Special tool for lifting needed - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Versatile · 08-14-2007, 02:37 PM

Hello, Our company needs a tool to lift boulders that have had a hole bored thru them vertically to make water fountains. Some boulders might weigh as much as 3 tons. We need a tool that will go down the bore hole and then be used to lift. The bore hole would be one inch in diameter. Please educate me as the best way to do this. thanks in advance.

**Cole** · 08-14-2007, 02:48 PM

I can see several ways of getting this done, but they all will be custom solutions, which will cost $$$.

What is your budget?

Versatile · 08-14-2007, 02:57 PM

You scare me when you mention budget. Will be glad to pay a fair price.
I was assuming that a tool like this shouldn't cost over a couple hundred. Please give me the education.

Forry · 08-14-2007, 02:58 PM

What about an old school bike handle bar nut? You put it in the hole, tighten the nut and it locks in firm... I wouldn't stand under the boulder, but it might work.

RYANINMICHIGAN · 08-14-2007, 02:58 PM

buy alot of 4 inch snachems and lots of chains

Versatile · 08-14-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forry

What about an old school bike handle bar nut? You put it in the hole, tighten the nut and it locks in firm... I wouldn't stand under the boulder, but it might work.

That is kinda like what i am thinking. A cable goes down the hole and then lifts up two tapered pieces and then binds in the hole. Does something like this exist?

zukkoor · 08-14-2007, 03:04 PM

The cheapest easiest way I can think of doing it is getting a 3ton engine hoist. They cost around $500 and don't take much to move. The only issue might be rolling around those type of wheels on grass.

KillerToiletSpider · 08-14-2007, 03:13 PM

Why not get a box of Hilti 3/4" drop in anchors, a 3/4" eyebolt, and set up an electric hoist on a tripod over the hole?

Mike Finley · 08-14-2007, 03:16 PM

Seems to me you could use a rubber plug to lift these.

The plug would be almost the size of the hole in diameter and probably 3-4 inches tall, the bottom of the plug would be bored out in a cylinder shape with the thinner part of the cylinder shape at the top, probably the bottom 1 1/2 inches of the plug.

Through the plug you would pass a thick braided metal wire and it would connect to a piece of metal in the shape to fit in that bored out shape at the bottom of the plug, but a bit bigger.

When you pull up on this braided wire it would pull the metal plug up into the bottom of the rubber plug and make the rubber plug bigger and hold in place. As long as there was gravity and pressuer pulling down on the stone it would keep the rubber plug in place.

The is basically the same idea as using gravity as the clamping force used on the grippers they use to move granite slabs around a granite yard.

Seems like if this isn't available a machine shop could make them for you.

GreenW00D · 08-14-2007, 03:19 PM

do you have heavy equipment? is this a one time project?

http://www.rockjaw.com/

Versatile · 08-14-2007, 04:06 PM

Taleked to Hilti and they have a product that should work.
I like Mike Finleys idea real well. We will be moving constantly and need to reuse the lifter.
Yes we have acess to heavy equipment.
Can anyone recommened a supplier for the graite industry?
Thanks for all the quick replies.

tgeb · 08-14-2007, 04:24 PM

there are skid loader attachments that will do what you are wanting to do.

http://buyattachmentsdirect.com/atta...grab/index.cfm

That is only one option.

http://www.skid-steer-attachments.ne...ting_forks.htm

Here is another.

http://bobcat.com/attachments/tree_fork

Or this.
There are dozens of different things you can get that would be safer than experimenting with something homemade.

Not that I am opposed to home made solutions, but playing trail and error with boulders could be painful.

dirt diggler · 08-14-2007, 04:51 PM

if access allows ... a backhoe??

anytime i gotta do waterfeatures with immovable objects (i.e. boulders) ... take two straps and two guys.

haven't done anything heavy as 3 tons though

jmic · 08-14-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgeb

there are skid loader attachments that will do what you are wanting to do.

http://buyattachmentsdirect.com/atta...grab/index.cfm

That is only one option.

http://www.skid-steer-attachments.ne...ting_forks.htm

Here is another.

http://bobcat.com/attachments/tree_fork

Or this.
There are dozens of different things you can get that would be safer than experimenting with something homemade.

Not that I am opposed to home made solutions, but playing trail and error with boulders could be painful.

3 tons lifted by a skid steer ?

Diesel65 · 08-14-2007, 05:03 PM

You say you have access to heavy equipment, how about this.

TempestV · 08-14-2007, 06:36 PM

once you set the bolder down, do you have access to the bottom of the bolder? if so, a rod could be bolted through, with some kind of eyelet on the top to hook to.

What kind of heavy equipment do you have access too?
if it's a crane, I am with diesel on this one.
Most telihandler type forklifts could lift three tons, and it is possible to get a grabber similar to what Tgeb was recommending, but for a forklift. such attachments are also available for front end loaders and I believe excavators. other than that, I can't think of any heavy equipment capable of lifting 3 tons.

tgeb · 08-14-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmic

3 tons lifted by a skid steer ?

Oops, I missed that part in the original post.

Even the biggest skidsteers are only good to about 1/2 that.

The fork lift option sounds good.

Dustball · 08-14-2007, 10:21 PM

What I had in mind when you said 1" hole bored vertically was an expanding mandrel/air shaft. See this link for examples- http://www.doubleeusa.com/core_shafts.htm

I don't know if 1" dia versions are available- the ones I've used in the past were 4" dia shafts.

Driftwood · 08-14-2007, 11:03 PM

A wire choker with loop. Run it through hole , place a 5/8" short re bar through eye on the underside of boulder. Please send $100.00 within 10 days

Versatile · 08-15-2007, 09:36 AM

Thanks for all the ideas. A good education real quick.

Driftwood! Your check is in the mail.