Skid steer / stump bucket

Will have access to a small JD tracked skid steer for a while. I have some stumps, a few large and several small, and some good size rocks that could be dug out and removed. It looks like a stump bucket would be just the thing. Anyone have any experience with them? I see them made of 3/8" and 1/2" steel, is the 3/8" OK for my occasional use? Replaceable digging teeth worth it? Any hints or experience welcome.

You'll be doing a lot of digging and still may not get some of them up. I have a Cat 963 and some stumps are still tough to get out.

Along with dimension of the steel, the grade is also important in regard to wearability. Never used a stump bucket, but it needs to be matched to the skidsteer...I question just how much they can slice through. Recently cut stumps are tough. I"d prefer getting a backhoe or stump chipper in, and having a general purpose bucket, rather than a specialized bucket which will see only occasional use. For cleanup of small rocks on tilled ground, a skeleton bucket is great. They can be used to dig rocks out of the ground as well, but again, check the specs for dimensions and grade.

I have a CID X-treme stump grapple bucket and love it.
1/2" sides with cutting teeth, 1" cutting edge with large backhoe teeth.
I have a big skid loader and would have destroyed one of the lighter built buckets by now, all I've done to this one is scratch the paint and messed up one hyd hose to the grapple.

It won't dig out large stumps without a lot of work because of the tap root large stumps have.

The idea is the narrow bucket and side cutting edges can easily dig up and cut the side roots making it easier to roll the stump out.
I've used a standard width tooth bucket but your digging a lot of dirt to get at the roots.
I use mine to cut the roots on small trees up to around 8" dia, then reach up high and push the tree over, once it's down I'll dig out the rest of the root wad and remove as much dirt as possible, then clamp it with the grapple and pack the tree to a brush pile.
I can dig out a lot of small brush without disturbing much soil.

The grapple also helps to keep stuff from flying back into the cab but I am going to build a brush guard onto the back frame to protect me from any limbs or brush that can fly back by the sides of the grapple into the cab.
Earlier this year while pushing brush into the pile I had a limb break and fly into the cab just missing my head.

You don't want 3/8. Success depends on the species of tree. Some easy to remove others not. New stumps are generally difficult. I find the stump bucket handy.

Get the 1/2" thick, it costs a little more but its worth it. I made my own using a 16" diameter x 3/4" thick piece of pipe with a couple of digging teeth used for backhoes. It's also handy for digging a shallow trenches, not as fast as a backhoe but it will do it.

This is one of my main buckets. I've dug out 10" dia pine stumps and rocks bigger than I can lift. It also works great for loading manure, trash and brush. I also use it to refurbish gravel driveways. Made in MN.

I use pallet forks, with my A300 Bobcat, to remove stumps. Between back dragging, and prying, I can get most trees out of the ground. I often remove trees, roots and all, without cutting them down.

(quoted from post at 17:08:23 08/30/18) I use pallet forks, with my A300 Bobcat, to remove stumps. Between back dragging, and prying, I can get most trees out of the ground. I often remove trees, roots and all, without cutting them down.

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That is the best way to remove a tree....the trunk gives you leverage.

If you haven't cut the tree yet. cut it about 6' above the ground, dig around it, then push on it just below from where you cut it.