Clamps and Thumbs Attachments

HOW TO CHOOSE BOBCAT CLAMPS & THUMBS ATTACHMENTS

Selecting a Bobcat® grip tool comes down to a couple of things: your machine class (compact vs. large excavator) and how much control you need when grabbing, carrying and placing material. Start there, then match the tool to the work you do most. 

Note: Clamps and thumbs are both excavator grip attachments. At Bobcat, compact excavator tools are referred to as clamps, while large excavator tools are referred to as thumbs. 

Your Excavator Size

• Compact excavator: Choose a clamp attachment. 
• Large excavator: Choose a thumb attachment.

When to Chooe a Clamp for Compact Excavators

Choose a clamp attachment if you want a straightforward, everyday grab-and-carry solution for irregular loads. The curved tine profile improves contact on round or odd shapes, wide tine spacing helps visibility, and added clearance helps shed debris. It’s a strong fit for: 

• Stumps, brush, boulders, broken concrete. 
• Pipe or lumber handling and general cleanup. 
• Accurate placement of rocks and materials. 

When to Choose a Thumb for Large Excavators 

Choose an HT thumb (main pin) when you want tough, dependable clamping for heavy material handling. It delivers strong hydraulic clamping force and is engineered to mesh with bucket teeth for demanding work like: 

• Demolition. 
• Land clearing. 
• Handling heavy, irregular debris. 

Quick Checklist

1. Machine size: Compact excavator (clamp) vs. large excavator (thumb) 
2. Primary work: General grab-and-carry vs. heavy handling vs. precision placement 
3. Control needs: Standard thumb power (HT) vs. bucket-following precision (progressive link) 
4. Fitment: Linkage style, coupler setup, and bucket pairing requirements 

Once you’ve narrowed it down, your Bobcat dealer can help confirm fitment to your excavator, coupler setup, and bucket combination so your clamp or thumb shows up ready to work.