well i just welded my first grapple, lol and don't laugh at my welding skills cause i ain't go any. self taught newbie at welding. anyway here it is and thanks for the tip cletis.

anyone ever weld a nut on at the end to attach chain or what have yall used.....?

Better than i cold do.

Angle the arms in opposite directions so they bite in a little better like this one, you can see the drag off to the right:

You don't really need to weld with 3/8 rod...

This is how I build them... I wrote this for a fellow several years ago..

I make mine as follows.

I take a 30" piece of 3/8 rebar... Heat it in the center with a rosebud or a propane torch... Fold it around a 1/2 inch bolt, using and old set of pliers I close both sides together... Make a deal that looks like an old bobbypen..

Then I have a piece of 1/2 flat metal with a hole in it about 1/2 inch, the hole is located in the center of the metal about 1 inch down from the top.

I then put the piece of flat steel in a vice and take the bobbypen and insert one end in the hole and bend it over to make the hook of the drag. I then do the other side in the opposite direction...

I then have a piece of 3/4 inch pipe that I use to bend the ends of the drag... I place the hook back in the flat metal put the pipe over the end of the drag, and bend it so it will take the dirt... I usually bend them about a 45 degree angle.. Then do the other side....

I then paint my drags "red" so I can see them easy...

I wire them to the trap chain (about 6 foot) with bailing wire... I try to triple loop the wire to make sure it holds good...

Good job James.

Might add a straight piece across the back of the two bends for support. Doubt it would be an issue with most critters, but a yote might test your welds out pretty good.

straighten them two curved pieces ... grind off that nut ... weld a couple washers on top of 'em ... you'd have a couple short rebar stakes ... ..

I aint much on drags lol ... can ya tell

although I have made some over the years ... used 3/8" smooth cold rolled ... basically using a method similar to what BB posted

I don't worry what it looks like as long as it holds. I hardly ever use grapples but its nice to have them if you find a good place to set and want to get the critter out of sight. heres a couple I built just fooling around. use about 9 foot of chain.

J lord, on my drags I weld a Crunch Proof swivel on the end of the drag, then all ya got to do it take a J-hook and attach your chain

I make mine very SIMPLE...the angles are STRAIGHT (luv the turned down points(Clefus style) but am afraid with lions the'd bend too easily)..the end of the drag I would NOT put a swivel..WAY toooo easily smashed/crushed.. I use a lockwasher..MUCH heavier
lynx

I disagree on the swivel being easily crushed, A crunchproof swivel welded good will take more pressure than a lock washer will.

MOST would disagree...(DUDE...simple physics said that's IMPOSSIBLE) I've seen em...USED em..and ALWAYS had to replace em...MINE??? NEVER.
lynx

SImple pysics says that a smaller diameter washer that is also bigger in circumference will bend and also break at a lower point than the small diameter Swivel.

REALLLLLY now...just WHERE did you pull THAT ONE from...

The Brownlee book of simple physics, Second Edition.

You are RIGHT.... took a pic of the crunchproof next to the lockwashers I use...DUDE you are SOOOO right...
lynx

Now Take and turn them both sideways and take your pic again

boys---boys easy now. LOL Nice informative post...

Weight...14.7 swivel..19.8g, for the lockwasher... I conceed...you are WAY toooooo good at the physics for me... SINCE you're talking about width...let's take some aluminum foil...SAME weight and spread IT out... suppose the washer would bend STILL easier than the foil.... THOUGHT SO...
lynx

Sorry Nelacres..I KEEP TELLING him he's right..he just WONT believe me... WOOOOOOPS.... good thing I didnt have any VICEGRIPS eh????
lynx

You guys are funny, thanks for the entertainment. lol