Building A Thumb & Adding A DR Ripper To My Trencher Part 1

Finally getting around to work on designing and building a thumb for my Harbor Freight trencher. At the same time modifying the trencher arm to use DR buckets and ripper.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Sorry it took four years for me to find your channel. Great videos thanks for sharing. I will be watch you videos to get caught up to date with you channel four years is a big gap. Cheers

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks. Hopefully you find other videos that interest you. Thanks for watching.

[@rostro2698]

My wife used to be a AT at VQ-4 on the Navy and she really enjoy watching your very informative videos, I take any video from you as a priority. Looking forward for part 2.... Thank You.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks. just trying to share some ideas with others. Thank your wife for her service. Thanks for watching.

[@fox111qc]

I'm always impressed by the amount of tools and machines you got and that you got the skills to use everything!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Having the right tools helps the jobs go quicker. At my age, I have had a lot of time to learn new things. Thanks for watching.

[@Landbarger]

Great project! Looking forward to seeing Part 2. I anticipate this video getting lots of views.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks. It is funny but I heard that only 5000 of the trenchers were sold so I am not sure there will be much interest, but you never know. Thanks for watching.

[@JohnFrancoNH]

URHC i didnt know you had so many cool metal fab pieces of equipment. Very cool, can not wait til part 2. Thanks for sharing!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

They make builds go much quicker. Those old South Bend lathes are the most usefull tool in a shop. Thanks for watching.

[@themadhillbillycustoms5013]

You Sir are a very talented man! I was just amazed at how many more tools and toys you have. Keep up the great work. I can't wait for part 2 or any of your videos.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks. I started collecting tools when I was 5 years old and never stopped. Thanks for watching.

[@mightypoo0]

Nice job there, that thumb will be a game changer. Also like the ripper idea. I have a thumb on my towable backhoe and use it a lot. Thanks for posting.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

I bent a tooth on the bucket pulling roots and think the ripper will make less of a mess removing stumps. I just wish there was an easy way to add hydraulics. Thanks for watching.

[@mikedickson2925]

Good looking job and I like your engineering/designing for your needs!!!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks. Sometimes it is the only way to get what you want. Thanks for watching.

[@davehogan4776]

Another amazing job!! would love to see a shop tour. Your extremely talented. Thanks!!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

You just about got the tour. Just a couple of sanders, a bead blast cabinet, and a welder that will be in the second part. Thanks for watching.

[@BensWorkshop]

Many thanks. You have quite a collection of machine tools.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Got tired of working metal with a jigsaw and angle grinder. Thanks for watching.

[@nashguy207]

Nice Job You are definitely a jock of all trades seems you can do some of everything nice to have the talent you have.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks. It is the only way to get what you want without spending a fortune. Thanks for watching.

[@friedrichuckhauff7046]

Great job!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks for watching.

[@georges8348]

Good project. Good video!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks for watching.

[@leeashworth8779]

Great job

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks for watching.

[@jason-white]

Can't wait to see that thing in action.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Neither can I. Thanks for watching.

[@agliem1]

Very nice!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks for watching.

[@mib20000]

Geez, buddy, you are a BEAST in DIY. You have tools I didn't even know I wanted. A CNC plasma cutter. OMG. I only have a tiny 1 car garage and don't even have room for a band saw. worst of all the garage floor is 6" sunken to one side so it likes working on a hill lol

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

I started out in a 10 x 10 garden shed that had a similar tilt. Thanks for watching.

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

Wow nice job. That's better than modifying all the Dr attachments. It's funny the ripper almost fits the harbor freight trencher. Wish we had a milling machine like that and a plasma table.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Give yourself a couple years. I couldn't afford good tools untill I got older. I would get a lathe first as it is the most usefull. I was surprised how close the ripper came to fitting. Thanks for watching.

[@averageschmo963]

Good job!!!!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks for watching.

[@rvdawg6231]

You sir, would be a wonderful neighbor :) thanks for sharing

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Wish I had good neighbors. Thanks for watching.

[@larryhazelwood5853]

Amazing video very creative

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks for watching.

[@buildingtrades7070]

Great job...Wish I had those power tools. I had to make my thumb by hand and a torch.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

I used to use my bosch jigsaw to cut everything and that took to long so I built the plasma table. Thanks for watching.

[@buildingtrades7070]

Wow great job.

[@m3rdpwr]

You never cease to amaze.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

It is always fun to tackle a new project. If only I could cook like you. Thanks for watching.

[@EagleRun23]

haha I was like, of course he has a plasma table! haha

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Everyone should build a plasma table. It is the most frustrating project that I have ever tried.

[@m3rdpwr]

I don't know, I've seen you cook some things like meatloaf. Plus you have a mighty nice garden.

[@EagleRun23]

New sub, really enjoy your videos. You are doing retirement right!

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Just retired this year after 12 years of unemployment. Nice to have time to try new things. Thanks for watching.

[@scottfoster2487]

I would put a end cap on the boom to avoid garbage from filling the tube, Nice idea about the buckets.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

That is a great idea. Thanks for watching.

[@BushImports]

Did you build the CNC plasma cutter yourself of buy it? That's pretty cool.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

I designed and built it a long time ago to learn about CNC equipment. Thanks for watching.

[@jacl4953]

bonjour , look like a nice shop .

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

just right for what I do. Wish I had more time to spend out there. Thanks for watching.

[@jacl4953]

can t wait for the video tour

[@GogebicYooper]

Someone should just manufacture rippers et al for the HF Trencher. By the way, of all your tools, I envy the Kurt Vise :-)

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

They should. And now that DR has stopped selling trenchers and accessories there is no longer a source for them. If you buy an old mill make sure it comes with good accessories. They are usually worth more than the machine. Thanks for watching.

[@aserta]

You've issues with grounding BOTH, machines the CNC and the plasma cutter are very dependent on proper grounding. Also, leaving servomotors in the open, unless they are stated to be water ingress proof, is a bad idea. The windings are very susceptible to moisture and the damages it causes. My two cents, build enclosures for the sensitive equipment for when you leave it in "storage" mode. Doesn't need to be space age, just enough to keep them safe from water.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

I assure you that the grounding is good on the machine. It is getting proper voltage feedback but the DTHC is not properly responding. With the height control bypassed it runs the gcode fine. I think it is just a corroded connection in one of the cheep parallel port and serial cables that tie everything together. Thanks for watching.

[@donz6901]

As always, good video. As I was watching I couldn't help but think: I wonder if he ever got his beard tangled in his machines or on fire from metal sparks??? Worse than ANTS IN YOUR PANTS from your dead tree.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

It is the zipper on the dang winter coats that hurts the most. You will see it on a video if it goes up in smoke. Thanks for watching

[@robpond7385]

Would be neat to build a small fel on other end with 2 driving wheels subcompact tractors lot of money for us pensioners could it be done

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Anything can be done, but is it worth it? Thanks for watching.

[@Adam-xc4wk]

I've always been curious, were you a machinist before you became unemployed?

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

No. A mechanical design engineer that was replaced with H1B visa workers and got so mad I dropped out of the workforce. The best thing that ever happened to me. Thanks for watching

[@woodlandparadise6002]

Yowzers I got some stunps at my house too come on by LOL

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

After I get the 15 that I have left out. Hopefully that ripper will make them go faster with less mess. Thanks for watching.

[@dennisisaac2342]

How can I get a copy

[@dennisisaac2342]

Got same machine as you towable excavator

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

You will have to make it. I only share the ideas. Thanks for watching.

[@tonygrimes13]

1,600 views, 196 thumbs up

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

Thanks for watching.