Lifting straps or chains

[coolhl7]

Which is safer for lifting heavy items with the FEL, straps or chains of equivalent ratings?
most of the "towing" chains I see specifically warn against using them for lifting but I figure that is CYA litigation protection...
all advice appreciated. Thanks

 

[johnk]

I would say if there are no sharp edges both should work at there ratings. If it's rubbing on a sharp edge and near capacity I would vote for the chain to be the one I want.

 

[wushaw]

Chain gets my vote, If you do use straps be very careful.

 

[Defective]

I've usually kept both around and use what seems appropriate for the task at hand. Straps if the load needs protection from marring. Chains otherwise.

Keep straps in a sunlight & weather proof container when not in use.

Keep both clean and inspect often.

NEVER get under the load...EVER!

 

[DieselPower]

One is as safe as the other in the same load rating. Each has it's own specific advantage though. Straps are light and very easy to work with but can be easily cut. Chain is very heavy and hard to work with but are very cut resistant.

One of my best friends owns and operates a towing company and I have gone out with him on many recovery's over the years where he lifted everything from cars to 18 wheelers with straps. When properly used they are as safe as a chain.

Here's a picture of him using his heavy wrecker to do a vertical lift with straps to advertise for a local car dealer.

 

[3RRL]

Both have their place but my vote goes for chains too.

 

[N80]

I don't know much about this but when I worked on a line crew we always used straps for everything, from power poles to car-sized switching equipment. At TBN there always seems to be a bias against straps but I see loads on 18 wheelers tied down with straps, including brand new tractors. I see huge industrial loads being moved with straps all the time, more so than chains. I guess, as someone said, it depends on what you are lifting.

 

[Darla]

Chains are rated for specific use. Our shop is required by our insurance company to use only grade 80 or grade 100 chain for any overhead lifting. We also have some super heavy recovery straps that are rated for tens of thousands of pounds. However, they are very expensive and a job will be lost if someone uses one of those and it gets cut by any sharp edge. For a loader, the leading edge of a FEL bucket would certainly count as a sharp edge and can easily cut a very heavy duty strap when under pressure.

Depending on what you're doing and what capacity your lifting machine has, the appropriate grade 80 or grade 100 chain is what OSHA and insurance companies would tell you. As our insurance agent says, a failure in such a situation is costly at the minimum and all too often fatal. So you decide. An appropriate strap can lift an entire semi truck, but if the strap encounters a sharp edge, you'd lose your strap, semi, and whatever was under the semi. Now we don't have a really big shop, but all our overhead gantrys have 1/2" grade 100 chain.

 

[AlanB]

Depends on the application as said above. In our tractors toolbox we keep a couple small chains as well as a 3' basket sling and a strap.

Definetely place for both, and we try and treat everything as if it is about to fall at any moment.

 

[TwinWillows]

Probably over 80% of the time I reach out & grab my chains. That's for either pulling or the light lifting I need to do. If pulling, I'll drop in a shackle on my draw bar & hook the chains there. I/we do very little lifting & what we do is mainly light ackward stuff. Since we bought our pallet forks I'll tend to put almost everything on a pallet & then move it.

Like the others have said, use rated rigging straps or GR 80 or 100 chains for lifting. Don't forget to use USA forged hooks & shackles as terminal tackle. The real lifting gear will all have the manufactures name stamped on it along with their strength & capacity. China/India are not "manufactures" and if so stamped are sure indicators of low quality/counterfit hardware.

 

[coolhl7]

Don't forget to use USA forged hooks & shackles as terminal tackle. The real lifting gear will all have the manufactures name stamped on it along with their strength & capacity. China/India are not "manufactures" and if so stamped are sure indicators of low quality/counterfit hardware.[/QUOTE]

I saw a report on how bootleg untested weak overseas bolts make their way into our bridges, cars etc...

its scary.

 

[Iowachild]

My opinion is either is fine as long as they are rated for the load and rated for vertical lifting. Not all all chains or straps are rated for lifting purposes.

 

[Sully2]

Which is safer for lifting heavy items with the FEL, straps or chains of equivalent ratings?
most of the "towing" chains I see specifically warn against using them for lifting but I figure that is CYA litigation protection...
all advice appreciated. Thanks

It might seem a strange answer...but here's mine. I prefer chains over straps for LIFTING because even a POS strap costs a lot..and are too easily "damaged"
I use ( this will rock them back on their heels..lol) CHEAP...HF chain..in the 5/16" size ( complete with China hooks...20 feet...$16 on sale... And now you ask..WHY?

My rig is only capable of lifting about 850 lbs..and I wouldnt begin to lift that much using the hooks on the bucket! I lift things that I cant begin to phyically CARRY ( thats why I bought it to begin with!!) Am I worried about dropping the load on someone? Nope. First off..its never far off the ground...secondily..for someone to be "under it"...they would have to be scooting along the ground on some sort of "creeper"..!!!

I dont have a boom for my FEL ( although do intend to weld one up) to lift things VERY high off the ground..such as rafter trusses for a small bulding I intend on putting up this year ( I have no idea how much they might weigh...but Ive carried 20 footers on my bare shoulder...and this will only be 14'...so no "biggie there"..AND...no one will be under it anyway!!

Now...would I use the same sort of "chain" from "Hong Kong's Best" if I had an honest to goodness overhead winch or crane or ??.. NO WAY!...

 

[mjarrels]

I use a special made short length of chain for lifting with the loader (dad's old chain from way before we had trade with china). I just don't want to use anything that streaches.

mark

 

[BTDT]

straps or chains of equivalent ratings

Which weighs more, pound of lead or pound of feathers? If they are rated equal, I don't see any difference. Which would be easier? Probably chain. It's hard to get straps around what you are trying to lift and then connect to a lifting device without something sharp coming into contact with strap (unless they have lifting eyes). Being an ex-iron worker, we most always used cable (chokers and spreader bars, etc.). Probably some sailors on here prefer rope. Really depends on job.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I agree with the concept that EITHER will work, assuming each has equal load rating and they are USED correctly, stored correctly, and inspected on occasion. Be that as it may, the AVERAGE user doesn't need to sling a load every day. Chains have a lnger "shelf life" over straps if not kept in ideal conditions OR when they get abused or mistreated.

I feel MORE COMFORTABLE with chains. I USE straps on many an occasion.

The contractor I work for has a number of cranes. One is a (Hope I spell this right) Manatowic (?) 200 ton model. I've seen it with a few INCREDABLY heavy loads slung with straps. (also cables or chains) Seems the riggers prefer straps. (Doubtful this crane has ever lifted over 50 tons. It's high lifting capacity is needed to carry a long boom that is often extended out quite a ways in front of the crane.

If you're one who tends to push limits and throw caution to the wind, I'd have to suggest chains. (And someone else lifting whatever it is you're lifting)

 

[gb19711]

I'll add my two cents -

I've worked in heavy industrial settings for years as a millwright/welder/rigger and everyone has a preference. One point that I haven't seen mentioned is that wire chokers and nylon slings also have a bit of an "early warning system" built in. By this, I mean that you can see them begin to unravel or fray before they reach their breaking point. Chains do stretch and break but you really don't have time to notice it before they snap/break. Chains are really useful for quick picks, especially when used with grab hooks but have a tendency to slide on solid edges, such as steel beams, columns, or pipe. Nylon slings require extra cushion or blocking (wood or rubber) on solid edges. Heat is also a problem with these slings - they melt - don't weld and then lift!! Wire slings or chokers are probably the most versatile but you need to take care of them to avoid kinks or "a**holes" from lifting objects with solid edges. Use cushions with these as well whenever possible.

 

[davemhughes]

High grade high quality chain is hard to beat. one area I do not skimp on. Straps for lifting low load soft materials.

 

[workinallthetime]

i dont like the way straps "unload" when they break, only dent i ever had in my old truck was from where i was pulling a post and when the post came free it unloaded the energy (the post) into my tail gate. i pulled the one right next to it with a chain, no streach there and no dent. I unladed precious moss covered rock for a customer with straps so i would not scratch them. I tie our dirt bikes down with straps. straps are easy,light, soft and strech. If i had to trust my life to one of the 2 i would chose the chain. just my thoughts

 

[pat32rf]

When dealing with a shock load, such as pulling out a stuck vehicle we always use nylon in the rigging. Our minimum size is 5/8 for light loads but most often 1". If lifting from the bucket then I use chain because I can vary the length just by moving the hook. (the nylon rope ALWAYS goes on a clevis or other smooth surface). The only time we ever use plastic "tow ropes" is for really light jobs such as a stuck ATV.( now and then I will haul out my two 100' sections of 3/4" plastic for a long pull on a dead moose or skidoo out on the lake or swamp where I can't get close enough for the winch cable to reach).I also use rope to guide trees that are liable to fall in embarrassing directions.
In ever case we always make sure that the SWL of the rope, chain or strap is well over the weight of the load.