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Grapple or forestry shear: how to choose
Start from the job: moving wood that is already cut, felling small trees or sorting materials.
1. Log grapples
They load logs onto trailers, build piles and move firewood and brushwood. They carry 400 to 2,500 kg with openings from about 1 to 1.6 m and are also available in Hardox, which resists wear better.
2. Forestry shears
They cut shrubs and small trees up to 10–13 cm at the base and hold them with the built-in grapple: you fell, move and stack with one attachment. They are made entirely of Hardox with a hardened steel blade and work at higher pressures than grapples, from 150 to 260 bar.
3. Sorting grapples
They handle stones, timber, scrap and materials to be sorted: useful when, besides wood, you need to clear ground of stones and debris. They carry 150 to 250 kg.
4. Hydraulic rotators
The rotator turns the grapple or shear through 360° so you can set the load down where you want without moving the machine. It is chosen by capacity, from 1,000 to 4,500 kg, and connection: pin-mounted, flanged or for a quick coupler. It can also be added later.
5. Which machine
Grapples and shears fit forestry cranes, front loaders and mini excavators. What counts is the weight the machine can carry at the end of the arm and its hydraulics: check the required pressure, oil flow and machine class on each product page.
| Type | Capacity or cut | Opening | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light log grapple | 400–600 kg | about 1.0 m | 80–120 bar |
| Medium log grapple | 1,000 kg | about 1.1 m | 80–120 bar |
| Heavy log grapple | 2,000–2,500 kg | 1.3–1.6 m | 120–220 bar |
| Forestry shear | cut 9–13 cm | 54–65 cm | 150–260 bar |
| Sorting grapple | 150–250 kg | 0.9–1.2 m | 80–120 bar |
Grapple or shear: which do I need?
If you need to move and load wood that is already cut, a grapple. If you need to fell shrubs and small trees and then stack them, a shear, which cuts and holds. Those who do both jobs often use both on the same machine.
Can they be fitted to a forestry crane?
Yes, grapples and shears also fit forestry cranes and loaders as well as mini excavators, as long as the hydraulics deliver the required pressure and flow and the connection is compatible.
Why choose Hardox?
Hardox steel better resists wear and twisting: the light grapple in Hardox carries 600 kg instead of 400 kg with just a few extra kilos, and the shears are made entirely of Hardox.
Can I add the rotator later?
Yes: rotators and link brackets are also available separately. The rotator needs an extra hydraulic function on the machine.
Where can I find the mini excavator versions?
In the mini excavator section you will find log grapples and forestry shears organised by machine weight, including the grapples dedicated to DELEKS mini excavators.
Products marked with the Italian flag and the Made in Italy indication are designed and manufactured predominantly in Italy; products without these indications are essentially manufactured abroad.