crane rigging

[p8ntblr]

Like many of you I like to get tools from CL. Some which are too big to carry by urself. Tired of waiting till I got enough help to unload it off my truck I thought I would get one of these foldable cranes from HF.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93840

I've never used one so my question is what type of rigging would you use. How would you lift a table saw, jointer, planer, so as to not damage the equipment. Any pics of your setup?

[TheRic]

Crane Specs:Maximum working capacity: 1 ton; Boom extension capacities: 1 ton @ 36-1/4", 3/4 ton @ 45-1/2", 1/2 ton @ 50-1/4", 1/4 ton @ 50-1/4"; Height capacities: 1 ton @ 82", 1/4 ton @ 94"; Ram capacity: 3 ton; Weight: 166 lbs.


I would take the 1 ton rating from Harbor Freight with a LARGE grain of salt. I personally would believe 1/2 of what they say for the rating. Then you need to take into count how much the weight drops as the boom is extended out, and the height is increased. They are probably using each measurement with the best possible case. For example they are calling for 1/4 ton at full height, I'm willing to bet that is with the boom in as close as possible. So if the boom is out all the way, and the height is up all the way, it might be able to hold only 250lb. Taking into account it's from Harbor Freight it might be able to lift it's own weight safely.

Just my $.02 worth.

[Rslaugh]

My SIL designs and installs stage equipment and is a stage rigger. When one of the companies he worked for went out of business he gave me a sling.

These come in either a continuous loop which is padded or wire ropes with hook eyes on each end. Check out this link and search for slings.

http://techsmart1.bmisupply.net/tech...catalogNew.swf

I've also used the adjustable web straps you can buy at HD that have hooks on each end for tying down loads on a trailer.

Good luck and be safe.

[Tequila]

And make sure you buy straps that are rated higher than the load you intent to lift. The reason is that the actual load a strap sees gets multiplied depending on how much of an angle the strap is at. If it's straight up and down, it's 100% of the load. As you start to pull the strap out at an angle (like when you wrap it around a piece of equipment) the load on the strap increases quickly.

[Thom2]

Don't forget chain and bolts, often times it's easier to find a mounting boss somewhere in the casting that you can run a bolt thru a piece of chain.

I really prefer chain if there's any way that I can use it. If not I've gotten buy with regular rope (folded double, triple, whatever to provide strength), ratchet straps, slings, steel cable ... whatever it takes to GET-R-DONE!

Just be careful and think it thru, also always lift the load until you just have the weight off and see how it's going to act on the harness before trying to actually move it.

Another tip is to try to totally avoid moving the crane at all if possible, if you have a truck or trailer, just lift the load with the crane and then move the truck or trailer out from under it. I personally try to avoid moving the crane as much as possible, especially with a load at full height.

[cabinetman]

A lot of good advice so far. I would add to what Thom2 suggested that suspended weight if moved will react to momentum and your load could get off balance. Any loads I lifted like that were first rocked to a side and a heavy wood form or pallet type of structure worked under the base, like 4x4's. Attaching hooks or clevis type hooks to a frame or available holes could lead to bending, denting or slipping. Large and heavy equipment can be tipped and "walked" onto a base structure fairly easy. It's best to plan the whole procedure out, and have help "spotters" if possible. If it starts to "go", saving it may cause serious injury. We don't want that, do we.

[crokett]

The method I used to haul home my woodstove by myself was several 4x4s and a 2x4. Lever up one side and inserta 4x4. Lever up the other and insert a 4x4. Rinsed and repeated till it was at the height I needed. Slid it onto the truck and unloaded it the same way in reverse. I got my jointer down a 2' brick wall that way also.

[messmaker]

I have used motorcycle tie-downs. The GOOD ones are rated for 600#s each and are easily adjustable. The have a hook on each end as well. The pros use slings and/or chains but you can spend a ton of $$$ on this stuff very easily.