What’s a hand lifter?

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A hand hoist is a cheap and reliable way to lift heavy objects using a solid steel linked chain. It can be operated by pulling a chain or handle and is commonly found in garages and home workshops. The hoist’s size is determined by weight limit and capacity, and it can be purchased with or without a chain. The hand hoist chain rarely breaks and can be replaced with new lifting mechanisms. It is used for various purposes, including lifting engines and animal carcasses. When using a manual lift in a home garage, it is best to secure it to a beam laid across multiple roof trusses to distribute weight.

A manual hoist can be operated by pulling a chain or a handle, depending on the manufacturer and model of hoist used. Commonly referred to as a chain drop, a hand hoist can be designed with two cases, each containing various sprockets for engaging the chain, or with a single operating case housing a handle-operated lifting mechanism. Used to lift heavy objects, the hand lift is commonly the cheapest version of the lift available and is found in many garages and home workshops around the world.

Offered as a safer and more reliable method of lifting heavy materials than the common manual or hand wire rope hoist, the hand hoist relies on the strength of a solid steel linked chain to handle the stress of lifting a heavy load. The size of a manual hoist is twofold: the first is the weight limit of the hoist with the total capacity defining the size of the hoist, and the second is the capacity of the hoist. When sizing the hoist, the distance that the hoist is able to reach when fixed to the ceiling is also taken into consideration. Another way to purchase a hoist is to purchase the hoist components without the included chain. This method is best suited for a deceased hoist owner who is able to swap the chain from the broken hoist into the new model.

Unlike a rope or cable, the hand hoist chain is rarely broken or damaged, so it can often be replaced with several new lifting mechanisms if the older model breaks or wears out. Some of the many uses of the hand lifter include removing and replacing the vehicle’s engine in the home or business garage, lifting heavy animal carcasses to facilitate slaughter, and jacking up a vehicle to work on its suspension. The only typical limiting factor for the use of this type of hoist is the strength of the object from which the hoist is suspended.

When using a manual lift in a home garage, it is best to secure the lift to a beam that is laid across multiple roof trusses. This allows the weight lifted by the hand lift to be distributed over a large area instead of being placed on a single roof truss. This can prevent not only damage to the object being lifted due to the fall, but it can also prevent damage to a garage roof from a broken roof truss or joist.




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