[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:I’m in the process of building another set right now. This set is for my brother-n-law. For a tractor with that much power I would shop Craigs list for a set of warehouse forklift forks. Here is a picture. I have a thread going over on TBN. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:After Carl's picture, I'm ready to hit the steel yard myself CEP, if you don't mind, how thick is that tube? What size is it? I could start my design with that...[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:2“ x 4“ 1/4“ wall. I just bought some 1/2“ x 1 1/2“ flat bar to insert in the tube. My brother-n-law’s tractor is bigger than mine, so I’m trying beef his forks up some.  BTW, your name just came up in that thread over on TBN!  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Carl,What is the construction on your work horses?  I'm curious what is counter-balancing the forks.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Jerry I’m lost! Do you mean the wooden saw horses? If so, with just the frame, the horses handled the weight just fine. But when I slid the forks on, I had to hold the weight with the bridge crane. Every hobbyist has a bridge crane, right? Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Lanse, CEP's thread on TBN will do just fine for your 'industrial' USE. However if you think this unit might ever find itself on an industrial SITE I would consider putting out the extra $$ for ANSI rated forks.   IMHO of course. Terry
Reply:Originally Posted by Lis2323However if you think this unit might ever find itself on an industrial SITE I would consider putting out the extra $$ for ANSI rated forks.   IMHO of course. Terry
Reply:Originally Posted by Lis2323Lanse, CEP's thread on TBN will do just fine for your 'industrial' USE. However if you think this unit might ever find itself on an industrial SITE I would consider putting out the extra $$ for ANSI rated forks.   IMHO of course. Terry
Reply:What gmmandan said.  You can bust your hump making forks out of new materials and they will still be junk.  A set of factory made used forks from a salvage company will be much stronger even if they have a hole in the end.  Put your effort into making a rack.The best forks for tractors with buckets have about 5' tall backs and are pin mount.  You weld hooks on your bucket to hold the pin, typically one on each end and one in the center.  This way you just dump the bucket to pick up the pin, and curl to bring the forks level.  The tall back makes the forks hang below the bucket far enough you can see under the bucket and watch the tips of the forks whether you are picking from the ground or flatbed height.
Reply:It takes less than a minute to pin my fork attachment to the FEL on my tractor. I also added pad eyes so I could use the 3-point hitch, if the FEL will not pick the load. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Back when I had my backhoe I too wanted a set of forks but the cost for them was a real setback. I thought about building my own but got to talking to an attorney and this came up. Following his analogy of you cannot sue yourself but anybody else involved with operating a machine with home made forks can, (and will) I elected to spend the $950.00 at the time for the made and certified set.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Mine are factory built. I use them on a Case 580 K. I lift 6000 LBS with the loader, I'm not sure what the biggest pallet has been. I'd guess 3000. They are rectangular stock like CEP. Mine are taller than his, A large rod 2"? at the top engages three hooks torch cut from 5/8" stock welded to the top of the bucket.They are very useful, but a spotter is helpful, as I can't see through the bucket.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:I'm leaning towards using 2.5x4 box tube, 1/4" unless I can get 3/8 wall or heavier (IDK yet), and welding 1x2 solid bar to both sides of it for extra strength. Talk me out of it [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Originally Posted by LanseTalk me out of it
Reply:Originally Posted by LanseI'm leaning towards using 2.5x4 box tube, 1/4" unless I can get 3/8 wall or heavier (IDK yet), and welding 1x2 solid bar to both sides of it for extra strength. Talk me out of it
Reply:I would beef up the heel of the forks, more so than down the length of the forks. Cheek plates on both sides of the heel, is what I would look at doing.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 check these out..Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:Originally Posted by roadkillbobbhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 check these out..
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPJerry I’m lost! Do you mean the wooden saw horses? If so, with just the frame, the horses handled the weight just fine. But when I slid the forks on, I had to hold the weight with the bridge crane. Every hobbyist has a bridge crane, right?
Reply:I made a set out of 1.5" by 3" (4"?) with 3/16" thickness for my CASE 1735 Skidsteer. So far they have lifted 30" diameter by 12 foot cherry logs.  I was worried about bending but they seem to be OK. They are spaced wide enough to handle most pallets. Hindsight was Foresight, the Farm Auction I was at last Spring that had 3 sets in various sizes, I would have bought them all as they sold REALLY cheap!
Reply:Did you check craigs list near you ? As mentioned, I too have seen the forks for a $100.00 a pair. Some were with the round bar and the forks had a pipe sleeve that they slid on like you mentioned you want.  I would prefer the manufactured ones  .Did you see these ? http://www.arrowmhp.com/bucketforks.phpAttachment 1258001Attachment 1258011
Reply:Here try these free shipping just modify the mounts to fit your tractorhttps://shop.netforks.com/standard-f...-x-2-p388.aspx
Reply:Originally Posted by akphillHere try these free shipping just modify the mounts to fit your tractorhttps://shop.netforks.com/standard-f...-x-2-p388.aspx
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveWow, that's cheapI've noticed that often mass production gets stuff made cheaper than I can buy material.Someone once posted that it's because steel gets purchased by the train car load.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by docwelderthe material alone's gotta cost that much?
Reply:Screw you guys, i'm gonna do this my way and build a set!!! You cant tell me how to do this[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:I'm kidding actually, just ordered a set. $107 shipped   Thanks a lot guys! I love this place! Cant wait till they show up[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Originally Posted by Willie BI've got friends with a set of those, they flop sideways. I don't like them.The hanging from a large rod variety can be reinforced at the intersection of horizontal to vertical by letting the horizontal box tube run past a few inches. A gusset, or fish plate can be added on each side. I'd try 4 x 2" unless you have a very big loader.
Reply:Originally Posted by LanseI'm kidding actually, just ordered a set. $107 shipped   Thanks a lot guys! I love this place! Cant wait till they show up
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawOh no!  Deducting Redneck points for that, heh
Reply:Originally Posted by Lis2323If they're the 36" forks he can REDEEM his points by welding on 4-6" tip extensions.
Reply:Lanse, please give us an update on what you've been doing the past couple of years and what you're doing now. Some of us have known you for several years and tried to help you once you got the welding bug and now you've all but deserted us. Don't be a stranger, you've got some fans that want to know.
Reply:The setup with the forks sliding on a round bar is really convenient but seems to be prone to damage. I have a steady supply of slightly bent round stock from the Lull at work. I think rod gets bentby guys trying to push with side of the fork.I wonder if original bar was made out of something other thanstructural round.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:I copied my design after the Ingersoll Rand all terrain fork lift. Majority of the time this is what we got on the job site. I don’t ever remember the round stock bending. But you have a point, who knows may be Ingersoll Rand uses T-1 for their round stock. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I have seen them bend the round stick but that was from a "sudden" stop using the forks as brakes....Sent from my C811 4G using TapatalkVantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:Mine is massive, but very susceptible to bending. We have removed it from the L shaped forks, and straightened it on a hydraulic press. That is best a two person job.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:The 2" shaft I got with my long bucket forks was slightly bent.  I replaced it with a piece of 2" 4150M heat treated.  It won't bend from those forks.  ETD 150 or Sheffield 10 are other brand name pre heat treated steels, or your steel source may just list 4130 ht.  The forks are heat treated, I think the pin should be as well.
Reply:Bending doesn't happen when being used as a forklift. Mine work best when parked on level ground. Spread the forks all the way, they stand up by themselves. Trying to pick them up after they flop is tricky.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:We used to use some rectangular tube for extensions. Would slip in the forks fairly tight. Lifted storage sheds with them. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by jpump5The setup with the forks sliding on a round bar is really convenient but seems to be prone to damage. I have a steady supply of slightly bent round stock from the Lull at work. ~
Reply:With most Lull type machines I've seen you can slide the forkspast the inside supports if you tilt down far enough that forks hang vertically and slide through opening in support.Shaft is still well supported when machine is used properly.CEP's example doesn't seem to have cut-outs in supports toallow forks to slide past.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite