Don't even think about it. We have , in the past, set some beams weighing almost 1000 pounds by hand. The one you describe is double that. You are risking serious injury or death for someone. It will also not end up any cheaper. Having a crane for an hour or so is certainly cheaper than paying 20 guys. Your GC should understand this, if not, he is not someone you want to continue working for.
Set Steel I-Beam without crane?
I have to set a w10x88 beam that is 25' long at 10' ceiling height going from exterior wall into another steel beam. It is over 2000lbs. Once in place I need to temporary strut so welder can connect beams and install pipe column. Does anyone here have methods for setting a beam like this without using heavy equipment. Basically trying to save some money whether on my end or the builders end. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Kevin
Kevin
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
Totally agree. Have hoisted beams up to second floor by hand in the past. Plain stupid. Lucky no one was killed. A beam that size you would need as many guys as a crane would cost. Don't mess around. People trust the boss to watch out for their safety. Don't spend a dime to save a nickel. good luck.
Thanks for the advice, I agree with both of you, a lot of risk involved without a crane.
Not sure if you mean you can't get equipment access
We have used "beam lifts" before with success, obviously check the capacity of the ones you can rent
Also every time the GC has paid for this, like Warren said they should be well aware of this and assist with getting it placed
I Googled images maybe this link will work?
http://www.coastequipmentrental.com/lifts-forklifts.html
bottom of there home page is a image
We have used "beam lifts" before with success, obviously check the capacity of the ones you can rent
Also every time the GC has paid for this, like Warren said they should be well aware of this and assist with getting it placed
I Googled images maybe this link will work?
http://www.coastequipmentrental.com/lifts-forklifts.html
bottom of there home page is a image
My helper and I placed a 5-1/8" x 24" x 48' long Glulam (about 1450 lbs.) on 9' plates using ropes and blocks(two sets). Rigged properly, there wouldn't be any more safety issues with a steel beam a little heavier and being placed 1' higher. I do have some rigging experience but I think most framers could think through the process. We had a harder time getting it to the location in the house than we did with the actual lift and place.
But now that I think about it, the ropes and blocks I had probably would cost upwards of $700-$800 nowadays. (Ex-electric utility people manage to acquire the coolest stuff.)
Rent a crain.
But now that I think about it, the ropes and blocks I had probably would cost upwards of $700-$800 nowadays. (Ex-electric utility people manage to acquire the coolest stuff.)
Rent a crain.
The "beam lift" would work, that's a good idea, I looked some up at a local equipment rental store but they didn't have the weight capacity. I'm going to check some other places
We have used genie lifts to install beams in bad access areas. I think the ones we used were rated for 500 lbs and we had to use two of them for the beam we installed. This was our only option as it was under a house and a crane couldn't access the area. They may make larger capacity ones, but im not sure. They are a hand crank baby manual forklift.
I was going to say, that is one serious beam. We have lumber yards set those around here. They have booms on their delivery truck.
My helper and I placed a 5-1/8" x 24" x 48' long Glulam (about 1450 lbs.) on 9' plates using ropes and blocks(two sets). Rigged properly, there wouldn't be any more safety issues with a steel beam a little heavier and being placed 1' higher. I do have some rigging experience but I think most framers could think through the process. We had a harder time getting it to the location in the house than we did with the actual lift and place.
Been there done that, heaviest one... 5.5 30" 38' long and two 30's, two men. Used the rope and block to pull beams in place. Closet rod (Egyptian Method) works great for rollers. When lifting for saftey sake built guides/pockets for the beam to ride in and kept a support/prop under each end. Just in case and didn't want that go through those gryrations a second time (especially after an ER trip and recovery)
Have used cable type wall jacks to lift beams in place also.
A smaller beam lifted with a wall jack image attached. Was lifted against a wall and Big 'ol Bob held the jack from above the wall. Actually took little effort to hold the jack in place. Sweet deal actually
2000lbs I-beam, gonna require some creative rigging or 25 day laborer and ladders or just :whistling Cut holes in the roof and get a crane.
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Mine was new construction. Biggest problem was that I couldn't get an angle on it to drag the beam through the front door opening and stay on the lot the house was on (existing houses and fences on both sides). I was able to hook a pulley to a tree and pull it offset to the line of pull with a small Kubata tractor. Once we got it on the slab, we put a car dolly about 5' in on each end and positioned it on the floor adjacent to where it needed to go. The thing I remember about that most was attaching another beam to it at a 15 degree angle later. The bracket had to be custom fabricated (out of 1/4" steel plate) because the angle was 15 degrees off of 90 rather than being a 3 in 12 turn (which would have been about 14 degrees). That thing must have had a couple hundred holes in it (well, it seemed like it at the time) for nails and the engineer said to put a 16d box nail in every hole.Been there done that, heaviest one... 5.5 30" 38' long and two 30's, two men. Used the rope and block to pull beams in place. Closet rod (Egyptian Method) works great for rollers. When lifting for saftey sake built guides/pockets for the beam to ride in and kept a support/prop under each end. Just in case and didn't want that go through those gryrations a second time (especially after an ER trip and recovery)
Have used cable type wall jacks to lift beams in place also.
2000lbs I-beam, gonna require some creative rigging or 25 day laborer and ladders or just :whistling Cut holes in the roof and get a crane.
You can do it, when I was your age, I use to throw them up by myself :thumbsup:I have to set a w10x88 beam that is 25' long at 10' ceiling height going from exterior wall into another steel beam. It is over 2000lbs. Once in place I need to temporary strut so welder can connect beams and install pipe column. Does anyone here have methods for setting a beam like this without using heavy equipment. Basically trying to save some money whether on my end or the builders end. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Kevin
And before that Jillian Micheals video right Greg.....:Laughing:
I've done what Texas Wax has pictured numerous times. I inherited a pair or Proctor wall jacks from my grandfather that are probably older than I am. I might use them twice a year and it is usually to lift a ridge beam or other heavy piece.
I agree with the others though. If you can get a crane in there, do it.
I agree with the others though. If you can get a crane in there, do it.
My son and I set a couple of 1000 lb beams using a couple of chain hoists.... but obviously you need overhead support.
A boom truck could not get to the back of the house...... so we had to fabricate/put a big header chained in a tree running to some framing.... and just slowly lifted.
There was nothing material to be ruined had we lost one......
Chain hoists were like $50/apiece from no where else but Harbor Freight... we just billed the customer...... since getting them, over the years, I've found alot of use for them.
A boom truck could not get to the back of the house...... so we had to fabricate/put a big header chained in a tree running to some framing.... and just slowly lifted.
There was nothing material to be ruined had we lost one......
Chain hoists were like $50/apiece from no where else but Harbor Freight... we just billed the customer...... since getting them, over the years, I've found alot of use for them.
Crane or large telehandler. Not even a thought in my mind. I'll hand bomb a 4-500 lb one with 4 guys. Other than that crane is on the way. Very rarely can I not get a crane in on a few hours notice
If you have the height to set up scaffold towers higher than the plates use a beam across each tower, install a chain fall on each tower beam and raise the main beam.
Tom
Tom
We did a 1300lb up 9' with 6 guys..
That was just.. no
2000lb is **** yourself heavy weight. :whistling
That was just.. no
2000lb is **** yourself heavy weight. :whistling
I use the beam lift quite often. it's 32" w. I built my sprinter with 34" in the isle just to fit it. We can get down down tight alleyway in yards and so on. watch your hands moving that around you'll catch your skin so make your wear heavy gloves. They rent for about $50/day I get it from metal fabricator who's less then a 100yards away from my shop and load it when I p/u my steel .Not sure if you mean you can't get equipment access
We have used "beam lifts" before with success, obviously check the capacity of the ones you can rent
Also every time the GC has paid for this, like Warren said they should be well aware of this and assist with getting it placed
I Googled images maybe this link will work?
http://www.coastequipmentrental.com/lifts-forklifts.html
bottom of there home page is a image
I think the one I use is for 2500 or 2800lbs.The "beam lift" would work, that's a good idea, I looked some up at a local equipment rental store but they didn't have the weight capacity. I'm going to check some other places
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