engine hoist & straps

["Bob Hackett" <kinfolk@zzzzzzz>]

First thing to think about is safety.Until you get to understanding how to
rig any lift and what the center of gravity for a piece is then all your
lifts should be considered a minimum of two person operation.Lifts should
always be a 2 person operation anyway,who's going to call 911 when your
hand's pinned under a 1/4 ton of stone in the middle of the shop?One person
pumps the lift and will need to be away from the load and the other person
tightens the strap and steadys the piece as it is lifted.It's always best to
have two folks to move a hoist,one on each side.When moving the hoist think
about keeping the load as low as possible while traveling.The hoist is less
likely to tip that way.
    The straps are called nylon sling straps and have different load ratings
and will be tagged as such.The higher the load rating,the less flexible they
are.Think at least 2 times the max load of your hoist and you will be
safe.You can hook them directly to the hoist hook.Make sure the hoist you
rent has a latch on the hook and that it works properly.The latch keeps the
load from slipping from the hook.If the rental place doesn't have straps(DO
NOT accept greasy/oily straps as they will stain your stone) they will know
where to get them.Any industrial suppy place will usually have them.
    I'm going to say that if you have no experience with lifting heavy loads
you need to find someone who does to help the first few times.When things go
wrong with rigging,they go wrong in a hurry and the chances for serious
accidents which threaten life and limb are great.The best advice I can give
is the first rule of rigging"DO NOT GET ANY PART OF YOUR BODY(to include
fingers)BETWEEN THE LOAD AND THE GROUND".This rule covers the area the load
travels over if it shifts and falls in any direction.If it falls,let it
go.You will not win and the stone will  severly harm you.RESIST that urge to
save the work and save yourself instead!You can see why much prior planning
is needed.
  You were instructed to use two straps in a previous post.You can use one
if you use a nylon tiedown strap to secure the upper part of the load to the
strap to make it more secure.Either way,these straps are used like a
lasso,one end goes thru the eye and forms a loop.You will be pulling at an
angle to that loop so the strap will want to slip and ride up as you apply
tension.Tap on the eye with a rubber mallet to keep it tightening into the
load until secure.
   One last tip,have soft wood(like pine 2x4s) blocks handy to lower your
work onto.These will keep the work from skidding and will also help avoid
chipping the corner of the piece where it contacts a hard surface.
    Practice using your lift  and moving it with rough stone or some other
heavy weight you have little investment in time in before picking up that
piece that took you days  or weeks to complete.That valve that lowers the
load takes some getting used to.It'll move quicker than you think(the
heavier the load,the quicker it drops).If you just snug it down to lift you
won't have to struggle to open it and and then suddenly drop the load too
fast,DAMHIKT.
    Good luck,and get experienced help the first time out.

Bob