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PSA: Picking the heaviest hook block isn't always the safest bet
I tried using a 15-ton hook block on a routine 8-ton pick last month because I figured heavier meant more stable. The extra weight actually made the load swing worse in the wind, and I nearly tagged a building corner. I learned that matching the block to the specific lift conditions matters more than just going big. Has anyone else had a lighter setup perform better on a tricky pick?
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viola_garcia561d ago
But nobody has mentioned the crane's chart and how the extra block weight eats into your capacity. On a 15-ton block you're probably carrying an extra 600 to 800 pounds hanging off the hook. That might not sound like a lot, but on a tight radius or near the edge of the chart it could put you over your safe working load without you even realizing it. I've seen guys get into trouble because they factored in the load weight but forgot the block and rigging weight. So if you're already near the limit with an 8-ton load and then add a heavy block, you could be in a dangerous spot. That's something I think gets overlooked when people just grab the biggest block in the yard.
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kai8392d ago
Man, I gotta say I think you're overthinking this one a little bit. A 15-ton block on an 8-ton pick? Yeah, the extra weight can make it more squirrelly in a breeze, but I've run heavier blocks on lighter loads plenty of times and never had it be that big of a deal unless the wind was already bad. Your block choice probably wasn't the main problem. More likely you had a bad sling angle or the load wasn't balanced right. I'd blame the setup before the block weight. Take it with a grain of salt, but I think you might be making a mountain out of a molehill here.
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max_schmidt771d ago
Yeah I hear you, but I've been burned by forgetting the block weight before. On a tight radius near the chart limit, an extra 800 pounds from a heavy block can sneak up on you even if your sling angle is perfect. I'd rather grab the right block and double check my math than gamble on setup being good enough.
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